How to Use Autotune (Pitch Correction) in FL Studio 

Auto-Tune is a unique tool that helps with pitch correction for audio. This is crucial because it eliminates pitch errors during the recording process and creates a seamless blend between the vocal and instrument track.

To autotune vocals in FL Studio
1) Import/Record vocals into the playlist
2) Insert newTone into the track on the Mixer
3) Import audio from the playlist into Newtone
4) Select the scale/key of the vocal
5) Turn the “centre” knob to the right & “variation” knob to the left
6) Export audio

How to Use newTone & Pitcher in FL Studio

1) How to Use newTone For Your Vocals

If you’re using FL Studio’s Producer or Fruity Edition, you’ll need to purchase the newTone plugin separately, as it’s exclusive to users of the signature version of FL Studio.

This tool comes with various easy-to-use features that allow you to edit audio just like you would edit MIDI on a piano roll. You can accurately modify the pitch, timing, duration, volume, and pitch fluctuations of each note in your audio file.

These capabilities are especially useful for music producers. Many FL Studio producers consider Newtone to be on par with the industry-standard Melodyne which I’ve argued is also great.

newTone is a unique autotune plugin that solely works on previously recorded audio or vocal files. It is not designed for real-time use during the recording of vocal samples.

A) Import the Vocals into FL Studio

If you’ve already recorded the vocals in the project using the DAW, the audio file will be automatically added to the playlist. There is no need to import anything.

B) Import Audio Into Newtone

After importing your audio file into the playlist, the next step is to load it into newTone. You can use either of two methods to get this done.

i) Using the Mixer

To do this, you simply need to direct the audio from the playlist to a specific “channel/Insert track” on the mixer. Begin by left-clicking on the track containing the audio in the playlist and selecting “track mode”.

Next, opt for “audio track” as your track type, as you will be working with an audio file. Lastly, choose the Channel (Insert) where you desire the audio to be routed on the mixer.

To open the mixer, click on the mixer icon in the menu bar at the top of the screen or press “fn + F9”. Once it’s open, choose the insert track where the audio is routed and click on the effect slot to add a new plugin.

To add newTone, click “select” from the plugin pop-up list and choose it.

ii) Using the Playlist

A quicker way to access your audio file in newTone is to double-left-click on the audio in the playlist. This will open the audio in a new window.

Once in this window, right-click on the waveform of the audio and select “Edit in pitch corrector” from the pop-up menu.

The duration of the analysis depends on the size of the audio file. Following the analysis, newTone will open the audio file in MIDI format. From here, pitch corrections and other adjustments can be made.

C) Select the Scale

newTone features a piano roll that functions as a guide for the correction and editing process, as well as “global settings” (center, variation, and trans) that impact all notes on the grid simultaneously.

To ensure a good output, the first step is to choose the correct musical key/scale for the vocal in the audio file before making any adjustments. Selecting the wrong key/scale can result in horrific results.

You will see options for major and minor scales. Choose the one that’s appropriate for the vocals.

D) Use Global Settings

After you select the scale, newTone will analyze each note in the audio file with respect to the scale/key of your audio and suggest the appropriate placement for each note on the grid.

For many professional singers, most of the notes will align with the suggested placements. Assuming their performance was really well-done.

The global settings have three major controls: centre, variations, and Trans. These controls allow you to correct all the notes in your audio file at once.

This can be very helpful If you need a quick turnaround. The three controls serve different functions; let’s take a look at each of them.

i) Center

To use this function, you should hold down the right mouse button and move the knob to the right. This corrects any pitch imbalances in your audio file.

ii) Variation

The yellow lines that vary in each note indicate the vibrato present in the audio. This represents the human nature of your vocals.

The variation knob is initially set at 12 o’clock, turning it to the right increases the vibrato and the wobbling effect in the notes. Conversely, turning it to the left eliminates the vibrato/variations in the notes, making them sound less human.

When using this feature, it’s best you make gentle corrections. A small adjustment to the left can remove excess vibrato, while a small adjustment to the right can add more vibrato.

These adjustments will help preserve the natural, human quality of the vocals. However, if you prefer a more robotic sound, you can modify the settings more.

iii) Trans

This controls the time between two notes—the transition time. By default, the Trans knob is turned right. Turning the knob left decreases the transition time, making the interval between notes instantaneous.

Like variation, you should use this feature carefully. Turning the knob left will eliminate the natural feel of your vocals, causing them to sound a lot more robotic. Some music producers call this the “T-pain effect.

Once you adjust the global settings as described, the pitches in the audio file will be corrected, you can now export them into the playlist.

E) Advanced Editing

If you want a more professional result when tuning vocals, it’s necessary to analyze each note individually. Although global settings can be used to adjust vocals quickly, this manual approach is more intricate.

To achieve this, start by slicing each note or word into syllables based on the grid type you’re using. Then, you can edit each note individually.

i) Slicing

To get more precise adjustments to vocal components, the initial step is to slice each note into smaller sections. This enables the modification of each syllable in a word with greater detail and specificity.

By breaking down words into syllables, you can fine-tune each one as necessary.

For audio with a 4-beat bar, select “1/4 beat”. For audio with a 3-beat bar, select “1/3 beat”. This will ensure that the audio is correctly snapped to the grid, making it easier to work with.

Once you have chosen the suitable grid type, locate the cutter icon located in the Global Settings at the upper right corner.

Click on it to activate the “cut tool”. You can now proceed with cutting the notes accordingly by right-clicking on them.

ii) Edit each Note

After completing the slicing process, it’s necessary to edit each note. To begin, ensure that you have deselected the cut tool.

Now, you can use these options to finely edit the unique features of the note, such as volume, variations/vibrato, fade in/out volume etc.

a) Volume

To adjust the volume of specific notes, you have the option to increase or decrease it beyond the default 100%.

To increase the volume, hold down the left-click button on the yellow area labelled “volume” above the note and drag the mouse upwards. To decrease the volume, simply drag the mouse downward.

b) Variation

Variation, as earlier stated, is the vibrato of the vocal. It is represented by the yellow lines passing through each note on the grid.

c) Fade In Gain and Fade Out Gain

You can increase or decrease the volume of a note at its beginning or end. The “Fade In Gain” section is highlighted in green, while the “Fade Out Gain” section is highlighted in red at the top corners of each note.

The default value is set at 100%. To make changes, simply hold down the left-click button and drag the mouse up or down in the respective areas.

d) Pitch Ramp In and Pitch Ramp Out

Like the gain at the start and end of the note, you can also modify the pitch at the beginning and end of the note.

To adjust the pitch of a note, look for the “Pitch ramp in” and “Pitch ramp out” sections highlighted in green and red at the bottom corner of the note.

The default value is 0.00%, but you can make changes by holding down the left-click button and dragging the mouse up or down in the respective areas.

e) Formant

You can use this tool to adjust the vocal frequency, allowing for changes in the level of masculinity or femininity without affecting the pitch.

By default, the value is set to 0.00. If you increase this value, the note will sound more feminine, similar to a chipmunk.

Conversely, decreasing the value will make the note sound deeper and more masculine. To make these adjustments, hold down the left click and drag the mouse up or down as desired.

F) Export Audio

After getting your desired result, You will need to export the vocal/audio file into the playlist as a separate track from the original. This is to help you compare both audio tracks.

You will need to hold down the left-click button on your mouse and drag your mouse to the specific track on the playlist you wish to send the audio.

You can also send the file directly to the playlist by clicking on the playlist icon at the top left corner in Newtone.

2) How to Use Pitcher for Your Vocals

Pitcher is a stock plugin in FL Studio for correcting pitch in real-time and manipulating vocals during and after recording.

This plugin is included in the Producer and Signature editions of FL Studio but is not available for Fruity Edition users unless they upgrade.

A) Route Audio to the Mixer

To use Pitcher for live pitch correction, it’s important to route your audio track to the mixer and add Pitcher as an effect plugin before recording.

You can also bring in audio files from your computer and add them to the playlist, then route the playlist to the mixer to utilize Pitcher.

B) Add Pitcher to Mixer

To add Pitcher as an effect plugin on the mixer, you need to route your audio file to a specific insert track first. To do this, left-click on the mixer icon at the top of the screen to open the mixer, or press fn + F9.

Now that Pitcher has been added as an effect plugin on your mixer, you can now use the tools in Pitcher for pitch corrections of your audio.

C) Select Frequency

To achieve optimal results, it’s important you choose the appropriate frequency for the vocals.

This enables Pitcher to analyze the vocal data being corrected appropriately.

D) Select the Audio Scale

Within the interface, there are three windows available for vocal frequency, scale, and key. When using pitch correction, it is important to focus on the scale type and scale/key windows.

For instance, if the vocal’s key signature is D minor, select the minor scale in the scale type window and D in the scale/key menu.

E) Adjust Retune Speed

Retune speed determines how fast the pitches in the audio file are corrected. This feature is subjective and depends on how you want the vocal to sound.

The retune speed has three major divisions: slow, medium, and fast.

If the retune speed is too fast, it can make the vocal sound robotic and eliminate the human feel, similar to the T-pain effect.

F) Vocal Fine Tune

With this tool, you can make microtonal adjustments to the pitch of your vocals. Microtones are smaller than semitones, and you can use this knob to make precise adjustments and fix minor pitch issues.

To adjust the knob, simply hold down the left mouse button and drag it up or down to add or remove microtones.

G) Formant

Like I said earlier, the formant tool is how you control how “chipmunky” it sounds.

As shown in Pitcher, an image representing a male is found on the left of the knob, and on the right of the knob is an image of a female.

You can then hold down the left mouse button and drag upwards or downwards to adjust the formant indicator towards the female or male range, respectively.

4 FL Studio-Friendly Plugins For Autotune & Pitch Correction

There are third-party plugins that can also be used for autotune and pitch correction.

Some of these are Melodyne by Celemony, Antares Autotune, MAutoPitch by Melda Productions, Waves Tune Real-Time, Graillon by Auburn Sounds, GVST GSnap, Metatune by Slate Digital and many more.

If you have any questions about the process, be sure to leave them in the comments section below. Feel free to share any tips too.

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