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7 Best Autotune Software & Pitch Correction VSTs for 2024

Allow me to set a scene: You work in recording, and editing vocals is a standard part of your job. 

You work with a wide variety of clients, with varying skill sets and strengths. It’s a statistical inevitability that some vocalists are going to be – how should we put this – less ‘gifted’ than others! 

Being the good audio engineer/producer you are, you will encourage all your clients to work towards the best take they can possibly get (time allowing). 

However, the sooner you accept you will have to put in extensive post-production work with these clients, the better.

Luckily, with today’s standard autotune software and pitch correction software, you will be able to create a finished product league beyond your client’s best raw takes. 

In this article, we’ll explore:

  • What to look for in ideal autotune software
  • 7 of the best autotune software and pitch correction plugins available today.

Let’s get into it!

7 Best Autotune Software for 2023

There are hundreds of different types of autotune software and pitch correction plugins out there. 

However, don’t mistake quantity for quality! 

When you’re investing in some reasonably expensive software, you need to know exactly what you’re getting for your money. 

That’s where we come in. At present, the best autotune software online and pitch correction plugins include:

Top Choices

  1. Nectar 3 – iZotope
  2. Soundtrap with Antares
  3. Waves Tune – Waves
  4. Auto-Tune Pro – Antares
  5. Revoice Pro 4 – Synchro Arts
  6. Melodyne – Celemony
  7. Newtone – FL Studio

1. Nectar 3 – iZotope

Nectar 3 - iZotope
Nectar 3 – iZotope

In some cases, using autotune is as easy as punching in the key and how much processing you want to be done to the vocals. Nectar 3 is the perfect example. You can easily set the key and control how heavily correction is applied. But you are also given the option to write in MIDI the notes that the vocal line is supposed to follow. With the number of features included in Nectar 3, this plugin can easily become your one-stop-shop for all of your vocal production needs. 

If you would like to learn more, take a look at our in-depth review of Nectar 3 and its features here.

  • Correction Strength Control: Yes
  • Key Detection: Not Detection Only
  • Snap to Note: No
  • Real-Time: Yes

Price:

System Requirements:

  • Mac
    • 10.11.6 – 10.15
  • Windows
    • 7 – 10

2. Soundtrap with Antares

Soundtrap with Antares
Soundtrap with Antares

The best online DAW that you can find is Soundtrap. It is completely held on your browser and sets you up with all of the tools you need as well as providing useful guides as you progress in your craft. Within this workstation, you get access to their own autotune which is actually by Antares. Because of their involvement with Soundstrap, you gain access to their flagship product Auto-Tune Pro.

Price: There are multiple subscription modes that include Antares Auto-Tune. Below are the monthly subscription examples. If you sign up for a yearly subscription you do receive a discount. 

System Requirements: An Up to Date Browser

3. Waves Tune – Waves

Waves Tune - Waves
Waves Tune – Waves

There is no contesting the abilities of Waves plugins, especially Waves Tune. You have a super simple and easy-to-use interface with all of the tools you could ever need. Beyond the simplicity of Nectar 3’s autotune, this has to be the simplest vocal correctional software out there.

One of the greatest advantages of Waves Tune is its ability to correct pitch within 0 to 4 ms of the singer’s live recording.

  • Correction Strength Control: Yes
  • Key Detection: No
  • Snap to Note: Yes
  • Real-Time: No

Price: 

  • Waves Tune – $249
  • Waves Tune LT – $99

System Requirements: 

  • Mac
    • 10.12.6 – 10.1
  • Windows
    • 10 (64 BIT)

4. Auto-Tune Pro – Antares

Auto-Tune Pro - Antares
Auto-Tune Pro – Antares

The OG of all Auto-Tune and where the term “Auto-Tune” originated. Twenty years of creation and numerous UI updates have set them up for success even beyond the technical capabilities of their software. Whether you want to fine-tune vocals and use some of the extreme vocal bending abilities of the software, Antares goes beyond the simple note and pitch correction with built-in presets to create sounds and effects that cater to different genres. Pop, Hip Hop, R&B, as well as Rock all utilize sounds like this in some way. 

  • Correction Strength Control: Yes
  • Key Detection: Yes (In Pro)
  • Snap to Note: Yes
  • Real-Time: Yes

Price: 

System Requirements: 

  • Mac
    • 10.11 – 10.15
  • Windows
    • 8.1 – 10

5. Revoice Pro 4 – Synchro Arts

Revoice Pro 4 - Synchro Arts
Revoice Pro 4 – Synchro Arts

If you are very technically minded and like to work with every minute detail, Revoice Pro 4 is the best choice for you. It is an extremely powerful software that allows you to find every possible detail of a vocal and edit it from the general pitch, to even lining up the timing of multiple vocal lines. The bonus is that Revoice Pro 4 has the ability to fully integrate into many DAWS seamlessly.

To learn more about Revoice Pro 4, take a look at our review of it available for you here.

  • Correction Strength Control: Yes
  • Key Detection: Yes
  • Snap to Note: Yes
  • Real-Time: No

Price: $599.00

System Requirements:

  • Mac
    • 10.7 or Higher
  • Windows
    • 7, 8, or 10

6. Melodyne – Celemony

Melodyne - Celemony
Melodyne – Celemony

I have a bit of experience using Melodyne on vocals and it works similarly to the way Waves Tune does. It works on a graph with each note being able to be sliced and moved independently with tools to blend transitions that you can add in. This makes minute editing simple and efficient once you have established your workflow on Melodyne.

  • Correction Strength Control: Yes
  • Key Detection: With the Scale Detective you can determine the mode and scale your song is in. 
  • Snap to Note: Yes
  • Real-Time: Yes

Price: 

System Requirements: 

  • Mac
    • 10.2 or Higher
  • Windows
    • 10 or higher

7. Newtone – FL Studio

Newtone - FL Studio
Newtone – FL Studio

Sometimes the best pitch correction option for you is held within one specific DAW. Such is the case with Newtone from FL Studio. Newtone is their version of pitch correction software that comes with a similar layout to Melodyne and Waves Tune. It does not come with FL Studio itself but is a separate purchase. That being said, it is an extremely low price in comparison to the other pitch correction options out there compatible with FL Studio. 

  • Correction Strength Control: Yes
  • Key Detection: No
  • Snap to Note: Yes
  • Real-Time: No

Price: $99

System Requirements: 

  • Mac
    • 10.13.6 or later
  • Windows
    • 8.1, 10, or later

Factors to Consider When Choosing Autotune Software

There are 2 different ways to look at autotune as a program. There is the effect side as well as the correctional side. All of the plugins and software we have listed in this article will work perfectly to get the correctional side finished for your tracks. They pull the notes of the singer into place and you use the program to smooth it out. If you are looking simply to have the sound of the effect of autotune, your choices become narrowed down. Here are what each of these options is best for, as well as what other factors you want to consider when purchasing your autotune software.

Pricing

Autotune software is going to be some of the most expensive software you will get for music production. Depending on the genres your studio primarily works with, you may or may not need to have high-quality pitch correction software in your toolbox. That being said, if you are wanting to work with as many genres as possible, some form of autotune is going to be a necessity. 

Compatibility – System Requirements

Most autotune software will require a high amount of processing power from your pc. With that knowledge, you can create a duplicate of your vocal track (so you can save the original in case you need to backtrack). With this duplicate, you can make the necessary changes to the pitch and then commit them to the track. This method will help cut down on the CPU power required because you have eliminated the additional processing of the pitch corrections. 

DAW Compatibility

Finding an autotune software compatible with your DAW is not a difficult task (especially when you check out a list like this). However, there are some DAWs that have their own autotune type of software that you can get as an add-on. Some examples of autotune plugins that exclusively work with a specific DAW are Newtone and Sountrap

Frequency of Use

Like I mentioned in the pricing, how often you use an autotune type of software will depend on what your studio works in. If your studio is best when it comes to mixing and then sending the sessions elsewhere for mixing and editing, you won’t have much need for any pitch correction. But if you work with Pop, Rap, and vocal-heavy styles, you will often end up using autotune in some aspect whether it is in the preproduction in the scratch tracks or the final product itself.

Sometimes it is not so much of a correctional issue to the vocals as it is a stylistic addition. Look at T-Pain and Cher. Both of them used autotune as an effect on their voices and it has become their vocal style. Neither of them necessarily needed help with their vocal ability, but they liked the sound they got from the outcome of using heavy autotune. 

Skill Level

Using autotune or any pitch correction software can be difficult and tedious when you first get started – especially if you are uninformed of the details of the song. It is important you have details such as key and tempo so you can make sure you make any changes within the parameters of the song. 

Final Words

As long as there are vocalists, there will be autotune. Some view that as a sad fact, others see it as a way to increase creativity. I try to sit in the middle of it all. Autotune and pitch correction is great, but you have to be careful when and where you use them.

I like to push the vocalist to sing it correctly on their own and perform minor tweaks when working on a song. If the goal is to give the track a certain type of vibe on the vocals, I will bring in the autotune. Even with just using autotune as an effect, it will sound cleaner when used with a better vocal take than layered over top of an out-of-tune one. 

We hope all of this was helpful and set you up for success. You cannot go wrong with any of these choices when you are looking at getting a hold of a new autotune plugin. If you would like to learn more about autotune and other types of plugins just check out what we have to say here.

How Do I Use It Online?

Use Soundtrap. They have built in Antares AutoTune, available online.

How much are autotune plugins?

They certainly vary. Some are as much as $600, and some are free. You certainly get what you pay for, and these days you can rent to own some of the best autotune plugins, like Nectar 3 from iZotope.

How can I tell if an autotune VST is compatible with my DAW?

Most top autotune plugins are compatible with all major music production software. Although some are built for a specific DAW, like Newtone from FL Studio. There are also various types of plugins, like VST, VST3, AU, and more. Be sure to check the product specifications before making a purchase.

What’s the difference between autotune and pitch correction?

Pitch correction is the manual alteration of individual notes, predominantly used when working with vocal arrangements. 

Autotune is an automated version of pitch correction based on a predefined scale; notes that differ to this scale are shifted to match the pitch of the nearest note in the scale.

Can autotune software fix any vocals?

Autotune can do a great job at tweaking a vocalist’s performance if there are a few pitch discrepancies. 

However, it can’t improve a vocalist’s singing ability – an overreliance on autotune can create synthetic feeling performances that don’t fix vocals as much as just changing them.

Soundtrap by Spotify FREE Trial

Soundtrap is available as a completely online DAW powerful enough to produce music at a professional level. The Studio makes projects are available as collaborative efforts for band members or producers. An affordable option, that comes with a 30-day free trial.