Jay-Z may have declared auto-tune dead, but T-Pain – alongside partners Antares and Smule – is now spreading the concept to the masses. Over the weekend, T-Pain delivered his much-anticipated auto-tune iPhone app, one decked in self-correcting glory.
The ‘I Am T-Pain’ app is available for $2.99, a bit expensive in app-world but definitely a good time. And this is a genuine auto-tune experience, thanks to the presence of Antares. Smule brings its successful multimedia app development experience, a pedigree that includes Ocarina and Leaf Trombone.
The result is a karaoke-style application with a twist – instead of a straight sing-along, amateur vocals are recorded and played back in the classic auto-tune style. Then, the results can be posted to Facebook, MySpace, or shared via email.
Gimmicky? Of course, but that’s the whole point – just like so many other iPhone apps. But T-Pain is adopting the Smule philosophy by charging users right at the gate. And, even after the initial download charge, users are invited to download extra sing-a-long tracks for 99-cents each.
