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MIXING & EFFECTS
Fruity Vocoder
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 Fruity Vocoder is an advanced
real-time vocoder effect with a wide range of adjustable parameters
and zero latency. Vocoding is the process of using the frequency
spectrum of one sound to modulate the same in another. When a human
voice is used to modulate a synthesized chord, for example, it can
sound like the synthesizer is talking (a classic robot voice from
sci-fi).
The vocoded sound is referred to as a carrier. The sound used
for vocoding is called a modulator. A classical example is having a
voice as a modulator and a synth as a carrier, to create the effect
of a ‘speaking synth’.
The vocoder works by detecting the levels of certain frequency
bands and then filtering the carrier. Thus the carrier takes on the
characteristics of the modulator sound.
In this vocoder plugin, the left channel is
considered modulator by default, and the right
channel is the carrier, (i.e. the vocoder can process only
mono sounds). The channel assignment can be changed from the MIX
section. There are many ways to create that combination, for e.g.,
using panning, single channel mute, Fruity Send effect, insert
tracks chaining (FL Studio Producer Edition only), etc. A
 video tutorial is
available for the Vocoder on the FL Studio website.
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Parameters
FREQ section
- Min/Max - These knobs set the frequency range
processed in the vocoder. Cutting off high and low frequency
regions that are not present in the modulator sound helps you
achieve higher quality result with less bands.
- Scale - Lets you adjust the scale of the
frequency (linear or logarithmic). The best value for this property
varies with the type of modulator sound (voice, instrument, noise
etc.).
- Invert (INV) - This switch inverts the
modulator frequencies.
- Bandwidth (BW) - This knob sets the bandwidth
of the bandpass filters used to filter the carrier sound. You can
think of wider bands as producing softer sound. The best value
differs with the different source sounds.
ENV Section
Sets the envelope follower attack and decay. This is the fade
in/out times for the envelopes of the frequency bands tracked in
the modulator sound.
- Attack - Sets the "fade in" time.
- Decay - Sets the "fade out" time.
MIX Section
Allows you to mix the source sounds of the carrier and modulator
in the final result (use the sliders), or hear the left (modulator)
or right (carrier) channel soloed (click the LCD switches).
You can swap the left and right channels assignments (decide
whether the modulator is taken from the left and the carrier from
the right one or vice versa) by clicking the L and
R labels at the top.
Bands Display
Displays the bands and their volume levels and the sound plays.
You can adjust the volume of the individual bands by dragging
up/down the sliders in the view.
- HOLD - Press this switch to hold the current
band levels (i.e. "pause" the vocoder's band volume detection). You
can automate this switch.
- Bands - Allows you to select from 4 to 128
bands to be used for vocoding. The more the bands, the higher the
output quality (unless you are looking for some kind of special
effect), however, more bands consume more processor power. Also
note that unlike the FFT-based the vocoders on the market (which
usually use 256, 512 or more bands), Fruity Vocoder uses a more
precise detection system, so you can achieve better results with
much less bands (and no latency, unlike FFT vocoders!) than
usual.
- Filter - Allows you to set the filter order.
Higher order allows for "steeper" frequency band edges.
Plugin Credits: Didier Dambrin
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