Korg OASYS: Using the vocoder with a microphone
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Note: also applies to the Korg Kronos.

Scenario

You want to create vocoder effects by using a microphone, to enable "speaking" the sound of a program.

Procedure

  1. Plug mic into audio input 1. Set to Mic level, set the level knob to max (for now).
  2. Go to an INIT Combi. Set timbre 1 to Program B005 Synbrass The Sailor.
  3. Play a chord to ensure that the program plays correctly.
  4. Go to 0-8 Audio In/Sampling. Uncheck Use Global Setting.
  5. Set Input 1 Bus Select to L/R. Verify that the Mic is working - you should hear it when you talk into it at this point. Set Bus Select back to Off.
  6. Set FX Ctrl Bus to 1 - we are going to control the Vocoder FX with FX Control Bus 1.
  7. Go to 8-1 IFX Routing1. Set Timbre 1 Bus select to IFX 1.
  8. Go to 8-5 Insert FX. Set IFX 1 to [ON], and set to effect 26: Vocoder.
  9. Play a chord on the keyboard. You should hear nothing. But while holding the chord, talk into the mic - voila, vocoding. The timbre of the synth brass sound will be modulated by your voice, allowing you to "speak the sound." If you go to 8-7 IFX 1-12, select IFX 1, you will see that in the Modulator Section, the Source is set to FX Control 1, which is what we routed the Mic to in the Audio In/Sampling section.

Tips

  • Programs with a lot of harmonics, like sawtooth wave based programs, are good for vocoding.
  • Play with different settings. Raising the High Gain often is good for increasing the sibilance of the consonants and the intelligibility of the spoken words, as is Modulator High Mix. Using "Noise Level" is usually not so effective on vocals, but good for effects like using a drum groove to drive the vocoder.
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