How do I get this kind of audio effect?

Does anyone happen to know how to pull off an audio effect like this?

http://bit.ly/1OmgDwp

I'm talking about totally transforming the voice.
What kind of software or specific effect am I looking for—is it a filter, or something else entirely?

The effect you're looking for is called Auto-Tune.
It’s pretty versatile—you can plug it into just about any DAW out there, whether you're running Ableton, Cubase, or whatever else you prefer. I think it might even run as a standalone application without needing an audio host at all, though I'd have to double-check my setup to be absolutely certain.

Its intended purpose, originally speaking, was to fix vocal pitch issues for singers who were hitting sour notes. However, if you look on YouTube, you'll easily find tutorials on how to dial in those specific settings to get that unmistakable, stylized sound. It's become such a staple that even incredibly talented vocalists use it as a creative effect rather than just a corrective tool. For instance, check these out:

frozenheron7 said:It's called Auto-Tune.

Auto-Tune, yep! Thanks for clearing that up, that's exactly what I was looking for. 👍
It doesn't run as its own separate thing, but it works perfectly as a plugin inside Cubase.
👍

👍

It’s really just a matter of hunting down the right parameters to nail that exact signature sound. Honestly, you can probably find everything you need in those videos I posted earlier. If those don't cut it, a quick search on YouTube for something like "T-Pain Auto-Tune settings" should point you in the right direction.

Unfortunately, all those songs and vocals are going to end up sounding completely robotic. If you have an ear for this sort of thing, you'll catch on immediately.