Now Reading: Sonu Nigam admits using auto-tune, says digitised recording demands it
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Sonu Nigam admits using auto-tune, says digitised recording demands it
Sonu Nigam admits using auto-tune, says digitised recording demands it
Singer Sonu Nigam has said he uses auto-tune on some of his songs because modern digitised recording demands precise pitch, unlike the era of live sarangi and strings. Speaking on Komal Nahta’s…
The Story in Brief
Singer Sonu Nigam has said he uses auto-tune on some of his songs because modern digitised recording demands precise pitch, unlike the era of live sarangi and strings. Speaking on Komal Nahta’s Game Changers podcast, Nigam called the auto-tune era good overall but stressed it cannot replace raw talent. He said singers should give 99% performance and use the tool only to reach 100%. He also cautioned against using it to fix non-singers, though he supported actors using it to fulfil their dreams. Nigam recently sang 'Tabassum' from the film Batwara 1947, composed by AR Rahman.
The Indian Opinion
Auto-tune is often framed as a crutch for the talentless, but Sonu Nigam’s admission reframes it as a production necessity in a digitised era. The lazy narrative pits 'pure' live singing against 'fake' processed vocals, ignoring that earlier live recordings also allowed pitch flexibility. Nigam draws a sensible line: auto-tune polishes 99%, it cannot create a singer from zero. The real test will be whether audiences can tell the difference in a concert setting.
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
