STARR TUNE guide

How to use STARR TUNE

STARR TUNE is a free vocal tuning plugin for Windows and Mac. This guide gets it into your DAW and gives you starting settings for a natural tune or a hard autotune sound. Lee esta guía en español.

1. Install it

First download? Get the free installer from the STARR TUNE page. Already have it? Get the newest version from STARR TUNE updates, no signup needed.

  1. Save your project and close your DAW.
  2. Run the installer for your computer. Windows 10 or later installs VST3 and AAX. macOS 11 or later installs AU, VST3 and AAX for Apple Silicon and Intel.
  3. Reopen your DAW. If STARR TUNE is not in the plugin list yet, rescan your plugins (steps below).

2. Put it on your vocal

Insert STARR TUNE on the vocal track, early in the chain, before effects like reverb and delay. Tuning a dry vocal gives the cleanest result.

FL Studio

Open the Mixer, select the insert your vocal is routed to, click an empty effect slot and choose STARR TUNE. If it is missing, open Options, then Manage plugins, and choose Find installed plugins.

Ableton Live

In the browser, open Plug-Ins, find STARR TUNE and drag it onto your vocal track. If it is missing, open Settings, then Plug-Ins, turn on the VST3 system folders (Windows) or Audio Units (Mac) and choose Rescan.

Logic Pro

On the vocal channel, click an Audio FX slot, open Audio Units and pick STARR TUNE. If it is missing, open the Plug-in Manager in Logic settings and choose Reset & Rescan Selection.

Pro Tools

Click an insert on the vocal track and find STARR TUNE in the plugin menu. Pro Tools finds new AAX plugins when it starts, so quit and reopen Pro Tools after installing.

Studio One, Cubase, Reaper, GarageBand and others

Rescan VST3 or AU plugins in your DAW's plugin settings, then insert STARR TUNE on the vocal track. GarageBand on Mac uses the AU version.

3. Set the key

Set Root to the key note of your song and Scale to Major or Minor. Click the middle of either selector to choose from a list, or use the arrows to step. Do not know the key? Choose Chromatic: every note becomes a target and the vocal moves to the nearest semitone. Setting the real key usually sounds cleaner.

4. Pick your sound

Speed sets how fast a note moves to pitch, from 1 to 100 ms. Lower is faster and harder. Amount sets how far it moves, from 0 to 100%. These are starting points; adjust by ear.

  • Hard autotune for rap, trap and melodic hip hop: Speed 1 to 5 ms, Amount 100%.
  • Modern pop and R&B polish: Speed 10 to 25 ms, Amount 90 to 100%.
  • Natural tuning for worship, gospel and singer songwriter vocals: Speed 40 to 80 ms, Amount 40 to 80%.
  • Default: Speed 30 ms, Amount 100%, a solid middle ground.

5. Formants

Leave Formants on to keep the natural tone of the voice when notes move. Turning it off lets the tone move with the pitch, which can sound more processed on big corrections.

6. Recording or mixing

For mixing, STARR TUNE adds about 56 ms of delay, and most DAWs compensate for it automatically during playback. Start at 44.1 or 48 kHz with a 512 sample buffer.

For recording, switch on Low latency so you can hear yourself through the tuner. The delay drops to about 22 ms. It expects the voice to stay above about 80 Hz (E2); below that the correction eases toward your dry voice. Lower your audio buffer as far as your computer allows while you record.

7. Levels and window size

Use Input to set a healthy level into the tuner and Output to match the level after it. Choose a window size from 50% to 200%, or Fit screen, from the plugin menu.

Troubleshooting

  • STARR TUNE is not in my plugin list. Close and reopen your DAW, then rescan plugins. Check that your DAW loads the format your computer installed: VST3 or AAX on Windows, AU, VST3 or AAX on Mac.
  • The vocal jumps to wrong notes. Check Root and Scale against your song, or try Chromatic. A slower Speed also softens the jumps.
  • The tuning wobbles on low notes while recording. Low latency mode eases off below about 80 Hz (E2). Switch it off for low parts when you mix.
  • I need help. Write to starrbabywrldwide@gmail.com with your operating system and DAW version.

Auto-Tune is a registered trademark of Antares Audio Technologies. STARR TUNE is an independent plugin and is not affiliated with Antares.

Get STARR TUNE free