Anyone remember Eiosis ELS Vocoder?

 

I like to use this one: Analog X - Vocoder v1.02 - Standalone - Free
www.analogx.com/contents/download/Audio/vocoder/Freeware.htm

 

Zynaptiq sell yet the old Prosonic's Orange (do you remember it?) and apparently improved it in the upcoming version IV (AU & VST).
https://www.zynaptiq.com/orangevocoder4/

For those who want to try it out the Prosonic's Orange (AU version only) there is a Demo on the site
https://www.zynaptiq.com/orangevocoder/

 

Last edited: Jan 2, 2023

Although I find 199€ to be a crazy high price!
Xils 5000 = 59€ / Polyverse Manipulator = 99€ / Waldorf Lector = 156€

 

Last edited: Jan 2, 2023

One thing about vocoder bands: there are few virtual only vocoders able to provide up to 100 bands (see Melda, Vocodex, Lector - the last one does not specify the number, but it is guessed by graph, starting a default value of 42 -).
However, that does not mean they are better than lower bands number, only that the modulator speech is usually more recognizable.

The standard for professional vocoders like EMS 5000 was about 20 bands.

 

Oh... not forgetting that we lucky ones who use Logic Pro have the EVOC 20 vocoder plug 20 bands directly inside LPX (and which works very well).

We often forget the plugs provided by DAW software

 

Not me, but it resembles a stripped down EMS 5000/Xils 5000.
Speaking of a little history, it seems that the vocoder used by Alan Parsons for "The Raven" was an EMI digital (!!!not bad for 1975!!!) vocoder, completely lost in time:

What the hell - how many bands does it have???
Edit: 1024, tested right now.
No VST though.

 

Last edited: Jan 2, 2023

Yup. I tested out many on the your list too, I tend to use a vocoder to emulate a sound similar to a talk box, and the only vocoder I've used that I was able to produce usable results with were vocoders based on the EMS 5000 Vocoder.

The Eiosis ELS, and the Xils 5000 were both based on this unit.

I still use the Eiosis vocoder till the day (though Jbridge). I still haven't gotten around to digging into the Xils version, even though I have it.

 

Hep, very good sounding vocoder but it's stupid lack of external synth input is a deal breaker for me.

 

Well I think it should, let me dig into and test it, I'll tell.

 

Wow it seems I completely missed this one.

You're right, no sidechain carrier for this, not even mentioned in manual.
Only keyboard switches for (custom) samples as alternative.

 

VocalSynth is the only standalone Vocoder I think sounds good. Other vocoders are usually within multi fx plugins

 

A bit late for the show, sorry!

I mainly use Vocoder V from Arturia these days, quite flexible and can quickly dial in the kind of sounds I like, but I do miss my good old Orange Vocoder. Some Reaktor ensembles from the User Library sound quite good too.

Anyway, I have been using MDA Talkbox for years as my secret weapon. Free, and you have to add your own synth sound as a carrier for your voice (which grants you a lot of flexibility). The only problem is that it is quite old, and 32 bits only. Doesn't work that well on recent Cubase, even with a 32 bits VST wrapper. Can be quite tricky to find, just google it, it is still free.

You can hear it in action on this track:

 

As we are talking vocoders do you happen to have any good recommendations for a talkbox emulation ? Not sure if everyone is familiar with rocktron banshee pedal.

 

Ahhh yes, the gold old orange vocoder! Loved it waaaay back late 90's early 2000's

 

Weren't the mda plugs ported to 64 bit? I read something about it in another forum, but did not check it myself.

 

Love Molekular's vokoder. It's typical Reaktor — overcomplicated and frustrating to learn, but worth it in the end. The modulation options are second to none.

Can't forget bluecoder, old vocoder/mangler from 2006 but still sounds great today. One of the best rated Reaktor ensembles of all time.

 

Yes. By Steve Walker (aka Dead Duck Software).

But he didn't port the vocoder.

And two years ago Steve closed his activity... and he totally disappeared everywhere. I don't know why... but it was during the most intense period of the Covid. Perhaps it is related, perhaps no, I don't know...

Anyway if you want to retrieve all his excellent 64-bit freeware plugins, I share them on my own webspace, carefully sorted and with all the docs and everything. It is here.

 

One thing I really love about Manipulator is that you can use it as some sort of crazy waveshaper too.
Run a sine wave through it and play with the parameters randomly. It becomes a crazy synth. As long as the source audio is mono.

Here's an improvised recording I made couple of months ago. There were quite a few effects in the signal chain, but the main sound is sine wave > Manipulator.