Sweetwater offers more ways to pay than any other music retailer. Learn more »

Cart (800) 222-4700 Español (800) 222-4701


May is Mic Month at Sweetwater!

Expert Center Sweetcare

«Back to Glossary Menu

Search:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0-9

Vocoder
An electronic instrument in which the dynamic characteristics of a sound source (usually a voice) are analyzed into a large number of frequency bands, and the resulting information is used to filter another sound source such as a musical instrument. When the dynamic input is a voice the result will be like having the instrument "speak" the notes or chords it is playing. The acronym (how many of you knew vocoder was an acronym?) actually means Voice Operated enCODER and the technology originated at Bell Labs in the late 1940's. The earliest commercial vododers were developed in Europe by Electronic Music Systems (EMS) and Synton. Over the years Roland and Korg have both had popular models, and now vocoding is having a resurgence as a software algorithm in the sound design community.

Vacuum Tube

Vako Orchestron

Valve

Vaporware

Variable Pattern Mic

Variable State Filter

Variac

Varispeed

Varitone

VAST

VBR

Voltage-controlled Amplifier (VCA)

VCA Group

VCF

VCO

VCR

VCXO

Veiled

Velocity

Velocity Compression

Velocity Curve

Velocity Split

Veneer

Venetian Cutaway

Verse

VESA

VESA

VFO

 VGA

Very High Frequency

Vibrato

Vibratone

Vibrato Tailpiece

Vibrola

Video Card

Video Controller

Video RAM

Video Sync

Violin Bass

Virtual Analog Synthesizer

Virtual Dolby Digital

Virtual Dolby Surround

Virtual Instrument

VirtualMemory

Virtual Slave Reel

Virtual Track

VISE

Vistalite

VITC

Vivace

Virtual Network Computing

VOC

Vocal Booth

Vocoder

Voice

Voice-Stealing

 Voice Coil

Voice Leading

Voice Over

Voicing

Volatile Memory

Volt

Volt-Ampere

Voltage

Voltage Clamping

Voltage-controlled Filter (VCF)

Voltage Depression

Voltage Regulator

Voltage Sag

Voltage Spike

Volume

Volume Pedal

Volute

Vortal

VOS

Vox Treble Booster

Vox Ultrasonic

VRAM

Virtual Studio Technology

VST2

VST Instrument

VTR

VU (Volume Unit) Meter

     
Home | Gear Reviews | Videos | Buying Guides | Glossary | Tech Tips | Show Reports | Publications | Featured Articles

Our Customers Say...

“Sweetwater does a great job with shipping, and when I have any service questions, I'm always able to get through and talk to someone who can help. It's been a really positive experience.”
Ken Dravis, Grand Junction, CO

Sweetwater Sound Inc.
5501 U.S. Hwy 30 W
Fort Wayne, IN 46818
Get Directions »

Toll Free (800) 222–4700
Español (800) 222–4701
Local (260) 432–8176
Fax (260) 432–1758
E-mail us

Phone & Retail Store Hours:
9–9 Monday–Thursday
9–8 Friday
9–7 Saturday
(All hours listed are
Eastern Standard Time.)

© 2012 Sweetwater Sound Inc. All rights reserved. Please read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Links | Press Releases