I've always been fascinated with the vocoder. Ever since Soundwave in Transformers, probably. And since then, I've adored tracks with vocoders in. Daft Punk's 'Harder Better...' for instance, which is so unbelievably well-produced.
I don't want that sound, but I just want a classic vocoder sound, and I have a hard time making anything I want vocoded sound... good.
Is there some trick to it that the world hasn't told me?
I'm terrible at vocoders
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- Banned
- 18651 posts since 2 Oct, 2001 from England
the secret is to use the correct freq in the modulator to match the carrier....so if you use a pad sound to mod vocals, make sure its rich in freq XYZ Hz...something like that anyway 
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- KVRAF
- 1980 posts since 13 Jun, 2004 from Back in the UK
I found the Eiosis Vocoder gave instant gratification straight out of the box.
Well it made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck anyway.
Well it made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck anyway.
Some of my music Soundcloud Goseba
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- KVRAF
- 4692 posts since 28 Jan, 2003 from In these very interwebs
No tricks.Shoes wrote:I don't want that sound, but I just want a classic vocoder sound, and I have a hard time making anything I want vocoded sound... good.
Is there some trick to it that the world hasn't told me?
Just like every other skill in life that starts out difficult (and that the pros make look easy), you just need to practice, listen, explore, and learn from your mistakes. Sorry, no shortcuts.
-Kim.
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- KVRAF
- 2249 posts since 6 May, 2003 from rat city au
What problems in particular are you having?
Vocoders can be tricky beasts. I've started working a bit with them recently, and find the results hit (ie just needs moderate eq & compression and it's good to go) and miss (needs shitloads of (pre & post) eq & compression, then more eq & compression, ad infinitum).
There's a balance you need to strike between the modulator (usually a voice), the carrier (usually some kind of harmonically rich synth line, supersaw-ish kinda ting) and the actually melody.
IME, The mod & carr should both occupy roughly the same frequency range (or at least overlap considerably), and the modulator should at least attempt to follow the melody that the carrier is playing (or vice-versa).
Of cource, the vocoder used probably helps.
All the freeware stuff I've tried sucks. The imageline vocoder (in FLS & Juicepack) is decent, but seems to need a lot of pre & post eq to sound decent. I was not at all impressed with NI's Vokator.
Best I've found is the ancient Prosoniq Orange Vocoder. Sounded great right away, no dicking about.
/sk
Vocoders can be tricky beasts. I've started working a bit with them recently, and find the results hit (ie just needs moderate eq & compression and it's good to go) and miss (needs shitloads of (pre & post) eq & compression, then more eq & compression, ad infinitum).
There's a balance you need to strike between the modulator (usually a voice), the carrier (usually some kind of harmonically rich synth line, supersaw-ish kinda ting) and the actually melody.
IME, The mod & carr should both occupy roughly the same frequency range (or at least overlap considerably), and the modulator should at least attempt to follow the melody that the carrier is playing (or vice-versa).
Of cource, the vocoder used probably helps.
All the freeware stuff I've tried sucks. The imageline vocoder (in FLS & Juicepack) is decent, but seems to need a lot of pre & post eq to sound decent. I was not at all impressed with NI's Vokator.
Best I've found is the ancient Prosoniq Orange Vocoder. Sounded great right away, no dicking about.
/sk
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Housegezeichnet Housegezeichnet https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=166905
- KVRist
- 91 posts since 29 Nov, 2007
oh and btw i've read somewhere that daft punk used a talkbox for hbfs instead of a vocoder
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- KVRAF
- 7540 posts since 7 Aug, 2003 from San Francisco Bay Area
Kind of sounds like it to me, although I couldn't say for sure.Housegezeichnet wrote:oh and btw i've read somewhere that daft punk used a talkbox for hbfs instead of a vocoder
Incomplete list of my gear: 1/8" audio input jack.
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- KVRist
- 299 posts since 10 Jul, 2007 from Florida
The MicroKorg Makes a perfect classic vocoder. Because its real. The virtual computer VST vocoders are really just basic. The MicroKorgs Vocoder is very analogish and it can be very cheap for the price. And if you want something better don't stop there, there are tons of other analog vocoders. The more expencive ones might be way better.
But remember, just experiment with sounds and waves, you will find that perfect sound.
But remember, just experiment with sounds and waves, you will find that perfect sound.
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- KVRAF
- 2249 posts since 6 May, 2003 from rat city au
I think you'll find it's as "real" as a vst pluginWavedude wrote:The MicroKorg Makes a perfect classic vocoder. Because its real.
/sk
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- KVRAF
- 4692 posts since 28 Jan, 2003 from In these very interwebs
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- KVRer
- 7 posts since 5 Apr, 2008 from USA - San Francisco, CA
All hail giorgio moroder and his vocoding haha
Right ! I wan't you to take apart the drum kit and reassemble it on the roof.
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- KVRAF
- 4692 posts since 28 Jan, 2003 from In these very interwebs
