Voctopus

Voctopus: A Powerful Vocoder and Synthesizer in a Single Plugin

Welcome to the world of unique sounds with Voctopus – an innovative virtual instrument from the developer boxsounds. This plugin, which combines the functions of an 8-band vocoder and a full-fledged synthesizer, opens up limitless possibilities for musicians and sound designers who strive to add originality and depth to their sound. Whether you’re looking for a tool to create classic “robotic” vocal effects or want to experiment with the modulation of any audio signals, Voctopus will become your reliable assistant. It is ideal for various musical genres, from electronic music to experimental soundscapes.

The Heart of the Vocoder: 8 Bands and Flexible Filters

The basis of the vocoder part of Voctopus is a powerful 8-band filter bank. This block is responsible for analyzing the spectrum of the modulation signal (for example, a voice or any other audio) and forming envelopes for each of the eight frequency bands.

• 8-band filter bank: Allows you to precisely control how the modulator’s spectrum affects the carrier’s spectrum. Each band has its own parameters.
• Attack and Decay: These controls for the filter bank allow you to precisely adjust the vocoder’s response speed to changes in the modulation signal, which is critical for forming the articulation and dynamics of a “speaking” or “singing” sound.
• Extra Carrier Gain: Makes it possible to increase the presence of the carrier signal in each band, allowing you to achieve a denser or more expressive sound.
• Separate multi-filters for modulator and carrier: This feature offers even more flexibility, allowing independent filtering to be applied to the incoming modulation signal and the internal synthesizer carrier signal before they interact in the main filter bank. This opens the door to creating more complex and unique timbres.

Built-in Synthesizer: A Full-featured Carrier Generator

Voctopus is not just a vocoder that requires an external carrier signal; it has a powerful built-in synthesizer that can be used as a carrier source for vocoding or as a standalone instrument. This synthesizer is fully playable and automated, making it extremely versatile.

Richness of Oscillators and Synthesis Capabilities

• 2 x dual oscillators with dual detune: Two independent oscillators, each consisting of two generators, allow you to create rich and voluminous sounds thanks to the ability to detune both between pairs and within each pair.
• Waveforms: Classic waveforms are available – sine, saw, triangle and square, which are the foundation of most synthesizer sounds.
• Pulse Width: Adjustable parameter for a square wave, which allows you to change the timbre from thin and ringing to more saturated.
• Pitch settings: Flexible octave, semitone and fine-tuning controls make it easy to integrate the synthesizer into any tonality and create subtle harmonic or dissonant intervals.
• Hardsync: A classic synthesis technique that creates rich harmonic timbres by forcing the cycle of one oscillator to reset when another passes the zero mark.
• Sub-oscillator: An additional generator subordinate to oscillator 1, with the ability to select the waveform and octave. Ideal for adding low frequencies and strengthening the foundation of the sound.
• Noise generator: Includes the choice of noise type (white, pink, etc.), the ability to modulate the noise with the output of oscillators 1 or 2 and a high-frequency filter with cut-off control to shape its spectrum.

Advanced Features: FM and Ring Modulation

The synthesizer part of Voctopus goes beyond basic subtractive synthesis, offering:

• FM (Frequency Modulation): Allows oscillators to modulate each other’s frequency, creating complex, metallic or bell-like timbres characteristic of FM synthesis.
• Ring Modulation: Multiplying the signals of oscillators, which generates new harmonics (the sum and difference of frequencies), ideal for creating dissonant, robotic or bell-like sounds.

Flexible Modulation Capabilities

To enliven sounds and add dynamics, Voctopus is equipped with a powerful modulation section:

• 2 LFOs (Low Frequency Oscillators): Two independent LFOs with a restart function, the ability to work in free tempo or synchronize with the host tempo. 4 waveforms are available (sine, saw, triangle, square) and pulse width control for modulating signals.
• 16×3 Modulation Matrix: The heart of modulation flexibility. This matrix allows you to assign 16 different modulation sources (including LFOs, envelopes, MIDI controllers, etc.) to 3 different synthesizer or vocoder parameters. Of particular interest is the ability to modulate the modulator signal itself, which opens the door to creating extremely complex and moving textures.

Mixing Sections and Global Settings

For precise control over the final sound, Voctopus offers convenient mixers and global parameters:

• Oscillator mixer: Allows you to balance the volume of all oscillator outputs before feeding them to the next sections.
• Main mixer: Here you can set the balance between the modulator and carrier signal (dry/wet control), as well as adjust the panorama of the output sound.
• Global functions: Include Pitch-bend range settings, plugin mode selection and Glide function, which allows you to create smooth transitions between notes.

Conclusion: Voctopus – A Tool for Creative Experiments

Voctopus from boxsounds is not just another plugin, but a multifunctional tool that combines the power of a vocoder with the flexibility of a full-fledged synthesizer. Its rich set of features – from the detailed 8-band filter bank and separate filters, to the rich oscillator section with FM and ring modulation, as well as deep modulation capabilities – makes it an ideal choice for creating unique vocal effects, conversational synthesizer sounds, or experiments with modulation of any audio. Despite being free, Voctopus offers functionality that can be compared to commercial plugins. It is a great tool for adding new colors to your musical palette and expanding the horizons of your sound design. Try Voctopus today and discover new opportunities for creativity. The plugin is available in VST format for the Windows operating system (32-bit).