UAD Softube Vocoder Tips and Tricks

[@henrikpetersson3463]

All the negativity around this plugin set my expectations really low. But having demoed it and compared it to every other vocoder plugin I could get my hands on I simply could not resist buying it. While it might not have all the bells and whistles of some of the others it truly delivers what it promises: ease of use and a great sound. It's the first software vocoder that has inspired me. As always, it's a matter of taste, but I think Softube has done an excellent job here regardless.

[@BeauStephenson]

George Reece is great at these tutorials, he should be doing all of UAD's web stuff!

[@SoftubeStudios]

Thanks mate! Your cheque's in the post ;) /George

[@kriskrysler]

True that !

[@Genolexis]

Woah Woah Woah, Ben is still awesome man lol

[@juliangallo3868]

You put it in a MIDI CHanel?

[@nombe]

for Ableton users that can't get audio to play after turning off the transpose function (aka using chords from an external carrier). 1) the midi track needs to be empty as far as instruments go. Have your chords drawn in of course, but don't add any synths etc... because that will come from the vocoder itself on the audio track. 2) Have your midi track's output set to the audio track containing the vocoder plugin (transpose turned off). If you followed step one correctly, the 2nd dropdown menu below your output will mention Softube Vocoder as the specific output. NOTEL if your midi track has an instrument "blocking" it, the Vocoder WILL NOT APPEAR IN THE DROPDOWN output menu. 3) the vocoder audio track should not require any routing. Just your vocal's audio (or record enabled for real-time processing). Again, it should contain the Softube Vocoder with "transpose" and "midi bypass" OFF. I personally like that the vocoder has its own "generic" synth tone as finding the right carrier tone can be be challenging for some of us less experienced folks. Eg. a saw based synth behaving different than a square wave etc.... Obviously this comes at the expense of flexibility to incorporate your favorite synth textures etc for which I recommend a different vocoder. UAD should make a video explaining this explicitly because I wasted hours on this while the product is not bad. Cheers!

[@bvlvncemusic]

how come i dont have the sidechain feature? logic 10.5 mojave

[@ArvidNielsen]

Exactly, what I need for my current production!

[@sieber03]

Where can I get my hands on the awesome breakbeat used in this demo??😱 The name of the audio region says “Little conga break”

[@andersmou]

How do you get the keyboard to communicate with the vocoder?

[@UniversalAudio]

Via the MIDI in of Console.

[@andersmou]

@@UniversalAudio Thank you! It would be so helpful to have an official video that shows how to set this up. I couldn't figure it out and from my research it seems to many others have had the same challenge. I found another way around it eventually, but this might be a better option if I could only make it work.

[@danlwarren]

Do I understand correctly that there's no way to send your own audio carrier into the plugin? I was excited when I saw UAD list a vocoder plugin, but if you can't send your own carrier this thing is almost worthless.

[@UniversalAudio]

No, the audio of the channel is automatically used as the modulator and the built-in synth is the carrier.

[@danlwarren]

@@UniversalAudio Yeah that rules out about 75% of what I use a vocoder for, I'm afraid.

[@smokeylavell720]

How do you sidechain, cause I'm not getting that option???

[@WalterSitz]

I had the same problem and I've just solved it: Make a new instrument track and put the vocoder in the instrument slot instead of an audio FX slot. Then the side chain dropdown is there... ;-)

[@poet2391]

Is it able to record the vocoder voice in real time?

[@AaronFerenc]

I cannot get the vocoder to sidechain in the midi in Ableton Live 10. It just does not work. Anyone know why?

[@nombe]

same, nobody ever explains how to properly route it and its super annoying

[@cornerliston]

Hey, nice to see. One thing though: With “pulse can be modulated” you obviously mean “can be changed” since there's no actual modulation source routed to the PWM.

[@robzohrab]

How do you add the side chaining dropdown to the vocoder like you have above in your example ? cheers aye!

[@WalterSitz]

I had the same problem and I've just solved it: Make a new instrument track and put the vocoder in the instrument slot instead of an audio FX slot. Then the side chain dropdown is there... ;-)

[@monetdita]

@@WalterSitz thanks a lot

[@BrooseWayniac]

this vocoder screams for automations and learn functions? is it possible? probably its possible with the console1. is it?

[@Genolexis]

Thanks... Now I just added another plugin on my wishlist 😩🤣🤣🤣💯💯💯

[@_fig.8]

yum. j'adore vocoders

[@festivalmiami]

why do software vocoders always sound so unmusically harsh??

[@Peter-gu9ph]

Seems like every time I see George demo a plugin I end up buying it directly after... He just seems to know what sort of features to showcase,,,

[@alexanderlanyon]

"I'm going to just miraculously play my keyboard and it's going to sound like a vocoder". No explanation as to how that works? All my settings are the same as yours but no luck.

[@UniversalAudio]

Have you seen this vid? A bit more in depth. kzbin.info/www/bejne/paScgmtrZtqlZtU

[@andersmou]

You really should do an official, basic “how to get started video”. I’m browsing third party manuals and videos but I’m still not getting the basic info I need.

[@majnu100]

Bring simple noise gate without buying channel strip to UAD

[@AlbertoMartinezDelRio]

Cool!

[@mammyat80s21]

CAT IS NOT AMUSED... I hoped it would sound like the VSM201 20-band Sennheiser vocoder... BUT... nothing like that.

[@adisatrio3871]

200$ to do something that can be done with native plugin in FL Studio. Even the native plugin (Vocodex) can do a lot more than that :D

[@MajorSeventh]

Hell yes!

[@vladislavbutskikh]

$199 for that kinda "vocoder"? I'd better buy another vocalsynth 2 for that money

[@troycarson1]

Cant use vocalsynth 2 for a live show though... :/ I wish you could without latency, looking for a solution

[@tommyfeinstoff]

Wow, wet, dry? You dont say! 😂

[@sambrisbe3393]

I am terribly disappointed in this vocoder. Where exactly is the side chain option and why can´t i get the same results as on this video? A total waste of money in my opinion.

[@UniversalAudio]

What DAW are you using Sam?

[@sambrisbe3393]

Cubase 10.5

[@UniversalAudio]

Here's how I do it in Pro Tools, maybe this will help? drewmazurek.com/Sites/filechute/UA-vocoder.mov

[@ToddUrban]

Hi Sam. In Cubase, things work really well with the UAD-2 Softube Vocoder. Do not try to follow the setup George uses in the video, that is specific to Logic with the sidechain box. Instead, start with a blank session. Add an audio track such as a drum loop. On that audio track, add the UAD Softube Vocoder as an insert on that track. You will instantly hear the effect and can use the mouse to click around to change parameters. If you would like to control that track with a MIDI keyboard, add a separate MIDI track. When you play your MIDI keyboard, you should see signal coming in on the MIDI track and you should also now hear your keyboard controlling the UAD-2 Softube Vocoder. I'm sure there are a few different ways to set this workflow up inside Cubase, but the way I described is the easiest way to get started. Hope that helps!

[@UniversalAudio]

Thanks for chiming with your expertise. Todd. 👍

[@teddym2808]

just too intelligible. I expected better.. Add a higher bands option FFS, especially at $200.

[@ianfuller4779]

👀

[@tommyfeinstoff]

Just another, not really a vocoder! Disappointed!

[@simonlesaint-sls2586]

not impressed sorry