01 GET AMIC
If there is one thing that you will need to get the most out of your electric vocal propositions, it’s a microphone. Strictly speaking, any microphone can do the job, but some microphones are better than others, and it doesn’t always mean that you have to spend a fortune. Vocoders take very kindly to dynamic microphones, whereas condenser microphones will be a better choice for recording into your DAW. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get impressive results.
02 OK COMPUTER
For something completely different, consider using the text-to-voice feature on your computer to record and act as the modulatory signal for your vocoder. Bands such as Radiohead have been known to make use of this speech technology, but don’t use something that sounds too realistic. Everybody wants to hear a robot sing, and this could be the perfect way to achieve it.
03 MAKE TIME FOR VOCODER PRACTICE
If you like the idea of playing the vocoder, you may well have to get used to the concept of playing and singing at the same time. We say singing, because with vocoders, the pitch that you sing has no effect on the vocoder’s output and sound. What does make a difference is if you’re overpronouncing the words that you are saying. Doing this at the same time as playing a keyboard may take some practice, especially if you want to do it live!
04 LISTEN TO THE MUSIC
As with any music and production, we can learn plenty from the past masters. Whether you are intending to Prismize your vocal, or play a talkbox live, take time to draw inspiration from artists and tracks that have impressed you in the past. Use analytical ears, to try and learn how to improve your craft.
05 PUSH THE BOUNDARIES
The software involved in creating some of the classic effects described in this feature are continually under development. Stay up to date with any software that you own, as there may well be features that could push you in a new direction, and find you creating the next big sound.
06 THE HEADSET
If you find yourself vocoding on a regular basis, you may want to consider purchasing a headset microphone. While these forms of microphone picked up a bad rap thanks to questionable pop groups such as Steps, relying on them, it does make the process of vocoding far simpler, as you don’t have to step towards the mic.
07 WEAK YOUR FORMANTS
Once your vocal is inside your DAW, you can do an incredible amount of editing and vocal destruction or improvement. One fascinating concept is the alteration of the formants found within our vocals. You can create some very strange sounds by adjusting this control in software such as Auto-Tune.
