Today I will discuss doing a Vocoded vocal using Reason 4.0. For this example I used the Malstrom Synth, the Vocoder, and some vocal samples recorded previously to provide the vocals for the vocoder. It is worth noting that you can try this with any of the Reason synths to offer some really interesting vocoder effects and tones rather than just the generic Antares Auto-tune tone.
A vocoder is basically two sounds working together to make a sound and is most commonly used as a vocal sample and some form of synthesis. Vocoding has become popular in Hip-Hop but has been used in a lot more genres of late.
OK First have a beat you want to add a vocoder on loaded in, and have a vocal sample pre-recorded using some DAW software such as Sonar 8, Cubase or Logic.
Once in you Reason project load in an NN-19 Sampler, easiest way to so this is to right click below the last instrument and select it from the menu that pops up. Initialize the patch by right clicking and clicking on Initialize Patch in the drop down which allows the vocal to then be triggered via your MIDI controller and then click the folder icon that is blue to load in the sample you want to use.
Next we need to mix the NN-19 with some form of Synthesizer in Reason to allow it to be Vocoded with. You can use any Synthesizer in Reason you want but in this instance I chose the Malstrom, which is an excellent Graintable Synth. This will become the Carrier and the NN-19 will be the Modular which I discuss further below.
Next and most importantly let's get the sample into the song so that it plays back when you listen [synch the vocal sample to the song]. It is essential that the NN-19 is recorded in like this so that it can be Vocoded. To do this ensure the Audio Quantize during Record check box is pressed and run the song through on record pressing the appropriate keys on your MIDI controller where you want the vocal sample to come in the song.
Next load up a BV512 Vocoder into Reason and let's hook the sample and Synthesizer up to it. Press the TAB key on your keyboard to show the back of the instruments in Reason. Connect the Main Output of the Synthesizer into the left and right carrier input on the Vocoder. The carrier is what provides the pitch for the vocoder and so playing around with different synthesizers as the carrier comes up with all sorts of different and crazy Vocoder tones.
Take the NN-19 Left or Right output and move it to the Audio Modulator input on the back of the Vocoder. And that is it, now you should hear it being Vocoded as you play back and you should also now be able to play the Vocoded signal back into Reason to allow all sorts of crazy things like Vocoded chords etc. Press TAB to go back to the front of the units and experiment with the knob controls on the front of the Vocoder aswell to get the most desired tone. Still don't have it then try a different synth. Experiment with it to find the tone you like.
NOTE: If you want to play vocoded sounds the carrier must be Polyphonic.
Also don't be afraid of trying to route signals through other processors aswell before making it the carrier to get some even crazier sounding vocoders.
Any questions or anything just holla!
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Reason 4 Tutorial: BV512 Vocoder
Re: Reason 4 Tutorial: BV512 Vocoder
