Hey everyone,
So I'm trying to use a vocoder on Logic Pro X. I want to be able to sing into a mic and press the notes on a keyboard and still get that vocoder sound (much like 'Hide and Seek' by Imogen Heap.) Any help would be appreciated. I've been trying to figure it out for a while and haven't had any luck, mostly frustration haha.
Thanks!
AppleTV 2
Alright, I hope the following instructions are helpful.
Before you begin, make sure to check input/output devices are set correctly. Here you need to make sure that your audio interface is connected and you are aware of the inputs where your microphone is connected.
Check - Logic Pro X >>Preferences >>Audio >>Devices
Part 1: Routing/Using the vocoder synth EVOC 20 PS
Step 1 : Create a software instrument track and add "EVOC 20 PS" synth as the instrument.
You'll see the EVOC 20 PS's interface open as given below
Step 2 : For time being, choose the preset "vocal heaven pad" [P.S. suggested it for simplicity of the task basically you have to be in "voc" mode which you can choose from signal]
Choose/set the "Side Chain" input to the exact input where your microphone is connected.
Now record enable your instrument track, sing into the microphone and play the MIDI at the same time.
You should hear the vocoded voice. [Until here you can sing and play along with the vocoder processing ]
Play it until you are sure of the chords and voicing for each of your vocal melodies.
Part 2 : Recording Vocals And MIDI simultaneously
Step 3 : Create an audio track with the input same as where your microphone is connected.
Note - Now, from here you could have 2 different approaches - both work fine however I'll tell you the method which is safe and efficient.
Record your vocals first on to this audio track (at this time you've figured out the vocal melodies etc and the chords you would play on vocoder track) , i.e. without playing the MIDI keyboard.
Step 4: Open the vocoder EVOC 20 PS, change the side-chain input to Audio track you've recorded your vocals on.
Step 5 : Record enable the Vocoder "EVOC 20 PS" instrument, record your MIDI chords.
Step 6 (Optional) : After the step 5, you'll hear both your vocals and the vocoder playing together - in fact chances are that you'll hear more of your dry vocals. so to avoid that you can adjust the audio track's volume (reduce it) or set the input of the audio track to "No Output"
With this you should be good to go... try it and see, should work... Cheers 🙂
.... that was the quickest tutorial/hack I could come up with for such a specific task 😀 ... read more articles and go through logic instruments from the help section to understand more...
Hi,
Just wanted to understand if you are aware of the routing to get started? If not will explain in the next reply.
if you are aware, then things you could try to get closer to the Imogen heap like vocoder.
- Within the vocoder synth, you could
1.) Keep the slower release i.e. more release time. Attack can be fast however try to avoid any glitchy kinda sounds
2.) From the formant filter section... try to adjust the frequency band range... mostly rolling off the highs a bit gives more of a warmer tone. Adjust the "formant stretch", "formant shift" & some mild "resonance" parameters - you'll mostly find the basic sound you are looking for.
Also to save you some time, you could start working with the presets "open heaven", "vocal fifth", and "vocal heaven pads" and adjust the above mentioned parameters.
In addition to this, you can add some reverb on the channel strip and Eq it if needed.
Also don't hesitate to add more instances of EVOC PS
PS make sure signal is set to "Voc" (top right corner of the instrument's interface) & also try different settings in mode... usually "Blend" works for me
I'm sure after a few attempts you'll get closer to the vocoder sound you are looking for.
Cheers & Good Luck,
Thanks for the swift response!
I'll definitely be able to use all these tips for honing the sounds I want. However, my problem is more primitive. I am unable to even get the two working together. I want to be able to perform this "live" and be able to record it at the same time. So i will need more of the basics of getting these all set up.
Thanks!
Hey! I got the thing to work finally! I'm all good on recording the vocoder on the single track. You may have said this already, but I have something else to ask. I want to have the vocoder in the "background" while my voice is being played simultaneously. Is there a way to do that?
Thanks again!
Hey,
I believe I've mentioned both the things in my previous reply... check from "Part 2 : Recording ..."
However,If you wish to have the vocoded sound in the background while your voice is played...
Firstly, You have to record your vocals on to a Audio Track.
Secondly, Change the side-chain input of the vocoder to this newly recorded audio track... (check the picture in my previous reply)
now you could record chords on the vocoder track & you'll hear your raw voice and vocoder working.
Lets say you wish to hear vocoder track alone, keep everything as it is however just set the "output" of audio track to "no output" ... this way you'll only hear vocoder.
later you could create one more audio track and sing over it... you'll hear the vocoder working in the back ground and you could also hear your voice separate...
vocoder in logic pro x
