The term ‘Vocoder’ refers to a voice encoder. It captures your speech and divides it into various frequency bands, each of which is delivered to its own bandpass filter. A vocoder divides the signal into 8 to 20 bands, depending on the model. The bigger the number of bands used, the better the sound quality. The modulator signal is what we refer to as the voice. A carrier signal, which is a sound source delivered through the bank of filters, is also present. The frequency of the modulator is automatically adjusted by each filter.
We’ve been attempting to modify audio signals in the most complicated and imaginative ways conceivable for decades. Due to the iconic sounds it makes, the audio synthesis demonstrates the most extreme manipulations among various audio effects. They can sound fresh and modern, and they can add just the right bit of creativity to a keyboard or even the human voice.
A vocoder is a sort of speech programming that analyzes and synthesizes human speech for applications including audio compression, voice encryption, and, most importantly, voice transformation. If that doesn’t make sense, consider Daft Punk’s signature robot voices: that effect, which can be heard on songs like “Get Lucky” and “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” is a vocoder attempting to recreate the human voice.
This article gathers some of the best vocoder plugin options available in 2023 for you to use in your next production and make your track stand out in a creative way if you’re new to this kind of effect or just want to check out the hottest picks if you’re new to this kind of effect or just want to check out the hottest picks if you’re new to this kind of effect or just want to check out the hottest picks if you’re new to this kind of effect
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XILS Lab XILS Vocoder 5000
XILS-lab leveraged his experience gained during the emulation of both the VCS3 synthesizer and the VP300 VocoderPlus to produce the XILS Vocoder 5000 Mode, which was inspired by the EMS Flagship Vocoder (EMS 5000 -1976- Probably the most complicated and powerful analog Vocoder ever built).
The XILS 5000 is a feature-rich, professional-grade vocoder plugin with a retro-style analog modeling technique. It features a 22-band filter bank, band-level analysis for a clean and precise sound, dedicated pitch modulation, frequency shifter, and pitch tracking, all while being simple to use. The matrix patching area allows any analysis band to be connected to the filter bank, allowing for the creation of new and experimental sounds as well as precise sculpting.
The XILS Vocoder 5000 uses sophisticated filtering techniques and very complicated circuitry to generate the same organic sound, precision, and clarity as its analog predecessor. The Vocoder 5000 can speak English, German, and Japanese in a crystal clear and understandable manner.
Beginners will find it simple to use, while veterans will find it quite powerful. A single panel view is available in the user interface. Everything you need is right in front of you, with plenty of presets to get you started. If you want to go even further, the Logo Center Panel will move to a variety of sophisticated panels that reveal the advanced parameters of the Vocoder 5000 module you want to investigate and experiment with. There are also dozens of sophisticated parameters available for your enjoyment.
Because it’s a Xil, it has a lot of advanced features that its forefather couldn’t have had at the time: We included additional Slew Rate modifications, more Freeze mods, 2 LFOs (originally there were none), Detailed FM and PWM, more Oscillators Waveforms, an enhanced Input detector (Sibilants), and Gate input. The Matrix can also be filled by freely drawing lines, and it has its own settings. (This is particularly useful once you’ve discovered the ideal template for a certain voice.)
This is the Best Vocoder Plugin in 2023.
Izotope VocalSynth 2
VocalSynth 2 is an immersive vocal experience that adapts and evolves with your unique style, allowing you to explore a whole new universe of vocal possibilities. With five blendable quirky must-haves and stompbox-style studio effects, you can color and shape vocals. VocalSynth 2 includes a Vocoder, Compuvox, Polyvox, Talkbox, and Biovox, a completely new effect based on the sonic properties of the human vocal tract. It’s a one-stop shop for past, present, and future voice sounds.
VocalSynth 2 is a complete vocal experience that adjusts to your personal style and allows you to explore a whole new world of vocal possibilities. Izotope’s breakthrough plugin is a vocal processing powerhouse jam-packed with voice-altering functions. This is unquestionably one of the best vocoder plugins available, but it’s also a lot more. With real-time auto-pitch correction, 5 different digital algorithms, a voice synthesizer with human vocal tract modeling, formant shaping tools, bit crushing and glitch effects, vintage talkbox style envelope modulation, and voice doubling, this creates rich vocal harmonies and vocoder sounds. The MIDI mode is also extremely strong, allowing you to create fantastic harmonies and melodies from vocal lines.
This plugin is part of iZotope’s software collection, and it enables for inter-plugin communication. When placed on a track in your session, VocalSynth 2 can interact with instances of other products, including as Neutron and Ozone, to perform a number of automated mixing and mastering procedures. This can save you a lot of time while also giving your song a unique flair. This is one of the best vocoder vst plugins in 2023.
Arturia Vocoder V
Vocoder V adds more synth, sampling, and modulation features to the classic 16-Band Vocoder. The vocoder was originally designed to analyze and synthesize human speech, but it was also used by the army to save bandwidth and encrypt radio broadcasts. It wasn’t until the 1970s that someone realized the music’s potential: Bob Moog’s legendary 16-band vocoder produced some of the strangest sounds in music history, ranging from robotic voices to finely harmonized vocal lines.
The Vocoder V from Arturia is a tribute to this legendary unit. Unlike most vocoders, this is a revolutionary speech-altering sandbox that combines carrier and modulator (synth and voice analyzer) into a single superb plugin. If you don’t want to sing, there’s a built-in sampler that lets you make any noises you like. Because it combines a voice analyzer, analog synth, and sampler, this could be the missing ingredient in your tune.
Every component of the old 16-channel vocoder has been precisely re-engineered to sound and behave exactly like the original utilizing “True Analog Emulation” technology. This adds authenticity and classic tones to the plugin by drawing influence from the best vocoder unit available.
The 16-band vocoder’s original unit required an additional synth to process your vocals, however this isn’t an issue in Vocoder V. This plugin is a complete vocoding and resynthesis toolset, with a synthesizer module, sample player, and creative enhancements. In addition to robot vocals, create vowel-like synthesized noises, resynthesized samples, or booming beats. You may rapidly turn every note into a full chord with 12 voicings to choose from, including a custom one. By pressing a button on the left side of the vocoder screen, you may produce massive-sounding vocal lines and personalized harmonies.
You now have twofold control over your vocoder’s sound in a single interface thanks to a classic dual-oscillator analog architecture with envelope and shaping controls. Waveform modifiers (“Square,” “Triangle,” and “Saw,” for example) and a fixed button that removes the pitch control from the controller, as well as the “Bend” and “Mod” wheels that allow you to fine-tune your performance dynamics right away, are all excellent additions.
Arturia shines once again at producing a fantastic plugin with numerous features that reflect the original gear’s achievements, this time taking as inspiration an iconic vocoder device from the 1970s. All of the required tools are present, including a dedicated synthesizer and dual-oscillators, making it simple to achieve those coveted antique tones with software. Despite the fact that it’s designed to be a vocal synth, feel free to experiment with different audio sources and let your imagination run wild.
Antares Auto-Tune Unlimited
Antares is best known for developing the iconic Auto-Tune software, which is extensively used in studio and live performances across a wide range of genres and styles. Mixing this excellent acoustic tool with a vocoder was a brilliant idea, especially given the variety of different noises you may generate from it. The sheer quantity of control choices available on a single plugin can make it as reliable as ever, with the ability to drastically alter the sound of your music.
With all of Auto-power Tune’s and versatility, Auto-Tune Vocodist recreates the iconic tone of antique vocoders. You may control the pitch of your vocoded audio with Auto-Tune Vocodist by using your voice or a MIDI keyboard. A built-in 8-voice dual oscillator synthesizer is designed for simplicity, making it simple to get started. Alternatively, you can use the sidechain input to explore with any external audio source.
This powerful vocoder plugin provides models of your favorite vintage vocoders directly to your DAW. There’s also a large collection of artist presets to get you started, including P-Thugg (Chromeo), producer Buddy Ross (Frank Ocean), and electronic musician Rachel K. Collier, to name a few.
Soundtoys Little AlterBoy
Soundtoys’ Little AlterBoy plugin allows you a lot of leeway when it comes to experimenting with sounds. Hard tuning, adding a robotic tone to vocals, pitch shifting, and manipulating vocal formants are all possible with Little AlterBoy. You can adjust the “gender” of the vocal with the Formant knob. You may also modify the pitch of the vocals throughout your mix using the Pitch knob.
Pick a single pitch in the vocal and tune it like crazy if you want to generate hard-tuned, robotic tones. Classic vocoder effects can be found in the MIDI section. Although the plugin is quite digital, the vintage tube saturation model included with the Decapitator can still be used to give grit and warmth. Little AlterBoy provides all of the tools you’ll need to accurately recreate the sounds of vintage vocoder hardware. It is unquestionably valuable to have in your collection.
Softube Vocoder
Vocoder recreates the experiences of excellent vintage equipment of the past with Softube sound quality and workflow. A six-voice carrier synth with MIDI support, an easy-to-use envelope filter, and a unique “Freeze” function are all included.
This plugin adds authentic vocoder sounds to a wide range of inputs, including drums. You may play outside the box live or in the studio with a futuristic instrument that has become a nostalgic classic. The vintage tone and ease of use of the Vocoder make it suitable for electronic and pop music production while preserving the vintage vibe.
With its warm, rich, three-dimensional sound, the Softube Vocoder plugin excels rival emulations of this famous effect, thanks to its built-in analog-inspired synthesis engine. You may fine-tune or totally rearrange your sources with a purpose-built feature set that includes 6-voice polyphony, pitch modulation, and pulse-width modulation. The carrier’s waveform may be changed with the plugin, giving you four alternative sounding possibilities. The PWM knob beneath the wave selector can be used to further modulate each of the waveforms. Sawtooth, Square, Noise, and Pulse are the waveforms that are available.
The “Freeze” feature, which is uncommon on vocoder plugins, lets you grab a segment of a vocal, for example, and use it to make chopped, DAW-synced rhythms within a recording. Because of the real-time MIDI control, it also opens up new creative possibilities for musicians and producers looking to create genre-bending sounds.
This plugin gives you unprecedented control over the spectrum response of your vocoded performance. The bands on the analyzer can be changed individually, or you can utilize the “Spectral Tilt” function to fast shift from low to high frequencies. The “Parallel Blend” function combines the dry and wet signals, allowing you to fine-tune or automate the amount of synthetic texture applied to your source.
Softube is known for its high-quality hardware and software, such as its legendary audio interfaces and preamps. This plugin is a great alternative to a vocoder, and it has a lot of authenticity when it comes to simulating a vintage analog machine. The sound quality is excellent, and it closely resembles the original model. The “Freeze” control is a standout feature that beatmakers and modern producers who are continuously working with samples and new sounds will appreciate.