NAMM: Software Vocoder from Native Instruments

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VOKATOR is not only a vocoder, but also a sophisticated synthesizer, a granular sampler, and a virtual sound-fusion laboratory. By offering multiple modes of operation, VOKATOR opens vast new worlds of sound-design possibilities.

VOKATOR's high-resolution FFT spectral engine is a milestone in vocoder development. Previous vocoders used eight, sixteen, twenty, or thirty-two frequency bands at the most-- the more frequency bands, the smoother and creamier the effect. Unlike its predecessors, VOKATOR's advanced engine uses 1024 bands. In addition, VOKATOR's bands can even be grouped together for a convincing vintage-vocoder emulation. To ensure optimal dynamic range across the frequency spectrum, an integrated frequency-domain compressor balances the levels of all bands.

A pair of vocoding channels can either be spectrally combined or played independently. Channel A can be switched between an integrated file player or external input A, while Channel B can be set to a full-featured synthesizer, a time-stretching granular sampler, or external input B. For a traditional vocoder effect, the frequency spectrum of the external input would be controlled by the synthesizer, but VOKATOR's capabilities are much more advanced than simple vocoding.

VOKATOR is both an effect plug-in and a vocoder-based synthesizer. Its synthesizer features an advanced dual-oscillator design with dynamic preset morphing controlled by the modulation wheel. VOKATOR's granular sampler can independently control a sample's pitch and time. A full range of modulators -- step sequencers, envelope followers, LFOs, and more -- can be easily routed to any of the synthesizer's or sampler's parameters.

VOKATOR will be available in February 2003 at a suggested retail price of 299 $ / €289 .

Feature Overview:

• High-resolution FFT spectral engine
• Multiple vocoding modes
• Operation configurable from 4 to 1024 frequency bands
• Full-function dual-oscillator synthesizer with dynamic patch morphing, multiple filter modes, and FM
• Granular sampler with independent control of time and pitch
• Realtime frequency spectrum displays of input and output
• Advanced modulation section includes step sequencers, tempo-synced LFOs, envelope followers, and more.
• Additional spectral effects can be applied to the sound input
• Custom filter spectral curves with the breakpoint editor of the equalizer
• Gate and level compression of the input, frequency-domain compressor for the output

Supported Interfaces

• VST, MAS, Audio Units, DXi II, ASIO, Soundmanager, Core Audio

Minimum Requirements

• Windows 98/2000/ME/XP, Pentium/Celeron/Athlon 800 MHz, 128 MB RAM
• MacOS 9.2/MacOS 10.2.2, G3 500 MHz, 128 MB RAM

Recommended System

• Windows XP, Pentium/Athlon 1,2 GHz, 512 MB RAM
• MacOS 9.2.2/MacOS 10.2.2, G4 733 MHz, 512 MB RAM, OMS 2.3.8