Setting Vocal Transformer Pitch and Formant Parameters
Use the Vocal Transformer’s Pitch parameter to transpose the pitch of the signal upward
or downward. Adjustments are made in semitone steps. Incoming pitches are indicated
by a vertical line below the Pitch Base field. Transpositions of a fifth upward (Pitch = +7),
a fourth downward (Pitch = −5), or by an octave (Pitch = ±12) are the most useful,
harmonically.
As you alter the Pitch parameter, you might notice that the formants don’t change.
Formants are characteristic emphases of certain frequency ranges. They are static and do
not change with pitch. Formants are responsible for the specific timbre of a given human
voice.
The Pitch parameter is expressly used to change the pitch of a voice, not its character. If
you set negative Pitch values for a female soprano voice, you can turn it into an alto voice
without changing the specific character of the singer’s voice.
The Formant parameter shifts the formants, while maintaining—or independently
altering—the pitch. If you set this parameter to positive values, the singer sounds like
Mickey Mouse. By altering the parameter downward, you can achieve vocals reminiscent
of Darth Vader.
Tip: If you set Pitch to 0 semitones, Mix to 50%, and Formant to +1 (with Robotize turned
off ), you can effectively place a singer (with a smaller head) next to the original singer.
Both will sing with the same voice, in a choir of two. This doubling of voices is quite
effective, with levels easily controlled by the Mix parameter.
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Chapter 9
Vocal Effects