4. New Recording Technologies

Today, the ability to make high quality recordings is within the reach of anyone with a laptop and a microphone. But only a few years ago, recordings were an expensive endeavor available only to those with the financial backing of a record label. Musicians of the 21st century have access not only to recording technologies, but also to new and cutting-edge tools that are fundamentally changing how music is created, enjoyed, and disseminated. The synthesizer discussed above can be a recording technology, but there are others such as Auto-Tune.

Auto-Tune is a technique originally invented to correct for intonation mistakes in vocal performances. However, the technique quickly evolved into a new form of expression, allowing singers to add expressive flourishes to their singing. Eventually, the technique was used to turn regular speech into music, making it possible to create music out of everyday sounds. Listen to the clip below of the musical group, the Gregory Brothers, who regularly use Auto-Tune to create songs from viral Internet videos and news clips.

Ex. 1.9: Obama Mixtape

Looping is another technique that musicians now use to create music on the spot. The technique involves recording audio samples which are then repeated or “looped” over and over again to a single beat. The performer then adds new loops over the old ones to create complex musical backdrops.

A loop station can record several audio samples and loop them continuously.

Ex. 1.10: A loop station

Street musician, Dub FX demonstrates how he uses only his voice, a loop pedal, and some audio effects to replicate the effect of a full band.

Ex. 1.11: Dub Fx