32
Parameter: VocalTune Gate Threshold
Displayed As: GateThr
Default value: -50
Range of adjustment: -96 to 0
The input channel of the VocalTune feature includes a Noise Gate to help reject unwanted
microphone noise. Set GateThr to suit the incoming audio source. Values are in dBs.
Parameter: VocalTune Gate Release Time
Displayed As: GateRel
Default value: 64
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
This parameter sets how long the gate remains open after the signal level has dropped
below the value set by GateThr. The default value of 64 should suffice for many purposes,
but longer or shorter times may be more suitable for certain types of material.
Edit menu - Submenu 11: Vocoder
A Vocoder is a device which analyzes selected frequencies present in an audio signal
(called a Modulator) and superimposes these frequencies onto another sound (called the
Carrier). It does this by feeding the Modulator signal into a bank of band pass filters. Each
of these filters (12 of them in the MiniNova) covers a particular band in the audio spectrum,
and the filter bank thus “splits” the audio signal into 12 separate frequency bands. The
result of this arrangement is that the spectral content – i.e. the “character” of the audio
signal is “imposed” upon the synth sound, and what you hear is a synth sound simulating
the audio input (typically a vocal).
The final character of the vocoded sound will depend greatly on the harmonics present
in the synth sound used as the Carrier. Patches very rich in harmonics (for example using
Sawtooth Waves) will generally give the best results.
Typically, the Modulator signal used by a Vocoder would be a human voice speaking or
singing into a microphone. This creates the distinctive robotic or ‘talky’ like sounds which
have recently returned to popularity and are now being used in lots of current music
genres. Bear in mind however, that the Modulator signal need not be restricted to human
speech. Other types of Modulator signal can be used (for example, an electric guitar or
drums) and can often give quite unexpected and interesting results.
The most common way of using the Vocoder is with the dynamic gooseneck mic supplied
with the MiniNova (or any other dynamic mic) plugged into the top panel XLR socket [22].
Alternatively, the Modulator signals may be from an instrument or other source connected
to the EXT IN socket {32}, located on the rear panel, but remember that a jack plug
connected at this input will override the top panel XLR input. The Modulator input to the
Vocoder is always mono.
The pitch of the final vocoded sound will depend on the notes that the Carrier (the currently
selected Patch) is playing. Notes can either be played on the MiniNova’s keyboard or
received via MIDI from an external keyboard or sequencer. Both Carrier and Modulator
signals must be present simultaneously for the Vocoder effect to work, so notes must be
played while the Modulator signal is present. The Vocoder is enabled by selecting a Patch
of Type VOCODER/MIC FX with the TYPE/GENRE knob [4], and controlled from the
VOCODER submenu.
Submenu: Vocoder
Parameter: Vocoder On/Off
Displayed As: On/Off
Default value: Off
Range of adjustment: On or Off
Enables/disables the Vocoder function.
Parameter: Vocoder Level
Displayed As: VocodLvl
Default value: 0
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
Characteristic Vocoder sounds are obtained by blending the Vocoder output with one
or other of the two source signals. MiniNova lets you mix the output of the vocoder with
either the Modulator signal or the Carrier signal, or both. VocodLvl adjusts the level of the
Vocoder output in this mix.
Parameter: Carrier Level
Displayed As: C a r riLvl
Default value: 0
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
CarriLvl adjusts the level of the Carrier signal (the currently selected synth Patch) in the
Vocoder output mix.
Parameter: Modulator Level
Displayed As: M o d ulLvl
Default value: 0
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
ModulLvl adjusts the level of the microphone (or other external input) that is mixed with
the Vocoder output signal.
MiniNova
VocoderModulator Carrier
0 0 0
127 127 127
Parameter: Vocoder Width
Displayed As: VocWidth
Default value: 127
Range of adjustment: 0 to 127
The outputs of each Vocoder lter band are routed to the Left and Right channels
alternately to produce a stereo image with good depth. Decreasing the value of Width
will progressively route all the filter outputs to both outputs, so with Width set to zero, the
Vocoder output will be in mono and centrally located in the stereo image.
Parameter: Vocoder Mode
Displayed As: VocMode
Default value: Normal
Range of adjustment: Normal, AllMax
The Normal setting produces standard vocoder operation. The modulator signal (usually
the microphone input) is analysed to produce driving levels for the vocoder carrier
synthesis bands. Use this mode if you want the typical ‘talking robot’ type of sound.
If VocMode is set to AllMax, no analysis is performed. All the carrier synthesisis bands
are set to a high level and this allows the vocoder to be used as a powerful multi-filter
effect. Used in conjuction with the other vocoder parameters, in particular Resonate,
VocShift and VocSpred (see below), effects ranging from subtle stereo comb filtering
and phasing to strange bell like textures can be found. Experiment!
Parameter: Vocoder Freeze Mode
Displayed As: VocFreez
Default value: Off
Range of adjustment: Off or On
With VocFreez set to Off, normal vocoder operation is available. In this mode, the
modulator input (normally the mic) will be constantly analysed by the vocoder.
If VocFreez is set to On, the current levels of the vocoder modulator analysis filters will
be frozen, and stored. (Imagine taking a single frame from a film as an analogy.) This can be
used to ‘capture’ the mic signal. Factory Patches ‘Aaah1’ (B073) and ‘Aaah2’ (B074) use
this freeze mode. Note that the frozen formant is stored as part of the Patch data.
Parameter: Vocoder Shift
Displayed As: VocShift
Default value: 0
Range of adjustment: -64 to +63
The VocShift parameter changes how the vocoder modulator analysis filter band
frequencies are mapped to the carrier synthesis band frequencies. It offsets the whole
of the analysis bands by the same amount relative to the synthesis bands. A positive value
shifts the carrier bands up the frequency spectrum, whereas negative values shifts them
downwards.
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