$199 (excluding tax), dreamtonics.com
Out there in a bundle with Synthesizer V Studio
It’s getting powerful to inform whether or not an internet voice is actual or faux, isn’t it? Our period of vocal deepfakes and generative AI vocals is eerie and precarious — however that hasn’t stopped some builders from attempting to enhance the prowess of music producers with new AI vocal instruments. Although we’ve seen software program like Voice-Swap able to remodeling and changing vocals in any tune, Japanese model Dreamtonics has gone a step additional with its Vocoflex plugin, with severely spectacular outcomes. However is it truly helpful?
Vocoflex makes use of AI expertise to rework your vocals in real-time and morph between a number of voices concurrently. The output could not sound as pristine as one thing like SoundID VoiceAI or Voice-Swap however its real-time workflow makes it quick and versatile.
Out there as a plugin and standalone software program, Vocoflex may also be used alongside one other Dreamtonics instrument, Synthesizer V, to drastically develop the vary of attainable voices.
Other than experimental vocal morphing, Vocoflex can change the voice’s gender, mix a number of targets to create a completely new voice, create new backing vocals that differ from the lead, or create vocal demos with a extra acceptable vocal sound. You may even attempt it on devices as a substitute of vocals, which might result in stunning sound design outcomes. If utilizing it reside, then you’ll be able to swap on a low-latency Realtime mode, with the quickest choice being round 35ms. Most will wish to depart it off, for a higher-fidelity output.
How do you employ Vocoflex?
You may select your goal voice in 3 ways. The primary, and best, is to load up one of many 40 presets that embody female and male pop singers, operatic soprano, husky R’n’B, mellow baritone and extra. Though they’re high-quality fashions, there’s a studying curve to get to know the sound of every. You may usually guess if it’s male or feminine primarily based on the title (e.g. Tenor), however we’d discover it extra helpful if the record was cut up into low, medium and excessive registers so you’ll be able to choose one that most closely fits your vocal.
The second method to create a goal voice is with the Voice Generator, which presents an X/Y pad with gender on the X axis and Tone on the Y axis. You may click on Random to generate a brand new voice timbre, which is linked to the color of the pad. The brand new color can also be listed as a hex color code on the backside, which it can save you and recall later. When you’re completely happy, click on Apply to generate the goal. Straightforward, proper?
The ultimate, and most spectacular choice, is to load in your individual vocal pattern. You solely want round 10 seconds of audio for the method to work, which is much lower than some competing merchandise that require quarter-hour of research. Dreamtonics means that high quality is extra vital than amount; you’ll get one of the best outcomes with clear and dry, solo vocal stems.
When you’ve chosen a goal, the presets and imported voices are proven as curves on the person interface, with a number of dots representing small parts of the analysed audio, and the Voice Generator displaying up as a single node. When you select a couple of node, then the curves or dots are distributed across the display screen, with related voices positioned nearer to one another to make morphing smoother. You may then play your vocal, both through a observe within the DAW or by way of a microphone, and Vocoflex will rework it in real-time. It’s really spectacular how easily all of it works.
To get one of the best vocal sound, you’ll need a goal and predominant vocal which can be as shut in register as attainable. When you click on on the tuning fork icon, you’ll be able to transpose the output by 18 semitones, and also you get a useful graphic that implies essentially the most appropriate vary.
Because the voice is synthesised, it presents a novel, various method to transpose vocals. To place this to the take a look at, we take our personal vocal observe and feed a portion into Vocoflex. We then use the generated goal on the identical vocal half (i.e. on itself) and pitch it down 5 semitones. When you had been to do that utilizing extra conventional pitch-shifting results, and even with one thing like Melodyne, then you definately get shifts in formants that alter the voice away from the unique. Nonetheless, amazingly, Vocoflex sounds similar to the unique singer, simply in a decrease register, albeit with delicate artefacts.
Vocoflex’s Waypoint system lets you choose quite a few factors for the cursor that may then be jumped to both by hitting a key or through MIDI enter. This implies you’ll be able to morph vocals reside onstage, the place totally different sections of a tune are sung in several voices. Sadly, you’ll be able to’t slide between factors, however cursor positions may be automated.
When examined towards different vocal-changing merchandise resembling Sonarworks’ SoundID VoiceAI and Audimee, Vocoflex falls quick by way of audio high quality and the way pure the voice sounds – very similar to the distinction between real-time and offline stem separation algorithms. At instances, it sounds vague and is extra more likely to have delicate audio artefacts if any portion of the unique vocal isn’t good. However bear in mind — Vocoflex can be utilized extra like an instrument than the VoiceAI and Audimee, so that you’re getting a barely distinctive product right here.
For instance, when utilizing SoundID, it is advisable undertake many extra steps to course of and re-import the audio — and also you’ll most likely come up towards some trial and error, as you don’t essentially know what’s going to come back out whenever you hit ‘course of’. Vocoflex, then again, is on the spot. Merely transfer the cursor and listen to the modifications in real-time so you’ll be able to wonderful tune the output to your liking. It’s additionally lightning-quick to construct your individual voice presets.
With that in thoughts, we might most likely solely use Vocoflex for a lead vocal if the unique recording and efficiency are of immaculate high quality. Nonetheless, it’s an ideal device for creating quick mock-ups, or including harmonies and backing vocals.
Dreamtonics has discovered a novel, if irritating, means to assist make Vocoflex moral, given the potential for misuse or copyright infringement. Once you register, you need to add a duplicate of your ID. That is then used to generate an inaudible watermark in audio you create with the software program, which may be traced again to you. It stays to be seen how efficient that is, nevertheless it’s a step in the best path for shielding artist rights.
You would possibly really feel uncomfortable with importing a duplicate of your passport or driving licence to entry music software program, which is completely honest. With Dreamtonics, it’s all dealt with through a third-party in London (ComplyCube) which specialises in id verification and makes use of bank-grade safety to encrypt your information. We’ve already seen this as a dealbreaker for potential patrons on-line, whereas others aren’t as involved.
Vocoflex makes use of unimaginable expertise to make vocal transformation quick and enjoyable. When you’re working with imperfect audio, then you definately’re extra more likely to get the odd artefact or unnatural sound, however experimentation with totally different targets can enhance the outcomes. It will enhance flexibility if you happen to may go in and alter the generated targets additional.
For $199, it’s positively on the dear aspect. Nonetheless, in comparison with a device resembling Audimee, which is $25 per thirty days for the Professional tier, you could possibly get monetary savings in the long term. Though, as talked about, the outcomes with Vocoflex may not be as convincing. Voice-Swap, in the meantime, is $10 for the Professional tier. Each are barely totally different prospects to Vocoflex, however will probably be extra inexpensive if you happen to’re simply trying to change the timbre of a vocal half.
Total, the streamlined strategy and quick workflow of Vocoflex make this a worthy contender to extra cumbersome on-line voice altering choices, significantly for reside performers.
Key options
- Actual-time vocal transformation and morphing, fine-tuned for singing
- Plugin (VST3, AU, AAX) and standalone
- 40 goal vocal presets
- Import your individual vocal a capellas for evaluation
- Morph between presets by dragging a cursor across the interface
- Change genders or mix and create new vocalists
- Set Waypoints to carry out vocal switches through key presses or MIDI
- Vocal Generator can generate a brand new vocal timbre at random
- Edit the gender and tone of the Vocal Generator on an X/Y pad
- Low latency Realtime mode
- Watermarking function to assist scale back unethical use