User's Manual

427 Live Audio Effect Reference
Sens. sets the sensitivity of the unvoiced detection algorithm. At 100%, the unvoiced noise gen-
erator is always on. At 0%, only the main carrier source is used. The Fast/Slow switch adjusts
how quickly Vocoder switches between unvoiced and voiced detection.
Vocoder’s large central area shows the levels of the individual bandpass filters. Clicking within
this display allows you to attenuate these levels.
The Bands chooser sets the number of filters that will be used. Using more bands results in a
more accurate analysis of the modulator’s frequency content, but requires more CPU.
The Range sliders adjust the frequency range over which the bandpass filters will operate. For
most sources, a fairly large range works well, but you may want to adjust the outer limits if the
sound becomes too piercing or bassy. The BW control sets the bandwidth of the filters. At low
percentages, each filter approaches a single frequency. As you increase the bandwidth, you
increase the overlap of the filter bands. A bandwidth of 100% is the most accurate, but higher or
lower settings can create interesting effects.
The Precise/Retro switch toggles between two types of filter behavior. In Precise mode, all fil-
ters have the same gain and bandwidth. In Retro mode, bands become narrower and louder at
higher frequencies.
Gate sets a threshold for the filterbank. Any bands whose levels are below the threshold will be
silent.
The Level slider boosts or cuts Vocoder’s output.
Depth sets how much of the modulator’s amplitude envelope is applied to the carrier’s signal. At
0%, the modulator’s envelope is discarded. At 200%, only high amplitude peaks will be used.
100% results in ”classic” vocoding.
The Attack and Release controls set how quickly Vocoder responds to amplitude changes in the
modulator signal. Very fast times preserve the transients of the modulator, but can cause distor-
tion artifacts.
The Mono/Stereo switches determine how many channels are used for the carrier and modula-
tor. In Mono mode, both the carrier and modulator are treated as mono sources. Stereo uses a
mono modulator but processes the carrier in stereo. L/R processes both the carrier and modula-
tor signals in stereo.
The frequencies of the carrier’s filterbank can be shifted up or down via the Formant knob. With
voice as the modulator, small Formant changes can alter the apparent gender of the source.