Mixing

Fixing pitchy vocals without making them sound robotic

November 8, 2025 · 7 min read

Autotune as an effect is a creative choice. Autotune as a fix-it-all is the thing that flattens your favorite singer's character. Most pitch issues are better solved earlier in the chain.

Comp before you correct

Six takes, comped line by line, will get you 80% of the way without a single pitch correction. The remaining 20% is what tools are for.

Melodyne with restraint

Move pitch centers, not transitions. Leave scoops and bends alone — that's where the human lives. Aim for 'in tune', not 'on the grid'.

Re-sing the line

If you've spent more than ten minutes correcting one phrase, the phrase wasn't sung well enough. Get back on the mic. It's faster and it sounds better.

The goal isn't perfect pitch. The goal is a believable performance. Those aren't the same thing.

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