Effects Reference

Chapter 9 Pitch 111
Vocal Transformer Parameters
 Pitch knob and field: Determines the amount of transposition applied to the input signal.
 Formant knob and field: Shifts the formants of the input signal.
 Robotize button: Click to switch the Vocal Transformer to Robotize mode. Robotize
mode is used for augmenting, diminishing, or mirroring the melody.
 Tracking slider and buttons (available only in Robotize mode): Control how the melody
is changed in Robotize mode.
 Pitch Base slider and field (available only in Robotize mode): Use to transpose the note
that the Tracking parameter is following.
 Mix slider and field: Defines the level ratio between the original (dry) and effect signals.
Setting the Pitch and Formant Parameters
The Pitch parameter transposes the pitch of the signal up to two octaves 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.