Using a vocoder to generate a human sounding voice

[timboalogo]

I'm wondering if any of you have been able to use a vocoder to make a human sounding voice, rather than a robotic sounding one.

Your thoughts are appreciated.

[whyterabbyt]

Given that a proper vocoder setup would be using a human voice as the modulator.... erm, not use a carrier?

Otherwise, Im a bit confused by the question.

[Numanoid]

+1

Wikipedia definition:

A vocoder is a category of voice codec that analyzes and synthesizes the human voice signal for audio data compression, multiplexing, voice encryption, voice transformation, etc.

So if in a need of a human voice, just skip the vocoder all together

[timboalogo]

I knew I would do a crappy job of explaining!

I would like to use a vocoder to generate a backing vocal, maybe even a female-sounding one. But all I can make are robot sounding backing vocals that sound terrible.

And for Numanoid, I don't have access to any other human voices but mine, and I'm a male bass.

As for the carrier, I've fiddled but never found anything that would make it sound non-robotic, female.

Thanks, though. Was just looking for suggestions.

[Numanoid]

Plugs like Vielklang can do pitch editing

http://products.zplane.de/vielklang

[thecontrolcentre]

Maybe you need a harmonizer ... something like Enchoir https://www.kvraudio.com/product/enchoir-by-prodyon

Pitchproof
http://aegeanmusic.com/pitchproof-specs

MHarmonizer
http://www.meldaproduction.com/MMultiBandHarmonizer

[ZentralmassivSound]

Actually MHarmonizer has (among others) a Vocoder mode. I guess it has to have as many bands as possible to sound as natural as possible. MVocoder with 100 bands can already sound pretty natural.

[CinningBao]

You can 'humanise' the vocoder by adding expression to the carrier, your saw or whatever you are using.
Try to hear the detail of a regular vocal line moving from note to note; some are quick, some are slow, some notes have vibrato, others don't..

Vibrato, glides, pitch-bending to the carrier notes all add to the realism of a vocoder output. Play the carrier like you would your voice, or a cello.

If you want a bank of harmonies, instead of just pressing down all the notes in the chord, do them one by one and add small amounts of expression to each line.

Also consider using a single saw oscillator for each voice. As soon as you multisaw/hyper-detune the carrier you enter robot world.

If your vocoder has a formant shift, consider shifting appropriately; up for higher harmonies, down for lower harmonies.

just a few of my pennies..

or you could just use a harmony machine like others have suggested above! personally I'd stick with the challenge you've got, it's a good one.

[timboalogo]

Now that sounds like fun, CinningBao! I will check all these methods out.

[ChamomileShark]

Definitely the answer is in how you play the carrier. I used a basic hardware vocoder (Roland SVC-350) to create the diva female vocals on this track - it appears at 2.10 seconds. The other female vocal was done using a vocal synth, the Korg DVP-1.

https://markgriffiths.bandcamp.com/track/pan-in-pangaea

[CinningBao]

It's all about the fun timboalogo!
And where you can add expression, especially when it comes to vocoders..

Ooo, Mark you've got some lovely synths there.. nice tune too

[xoxos]

you want a *formant shifter* not a vocoder

there's a few freebies around (doesn't kerovee do this? i don't use it much, i generally use a voice synth).

[ChamomileShark]

I think a formant shifter helps but I didn't use any formant shifting and came up with something fairly close to a female voice

[timboalogo]

Thanks guys, I didn't even know there was such a thing as a voice synth.

[bronxsound]

melodyne and vielklang. voice works by tc helicon if you would wish to invest into hardware.

if you are on Cubase you can try its pitch shifter as it allows to control the pitch in real time via midi information. the tone can be adjusted separately.