Is there such thing as an auto talk box?

[ixelion]

I really like that "talking" effect but I dislike putting a tube into my mouth.

 

Is there an auto talk pedal or something that can be controlled by an expression pedal?

[slight-return]

Well, here are a couple of options

 

A vocoder type device doesn't use a tube...it uses a secondary input (from a mic, etc) to impose a spectral footprint over another signal

The effect is similar, but not identical

 

expressin control is not going to have the fine control of a talkbox, but "vocalizer" and "formant filter" type effects are out there

 

One of the Newer boos "auto-wahs" has this mode as do some of the roland multiFX, The old Korg AM-8000R does as does the Korg G5, the line 6 filter unit hassuch mode as well -- there are, undoubtebly, other...those are just top-of-the head

[Kassanova]

Yes. Most of the major MFX units have them. On Boss GT series, the effect is called a humanizer. You can set the vowels and control them with the expression pedal. On Zoom G series effects processors, its called a comb filter. There is also an effect called "cry" that is similar. On the Axe-FX, I think its called formant filter. On Digitech units, its called ya-ya or something silly like that. Boss also makes a stompbox called the AW-3 that has the humanizer as an option and their PW-10 wah pedal has it as well. You can plug an expression pedal into the AW-3 and control it. They are not exactly like a talkbox per se, but they are as close as you can get without the tube. Hope that helps.

[voodoochild89]

Yeah the Boss AW-3 can make vowel sounds and you can use an expression pedal with it.

[ixelion]

Thanks for all the info

 

I really don't want to buy a whole multi fx unit just for vocal effects. And I heard the AW-3 does not sound very good, what is your opinion on this pedal?

 

What I was planing to do is have a dramatic and slow modulating effect for fast solos, and the vocal effect was pretty cool for that.

 

However I am considering phasers since they achieve the same thing but obviously sound very different

[Kassanova]

A lot of people around here have a bias against anything "digital". As soon as they find out its digital, that decreases their opinion of it by half. TRUST YOUR OWN EARS. Many people reviewing the AW-3 are looking for an auto-wah, which is its primary function. The humanizer on it is usually called "the useless effect" by a lot of people. Those people just don't know HOW to make it useful.

Having said that, I own the AW-3 and the PW-10 V-Wah and I think the PW-10 is "smoother". The manual sucks but is a necessity when trying to program the PW-10. The AW-3 is a bit more self-explanatory. Even though both are Boss products, between the two, I prefer the PW-10. Still, its not my primary humanizer source. I like the one in the Boss GT-3 even better and when I record using that effect, that's the one I use. Since the PW-10 is a wah/trem modeler, it proves useful in live situations where I don't want to take much gear. You can also store 3 patches of settings in it, which makes it even more useful.

[ixelion]

Thanks Kassanova, sound advice.

 

I will give the AW-3 a try just because of pedal board space is critical.

 

Any recommendation for a phaser? I need something that will allow the notes to remain clear and not get buried in the whooshing sound.

[Crxsh]

I've heard the Digitech Synth Wah can get pretty vowel like.

[Kassanova]

 

Thanks Kassanova, sound advice. I will give the AW-3 a try just because of pedal board space is critical. Any recommendation for a phaser? I need something that will allow the notes to remain clear and not get buried in the whooshing sound.

 

 

EHx Small Stone and Nano Small Stone are the phasers of choice in these parts. I just got my EHx XO Stereo Polyphase - that's more my speed.