vocalizers

Vocalizers are a type of electronic musical instrument that synthesize human vocal sounds. They typically produce sung melodies and sometimes spoken phrases. These instruments often use various synthesis techniques to create realistic or stylized vocal timbres. Early vocalizers, such as the Roland VP-330 Vocal and String Machine from the late 1970s, used analog formant filtering to approximate vocal characteristics. Modern vocalizers employ more sophisticated digital signal processing, including wavetable synthesis, sampling, and physical modeling, to achieve a wider range of vocal sounds and greater control over articulation and expression.

The primary function of a vocalizer is to allow musicians to create vocal parts without needing a human singer. This is particularly useful for solo performers, electronic music producers, and in situations where a specific vocal sound is desired that may be difficult or impossible for a human to produce. Users typically input melodies using a keyboard or sequencer, and the vocalizer then generates the corresponding vocal sound. Some vocalizers also offer features like vibrato, portamento (glide), and expression control to enhance the realism and musicality of the synthesized voice. They can be found as standalone hardware units or as software plug-ins for digital audio workstations.