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X Factor blasted after admitting to auto-tuning auditions

By Sarah Karmali on Monday 23 August 2010

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X Factor blasted with auto-tuning accusations - autotune, auto-tune, autotuning, doctoring, tweaking, tampering, voices, audtions, auditionees, conestants, suspected, alter, change, better, progamme, saturday, row, complaints, Twitter, Facebook, online, c

Uh oh. The X Factor was back on our screens on Saturday night, but the annual talent show has already come under fire for suspected use of auto-tuning on the judge’s favourite contestants - to make their voices sound
better.

SEE MORE OF THE COLOURFUL CHARACTERS TO BRAVE THE AUDITION ROUNDS HERE!

Complaints started pouring in after the show’s broadcast this weekend, with hundreds of angry fans posting messages on Facebook, Twitter and the official X Factor websites.

And now politicians and music industry experts have been left fuming, after a spokesperson for the programme admitted that sound is ‘edited and dubbed’ in post-production.

‘The judges make their decisions at the audition stage based on what they hear on the day, live in the arena,’ they said.

‘The footage and sound is then edited and dubbed into a finished programme, to deliver the most entertaining experience possible for viewers.’

Suspicions of voice-doctoring first arose with judge’s favourite, 18-year-old Gamu Nhengu, from Zimbabwe – who’s rendition of Walking On Sunshine seemed noticeably different from original preview tapes.

Other contestants including G & C’s Caroline – who was forced to ditch partner Peter in order to get through to the next round – and Shirlena Johnson, who performed her take on Duffy’s Mercy – are also thought to have been tweaked with auto-tuning to make them sound more favourable to audiences.

‘What a con', one angry watcher wrote on Facebook. ‘Do the producers think our ears are that easily lied to? The whole point is to disseminate the good from the bad.’

‘Thank God I’m not the only one who’s noticed this,’ posted another. ‘To be honest it shocks me how a ‘singing competition’ can deceive it’s listeners in this way.’

Another X Factor spokesperson also conceded that tampering had taken place, saying: ‘This is not used in the live shows but purely for the audition phase. It has always been part of the show for pre-recorded items.’

‘Whether people are more savvy to auto-tuning now than they have been, we're not sure. Every contestant is treated in the same way, if they have a dreadful voice, they still have a dreadful voice.’

 Auto-tuning technology is commonly used in studios to improve the sound of vocals, by correcting pitching mistakes.

One music industry insider has said that the technique is often used on American television talent shows in particular - but that normally the audience wouldn’t be able to tell, unless it was used in a particularly obvious way.

What do you think of the X Factor’s apparent use of auto-tuning? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below!

SEE MORE OF THE COLOURFUL CHARACTERS TO BRAVE THE AUDITION ROUNDS HERE!

SEE ALL THE PICS FROM THE X FACTOR 2010 SO FAR

Monday 23 August 2010

Have your say ...

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I think it's unfair to be honest Because i got a NO at my audition at the producers round and they get through and use autotune on the rubbish acts and the people that were good get sent home!
Comment by Rebecca Cooper on August 23 12:16

Come on now everyone, isnt this suppose to be a comedy show. how can anyone take such a programme so serious, you cant tell me everyone doesnt have a laugh at the people that audition, a lot of them just want to be on TV and this programme is their opportunity, so let them have their moment of fame, as for the auto tuning maybe is they didnt do that they wouldnt have many going through.
I have to admit the auditions are my favourite!!
So come on laugh and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Yvonne on August 23 12:38

I think it's ridiculous to use Autotune on a talent competition at all. The thing I liked the most about the X-Factor was finding unique and raw talent (Leona's audition in front of the judges only for example).

Regardless of what show bosses say, autotune does not produce a more "favourable sound" to the viewers ... it in fact detracts from the performers' natural talent and instead they all sound a little samey with the same awful electronic twang to their voices. The fact that they are prepared to use something which corrects flaws in pitch is ludicrous because if someone can't sing in tune then they cannot sing ...

Despite saying that Autotune is not used in live shows I would have to disagree. Last seasons x-factor featured several "all-together" numbers performed by all of the contestants and the same generic sound was produced then (particularly noticeable on the voices of female contestants such a Lucie Jones)..

I think by using autotune they are ruining the whole concept of the show and should revert to the more simplistic auditions (the judges and the crew in a room) and ditch the editing post-production...

Comment by Holly on August 23 12:41

Perhaps Rebecca Cooper is suffering a case of sour grapes?

However, I do think the use of auto-tuning in any situation is an abomination. Heaven forbid we might actually find someone with REAL talent rather than somone that Simon Cowel deems to "look right" for the part.
Comment by Jenni on August 23 13:22

So do you all think that if Autotune wasnt used for the Spice Girls and even Cheryl they would have been as big as they were - dont think so. The people that can really sing and keep in tune should be through. What I cant understand is how they show us some of them in their home or place of work that are going to audition, how do they know who is going to appear in front of the judges before they have even got through the first couple of stages. Most of them are already been chosen and they also know who will be the final 12 even at this stage.
Comment by Betsy on August 23 13:27

I agree with betsy. The team must scout people out in clubs and myspace and stuff and ask them to go on the show otherwise how on earth do they get to choose the most 'entertaining' out of that huge crowd of people waiting to audition. It all seems to be fixed.

However it is till entertaining so there's no point in everyone taking this issue so seriously they probably autotune the ones that are good just for producton purposes. I don't see the harm in it since they would have sounded good anyway. i
Comment by Fifi on August 23 14:36

When a show starts to think it can do as it likes and treat it's viewers like dummies all credibility flies out the window. I'll do my voting with my remote, and "choose" to watch something else. X Factor has now become the Forget it Factor! Join me in voting with your remote too!
Comment by Murray on August 23 16:48

Im an old foodie and muso. Sorry but what I heard on Saturday night (sad person infront of the TV) was worrying as I detected some strange 'drop' sounds' Confirmed in the press today. We are being duped so that S Cowell can line his pockets. JLS apparently allegedly had the same treatment at some stage in the X factor, so I heard on the radio this morning. But as soon as you go pro with a contract anything and everything goes.
Comment by Dezza on August 23 18:43

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