DO THE ROBOT > Step by step

Let your computer do the talking with vocoders, talkbox effects and entirely synthesised vocals 4. Using mda Vocoder to create a futuristic robot voice

1 Let’s use the freeware classic mda vocoder ( mda.smartelectronix.com) to create a robot voice with enough shiny metal balls to power through a dance mix. Load the WAVs named “Future…” into a 128bpm project. Future Vox.wav is the raw vocal we’ll robotise, and Future Synth. wav is a harmonically rich sound,created with Bazille CM. Loop bars 7-10 and put Barricade CM on your master bus.

2 Mda vocoder is super-easy to use – just send your carrier (vocal) to its left stereo input, and the modulator (synth) to the right. This can be done by panning the vocal and synth hard left and right, then routing both to a group bus, then adding mda vocoder to the bus. Note that this plugin doesn’t have a graphical interface, so use your DAW’s built-in editor to adjust its parameters.

3 It’s a bit weak, but we can process the carrier vocal track before it hits mda vocoder to improve that. Add Kuassa PreMix CM and set Gain to 20 to distort the voice, creating more harmonics for the vocoder to work on. Next, use D16 Group Frontier – on its default setting to flatten dynamics and bring up details – and BitterSweet ( fluxhome.com) set to 100% Bitter, Medium speed, and - 6dB Output.

4 For clearest results, set mda Vocoder’s Quality to 16 Band and Envelope as low as it’ll go before it changes to ‘ Freeze’. Hi Thru mixes in the carrier’s original treble, increasing intelligibility – 30% is enough. Hi Band sets the level of the upper vocoder bands – crank it to 80% for a crispier tone.

5 The Filter Q parameter drastically alters the timbre, ranging from a fairly mild-mannered vintage effect right up to a super-thick, resonating voice – set it to 100%. Mid Freq shifts the midrange bands’ centre frequencies. It works well set to about 800Hz, but you can automate it to add movement and make certain words clearer. Now lower Output to -12dB.

6 Now we can process mda vocoder’s output. In our video, we reach for reverb to add space, some extreme EQ to emphasise the top end while smoothing off the very top end, some limiting to cut any remaining treble sibilance, then a lush dose of chorus to add stereo width to the sound, before a final extra dose of reverb.