CYLON VOCODER Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 This was obviously originally about the Cylon Vocoder aka the EMS Vocoder 5000. Now it's about the correct set-up parameters for the Roland SVC-350 Vocoder. Also if you also have this vocoder the best set-up for the eleven white rubber knobs eq section is this: Knob1= 0 Flat, 2= +2.5, 3 and 4= +5, 5= +2.5, 6= 0 Flat, 7= -2.5, 8 and 9= -5, 10= -2.5 and 11= 0 Flat. This gives it its best sounding (fat,phat) warm sound. Reversing this makes it more clangy metallic(electrical)sound. But whatever works best for you and your carrier input, I'm just letting you know after over 20 years with this machine what works best for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverDragonSoun Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Man I loved that show. Still watch the marathons on Sci Fi as well as the new ones. By your command. Begin the day with a friendly voice A companion, unobtrusive - Rush Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben One Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 I love the Cylon voice--even 25 years later it's neat. Here's a question--what vocoder parameters do you think made the Cylons sound so menacing? Ben Eddie Jobson Tribute Projects Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthoid Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Paging Commander Adama..... When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CYLON VOCODER Posted December 17, 2005 Author Share Posted December 17, 2005 I'm only familiar with the parameters of the Roland SVC-350 Vocoder, but I guess most analog vocoders used pretty much the same ones and here they are: This is taken from the Roland SVC-350 Vocoder owners manual. When using a synthesizer (such as my Korg Poly-800 Synthesizer, set as follows: VCO/(DCO): Use a sawtooth wave (which I use, setting 2), or a pulse wave with a short duty cycle (minimum). I set my octave at setting 3 (high) for all but one of the programs I like, the other I set at 2, 1 is too low. VCF/(DCF): Set the cutoff frequency high. Out of 100 I set it at 97, since I love prime numbers ending in 7, and that's the highest one before 100. Envelope: Set ATTACK=0; SUSTAIN=10 (I usually use 7, but with some programs you need 9 or 10 sometimes 11 so that the note can be sustained, yes I have the foot pedal but that only holds one note indifintely and some programs can't sustain their note unless you set like I do. I also use the guitar input as well as the insrument input to take advantage of the harmonics control, the more harmonics the longer the notes can be sustained especially on the weaker programs, that's one of the reasons why some companies make harmonizer/vocoder combos); RELEASE=2 or 3 (I use 3), (DECAY is not used). Here's what the manual was explaining about what I was saying about harmonics above. If the input instrument (such as the Korg Poly-800 Synthesizer) has a wide dynamic range, it may prove better (also) use the GUITAR INPUT jack to take advantage of the compressor used in this circuit. Of three choices for intrument level (-30dBm, -15dBm, and 0dBm, I use 0. For the harmonics control I keep changing usually from 3-7, but I sometimes go up to 10 (maximum). I don't know how familiar you are with the Korg Poly-800 Synthesizer but here are my favorite program numbers to use: 11,12,13, 17(the organ one),23,37,53 ( the one I set the octave at 2), 63, and 82. I can't find the sheet that tells me the names of the other programs I use. And finally now for the Cylons: My guess is that the silver centurions speak in the key of either E (more likely)or F in the octave range one and two below the middle C range, and the gold centurions whose voices are deeper speak in the key of C two and three below Middle C. It sounds better to speak when using a vocoder in at least two voices one octave apart. The Cylon Vocoder from the original series is not the Sennheiser VSM-201 Vocoder as erroneously reported on the internet by guys such as Ben Liebrand (only because that's what he has and he wants to impress by saying that), although a great vocoder(second best), but the EMS Vocoder 5000 which is the best of all-time!!! Listen to a demontration here and you will hear the similarities between the Cylon Vocoder and the EMS Vocoder 5000. First the EMS Vocoder 5000: http://monopole.ph.qmw.ac.uk/~thomas/synthdiy/EMS%20VOCODER%205000_files/EMS5000p1ab.mp3, http://monopole.ph.qmw.ac.uk/~thomas/synthdiy/EMS%20VOCODER%205000_files/EMS5000p2.mp3, and http://monopole.ph.qmw.ac.uk/~thomas/synthdiy/EMS%20VOCODER%205000_files/EMS5000p3.mp3 and now the Cylon Vocoder: http://faultgame.com/images/btlstar8.wav, http://faultgame.com/images/cylon.wav, http://mattsbits.com/cylon2.wav, http://mattsbits.com/cylon3.wav, and http://mattsbits.com/cylon4.wav. Sorry I can't find any audio clips for the Sennheiser VSM-201 Vocoder to compare to at this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben One Posted December 17, 2005 Share Posted December 17, 2005 Thanks! I have a vocoder on my Novation K-Station, and I'll see how close I can get. Ben Eddie Jobson Tribute Projects Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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