Vocoder - Access VIRUS|POWERCORE User's Reference Manual

Vocoder

> ABOUT THE VOCODER
The Vocoder is used to take the harmonic and dynamic properties of one signal (the modula-
tor) and impose them on another (the carrier). The most widely known application of this is to
make 'talking' synth sounds by using a voice as the modulator and an oscillator waveform as
the carrier. Those of you old enough to remember Sparky's Magic Piano will know this effect
well, but the most famous proponents of the vocoder are probably Kraftwerk, who have made
extensive use of this effect. Another popular and highly effective technique is to use the Voc-
oder to process drum loops.
So how does it work? Well, the vocoder applies a series of bandpass filters and envelope fol-
lowers to the modulator signal and uses the resulting signal to modulate the equivalent fre-
quencies in the carrier signal. Widely different results can be achieved depending on the
number of bands used, the sensitivity of the envelope followers and the frequency content of
each signal.
NOTE: The vocoder is the most complex of the Virus PowerCore's effects, and takes a lot of
DSP calculating power; therefore the filter section becomes disabled when you use it, and
polyphony is reduced. If you need to filter the output of the vocoder, then open up another
instance of the Virus PowerCore, and use the audio inputs to process the output of the first
(Extended License only).
NOTE: In order to make use of the vocoder, you may need to instance the Virus PowerCore
as a side-chain effect. See the chapter "Using the Audio Inputs" for more information.
> MODE
Use this to select the source of the carrier signal.
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