BV512 Digital Vocoder

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The BV512 is in an effect category all on its own and perhaps one of the most unique effects found in Reason. The idea of the vocoder goes back to the late 1920s when telephone companies were trying to find new ways to push larger amounts of telephone information through the phone lines. Although the idea never really made it to prime time in the telephone market, today we can enjoy the interesting effect the vocoder has musically.

What Does It Do?

The BV512 works by taking an audio source, which will be referred to as the modulator , and analyzing it to create a "blueprint" of the different frequencies in that audio source. This blueprint is then imposed on a second audio source, known as the carrier. The result is that the carrier wave can take on a synthetic and robotic sound.

Automatic Routing of the Carrier

Take a look at how the BV512 and the SubTractor are automatically routed.

Routing a Modulator

With the Dr:rex loop being routed to the vocoder as the carrier source, you now need a modulator source. For the modulator source, load the SubTractor synthesizer to your rack.

NOTE

A modulator source must be present before the output of the carrier source can be heard .

The Vocoder in Action

NOTE

The output of the Dr:rex loop will not be audible because there is no modulator signal yet. Although you have connected the SubTractor to the modulator input, there will be no source until you actually play the SubTractor.

The Filter Bands

When the modulator source (the SubTractor in our example) is fed into the BV512, the device will analyze the frequencies to create a "blueprint" that will then be used to alter the frequencies of the carrier input. The blueprint will use several frequency filters to accomplish this; the number of filters used is selectable.

With the loop playing, and while holding down a key on your MIDI controller:

NOTE

The top half of the LCD screen on the BV512 displays the frequencies of the modulator source.

Level Controls

Use the Envelope to control how fast the carrier is altered by the modulator.

NOTE

The BV512 can also be used as a multi- band graphic EQ. For more information on how to do this, please refer to Reason's documentation or refer to the book Reason 2.5 Power! (Course Technology).

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