Why is so much music recorded out of key?


As a guitarist, I like to sometimes listen to music and figure out a solo or sometimes play along with a song. My guitar is in perfect tune but a lot of the time the music is off and in between 2 keys. Like a semi tone off key. This really never happens when listening to a live recording, only studio recordings. I assume all the musicians tune up during a session and of course piano is already tuned to a standard. So has anyone else noticed this and can explain why. Don’t try to blame it on my turntable as it happens with digital streams and cd releases as well. Been noticing this for years. What gives??

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Some singers are recorded with the tape machine running slow, to lower the pitch of a note above the top of the singer's range. In post-production the tape is then slowed down to return the song to it's original pitch and tempo. In addition, some producers try different running speeds, to find the "feel" they are looking for in a particular song. 

running slow...then slowed down

OK What does it mean?

I do agree with blaming producers. A half tone off makes their "creation" stand out from the pack in search of the hit.

That auto tune garbage

it makes the music match the voice or something.

 

years ago, real musicians did t have this issue.

 

these new bands and singers are all idiots, and need autotune to sound average

 

check YouTube for that Brad Delp singing without,music to his Boston song  more than a feeling, that was all him, a real singer. These days. Blechk!

all junk, minus a few of course