(ANSI: New York) -- In auto-tune programs, notes are altered to match the nearest exact pitch. If a singer hits a note that’s just a little flat, or a little sharp, auto-tune will pull that note into the accurate pitch with the touch of a button. Generally, auto-tune is used in a way that is imperceptible to the listener, simply perfecting and polishing a performance.

Some progressive artists have been known to use auto-tune to alter pitches more dramatically to produce a nearly robotic sound. This is known as the “Cher effect,” named after Cher’s 1998 song “Believe,” the first big hit to use this technique.

The technology that makes auto-tune programs possible has had the help of a variety of standards. Covering the complexities of recorded and digital music, these standards have paved the way for today’s latest hits. Music producers rely upon many different acoustical representations, including structural, score, musical instrument digital interface (MIDI), and digital sound. A standard currently under development by IEEE, a member and accredited standards developer of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), will help to integrate these varied representations. When complete, BSR/IEEE 1599-200x—“Definition of a Commonly Acceptable Musical Application Using the XML Language,” will offer an XML application that defines a standard language for symbolic music representation in a multi-layered environment like that created by auto-tune.

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