Are you an aspiring producer or musician looking to perfect your sound? Whether you are into EDM, pop, hip-hop, rap, trap, or any other genre, you would have likely heard of autotune. If you haven’t, you’ll be amazed at this technology.
Autotune is essentially a digital audio processing tool used for correcting pitch in vocal and instrumental performances. It works by shifting the pitches that are out of key to the nearest correct note to make sure that the performance is pitch-perfect. You can use it subtly to fix minor pitch inaccuracies or to create a distinctive “robotic” vocal effect.
An Autotune VST plugin can be a true game-changer for your sound as you can use it to change your voice, correct pitch, and create unique sound effects. With so many impressive options out there, selecting the right one that suits your needs can be quite challenging. In this blog, you will get to know all about Autotune and some of the best Autotune VST plugins.
How does Autotune work?
In 1997, a company called Antares introduced the world to the concept of Autotune. This was the very first audio plugin that was capable of changing the pitch of vocals and instruments without producing any distortion or artifacts.
Since Autotune was introduced, producers, musicians, and sound engineers began to experiment with the technology. The 1998 hit “Believe” by Cher often gets the credit for popularising the “0 retune speed” robotic effect. At an extremely short retune speed, the pitch correction tends to become unnatural-sounding but it is a desired effect that has inspired a whole new style of vocal production. Further, it has also ended up becoming a hallmark of numerous modern music genres like trap.
In the 2000s, musicians like T-Pain further popularized autotune even further, with others like Kanye West and Lil Wayne catching on. Today, you can hear the autotune sound throughout the music industry in various music genres. But how does Autotune work?
If you look at an analog signal or waveform, it’ll look like a smooth, continuous line. In the digital world, the analog waveform gets broken down into numerous samples at equal points along the waveform. The closer the samples are together, the higher will be the quality of the digital sound. This is called the “sample rate”.
Autotune is a technology that works by altering the duration of individual digital samples. It then changes the pitch of the sample in a way such that the sample hits both the correct frequency and maintains the original duration. This results in a natural-sounding waveform even though it has been altered digitally.
The entire process requires advanced mathematics known as Short Time Fourier Transform. It can be used for pitching correct instruments like guitars that might be out of tune. Further, you can even shift the format of vocals to make them seem deeper or higher (chipmunk-like).
With that said, autotune has become one of the most essential free VST plugins in the arsenal of a musician or producer.
Best Free Autotune VST Plugins in 2024
If you wish to have the most authentic autotune sound, it would be a great idea to go for Antares. With that said, it is quite an expensive plugin, especially if you are starting out or want to experiment with the sound a bit.
However, did you know there are a number of exciting free alternatives you can go for?
Luckily, there are a number of free Autotune VST Plugins for real-time pitch correction out there. Here are some of the best free Autotune VST Plugins in 2024 –
#1. Voloco
Voloco by Resonant Cavity counts as one of the best free Autotune VST plugins for creative effects. The plugin’s presets include exciting 8-bit-style and Daft Punk-style vocals alongside many others that add a unique and artificial timbre to your productions.
Unlike some of the other free options on this list, Voloco by Resonant Cavity adds a lot more than just pitch correction to the audio signal. For instance, the 8-bit and Daft Punk modes add gate-like effects and LFO volume modulation to your vocals.
The Voloco team has designed this plugin specifically for achieving that over-the-top T-Pain or Cher-esque sound, making it an extremely creative tool that is a lot more than just a fine pitch corrector.
Some of the other Voloco features tend to include sorting of wet/dry control for changing the amount of affected signal and locking to a major/minor scale.
#2. MAuto Pitch
MeldaProduction, a popular audio plugin company used by Deadmau5 created a completely free and functioning autotune plugin.
This Autotune VST plugin gives you options like depth, speed, and detune, which are standard features on most pitch correctors.
The Depth option controls exactly how much effect the VST plugin has on the entire sound. Meanwhile, the Detune option will push the pitch of the sound up/down for sharp fine-tuning purposes.
The speed knob controls exactly how fast MAutoPitch responds to out-of-tune notes. If you are looking for smoother sounds, utilizing a low-speed value will help you make sure that the transitions between notes are not jumpy and fake-sounding.
Otherwise, if you’re looking for something a bit closer to the T-Pain sound, you will have to turn the speed up very high such that it ends up skipping quickly from one note to the next.
The most amazing thing about this plugin is that similar to how a lot of Melda’s works, there are a number of bonus features that come with this plugin.
For instance, MAutoPitch also includes the effects rack video. With that, you’ll be able to control how heavy the effects work on sounds with the dry-wet knob, spread the stereo image using the width function, and shift the formants.
Shifting formants make the sound seem deeper and much more “masculine” sounding or higher and much more “feminine” sounding. However, you’ll have to be careful as if you alter the formant too much, you might end up altering its pitch.
This can be achieved by trying to imitate exactly how the human vocal tract works and the shape of the singer’s mouth when singing via complex filters. Formant shifting also has a huge influence on vowel sounds and consonants.
A visual detector will display exactly what notes are getting detected by the plugin and a scale function will allow you to select what scale of music you are on. This way, MAutoPitch will only shift the pitch to the perfect notes as per the key your track is in.
Moreover, included here is a limiter. This feature will help keep the sound below the 0 dB threshold such that it does not clip.
The wealth of features that come with MAutoPitch alongside the high functionality and easy interface help make this free Autotune VST plugin something that you’d want to have in your autotuning arsenal.
#3. GSnap
One of the most original free pitch correction plugins out there, Graham Yeadon’s GSnap still ranks as one of the elite autotune VST plugins. This is partly due to its unique ability to adjust notes as per MIDI that you can feed into it.
For instance, if you wish to correct a vocalist’s notes, you’ll be able to play their part on your piano, feed MIDI notes from the piano and into the plugin, and GSnap will simply use these notes as a guide to where it will correct.
Not many other plugins are capable of doing this and it is an incredibly powerful and advantageous plugin that you can use. A very simple and easy visual interface on the left of the VST plugin will show how GSnap is fixing the sounds.
The original sound will be in red and the adjusted notes tend to get highlighted in green. This is the perfect way to help you figure out how to fine-tune the sound and for knowing what is going on. Twelve fully adjustable knobs will allow for precise editing.
Further, this autotune VST plugin will allow you to add vibrato and adjust the speed. This is something that isn’t seen in most other plugins, such as MAuto Pitch for instance.
Vibrato is essentially an up-and-down pitch and volume effect that makes the singer sound more organic and talented. Further, it works well across various genres when used correctly.
Gate is also included in the detection section as it is a unique way to control exactly how much effect GSnap has on the sound. It can easily get adjusted such that GSnap only has an effect on the louder or quieter parts if necessary.
As GSnap is popular among experienced producers for its versatility, easy interface, and MIDI feed options, it is quite easy to see that this free Autotune VST Plugin is well worth a grab.
#4. KeroVee
The reputed Japan-based g200kg company released KeroVee in 2010 and it is still used to this day for deep pitch correction adjustment. What this Autotune plugin lacks in extreme robotic effects, it makes up for that with ultra-precise pitch adjustment capabilities that are much better than most free Autotune VST plugins out there.
Similar to GSnap, there is also an easy scaled interface present on the left side such that you’re able to see exactly what this plugin is doing and respond accordingly.
To the right of this block, you’ll be able to click which notes of the scale you wish KeroVee to adjust to. The selected notes would have a green block beside them whereas the deselected notes would be black.
Just like GSnap, you’ll be able to route MIDI notes to KeroVee for the plugin and use it as a guide. This is a significant function as it will let you tell KeroVee exactly which notes the vocalist needs to be on, with a large set of knobs for further customization.
Unique to KeroVee is the nuance parameter and it allows you to either keep or ignore subtle pitch changes like natural vibrato from the singer. Typical on most autotune plugins, you’ll be able to get a “TuneSpeed” knob that controls how fast the VST would fix the incoming audio.
The calib function will control the overall pitch of the sound. At the bottom will be important features like pitch and format shifting, fine tuning for precision work, and volume knobs and panning.
If you are after a free autotune VST plugin that is tailor-made for fine adjustments of vocals instead of the harsh and noticeable effect, KeroVee will be a tremendous place to start.
#5. X42 Auto-Tune
X42 Auto-Tune is a simple, easy-to-use autotuner based on the zita-at1 by Fons Adriaensen. It is much better if you’re using it as a light tonal fixer over a robotic autotuner.
This VST plugin works by resampling the material fed into it and looping the signal. It doesn’t have any formal correction capabilities. This is why its uses don’t actually come from transposing a track but from the subtle adjustments to vocals.
Although the X42 Auto-Tune comes with a specific set of sounds that it can perform, when you’re able to use it correctly, it will do a tremendous job.
As with KeroVee and GSnap, it can easily be fed MIDI from which it automatically adjusts the vocal notes to. Otherwise, you’ll be able to input a fixed set of notes from any musical key so that the program can respond to them.
Even though it shares a few similarities with other plugins, there are certain unique features that the X42 has that others do not.
The “Bias” parameter will let the vocals stay on their current note for a longer period of time rather than moving quickly to one of your selected notes irrespective of whether they are in tune or not. It will allow for much more off-tune and natural singing sounds.
Further, it also includes a unique offset parameter that adjusts exactly how far the vocalist is able to venture from the predesigned notes.
Similar to the bias parameter, it allows you to keep a few minor mistakes of the vocalist to deliver a much more organic-sounding performance.
What this Autotune VST Plugin lacks in sparkly design, formant features, and variability in sound adjustment, it’ll make up for with different unique parameters and fine MIDI control of missed notes.
#6. Autotalent
Do not be fooled by the simple interface of this plugin, Autotalent by Oli Larkin is an extremely well-designed, fully functioning autotune and pitch correction VST.
You’ll be able to use it for full-on robotic autotune or light pitch correction while also containing chiptune effects.
It comes with all your typical parameters required in an autotune plugin while also allowing for smoothing, subtle pitch shifting to a full formant editing function.
With Autotalent, you’ll be able to set notes on the piano scale to -1 for notes that you wish to exclude or 0 for notes that you don’t want to singer or instrument to play.
Unlike any other free Autotune VST plugin, Autotalent comes with an extensive LFO and vibrato section. You will be able to use this section for adding vibrato, skill, and confidence into the singer’s performance.
The LFO can be used for adding a unique chiptune effect to the instrument or vocal. Chiptune describes the sound that appears to come from early gaming consoles.
Despite a lacking interface, Autotalent provides a wealth of robotic and smooth autotune options and unique LFO section. If you’re after this type of versatility and wish to try the plugin-specific LFO module, you must give Autotalent a try.
#7. AAS Autotune
Next up, there is an interface-less plugin called AAS Autotune by Arguru. Without any user interface, you will have a specific set of parameters working at once. You can make use of AAS Autotune to achieve the classic and harsh T-Pain effect on your vocals.
This is a robotic, fast-moving sound that comes in handy in certain situations but it works tremendously when it is needed, such as hip-hop songs that utilize purposefully autotuned vocals as an effect.
#8. TrapTune Free Edition
Last but not least, there is TrapTune by UnitedPlugins. This is a robust modern plugin that includes real-time pitch correction, delay, reverb, doubling, and distortion. This is a one-stop shop for trap vocals that ended up skyrocketing in popularity and became the go-to option for many artists.
The free edition automatically unlocks once you have downloaded the full version. You might lose out on certain controls that the paid version has but it is still a fun, powerful tool for vocals.
#9. Graillon 2
No list of free Autotune VST Plugins, free or otherwise, will be complete without the free version of Graillon 2 by Auburn Sounds.
From first glance, you will notice an extremely beautiful vintage-looking interface with large fonts and a standout color scheme that makes it quite easy to navigate. An easy central waveform display will show you where the current note of the sound is, as well as where Graillon 2 has been correcting it.
Behind the eye-catching, functional design is a well-programmed plugin capable of performing both heavy autotune and fine pitch correction flawlessly.
For quick and easy use, you should just add it as an insert on the desired channel and turn on the correction. To adjust, you should utilize the critical “inertia” knob as the speed knob mentioned previously. This will help reduce pitch correction jumps by helping the notes stick.
You need to be extremely careful with this function as certain notes might stick for too long, ultimately altering the melody altogether.
If you are looking for a robotic sound, you need to adjust the “smooth” knob of the correction module. It will control exactly how fast or how slow the sound jumps from one note to the other.
Another helpful feature that comes with Graillon 2 is the “bitcrusher” area present on the left side. It will help make the voice “growl” and reinforce the bass portion of monophonic pitched sounds. This function is unique to Graillon 2.
Through proper adjustment of the quantize and reduction knobs, you’ll be able to get sounds that are heavily distorted.
Graillon 2 even doubles down as a pitch-shifting plugin with a pitch wheel present on the bottom left. There is even an option to keep the formats of the track alongside it, which changes the artist’s perceived vocal tract shape and the shape of their mouth while singing.
If you are after a smoother effect, it would be best to change the pitch and the formants at the same time. Further included will be convenient knobs like dry/wet for overall effect adjustment, an adjustable output gain meter, and a low-cut filter.
Since Graillon 2 can be referred to as a proverbial Swiss army knife in the autotune realm, it is capable of most features, with a beautiful interface, a bitcrusher, growl sound capabilities, and more.
If you are looking for flawless all-around functionality with bonus features, Graillon 2 will be your best option.
What to consider when searching for a free Autotune VST?
There are certain points that you need to go over when deciding which autotune and pitch correction plugins you can go for. Most importantly, where will you be using these tools?
If you’re producing music for a genre outside EDM that might require more organic sounds, you will require an autotune plugin that is designed for smoother and more subtle pitch-correction. This way, you will simply be making minor corrections that won’t be heard by the audience and will sound natural.
Hence, to keep the sound’s organic feel, you should look for a pitch correction plugin with a transparent audio engine that will not color the sound too much. This will guarantee a smooth, seamless, and untouched sound for your acoustic needs.
Meanwhile, if you have to produce rap, hip-hop, trap, or electronic genres, you will need to consider an autotune VST plugin that allows you to draw in the notes that you want the singer/instrument to hit.
Further, you may require effects that allow you to customize the voice, such as MIDI input, formant control, and more. This way, you’ll be able to jump up and down in volume and pitch.
This means that there are clearly several things you must consider before you choose which Autotune VST plugin is ideal for you.