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Auto-tuning for musical fun times is all the rage these days. Let’s face it, auto-tuning is fantastically fun, improves days and makes babies smile.

Shortly after seeing this video from the team behind College Humor and Busted Tees I resolved to learn how to auto-tune my voice for office fun times.

I did a Google search and found a plugin for Garageband. This auto-tuning software gives you some awesome features and control over the tuning and vocal effects. If you’re a pro, I suggest going for this package. But, if, like me, you’re just going for the laugh, here’s a setup you can do on the cheap - well cheap, assuming you already own a Mac and have a copy of Garageband handy.

You can use the internal microphone on any Mac for recording auto-tuned vocals, but I suggest you get an external microphone for best results and being able to auto-tune live. I had a twenty-dollar microphone laying around.

Getting Started

When you open Garageband you should see figure 1. Select “New Project“ in the sidebar and “Voice“ as the instrument. Now click “Choose“.

Step 2

You will now see a dialog like figure 2. Name this project “autotune“ and leave the “Tempo“, Signature“ and “Key“ options default.

Now you will see the main Garageband window like figure 3.

Step 4

I use the “Male Basic“ track, but if you are a girl, you might want the “Female Basic“. Whichever you choose, make sure it’s selected.

Step 5

Let’s get our auto-tune on. Click on the “Track Editor“ icon in the lower left corner of Garageband, it looks like figure 4. This will reveal the “Track Editor“ (figure 5).

Step 6

In the “Track Editor“ there is an option called “Enhance Tuning“. Slide it all the way to 100% and check the box below it labeled “Limit to Key“.

Step 7

Now we need to edit our instrument a bit to get the sound we really want. Click on the “View/Hide Track Info“ button in the lower right-hand corner as seen in figure 6. This will display the “Track Info“ panel (figure 7). Under the “Browse“ tab you will need to choose your “Input Source“. And if you have an external microphone, switch “Monitor“ to “On“, which allows you to hear what you sing live, as opposed to recording first and playing back (which is way less funny). Also, make sure to slide your “Recording Level“ to max as seen in figure 8.

All done!

Last step: Switch to the “Edit“ tab in the “Track Info“ panel, and at the bottom of the panel under “Sends“, increase your “Echo“ to around 30% and the “Reverb“ to 100% as seen in figure 9.

One more thing…

Now all that is left is to start auto-tuning around your office, try singing normal conversations with your co-workers, it does not get old as fast as you think.

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