Simply put, a vocoder is a device that is used to synthesize the human voice. This has the effect of making vocals sound robotic and inhuman. It can be the perfect way to add some flare to a dull performance.
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One of the most well known examples of a vocoder would be Daft Punk’s “
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Harder Better Stronger Faster.” In fact, the vocoder used by the French house duo is a big part of what made that song so iconic.Morphoder Vst free download. software
While vocoders are best known for making robots sing, there are plenty of other ways you can make use of them in your productions.
For bass music producers, they can be a great way to add vowel sounds to your bass patches. You can even use them to create experimental sounds like tuned percussion, or you can add otherworldly textures to any piece of audio.
There are a lot of vocoder VST plugins floating around the internet, but it can be tough to figure out which ones are worth using.
To help you out, we’ve put together a list of the 11 best vocoder VST plugins to use in 2017.
But first, let’s break down the different elements of a vocoder first.
How Vocoders Work
A vocoder consists of two main elements: the carrier and the modulator.
The modulator can be any audio source, though the most popular choice is to use a vocal. The carrier is the synthesized element of the vocoder.
The modulator is run through a series of filter bands that are used to create an amplitude mapping of its most important characteristics. The higher the number of filter bands, the more detailed the carrier will sound.
This map is then used to remove all the unwanted frequencies from the carrier, resulting in a seamless mixture of the two sounds.
To put that in simpler terms, we can compare this process to sketching over a penny onto a piece of paper. By placing a penny under a sheet of paper, you can create an impression of the penny’s image by shading over it with a pencil.
In this metaphor, the penny is the modulator, the paper is the carrier, and the pencil is the filter band.
The resulting sketch retains the image of the penny but transfers its material from copper to paper.
Now that we understand how vocoders work, let’s dive into our list of the best vocoder plugins.
Best Commercial Vocoder VST Plugins
If you are serious about using vocoders in your workflow, your best bet is to go with a commercial plugin. This means investing more money into your plugin collection, but you’ll have access to higher quality vocoders than if you stick with the free selection.
As with any other piece of gear, you get what you pay for. Luckily, there are lots of great options on the market and not all of them will break the bank!
1. Vocodex by Image-Line [99 USD]
From the creators of Fruity Loops Studio comes Vocodex, a relatively inexpensive and easy to use vocoder.
The interface for Vocodex is very straight forward, which is great because it won’t overwhelm beginners. There are only a handful of controls available, and there is an info bar that will display each control’s function when you hover over it.
Vocodex features up to 100 filters bands, so you’ll be able to get some very precise sounds from it. You also get a number of carrier options to choose from and a few other basic functions. Some would include an envelope follower and controls for the filter bands.
2. VocalSynth by iZotope [199 USD]
VocalSynth is a powerful vocoder plugin from iZotope, and it comes packed with tons of other great features for creating futuristic vocal effects.
VocalSynth’s interface features four main panels: Vocoder, talkbox, polyvox, and compuvox.
True to its name, the vocoder panel can be used to create classic robotic voice effects. You can choose from a variety of different vocoder modes to use, ranging from vintage hardware sounds to more modern digital ones.
Similarly, the talkbox panel emulates the iconic sound of the talkbox. A talkbox is similar to a vocoder, but has its own unique sound. It’s most famously been used by Peter Frampton when he makes his guitar talk.
With a hardware talkbox like Peter Frampton’s, a PVC tube is inserted into the player’s mouth to provide the vowel sounds of the effect. But since we’re dealing with software, there’s no need for this.
The polyvox section can be used to create rich vocal harmonies using a polyphonic pitch shifter. This tool can produce a range of effects, from organic backing vocals to artificial sounds.
Lastly, the compuvox panel can be used to add a computerized quality to your sounds. From old school speech synthesis to glitchy vocal effects, there are a lot of possibilities at your disposal.
In addition to the four main panels, there are also a ton of other useful features in VocalSynth. These include pitch correction, filters, distortion, and delay.
VocalSynth is a premium vocoder with a premium price tag, but it's definitely worth the investment when you consider how versatile its functions are.
3. Morphoder by Waves [79 USD]
With Morphoder, Waves has delivered a powerful yet streamlined vocoder.
Morphoder includes a built-in synth that can be used as the carrier. The controls for this carrier are limited, giving you the option to choose from ten pre-programmed patches.
If you aren’t satisfied with the ten presets, you can also sidechain your own sound sources.
A five band EQ is used to process the output of the vocoder, while the sound can be further tweaked with formant, pressure, smoothing and release controls.
A final output section is used as a mixer for the four main parameters of morphoder. You get a slider for mixing in the carrier, the modulator, and noise. Lastly, there is a slider to control the balance for each of these elements.
While Morphoder’s controls are more limited than other plugins, there’s no denying that it’s a great sounding vocoder. The simple interface makes it easy to dial in a nice tone, which is more than can be said about a lot of other vocoders.
4. Vocalizer Pro by SONiVOX [49.99 USD]
SONiVOX is another top notch vocoder VST with some unique capabilities.
The main feature of Vocalizer Pro is its four module system. Each of these four modules can be routed in a number of creative ways, making the possibilities endless.
Each module features options for pitch shifting, filtering, and modulation using LFOs. You can mix and match how the four modules interact with each other, which will allow you to create very complex patches.
Not only is Vocalizer Pro a great studio tool, but it has been optimized for performance as well. Two rows of eight MIDI-mappable pads are included on the interface.
The top row can be used to save different presets and parameters for quick recall. The bottom row can be used for mapping chords so they can easily be sequenced from a MIDI controller.
5. Waldorf Lector [183.68 USD]
Just take one glance at Waldorf’s Lector and it will be clear that it’s a very comprehensive vocoder.
Lector’s interface is jam packed with control knobs and functions. This plugin features a two oscillator synthesizer, a dynamic filter, and a wide range of effects such as distortion, delay, and reverb.
The Lector also features 100 filter bands, meaning that you can get as detailed with your carrier as you want to.
6. Razor by Native Instruments [99 USD]
Native Instruments’ Razor is technically a soft synth, but it has a great vocoder function that comes included.
Razor’s vocoder is a feature that is easily overlooked, but it's a powerful tool once you know how to use it. After loading the vocoder into oscillator one, you can then route Razor to an audio track to use it as a sidechain carrier.
Razor is capable of creating classic vocoder sounds, but you can also get some more experimental textures out of it.
Because Razor is an additive synthesizer, it is capable of creating otherworldly sounds that sound unlike other vocoders. Everything from metallic bass to morphing atmospheres can be created with it.
Not only do you get a great vocoder when selecting Razor, but you also get a full fledged synthesizer as well. This makes the initial investment even easier to justify.Best Free Vocoder VST Plugins
Free vocoder VSTs can be a mixed bag, so don’t waste your time downloading any duds. The following plugins are great options for producers who don’t have a large budget.
7. TAL Vocoder
Togu Audio Line (TAL) is known for producing top notch VSTs for free and their vocoder is no exception. This plugin is designed to replicate vintage vocoder sounds that were popular in the ‘80s.
TAL Vocoder features an 11 band filter as well as a built-in carrier synth. The carrier synth features a few different waveforms such as saw, pulse, and noise. It is also possible to use external sounds as the carrier.
All in all, TAL Vocoder is a simple plugin with a decent sound, especially since it won’t cost you a dime.
8. Vocovee by g200kg
Vocovee by g200kg is another free vocoder worth checking out. Its features are pretty limited, but it boasts low latency, making it ideal for performances.
The interface is fairly appealing for a free VST as well. Features include three oscillators, two LFOs, a five band EQ, and a chorus effect.
9. Vintage Vocoder by Sonicism
Sonicism’s Vintage Vocoder plugin is based off of classic analog vocoders. The interface is simple, but there are still plenty of features to mess around with.
Included is an analog style filter, a powerful filterbank for processing the modulator, and a carrier that can use up to eight oscillators.
10. 4ormulator Vocoder Extreme
Don’t let the basic graphical interface fool you, 4orumulator’s Vocoder Extreme comes packed with multiple features.
Included are up to 520 bandpass filters, a resonance control, different vocoder modes, glide control, stereo harmonic effects, LFOs, a sequencer, and much more.
For a free VST, you’d be hard pressed to find a vocoder packed with more features.
11. Cannabis Vocoder by Bitsonic
As its name suggests, Bitsonic’s Cannabis Vocoder is an odd plugin. However, that’s not to say it doesn’t have an interesting sound.
The Cannabis Vocoder excels at grungy, distorted effects. It’s parameters are limited, with just a handful of controls available on the interface. However, there are a number of built-in presets that you can explore. Each of the stock sounds feature a rather hoarse sound, hence the name.
Not many vocoders can sound like they’re hacking up a lung, but Bitsonic seems to have mastered this effect.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, you’ll have to decide what is most important to you in a vocoder. If you only intend to use them occasionally, you would do fine grabbing one or more of the excellent free plugins that are available.
However, if you’re looking to revolutionize the Daft Punk sound, you should probably invest in one of the premium VSTs.
The good news is that most of the plugins on this list can be sampled before you hand over your hard earned cash. Make sure you try a few out before settling on the right one.
Have you used any of these vocoders before?
Let us know in the comments!
The vocoder is one of the most sought after effects used in the recording studio when searching for new sounds and timbres. Over the last forty years, artists like Coldplay, Bruno Mars, Imogen Heap, and Phil Collins have all used the vocoder on recordings.
The vocoder used to be a hardware-only (analog) instrument, integrated into a synthesizer. Like most analog gear these days, we now have “digital hardware” that we can use right in our computer’s music software — VST Plugins (Virtual Studio Technology).
I’ve used several vocoder VST plugins over the years. Today I will share with you my favorites and a little about each one.
Table of Contents
1) Izotope VocalSynth 2
VocalSynth 2 is an incredible VST from Izotope. It’s the most plug-and-play vocoder plugin I’ve ever used.
If you’ve ever used a vocoder plugin before, you’ll know that the routing to make it function can be rather tedious. You have to send MIDI information to the vocoder on a separate track and make sure the vocoder understands it before you’ll hear any sound.
Izotope VocalSynth 2 works a little different, as you can manipulate existing audio with or without MIDI input. The plugin is excellent for auditioning effects quickly when working with an artist — they can get impatient.
The presets sounds remarkable, and the interface is clean and slick. Izotope’s VocalSynth 2 is by far my favorite vocoder VST to date because how ease of use and how perfect it works when getting creative with a mix.
/unblocked-browser-no-download.html. Izotope VocalSynth 2 is available from Plugin Boutique.
2) XILS V+ Vocoder VST
The V+ has been around for several years but remains to be one of my favorite picks. While not a vocoder VST exclusively, the XILS V+ fuses a ten band vocoder with strings or human voice synthesis.
The synthesizer is a somewhat accurate emulation of the original model (Roland VP-330 Vocoder) but does require a more advanced user to understand the knowledge of routing on a hardware-based instrument.
I’m not the biggest fan — while I do like learning a lot of technical aspects when it comes to recording, it comes at the expense of creativity. There is enough to learn regarding production. Adding complex synthesis to the list is something I’d instead not do.
For those who like tinkering and learning about synthesizers and hardware emulation, check out the V+ synth and vocoder VST.
XILS V+ is available from Plugin Boutique.
3) Morphoder Vocoder VST by Waves
I’m a huge fan of plugins from Waves. There’s not a single session I’ve worked on in the past five years that hasn’t utilized something from Waves (most notably, the SSL Channel).
Waves follows Apple’s logic when it comes to plugins — there’s one for everything, including a vocoder.
The Morphoder was the first vocoder VST I tried. I had a tough time figuring it out. For a new producer, it will take practice to wrap your head around how the routing works, once again.
Aside from that, the vocoder sounds excellent, though you are limited to only ten factory-provided synth sounds.
4) Vocalizer Pro by SONiVOX
Looking for an affordable vocoder VST? Look no further.
Vocalizer Pro by SONiVOX is on sale (at the time of publishing) for USD 14.99 from Plugin Boutique.
Vocalizer Pro is comparable to VocalSynth 2, as it operates similarly. The plugin re-synthesizes audio from any given source — you’re not limited to only vocals.
Some of the most unique and exciting sounds I’ve heard from the VST are not vocals. Plugging a drum loop through Vocalizer yields fresh sounding results.
The VST is also light enough to be used in real-time in a live situation.
Vocalizer Pro is available from Plugin Boutique.
Free Vocoder VST Plugins
For all the young and budding producers out there who need to save a little case, I’ve got you covered. There are a bunch of free vocoder plugins available online.
Though I haven’t tested any of these VSTs personally, they’re still worth a mention.
- Voyager by Arguru
- Vocovee by g200kg
- Syncoder 32
- Talkbox by mda
Stay Away From Cracked VSTs
This section of the article is a disclaimer more than anything. /icare-data-recovery-pro-v81-serial-key.html. No surprise to most, I am entirely against the use of cracked plugins. They’re dangerous and immoral.
Don’t even search for illegal or cracked plugins. Not only are you ripping off the plugin developers, but malicious code is also often included with these cracked plugins. Malware and ransomware are still a real threat.
As a rule of thumb, always be careful when looking for free downloads online. Make sure the download comes from a trusted and reputable source. Ensure the website uses SSL encryption (see the little lock at the top address bar?).
Things to Consider When Looking for a Vocoder VST
Some DAWs include a stock vocoder — While this isn’t the case with my DAW of choice Cubase, some digital audio workstations may come with a vocoder. Check your DAW’s manual to see before buying an additional VST plugin.
Be aware of the complexity — Lots of vocoder plugins are often just synthesizers that contain a vocoder. Your skill level with synthesis determines how easy these types of plugins will be for you.
Wrapping Up
As stated before, my favorite vocoder VST is Vocal Synth2 by Izotope. It’s super simple to use and produces excellent results with ease.
Do you use a vocoder plugin? Which one is your favorite? I’d love to hear from you down below in the comments. Thanks for reading, once again!