Mumbai, August 13: Renowned playback singer Sonu Nigam has revealed that he is not untouched by the use of auto-tune. He discussed the minimal use of this tool to achieve the right sound.
The singer stated that in today’s digital era, raw voices without treatment can sound odd when paired with songs. He shared his insights on the podcast “Game Changers: The Music Series” hosted by box office trade expert Komal Nahta.
“Auto-tune has certainly brought about many changes. People say a lot of negative things about it, but I believe that whatever has happened is for the better,” he remarked. In earlier times, singers performed without auto-tune. “We are fortunate to have practiced without it, and now we don’t need it. Still, I would say I use auto-tune in some of my songs. Now everything is ‘440’ (pitch-perfect), while earlier everything was live. We had live sarangi and live strings, so our pitch didn’t always have to be perfect,” he added.
Sonu is known for his exceptional classical training and stunning live performances. For decades, he has ruled the music charts with his soulful voice and unmatched pitch. He has witnessed the transformation of the music industry from live orchestra recordings to the modern digital age.
He further explained, “Everything has gone digital now, and if your voice is raw (untreated), it will sound strange. In the past, we adjusted according to live music, but now your song will sound different. It is our responsibility not to use these tools to fix the voices of those who cannot sing. You give your 99 percent, and auto-tune takes it to 100 percent. Many actors use auto-tune for their songs, and if they use it to fulfill their dreams, that’s perfectly fine. However, they cannot replace singers.”
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