quoted 10 lines Does someone know anything about "mouth tubes", the thing Roger Troutman>> Does someone know anything about "mouth tubes", the thing Roger Troutman
>> of Zapp uses?
>
>Let me get back to everyone on that. I've been contacting old friends to
>see what Roger uses(and still uses, a la 2Pac's "California"
>track...)Rogers' the guy that got me into the whole vocoder thing in the
>first place.
>
>Derek
>
Actually, a vocoder isn't the same thing as a 'talk box', which is the tube
thing. A talk box is basically a speaker with a tube stuck on the end. The
sound of your synth (Zapp) or guitar (Frampton) goes down the tube, which
is stuck in your mouth. You move your mouth around, which imparts
voice-like filtering on the instrument's sound. You then stick a microphone
in front of your face, and record the result. You're substituting an
external sound generator for your vocal chords, but using your mouth to
shape the tone as if it were you speaking.
Advantages: 'spoken' phrases are much more precise than a vocoder.
Disadvantages: you've got a tube stuck in your mouth. Plus playing notes
accidentally while your mouth is closed can still be picked up by the mic.
And if you want to actually sing or speak the words, you better be in tune
because the mic will pick it up.
A vocoder is an electronic device. It analyzes the frequency spectrum of a
control signal, like your voice. Like what a frequency analyzer does on a
home stereo, to get all those bouncing frequency meters. It then takes that
data, and filters the source sound (like a synth) to match. Like what a
graphic equalizer does. As the spectrum analyzer settings move, so does the
equalizer's knobs (that's a metaphorical example....it doesn't actually
have knobs that move). Like the talk box, it impresses the frequency
characteristics of the control signal on a source signal, but the vocoder
is electronic and doesn't need a mouth or voice as a control signal.
Advantages: if you don't send any control signal, nothing comes out of the
thing (so you can play without speaking into the mic, and nothing comes out
accidentally). You can use many different sources to modulate sounds. You
don't have an unsightly tube sticking out of your mouth.
Disadvantages: Sounds mushy and less precise than a talk box (in general).
. . . . . . . . .
Matt Haines haines@quick.net
control-X:to:abort:transmission.