Krotos Dehumaniser Simple Monsters is a powerful voice processing plugin designed to transform human vocals into monstrous, otherworldly sounds. This streamlined version of Krotos’ flagship Dehumaniser II offers a simplified interface while retaining the core functionality that made its predecessor a go-to tool for sound designers and voice actors. The plugin features six main effect sliders and a unique Scrubbing Convolution Module, allowing users to create a wide range of creature vocalizations, from subtle alterations to extreme transformations.
Dehumaniser Simple Monsters excels in real-time processing, making it ideal for live performances or in-booth voice acting sessions. Its ability to maintain intelligibility even at extreme settings sets it apart from many other pitch-shifting and voice-altering plugins. The plugin also offers remote control capabilities via TouchOSC for iOS, enhancing its usability in professional studio environments.
Pros:
• Intuitive interface with easy-to-use sliders for quick monster voice creation
• Excellent real-time processing capabilities for live performances and voice acting
• Maintains vocal intelligibility even at extreme settings
• Includes a unique Scrubbing Convolution Module for added complexity
• Remote control support via TouchOSC for iOS
Cons:
• Limited customization options compared to the full Dehumaniser II version
• Lacks built-in robotic voice effects, which could be useful for certain projects
Dehumaniser Simple Monsters packs a powerful set of features into its streamlined interface. The plugin’s core functionality revolves around six main effect sliders: Size, Fury, Age, Wildness, Character, and the Scrubbing Convolution Module. Each slider controls multiple parameters behind the scenes, allowing for complex sound manipulation with simple adjustments. The Size slider affects the perceived scale of the creature, enabling users to create anything from tiny, squeaky beings to massive, rumbling monsters. Fury adds aggression and intensity to the voice, perfect for creating menacing or enraged creature sounds. The Age parameter alters the perceived maturity of the voice, allowing for young, old, or ageless creature vocalizations.
The interface is clean and intuitive, making it accessible for both beginners and experienced sound designers. Users can manipulate parameters such as Size, Fury, Age, Wildness, and Character to shape their desired monster voice. The Scrubbing Convolution Module adds an extra layer of complexity, enabling the integration of pre-recorded samples to further enhance the vocal effects.
Wildness introduces unpredictability and chaos into the vocal effect, ideal for creating unstable or frenzied monster sounds. The Character slider fine-tunes the overall tonal quality of the processed voice, helping to define the unique personality of the creature. The Scrubbing Convolution Module is a standout feature, allowing users to incorporate pre-recorded samples into the voice processing chain. This module uses convolution to pass the input signal through a user-defined sample with an envelope, adding an extra layer of texture and complexity to the monster vocalizations. Krotos includes a selection of useful audio clips for this purpose, but users can also load their own samples for endless customization possibilities.
Dehumaniser Simple Monsters offers an X/Y pad on its second page, providing an additional way to shape and morph creature vocalizations in real-time. This feature is particularly useful for live performances or for creating dynamic, evolving monster sounds. The plugin’s real-time processing capabilities are impressive, allowing for immediate feedback and adjustment during recording sessions. This is especially valuable for voice actors who need to hear and react to their processed voice while performing.
Dehumaniser Simple Monsters supports high-resolution audio processing up to 192kHz/24-bit, ensuring top-quality output for professional productions. The plugin also includes a preset system, allowing users to save and recall their favorite monster voice settings for quick access. Remote control functionality via TouchOSC for iOS is a thoughtful addition, enabling voice actors to adjust parameters from within the recording booth. This feature streamlines the workflow in professional studio environments and allows for greater creative control during performance.
While Dehumaniser Simple Monsters may lack some of the advanced routing and modular capabilities of its bigger sibling, Dehumaniser II, it compensates with its focus on ease of use and quick results. The plugin strikes a balance between simplicity and power, making it accessible to a wide range of users while still delivering professional-grade monster voice effects.
In the realm of voice processing and monster sound design, Dehumaniser Simple Monsters stands out for its focused approach and ease of use. While there are other plugins capable of creating monster voices, such as iZotope’s VocalSynth 2 or Polyverse’s Gatekeeper, Dehumaniser Simple Monsters offers a more specialized toolset specifically tailored for creature vocalization. Compared to more general-purpose vocal processors, Dehumaniser Simple Monsters excels in maintaining intelligibility even at extreme settings. This is crucial for creating convincing monster voices that still convey emotion and character. The plugin’s real-time processing capabilities also set it apart, making it particularly suitable for live performances and in-booth voice acting. However, Dehumaniser Simple Monsters is more limited in scope compared to some competitors. For instance, it lacks built-in robotic voice effects, which are available in plugins like VocalSynth 2. Additionally, while Simple Monsters offers excellent results within its focused niche, it may not be as versatile for general vocal processing tasks as some all-in-one vocal plugins.
This plugin is best for:
• Sound designers working on fantasy, sci-fi, or horror projects
• Voice actors needing real-time monster voice effects
• Game developers creating creature sound effects
• Film and TV post-production professionals
• Live performers seeking to add monstrous vocal effects to their act
Dehumaniser Simple Monsters is a highly specialized plugin that excels in its niche of creature voice creation. It offers an impressive balance of power and simplicity, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced sound designers. The plugin’s intuitive interface, coupled with its ability to maintain vocal intelligibility even at extreme settings, makes it a valuable tool for anyone working with monster vocalizations. The real-time processing capabilities and remote control options via TouchOSC for iOS enhance its usability in professional environments, particularly for voice acting and live performances. The unique Scrubbing Convolution Module adds an extra layer of complexity and customization, allowing users to incorporate their own samples into the voice processing chain. While it may lack some of the advanced features found in its more comprehensive sibling, Dehumaniser II, Simple Monsters compensates with its focus on quick results and ease of use. This makes it an excellent choice for projects that require high-quality monster voices without the need for extensive tweaking or complex routing.