Korg NAUTILUS Series

EQ and Filters 026: Vocoder
789
For instance, bright synthesizer sounds, distorted guitars,
noise, or strings all make good carrier signals.
For more information on using vocoders, see “Vocoder
(PROGRAM mode)” on page 734 and “Rhythmic Vocoder
(COMBINATION mode)” on page 735.
Using the vocoder with a mic input
To use a voice from a microphone as a modulator:
1. Connect a mic to Audio Input 1 or 2, and set the Input
Select to MIC.
2. Go to the GLOBAL > Basic Setup– Analog Setup
page.
3. For the Audio Input to which you connected the mic,
temporarily set Bus Select to L/R.
This lets you listen to the mic input while adjusting the
LEVEL control.
4. While talking into the mic, use the Analog Input Gain
to adjust the level as high as possible without
distortion.
After adjusting the LEVEL, you can change the bus settings
for use with the vocoder:
5. For the Audio Input to which you connected the mic,
turn Bus Select Off, and set FX Ctrl Bus Select to 1.
6. In the Vocoder effect, set the MODULATOR Source
to FX Control Bus 1.
7. Route a synth sound into the Vocoder effect.
With these settings, the sound from the mic will be used as
the modulator. While you play, speak into the mic; it will
sound as though the instrument is talking.
If the sound is distorted, adjust the CARRIER Trim and/or
MODULATOR Trim.
CARRIER
Note that the left and right inputs are always summed into
the Carrier, regardless of the MODULATOR Select
parameter below. To use a separate signal (such as a mic
input) as the Modulator, route it through FX Control Bus 1
or 2.
Trim [0…100]
Sets the Carrier input level.
Noise Level [0…100]
This controls the level of the built-in noise generator. You
can mix this with the Carrier input, or set the Carrier Trim to
0 and use only the noise, if desired. You can also modulate
the Noise Level using Dmod, controlled by the Source and
Amount parameters below.
Source [Off…Tempo]
Selects the modulation source for the Noise Level.
Amount [+/–100]
Sets the modulation amount for the Noise Level.
MODULATOR
Trim [0…100]
This controls the input level of the Modulator.
Source [Input, FX Control 1, FX Control 2]
Selects the signal to use as the Modulator input.
Input uses the input to the Vocoder effect. This is good
when you want the input to “vocode” itself.
FX Control 1 and 2 use the signal from the FX Control
Buses. For classic vocoding effects, such as a mic input as
the modulator and a synth as the carrier, you must use one of
these buses.
Select [L/R Mix, L Only, R Only]
Selects whether to use the left/right mix, only the left
channel, or only the right channel of the Modulator input.
VOCODER
Formant Shift [–2…+2]
This lets you offset the Carrier filters, so that they are either
higher or lower than the Modulator filters. This produces
effects similar to transposing a sample, and produces
significant changes in the overall character.
Response [0…100]
This controls how quickly the vocoder responds to changes
in the Modulator. The default of 60 generally works well for
most purposes.
Lower values produce slower response times, which can
produce interesting sweeping effects. Higher values are
useful for percussion, but can cause jittery response with
smoother Modulator signals.
Low Gain [dB] [–12…+12]
Sets the low-range output level of the vocoder.
High Gain [dB] [–12…+12]
Sets the high-range output level of the vocoder.
Modulator High Mix [0…100]
This lets you mix a highpass-filtered version of the
Modulator directly to the output, bypassing the main
vocoder effect. When using a voice as the modulator, this
can increase intelligibility.
OUTPUT
This is the standard effects output section, with modulatable
control over wet/dry balance. For more information, see
“OUTPUT” on page 762.