| In this thesis, I will examine the vocal effect technology Auto-Tune, a piece of software used in modern recording studios to alter the pitch of a singer's recorded vocal performance, or to generate a unique, overt vocal effect. While Auto-Tune has generally been implemented successfully within the pop music genre, the use of Auto-Tune within modern hip hop has resulted in a contentious discourse within said genre.;This thesis shall explore not only how Auto-Tune is utilized within popular music, but also how it impacts the way musicians record and perform music, how Auto-Tune either complements or conflicts with the aesthetic foundations and conventions of a given genre, what symbolic effect Auto-Tune has upon the musical recording it is applied to (according to a variety of theoretical notions), and what influence Auto-Tune has had upon the broader popular culture. |
