Hi Maxime

> Hi all,
> About vocoder and pre-process, what gear do you use for basic vocal
> signal What microphone do you like best Do you use comp, EQ,
> enhancer

The best you can afford.

I personally only have a Crown PZM mic which costed in the late 80ies
around 800 DM, which is now around 500 Euros. If I could afford I'd use
a Schoeps small diaphragm condensor microphone. Of course you need a pop
killer (you can use the nylon stockings of your girlfriend too).

As preamp I have a TLA Ivory series or the inputstage of my Yamaha
console (refitted with metalfilm resistors); some years ago I used the
input stage of a ADT 5M console. Compressor now is also a TLA, in the
earlier years I used a Urei 1178. I made also astonishing results with
an Alesis smashup (this is a real unknown gem - costs around 30 Euros on
ebay!) After the compressor I insert a noisegate (ashley) which is
controlled in the sidechain by the pre compressor signal. I use at least
two EQs: one after the compressor, which raises mids for the analysis
section, and one in the sidechain signal of the noisegate to make the
open/close events of the gate more controllable. Also I use a highpass
at 60 HZ before the compressor. If the vocal signal should be also the
carrier, I'd also add de-esser, and I'd use a different EQing for the
carrier signal than for the analysis signal.

I usually do not(!) use a voiced unvoiced detector (Dieter won't like to
hear it). I prefer to add high frequencies from the original signal to
the synthesized signal. I would not use the highpass out of the 129-1
(the cutofffrequency is too low), but would use a A-123 and set it to
somewhere in the range of 10kHz to 14kHz.


A very good testing signal is a classic news broadcast show on FM radio,
like BBC or similar. There you will hear usually perfect voice sound.

Florian