just got an idea how to improve the vocoder effect. Since one important fact is to have a good quality modulator (besides the carrier of course) here is a way to enhance the mic signal:
- Starting from your favourite vocoder program, activate timbre 2 by setting Voice Mode to Layer
Edit Timbre 2 setting Oscillator1's Wave to Audio In, Gain to 0 (or adjust) and Balance to 0 or left (mic input)
Set Mixer to max for Oscillator1 , and 0 for Oscillator2 and Noise
Set LPFilter (24 or 12 dB) Cutoff to max and Resonance to 0 (clean)
Adjust Amp level to 100 or more.
Set the vocoder's Modulator Select to Audio Source (as usual) and Audio Source to Timbre2
We can now use timbre2's EFX to improve the mic signal i. e. inserting the compressor, pitch shifter, etc. and we can adjust the EFX EQ. This way we will have an entire EFX tuning for the mic signal before it reaches the vocoder. Even we can use all timbre2 parameters to adjust more.
To hear, experiment and adjust the mic signal and its effects, turn the vocoder off and press Shift+Timbre2. When finished set the vocoder on again and hear/adjust the results!
Now there is a drawback on this: Using timbre2 and layering it, will leave us only the half of polyphony. Here is another trick:
- Once the vocoder is finished, set the Voice to split
Set the split key to the upper C (i.e.C6 or other key which maybe you never will play)
Set the Arpeggiator On, to Trigger and Timbre Assign to Timbre2
Edit the arpeggiator settings to Latch, Range to 1, Last Step to 1 and Gate to Tie (max).
If you don't set the Arpeggiator then you can use the split key as a gate for the vocoder in which case you can use timbre2's EG2 (Amp) to smooth the gates attack and release if you want.
Enjoy
