Vocoders, that is. I have been in the music business for ...well let's say, a very long time, and with synths and "electronica" from the beginning. Apparently, I don't listen to much music that utilizes vocoders and as a result, I have no idea what one would use these awful sounding things for. I have two dedicated vocoder buttons on my VP550 and wish they (Roland) had invested that time and effort into a transpose button or something. Can someone enlighten me as to what possible function these things have and why they continue to endure?

chas

In 1984...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=As9hXBLZZCk

Isn't that what Cher used to make her voice sound mechanical on Believe?

Thanks, guys. But even with those two really cute YouTube postings, I still don't really get the appeal. Old age, I guess.

chas

Believe the origin of Midnight Star was Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky in the late 60's. Guys from the music program would come down to the club I played to jam. Really good players.


Russ

Cool note Russ.

Also: http://ncane.com/647

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http://www.myspace.com/mychrisvalenti

this is what Frampton uses on the Geico thing http://www.guitarcenter.com/Dunlop-Heil-Talk-Box-151230-i1124464.gc

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotic_voice_effects
very interesting

Chris, really nice tunes. I've always been a big Stevie/George Benson fan. Infectuous melody with simple but tasteful changes and a nice bridge on Simply I Love You. Commercial appeal, yet a decent piece. Fun stuff to play, too!

Good professional work. From the website, to the tunes, to the look, you got it happening.

GOOD WORK!

Russ

Vocoders are just like synths... there are good ones, and bad ones. Just because Roland have one in the VP doesn't necessarily make it a good one. And the REAL fun with vocoders starts when you process external audio through them, rather than rely on their internal synths.

For some hip vocoder, check out Herbie Hancock on 'I thought it was you', etc...

Other good applications involve modulating pads and leads with drum machine or other rhythmical elements. The whole 'talking synth' thing is just the surface of what they can do.

Mike, the effect used on Cher's voice on "Believe" is one of the weirder sounds that can be set up in the Antares Auto-Tune pitch correction plug-in.

The question that comes to mind is was that effect intentional or were they trying to correct a vocal problem and got carried away? And of course decided the results weren't bad.

Got a vocorder in the Midjay and a harmonizer in the G-70. Never used either live. I'll have to check them out. Let's see...a harmonizer....awful Russ vocal times 3 or 4? Works for me!


R.

Primary use:
'talking' synthesizer effect..
'Around the World' by Daft Punk, 'Mr. Blue Sky' by the Electric Light Orchestra, 'Radio GaGa' by Queen, to name a few examples.

You can also get some interesting effects if the synth is modulated from a percussive source, such as a drum loop, or drum patten from a drum machine.

Odd you should buy a VP550 if you had no intention to use it to process your voice?

I use it in my "studio" to track fake background vocals. If you're a lousy singer (like me), it's a barrel of fun. I just don't use the two vocoders. You can do anything from "talk the vocals" to singing off pitch (as long as you turn down the "source" in the mix) and still get fairly good results.

chas

Fair enough..

I believe it's based on the technology from the V-synth GT. I've seen the on-line demo, and it did sound impressive when in voice processing mode.

Vocoders do have a distinct sound, Roland are just supplying the effect, doesn't mean that you have to use it.
You never know one day, you might just have a use for vocoder effect.
I would love to have one to play around with, and I've been watching a few on ebay:
They I've go for stupid amounts of cash, or a nice and cheap, thing is I'm never around to bid on the cheap ones, and find out about them when it's far too late. One day..