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July 28, 2011

Ah, auto-tune, the popular vocal effect used by producers to correct a singer's pitch. It's impossible to turn on modern hip-hop radio these days without hearing it. Now T-Pain, the R&B singer and producer widely credited with popularizing auto-tune, is suing Antares Technologies, the company that first developed it.

For years, T-Pain and Antares enjoyed a fruitful business relationship that gave modern singing a synthetic shine and drove vocal purists absolutely nuts. But T-Pain has partnered with a new company, Izotope, and intends to promote his own voice-manipulation product called "The T-Pain Effect."

So he's suing Antares in order to distance himself from the company.

According to a complaint filed Monday in U.S. District Court in California, T-Pain claims Antares continues to use his image and likeness in advertisements, packaging and marketing materials.

The singer/producer believes that the continued implication of an endorsement will confuse and mislead the public and damage sales for his own new technologies, including the "I Am T-Pain Mic."

The guy who did more than anyone to let singers sound not like themselves now is demanding an injunction to prevent Antavares from using his name, photograph, likeness, and oh yes, his voice.

Link

F*** T-Pain!

That selfish bastard never bother to namecheck Kraftwerk, Roger/Zapp, OR Midnight Star for being ahead of the robotic vocals game before him. And now we're suppose to feel sorry for him because the makers of Auto-Tunes are still namechecking him despite the fact that it's his fault for showing people how to get over in their music career using Auto-Tunes.

Whatever.

I understand why he is suing them...if his contract is done with them they should not use his name..that's point blank despite what horrors he did to music for many years now.

You cant just still continue to use that for advertising unless their contract stated that Antavares could.

Can we file a class action suit against Antares for making that Auto-Tune dial go all the way up to 11, and thus allowing sheep-like producers to inflict untold suffering on music fans everywhere?

(Oh, and for giving T-Pain a career.)

Wow, some stuff you CAN'T make up. When was his last hit by the way? 2007? 2008?

Well if the contract is expired then he has every right to sue them for continuing to promote their product with his likeness etc.

So basically, Antares has been around since the Frampton and Roger days huh? Or were those guys using something else?

HotGritz said:

Well if the contract is expired then he has every right to sue them for continuing to promote their product with his likeness etc.

So basically, Antares has been around since the Frampton and Roger days huh? Or were those guys using something else?

Antares was created in 1997. Frampton, Stevie, Rundgren and Roger used the talk box. I don't know if Cher used it since people kept saying she was the first pop star to openly use it. I think it was used on Rodney Jerkins' records but then I heard it was a vocoder so I don't know.

This is kinda like when Rob and Fab of Milli Vanilli admitted they didn't sing on the songs they were on because they were being pimped by Frank Farian. In this instance, T-Prone was being pimped by Antares. But why would he even admit where he got his shit from? I always thought you have to have some illusion. Guess the money's running low.

HotGritz said:

So basically, Antares has been around since the Frampton and Roger days huh? Or were those guys using something else?

http://prince.org/msg/8/354298

MickyDolenz said:

HotGritz said:

So basically, Antares has been around since the Frampton and Roger days huh? Or were those guys using something else?

http://prince.org/msg/8/354298

Cool!

This is what happens when goofballs find a little success and take themselves too seriously...

Those of us who are in the music business and deal with endorsements and such know that it's common for manufacturers to use the name and likeness of an artist/producer/engineer if they did in fact use their product... whether presently or in the past. It's a common thing and this is the first time I've seen someone sue a company who's product is largely responsible for their success/sound.

Paul McCartney spent years using Rickenbacher basses exclusively... he didn't sue Hofner or try to discourage them from using his name and image in association with their violin bass. I can name drop a huge list of endorsed musicians, engineers and producers who have switched manufacturers on some of their crucial gear... no one makes a stink about their names still being mentioned by old manufacturers. In fact, most of them welcome any place where their name is mentioned. Logical thinking says that the consumer will check out my music to hear what the product sounds like and I may gain a fan. Amongst musicians, there's nothing we like more than being recognized and respected by our peers. Endorsements and being listed by a manufacturer as someone worth mentioning is part of that.

T-Pain is coming off like he is solely responsible for Auto-tune's success and he was doing Antares a favor by letting them use his name and likeness.

Auto-Tune didn't begin with nor will it end with T-Pain. They can stop using his likeness... because, the reality is, Antares really doesn't need him to sell their products.

I understand that this is largely because he's releasing a competing product of his own..so, he's acting as the business man--not the musician--with this move. I get that.

Pro-Tools and Auto-tune have been the industry standard tools for making hit records for the last 12 years or so. Everyone in the business and just about every amatuer is aware of these products and they are built into our psyche. When we hear that affect, we will still think and say Autotune... not "The T-Pain Effect". Well... most of us anyway.

I'm actually glad this news came out so people can go on T-Drone for the clown he is.

[Edited 7/28/11 12:42pm]

gemari77 said:

This is what happens when goofballs find a little success and take themselves too seriously...

Those of us who are in the music business and deal with endorsements and such know that it's common for manufacturers to use the name and likeness of an artist/producer/engineer if they did in fact use their product... whether presently or in the past. It's a common thing and this is the first time I've seen someone sue a company who's product is largely responsible for their success/sound.

Paul McCartney spent years using Rickenbacher basses exclusively... he didn't sue Hofner or try to discourage them from using his name and image in association with their violin bass. I can name drop a huge list of endorsed musicians, engineers and producers who have switched manufacturers on some of their crucial gear... no one makes a stink about their names still being mentioned by old manufacturers. In fact, most of them welcome any place where their name is mentioned. Logical thinking says that the consumer will check out my music to hear what the product sounds like and I may gain a fan. Amongst musicians, there's nothing we like more than being recognized and respected by our peers. Endorsements and being listed by a manufacturer as someone worth mentioning is part of that.

T-Pain is coming off like he is solely responsible for Auto-tune's success and he was doing Antares a favor by letting them use his name and likeness.

Auto-Tune didn't begin with nor will it end with T-Pain. They can stop using his likeness... because, the reality is, Antares really doesn't need him to sell their products.

I understand that this is largely because he's releasing a competing product of his own..so, he's acting as the business man--not the musician--with this move. I get that.

Pro-Tools and Auto-tune have been the industry standard tools for making hit records for the last 12 years or so. Everyone in the business and just about every amatuer is aware of these products and they are built into our psyche. When we hear that affect, we will still think and say Autotune... not "The T-Pain Effect". Well... most of us anyway.

You make some great points and I agree with most of what you're saying but isn't there an issue of branding to consider? If T-Pain wants to remain the current poster boy for auto-tune and at the same time promote his own product then a conflict ensues. He will be effectively promoting two products that are competing against one another and his goal is to make money and secure his position as king of auto-tune. I see why he would want to sue Antares. They will continue to make money off of him even though he is no longer affilitated with that company. That does not seem right nor legal IMO.

If find this less weird than all the suing Prince has brought to the table.

If T-Pain doesn't have a contract with them saying they can use his name, they shouldn't use his name. He protects his money just like Prince does. They're making money on his name. Not the other way around. He can thank them for making the tool, but they can thank him for making the money. It went from being a tool mostly professionals used, to be a tool for everyone who wanted to be a superstar. This was of course big money for them. He's developing something new, let him get his money.

Roger Zapp has something to say....

Just when I thought he had disappeared for good ..

missfee said:

Roger Zapp has something to say....

Roger Troutman used the talkbox. Bon Jovi and Daft Punk are also known for using it.

However auto tune is not similar to it at all. If you know the technology behind it, the talkbox is mimicking the sound that the shape inside of your mouth would make. And is synth based.

The auto tune is a tool that will force the pitch in the direction you want it to be forced. It can be used to make each tone forced to the closest pitch in a chosen scale. It will still sound more like an actual voice and is indeed just a pure recording of the actual source that talked to the mic. If you use distortion and other effects on this it can sound sligthly similar to a talkbox, but you will notice the difference.

We also have something called vocoder. The vocoder is using the actual sound you're producing, then "translating" it to synth, making the keys or midi signals chose which pitch it will use.

Replica said:

If find this less weird than all the suing Prince has brought to the table.

If T-Pain doesn't have a contract with them saying they can use his name, they shouldn't use his name. He protects his money just like Prince does. They're making money on his name. Not the other way around. He can thank them for making the tool, but they can thank him for making the money. It went from being a tool mostly professionals used, to be a tool for everyone who wanted to be a superstar. This was of course big money for them. He's developing something new, let him get his money.

co-sign totally

Replica said:

missfee said:

Roger Zapp has something to say....

Roger Troutman used the talkbox. Bon Jovi and Daft Punk are also known for using it.

However auto tune is not similar to it at all. If you know the technology behind it, the talkbox is mimicking the sound that the shape inside of your mouth would make. And is synth based.

The auto tune is a tool that will force the pitch in the direction you want it to be forced. It can be used to make each tone forced to the closest pitch in a chosen scale. It will still sound more like an actual voice and is indeed just a pure recording of the actual source that talked to the mic. If you use distortion and other effects on this it can sound sligthly similar to a talkbox, but you will notice the difference.

We also have something called vocoder. The vocoder is using the actual sound you're producing, then "translating" it to synth, making the keys or midi signals chose which pitch it will use.

Kraftwerk & Midnight Star used vocoders.

Replica said:

missfee said:

Roger Zapp has something to say....

Roger Troutman used the talkbox. Bon Jovi and Daft Punk are also known for using it.

However auto tune is not similar to it at all. If you know the technology behind it, the talkbox is mimicking the sound that the shape inside of your mouth would make. And is synth based.

The auto tune is a tool that will force the pitch in the direction you want it to be forced. It can be used to make each tone forced to the closest pitch in a chosen scale. It will still sound more like an actual voice and is indeed just a pure recording of the actual source that talked to the mic. If you use distortion and other effects on this it can sound sligthly similar to a talkbox, but you will notice the difference.

We also have something called vocoder. The vocoder is using the actual sound you're producing, then "translating" it to synth, making the keys or midi signals chose which pitch it will use.

Thanks for the breakdown and history behind the difference between the "talk box" and "auto tune". However, I prefer Roger any day than wack ass T-Pain. So I guess I prefer to hear a talk box then.

Here's the difference:

Talk box: Todd Rundgren (allegedly one of the first modern pop/rock performers to use it), Stevie Wonder, Peter Frampton, Roger Troutman, Teddy Riley, DJ Quik, George Michael (well I don't know about literally using it but the talk box was present in the part 2 remix of "Fastlove" and on "Outside")

Vocoder: Midnight Star, Roger Troutman (he used it sometimes), Lakeside, Rodney Jerkins records mainly had vocoder in it

Auto-Tune: Cher, T-Drone, most modern so-called pop artists today, etc.

TonyVanDam said:

F*** T-Pain!

That selfish bastard never bother to namecheck Kraftwerk, Roger/Zapp, OR Midnight Star for being ahead of the robotic vocals game before him. And now we're suppose to feel sorry for him because the makers of Auto-Tunes are still namechecking him despite the fact that it's his fault for showing people how to get over in their music career using Auto-Tunes.

Whatever.

He has actually. But none of them ever used auto-tune anyway. There's a difference between auto-tune, vocoders and talkboxes.

This is like Michael Jordan sueing the NBA.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

This is like Michael Jordan sueing the NBA.

LittleBLUECorvette said:

This is like Michael Jordan LeBron James sueing the NBA.

There, that's better! When it come to the talkbox/vocoder gimmick............

1. Roger Troutman is Michael Jordan.

2. Ralf Hutter & Florian Schneider (of Kraftwerk) are Bill Russell & Bob Cousy.

3. Steve Wonder is Julius Erving.

4. "Pretty" Tony Bulter is Hakeem Olajuwon.

5. Teddy Riley is Kobe Bryant.

6. T-Pain is LeBron James.

Peter Frampton is Larry Bird

HohnerCatcher said:

Peter Frampton is Larry Bird

Neil Young is Kevin McHale.

TonyVanDam said:

HohnerCatcher said:

Peter Frampton is Larry Bird

Neil Young is Kevin McHale.

And what is Todd Rundgren then. Huh?

Timmy84 said:

TonyVanDam said:

Neil Young is Kevin McHale.

And what is Todd Rundgren then. Huh?

I didn't even know that Todd used a talkbox OR vocoder!

TonyVanDam said:

Timmy84 said:

And what is Todd Rundgren then. Huh?

I didn't even know that Todd used a talkbox OR vocoder!

Sure did.