Vocoders &talkboxes
The most classic robot vocal effects are typically either a vocoder or a talkbox. But what’s the difference between the two?
Vocoders and talkboxes are easily confused, not least of all because they sound incredibly similar. Because of their sonic similarities, you can arguably substitute one for the other, which, as we will discover, may not be such a bad idea – if you want to hang on to your teeth!
Carrying vocoders
Contrary to many people’s assumptions, the vocoder itself is not actually a synthesiser, although it is quite usual to find a synthesis element within a vocoder, especially in plugin form. The vocoder component joins together two elements, both of which are required to make the classic sound. Firstly, we need a carrier wave, which is most commonly some form of synthesiser or inbuilt synth circuit. In the software realm, this is usually included as part of the plugin, and can be controlled by either setting a specific note or single chord, or using a keyboard to play notes in order to follow the chord progression of a song.
The second component that is required is a modulating signal. For a classic robot voice, this would need to be some kind of vocal, although it is not uncommon to use other instruments, particularly ones that are percussive in nature. Artists as diverse as Stevie Wonder and Röyksopp have been known to send drums in the direction of a vocoder, while playing chords that follow the song.
Smart plugins
If we consider original vocoding hardware for a moment, some of the best vocoders produced, shipped in the form of a box with no synthesiser attached. The Sennheiser VSM-201, EMS 2000 and Roland SVC-350 are all fine examples, but all requiring an external synthesiser, as well as a microphone input.
Roland realised that it could place this technology in a keyboard, and include a carrier circuit, in the shape of string and choir sounds. Hence the SVC-350 was somewhat better known as the infamous Roland VP-330, which Roland still produces today, but now in the guise of their boutique-shaped VP-03.
If this classic Roland sound is the sort of vocoder that interests you, then help is at hand in the software domain, too. Softube hasbeautifully engineered a reincarnation of the VP-330, as a software plugin. Moreover, it has a built-in carrier wave generator, so you won’t need to fiddle around with a separate synthesiser in order to get your vocoder to work.
Got a mic?
All software vocoders will allow recorded audio tracks to be routed toward the plugin. This means that if you have a lead vocal already, you could employ this as your modulating signal. Playing chords alongside this vocal will provide the effect of beautiful electrified backing vocals.
