Wow .... such a dumb ass, especially since auto-tune has been around way before him.
"Some time ago T-Pain tried to claim payment from other artists using the effect on their vocals."
But those are underground nerdcores ...I was really referring to Gnarls Barkley, NERD/Neptunes, Gorillaz, M.I.A, Asher Roth, Kid Kudi and the likes; not that these acts are garbage but they're definitely the products of Marketing departments.
Music is a reflection of society to some extent. Dumb people want dumb music that's fact. Maybe I refuse to believe the majority of the population is plain ignorant ...eventhough it's been proven many times.
The corporate nature of the record industry is preventing that. When Hip Hop music was developing labels allowed artists to be themselves (or whatever they wanted to be for that matter). But now since everything is about money you can either be a gangsta or post nerdcore rapper ... either way...
Actually vocoders were developed as early as 1928!!!
This clip is from 1944 and features the Talking steel guitar effect.
Another from 1940 featuring sonovox (which is more like a talk box):
Incredible Sonovox - Kay Kyser - 1940 film "You'll Find Out"‏ -...
I used to have those (used them with my discman!)... kinda hurt my ears. I've been using the Sony MDR V6 for a few years now ... so far so good (great sound quality ... flat response and quite comfortable).