Talkbox (Stereo)

Description

Talkbox is a vocoder instrument with an internal synth used as the so-called carrier-signal. The so called modulator-signal has to be fed in via the external input (in-0).
To get a general idea what the concept of vocoding is about please look here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vocoder
A real Talkbox is based on a different principle of operation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_box

The name talkbox was chosen to point out the (almost) “all-in-one” nature of this effect/instrument and due to the fact that similar to vocoder-based instruments from the 70th with built-in synths (by Korg or Roland for instance) the bands of the vocoder can not be adjusted. The actual vocoder-code is based on the soundpipe-DSP-Library port of the VST plugin also named Talkbox by MDA: http://mda.smartelectronix.com/

Here is a little demo-track done with Subbotnik with quite a bit of reverb added in the DAW:
https://soundcloud.com/taitekatto/talkbox-for-tbd
Talkbox’s featureset is largely inspired by Korg’s VC10, an early vocoder instrument:
http://www.vintagesynth.com/korg/vc10.php

In contrast to the VC10 Talkbox is not truly polyphonic, though. Instead a selectable interval can be added as a sub oscillator. By using an external Carrier this limitation can be bypassed. All other features are available, in addition to the stereo ensemble-effect there even is a chorus.

Parameters

Section 1: Global / Mixer

  • Internal Carrier Pitch (map CV here)

  • Internal Carrier Tune +- 1200 Cent

  • Total Carrier Level

  • Internal Carrier Signal Balance (Synth<=>Noise)

  • Carrier Balance (Internal<=>External [1-in])

  • Carrier Leakage

  • External Carrier Amount

  • Activate Accent Bend n/y

  • Accent Bend (Talkbox to Internal Carrier Pitch)

  • Modulator Level [0-in]

  • Modulator Leakage [0-in]

  • Volume

Section 2: Internal Carrier

  • Vibrato active n/y

  • Vibrato Speed

  • Vibrato Depth

  • PWM active n/y

  • PWM Speed

  • PWM Depth

  • SubOsc Tuning (A) +- 1200 Cent

  • SubOsc switch Tuning (A)<=>(B)

  • SubOsc Tuning (B) +- 1200 Cent

Section 3: FX

  • FX active n/y

  • Ensemble / Chorus

  • FX Depth

  • FX Amount

Usage / Patch Ideas

Normally the patches/play options will be driven by Talkbox’s main building blocks, for instance:

  • Changing the pitch of the vocoded signal via CV, typically

    using an external keyboard.

  • Changing pitch of the sub oscillator by using the “switch

    tuning” option

  • Mix in an external carrier, for instance to provide additional

    polyphony or different waves

  • Accent Bend as a special effect, to be temporarily enabled via

    the on/off switch

  • Vibrato as a special effect, to be temporarily enabled via the

    on/off switch

The most common usage of vocoding obviously is to use human voice as the modulator. But also rhythmical material like drum beats can be very interesting when used as a modulator. If you want to blend in the modulator signal along with the vocoded signal you can do that using the “Modulator Leakage” parameter. Also a bit of the unprocessed carrier-signal can be nice.