Music industry engineers had previously considered the use of autocorrelation impractical because of the massive computational effort required, but Hildebrand found a 'simplification changed a million multiply adds into just four. His method for detecting pitch involved the use of autocorrelation and proved to be superior to earlier attempts based on feature extraction that had problems processing certain aspects of the human voice such as diphthongs, leading to sound artifacts. Over several months in early 1996, he implemented the algorithm on a custom Macintosh computer, and presented the result at the NAMM Show later that year, where 'it was instantly a massive hit.' research engineer who specialized in stochastic estimation theory and digital signal processing. History Īuto-Tune was launched in September 1997 by Andy Hildebrand, a Ph.D. Instruments such as the Peavey AT-200 guitar seamlessly use Auto-Tune technology for real time pitch correction. Īuto-Tune has become standard equipment in professional recording studios. Auto-Tune can also be used as an effect to distort the human voice when pitch is raised or lowered significantly, such that the voice is heard to leap from note to note stepwise, like a synthesizer. The processor slightly shifts pitches to the nearest true, correct semitone (to the exact pitch of the nearest note in traditional equal temperament). Auto-Tune is available as a plug-in for digital audio workstations used in a studio setting and as a stand-alone, rack-mounted unit for live performance processing.

Autotune mac