Vocoder Demonstration for Music Production

Learn how vocoders can be used on vocals, drums, percussion and synths to create unique textures, robotic voices and evolving electronic sounds.

If you haven't come across Oscar from Underdog before, I would highly recommend checking out his channel. His tutorials are always clear, practical and full of useful production techniques.

In this video, Oscar demonstrates how a vocoder can be used with vocals, percussion and synth stabs to create a range of interesting sounds and textures. The demonstration uses Reason, but the same principles apply to most software and hardware vocoders.


What Is a Vocoder?

A vocoder is an audio processor that combines the characteristics of two sound sources. Most commonly, a vocal signal is used to control a synthesizer, creating the classic robotic voice effect heard throughout electronic music.

Although many people associate vocoders with robotic vocals, they can also be used with:

  • Drums and percussion
  • Synth stabs
  • Pads and atmospheres
  • Bass sounds
  • Sound effects and textures

This makes vocoders a powerful sound design tool as well as a vocal effect.


Vocoders in Music Production

Vocoders have been used throughout electronic music since the 1970s and have appeared in countless recordings across multiple genres.

Artists associated with vocoder sounds include:

  • Kraftwerk
  • Daft Punk
  • New Order
  • Beastie Boys
  • Floating Points

While the robotic vocal sound is the most recognisable use of a vocoder, modern producers often use them to add movement, texture and harmonic interest to a wide variety of sounds.


How Does a Vocoder Work?

Vocoders were originally developed for telecommunications, allowing speech information to be transmitted using significantly less bandwidth.

The incoming speech signal is split into multiple frequency bands using filters. The volume of each frequency band is then analysed and used to control another sound source, often a synthesizer.

The result is a sound that takes on the characteristics and articulation of the original speech while retaining the tonal qualities of the carrier signal.

In music production, this process creates the distinctive talking synth and robotic vocal effects that vocoders are famous for.


Popular Vocoder Plugins and Hardware

Many modern DAWs and plugins include built-in vocoders, making the effect more accessible than ever.

Popular options include:

  • iZotope VocalSynth
  • Native Instruments Razor
  • Image-Line Vocodex
  • Ableton Vocoder
  • Reason Vocoder
  • Korg MicroKORG
  • Roland VP-03
  • Electro-Harmonix Voice Box

Whether you use software or hardware, most vocoders share similar controls and workflows, making it easy to transfer skills between different systems.


For more synthesis and production techniques, explore our Sound Design Tutorials.