synth talk

[space_hero]

i know there are other keyboard players on here. anyone else love messing around with synthesizers? what are your favorites? my favorite right now is Native Instrument's Massive softsynth - 50+ wavetable osc types, 12 filter types, synced wavetables LFOs, semi-modular....limitless possibilities for sounds. I also love my Nord Modular but have not touched it in a few months. What do other people out there use?

[space_hero]

i have a korg triton... trying to get the vocoder sound... any tips?

found this. looks like there's some built in vocoder effect on the triton:
http://www.korgnorthwest.com/Triton_vocoder.htm
1) plug an audio input into input 1
2) set the mic/line switch appropriately
3) go to global audio input tab
4) set input 1 Bus(IFX/Indiv) to IFX2
5) set pan to R 127 (you do this so that none of the audio is mixed with the final product)
6) select your carrier patch (a 003 legato strings, for example)
a: it should be rich in harmonics, i.e. strings, harmonic pads
7) press menu, p8 edit-insert effect, insert FX tab
8) for IFX2, select 093:vocoder
9) turn on the vocoder effect by pressing the "off" button(it should change to "on)
10) select routing tab, and set ALL OSCs to IFX2
11) press menu, p4 edit-Amp
12) press Amp2 tab, change pan to L001(this step is only necessary in DBL voices)

Now play and talk at the same time - you are vocording.




Vocoded vocals are usually very hard to understand, so you'll want to try one of the following things, unless you are going for a 100% robotic sound:
1)In step 5, don't pan all the way to the right so some of the original vocal signal makes it through
2)Split the mic input so part of it runs clean to the amp/PA
3)In step 6, replace the "carrier patch" with the same mic input(not sure exactly how this is done on a triton) - you won't need to press any keys to play the patch if you use this method but it's a great way clear yet robotic sounding vocals (this may be useless if you can't customize the vocoder though)

If you use #1 or #2 you'll have your clean signal plus a separate vocoder sound whose pitch is controlled by the keyboard. So, you can use the vocoder to double your vocal part or add harmony. I highly recommend making the patch monophonic for maximum clarity, but obviously feel free to experiment.

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I think it's important to understand how it works even if you're just manipulating a preset. Basically, a vocoder takes one input (usually your voice) and analyzes the volume of different frequency bands(think of something like a visual equalizer). Then, the volumes of the different frequencies are mapped onto a filter bank for a second input(usually an oscillator or an instrument), and allows the same frequencies to pass. So, the texture of your voice is mapped onto an instrument, but the vocal input signal is not present in the output at all (which is why i suggested getting some of the clean signal in there as well).

I have no experience programming synth patches on a Triton, so I don't know if it's possible to program your own vocoder from scratch, but this article has a good general explanation and diagram that could be applied to many synths:
http://www.paia.com/ProdArticles/vocodwrk.htm

[Dr. Freakynutz]

I have a ton of soft synths which for recording sound awesome. I think analog would be better, but the expense is not really an option.

[space_hero]

hey mudd, i think you should be able to use the method outlined in the first link to get it done live, since one of the inputs is the mic/line. i'm not sure since i've never created a patch on a triton, but definitely try that out if you haven't