Moreover, this layering technique works especially good on hi-hats and snares. This Carrier type is useful for layering drums with white noise to thicken them up, give them more character, and help them cut through the mix better. In particular, Vocoder works great at enhancing drums and percussion using its noise oscillator. The Ableton Live Vocoder has several creative uses other than treating vocals. Lower values sound deep like a male while higher values sound brighter like a female. For example, Formant changes alter the apparent gender of the source. Release adjusts how long the filter bands will hold their amplitude before dropping to zero.įormant: This control shifts the carrier’s filterbank frequencies up or down. 100% combines them resulting in classic vocoding.Īttack and Release: The Attack control sets how quickly Vocoder responds to amplitude changes. 200% only plays the high amplitude peaks of the vocal. At 0%, you will only hear the processed synthesizer. Whereas Retro mode sounds narrower and louder at higher frequencies.ĭepth: This control sets how much of the modulator’s amplitude envelope is applied to the carrier’s signal. Precise mode sounds wider, more full, and sometimes bass heavy. Precise/Retro: This switch toggles between two filter types. This example is set to 40 bands for greater clarity. Higher number bands sound more clear while lower bands sound more distorted. However, it is often easier to use a separate EQ to shape the sound.īands: This chooser sets the number of filters that affect the sound. This feature also works as a built-in EQ. Click and drag them to attenuate these levels. Adjusting this control will also add brightness and clarity.įilter Bank: Vocoder’s central display shows the levels of the individual bandpass filters. Unvoiced: This control adjusts the volume of a noise generator, which resynthesizes portions of the modulator signal. Enabling the Enhance button brightness the sound by normalizing the carrier’s frequencies and dynamics. Here is a brief breakdown of some controls that will improve the results:Įnhance: Vocoder’s output often loses high-end and clarity when using external carrier sources. Try experimenting with them to dial in the effect further. The Ableton Live Vocoder comes equipped with several sound-shaping controls. Vocoded Vocal Example: Processing Vocals with Vocoder Also, try sawtooth-based synth patches to improve the clarity of the voice. Synthesizer sounds that are bright and rich in harmonics often produce the best results. Dial in your synthesizer sound to get the desired effect.To hear the vocoded signal alone, mute the synthesizer track. Playback both tracks to hear the timbral character of the synthesizer transform the vocals.Also, select Post FX from the bottom chooser. Select the synthesizer track from Vocoder’s Audio From chooser.This option allows you to route the audio from the synthesizer track. Set Vocoder’s Carrier chooser to External.If you’re recording the synthesizer and vocal material in real time, then make sure the Arm button is enabled on both tracks. Note: If you’re drawing MIDI notes into the Note Editor, then try using chords in the same musical key as the vocals for best results.

You can draw MIDI notes to drive the synthesizer or record them in by playing live. Create a new MIDI clip with the shortcut command Shift+CMD+M.This example uses Live’s Operator instrument. Drop any synthesizer on the MIDI track.Create a MIDI track with the shortcut command Shift+CMD+T.You can either use a vocal sample or process a live vocal signal through a microphone. Load Vocoder on the track with your vocal material.

Ableton autotune 7 midi setup