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MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2019 7:09 am
by Telliot
I’ve never used a vocoder before, so this is all very new to me. I’m sure the issues I’m having are mostly human error, but I’m having trouble:

(a) getting a vocoder to sit in a mix
(b) making it intelligible
(c) keeping a steady volume on all syllables


I suspect one thing I might need to do is over-enunciate my vocals to help make the words more intelligible. I’ve read it helps to mix in the unaffected vocal to help with clarity, but then it seems to lose the effect I’m going for. Plus, when I hear vocoder tracks done by bands in the past, I’m not registering anything but the synthesized effect — maybe I’m just missing it and it’s been cleverly disguised?

Anyone got some brilliant insight they want to throw my way? :'(

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2019 11:17 am
by Telliot
Well...I figured it might be a long shot. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2019 11:23 am
by señormisterioso
What vocoder are you using?

Compress the vocal going in. Compress the signal coming out.

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2019 11:54 am
by Telliot
I’m using the TAL-Vocoder, with the TAL-U-NO-LX as my synth engine. I have a hard compressor on the vocal going in, but didn’t think to add the compressor on the way out — I’ll definitely give that a shot. Any advice on eq’ing it to sit better in the mix? I’m sure there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to this.

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2019 10:24 am
by Dok
Over-enunciate the crap out of it and don't be afraid to boost EQ radically to get it to cut through. Also be careful you're not squashing those consonant transients with the compressor attack.

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 6:25 pm
by Cpe4spd
I've got some briliant insight here I would just like to throw away! What are you doing messing around with one of those anyway... so you want a vocal effect. :fp: There are so many different types of vocoders, telecom to military to musical. They were originally ment to encode decode. there are a vast amount of musical ones and you need to be an expert on them to work well. and some don't work well at all. If its not working for you drop it and go on. You should've had a track with the clean vocal on it. I've been an Engineer in Nashville for years. If you are going to experiment, leave your self a way out. Practice your art and don't get over artstic in your music. Remeber what works and what does't. :)

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:45 pm
by Telliot
Cool. Thanks.

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 8:06 pm
by andy_tchp
Yikes :unsure:

Anyway, how intelligible does it need to be? I've never been able to discern the lyrics from any of the stuff I've heard that had vocoder effects in use, it's always been textural and floating across the mix (for want of a better/meaningful description).

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 8:15 pm
by Telliot
andy_tchp wrote:
Thu Apr 04, 2019 8:06 pm


Yeah, that’s basically what I’m going for. It’s just a repeating phrase in one section and isn’t much more than a textural thing. I re-recorded the vocal, over-enunciating the words, and ended up doing another take with a different synth engine and an octave higher, then I panned them hard L and R, with some EQ and compression. It’s much better now, although if I were trying to make it more of a feature I’d probably invest in something like the new Behringer Vocoder. All in all, I’m fairly pleased given I’ve never used one before. It’s weird it even occurred to me to try it, but I kept hearing it my head and decided ‘what the hell?’

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 8:08 am
by Dok
Cpe4spd wrote:
Thu Apr 04, 2019 6:25 pm
don't get over artstic in your music.
That's right. Music is about being a MAN, not some weird-ass EFFECT on your voice you fuckin' communist.

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 8:40 am
by Telliot
:D

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 10:40 am
by shadowplay
Dok wrote:
Wed Apr 10, 2019 8:08 am
Cpe4spd wrote:
Thu Apr 04, 2019 6:25 pm
don't get over artstic in your music.
That's right. Music is about being a MAN, not some weird-ass EFFECT on your voice you fuckin' communist.
:D

I probably spent too much of my childhood and early teens listening to Cabaret Voltaire and solo Richard H Kirk (and still do), to such an extent that I'd probably say that less MAN more DALEK is always the way but I'm guessing the Telliot is a subtle cravated and debonair Air sort of Vocoderist and not wanting to frighten the family with the full Martyrs of Palestine/Seconds Too Late exterminate exterminate.

Btw that artistic quote is like something the Noel Gallagher would say.

D

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 9:59 am
by DrQuasar
When do we get to hear the track? I always enjoy your stuff.

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 10:26 am
by StevenO
What's your plan for the vocoder? As a replacement for standard vocals? To compliment and/or support standard vocals? Or do you want them to be treated/listened to like one would a non-verbal instrument, like a clarinet or flute or other?

Re: MIXING ADVICE NEEDED : VOCODERS?

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 12:49 pm
by Larry Mal