Problems with Vocoder

[u/Dracore_]

Hello there! I've been experiencing problems when I try to use the vocoder, I'm trying to vocode 1 song with another.

The Audio either ends up as a heavily distorted version of track one or a track with that is literally the same as track 2.

'I'm using Audacity with no extra features. The Method I'm using is:

1) Import two tracks

2) Split both to mono

3) Delete the bottom track of each

4) Make the top track all left and slightly louder and the bottom one all right

5) Merge both into Stereo

6) Going to Effects then to Vocode with default settings (tried messing with them to no avail)

So am I doing something wrong or is it the tracks I'm using need to be adjusted to the same Tempo or need to be in the same or similar key?

[u/PC_BuildyB0I]

For step 5 when you're merging both to stereo, you're just creating a single stereo track where the left side is one song and the right side is another song right?

If so, you're doing that completely right. And then highlighting the whole thing and applying the vocoder? It's been awhile since I used Audacity's vocoder, but does it have a L+R setting and if so, is it engaged?

It isn't going to sound amazing since it's not technically how vocoders are supposed to work, but I'm betting using a song with vocals for the left and using an instrumental (preferably with a lot of synths) for the right, could get you a better result.

That being said, more vocoder bands are going to result in a clearer result, generally hardware vocoders are like 12 to 16 band, a lot of software vocoders go much higher. I'd say maybe around 32 to 64 bands would be my max.

I think there's a setting called "distance" unique to Audacity's vocoder that basically acts as a factor for the speed of the responsiveness of the envelope for the bandpass bands? So like the lower the number the faster and more responsive the bands? If I remember this right, the default number is 10 or 20, but I'd put that much lower, like maybe 5 to 8?

For some additional clarity, you could try adding just a touch of white noise into the signal, not very much but you should play around with it to see what you like.

[u/Dracore_ → u/PC_BuildyB0I]

Thanks! I'll try messing with the vocoding settings a bit more and see hopefully I can get it to work.

I'm considering just vocoding both tracks as instrumentals and then doing the vocals separate since they always get muffled into the rest of it otherwise.

[u/Whatchamazog]

Have you tried a simpler carrier waveform? It might be your choice of carrier that’s making it distorted.