On: Did the Manhattan Transfer Use Auto-Tune?

[scott_s]

From the article, regarding your first point:

But let’s assume that the Manhattan Transfer is trying to hide the use of Auto-Tune, in which case their recording engineer would presumably use a retune speed that approximates a “natural” value.

[tumult → scott_s]

Retune speed is not a very relevant control when you aren't using auto-tune (proper name or generic) in fire-and-forget mode. If they're trying to cover up its use, they aren't using it in fire-and-forget mode. They're using it in graph mode, or they're using Melodyne, which has no retune speed adjustment.

Fire and forget mode: http://www.antarestech.com/images/ATEvo_Auto_mode.jpg

Notice the prominent 'retune speed' adjustment knob.

And here is the way everyone uses auto-tune these days, when you aren't going for the robot hiphop/Cher effect: http://www.antarestech.com/images/ATEvo_Graphic_full.jpg

Notice there is no retune speed knob in the main panel at all. You control the pitches by adjust them directly in the graph.

[I've edited my original post above to include some of this information.]