Making a voice into a synthesizer (a la DaftPunk)
Ever wonder how to get that DaftPunk sound like they did in Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger? Follow this tip.
For this example, instructions are given for Cubase or Nuendo but most hosts should work somewhat similarly. Initial setup of this technique will require a mono audio file (preferably a voice, but you could most any mono sound), an Audio channel, a MIDI channel, and a MIDI controller. The controller is not necessary but much more fun and flexible during the creative process.
First, record or import your audio into Cubase, insert it onto your mono audio channel, and add one instance of Auto-Tune Evo into one of the Inserts. In the Auto-Tune Evo plug-in, activate the buttons marked "Target Notes Via MIDI" & "Targeting Ignores Vibrato", and turn on Formant Control. This will allow Auto-Tune Evo to receive MIDI signals from a MIDI channel.
Before the magic can happen, add a MIDI channel and set the Output Routing of that channel to point to the audio channel. The input for the MIDI channel should already be set to "All MIDI Inputs". This setting should be fine. Finally, select the Record Enable button on the MIDI channel in order for the MIDI signal to be active within Cubase.
If you push Play on the transport bar you'll notice that you don't hear any sound coming from your audio track. This is because audio will only play when activated by a MIDI signal. This is important since you'll want to keep the note lengths equal to the amount of time you keep your finger on a single note-- just like a real synth.
Additional components that were likely used in the making of the DaftPunk sound were distortion effects, similar to what you would find in Antares AVOX Warm tube saturation generator, and possibly a electric guitar backing track playing the exact MIDI notes as recorded to control Auto-Tune Evo.
DaftPunk used very low and very high octaves to give it an unnatural sound, so if you're going for that effect you should try playing in those areas on your controller keyboard.
Once you've got all the routing set up, experiment with new ideas and come up with your own signature sound.
Have fun!
For this example, instructions are given for Cubase or Nuendo but most hosts should work somewhat similarly. Initial setup of this technique will require a mono audio file (preferably a voice, but you could most any mono sound), an Audio channel, a MIDI channel, and a MIDI controller. The controller is not necessary but much more fun and flexible during the creative process.
First, record or import your audio into Cubase, insert it onto your mono audio channel, and add one instance of Auto-Tune Evo into one of the Inserts. In the Auto-Tune Evo plug-in, activate the buttons marked "Target Notes Via MIDI" & "Targeting Ignores Vibrato", and turn on Formant Control. This will allow Auto-Tune Evo to receive MIDI signals from a MIDI channel.
Before the magic can happen, add a MIDI channel and set the Output Routing of that channel to point to the audio channel. The input for the MIDI channel should already be set to "All MIDI Inputs". This setting should be fine. Finally, select the Record Enable button on the MIDI channel in order for the MIDI signal to be active within Cubase.
If you push Play on the transport bar you'll notice that you don't hear any sound coming from your audio track. This is because audio will only play when activated by a MIDI signal. This is important since you'll want to keep the note lengths equal to the amount of time you keep your finger on a single note-- just like a real synth.
Additional components that were likely used in the making of the DaftPunk sound were distortion effects, similar to what you would find in Antares AVOX Warm tube saturation generator, and possibly a electric guitar backing track playing the exact MIDI notes as recorded to control Auto-Tune Evo.
DaftPunk used very low and very high octaves to give it an unnatural sound, so if you're going for that effect you should try playing in those areas on your controller keyboard.
Once you've got all the routing set up, experiment with new ideas and come up with your own signature sound.
Have fun!
Views: 1075
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by mnml_music on -
Read this for Logic: http://portalga.knowledgebase.net/article.aspx?article=305044&p...
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Permalink Reply by Nock on -
This must be a Cubase & Nuendo thing. I'm using Sonar 8.5. I've never heard of assigning a midi track output to an audio track. You mean, assign the midi track out to Evo, right? But, even then the audio track still plays thru Evo and produces sound. The midi track is only controlling the pitch of Evo, not un-muting the audio, right? This would be really cool :-)
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Permalink Reply by mnml_music on
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Read this for Sonar: http://portalga.knowledgebase.net/article.aspx?article=304676&p...
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Permalink Reply by Tony 'Tee' Neto on
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Excellent tips. Will be trying this soon! Assuming this only applies to Evo, and not possible with Auto Tune EFX?
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Permalink Reply by mnml_music on
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Yes, this applies to Auto-Tune Evo since Auto-Tune EFX does not have MIDI control.
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Permalink Reply by mnml_music on
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Please rephrase your question, Pedro. It's not clear what you are asking.
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Permalink Reply by mnml_music on
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As with my original response. Read this for logic: http://portalga.knowledgebase.net/article.aspx?article=305044&p...
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Permalink Reply by Kit Lennon on
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When I do this, the tuned vocal jumps up & down between octaves. How do I stop this happening?
Any help would be hugely appreciated
Cheers,
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Permalink Reply by mnml_music on
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Make sure your retune speed is set to "0". Also, whenever you don't press a key, no MIDI signal is sent, so the audio will return back to its original pitch. This will caus a jump from the key you were at back to the original pitch. To get around this, either keep the key pressed (MIDI signal present) whenever there is audio, or cut out the piece of audio that you want silence at.
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