

You'd typically set a vocal source as the modulator - Articulator extracts its formants and amplitude modulations before imposing them directly onto the second sound source. It's not very good at natural alterations, but we assume that it's not meant to be! Articulator and AspireĪrticulator operates like a vocoder, requiring two inputs to work to its full extent: a carrier and a modulator, here dubbed Audio and Control signals respectively. The Alienize and Dialect controls cause Mutator to systematically reverse segments of audio, creating subtle, granular effects - or what sounds like a whole new language. It's an interesting effect, but its practical uses might be somewhat limited. This seems to push the voice forcibly through time and space until it gets to the point where it sounds entirely robotic.

This provides ring modulation effects, with the interesting twist that the pitch of the signal tracks that of the input. It starts with a pitchshifter, which is accompanied by control over the throat length and width, but things really start to get freaky in the Mutate section. If you've ever wanted voices that sound like something from another planet, it's well worth a try. Mutator is quite unlike most vocal effects you will have encountered previously. We'd certainly describe it as a pleasing sound, if not quite the same as recording separate takes. In fact, it's as easy as dragging and dropping chords from another MIDI part in your project onto the track that controls Harmony Engine - this way, you can create appropriate harmonies in no time at all. This works well if you only need a very basic arrangement, but the real magic begins when you hook up a MIDI device and play in the specific harmonies you'd like the voices to follow. If you don't supply a MIDI signal, Harmony Engine enables you to select from a plethora of static presets. You can use Harmony Engine to build complex harmonic arrangements, employing up to four virtual voices on top of the original source. It works a little like Duo or Choir, except this time there's more control over tuning. The most substantial of these new additions is Harmony Engine - this retails separately for £189, so to get it in the box represents great value for money. Harmony EngineĪvox 2 also includes Harmony Engine, Mutator, Articulator, Aspire and Warm. Sybil is very much a typical de-esser - ie, a configurable, frequency-specific compressor - and it works well enough. If you're uncomfortable with compressors, it's a great solution for evening out the dynamics while adding - you guessed it - punch. Punch is a lot like a limiter in operation, but the results sound similar to gentle compression.
