My Dalek voice ring modulator

W

WayneVenomous

New Member
I'm planning to build an "Ironside" Dalek as seen in the recent Doctor Who episode "Victory Of The Daleks". This is going to be on a very tight budget and after searching through different Dalek voice generators, including the Mooger Frooger system, I thought I'd build my own.

There's various schematics around the web including some very complicated systems, but I thought I'd try the simple "2 transformers 4 diodes" systems which is probably what the BBC Radiophonics workshop used originally anyway:
dalekringmod1.jpg


Here's a video I've done explaining the set-up and doing a quick test:
YouTube - Dalek voice ring modulator

After a bit of tweaking and a bit more research, I found the frequencies for the various Dalek stories on the Project Dalek Forum. So here's me trying out the various frequencies:
YouTube - Dalek voice modulator frequency test

Have to say, my favorite setting so far is the 14.5 Hz from Destiny of the Daleks.
 
Wow, that sounds great! Just as creepy and emotionless (in a good way) as the show! I've wanted to build a Dalek voice modulator for a few years now, but still haven't gotten around to it. Good luck with the rest of your build; I'm excited to see what you make!

I agree with you, though. 14.5 Hz sounds really cool.
 
Thanks! I have to admit even I was surprised at the results. I actually bought the two transformers for a completely unrelated guitar effects pedal project years ago but never got round to it.

I got the plans from the web about 5 years ago and I'm sure it mentioned something about using transformers with 1.2 K-ohm primary coil and the 3.2 ohm secondary coil for best results, which is what I've used. They're often numbered "LT700" if that helps.
 
That's amazing! I can't believe you built that from scratch! Have you considered a run of these modules for other less electronically-inclined builders?
 
BlindSquirrel said:
That's amazing! I can't believe you built that from scratch! Have you considered a run of these modules for other less electronically-inclined builders?
Click to expand...
Oh yes!

I'm gradually tidying up the circuit and cleaning up the sound as I go so hopefully we should have a nice usable, reliable circuit available in the near future!
 
The circuit is really simple, here's the schematic of it:
Ring_Modulator.PNG


I've just laid out the diodes in a line in the picture above to make it easier.
 
I've had quite a few people ask if it's possible to do the new Paradigm Dalek voice as heard in the most recent Dalek episode "Victory of the Daleks".
I can confirm it's possible! Here's me trying it out:
YouTube - New Paradigm Dalek voice modulator

I've been doing loads of research on Dalek voices and it turns out that this set-up is exactly how Dick Mills and Brian Hodgson of the BBC Radiophonic workshop achieved the original Dalek voices. Obviously, instead of using CDs they used tapes of sine waves but this also reveals why Dalek voices often changed in different episodes - the tapes were sometimes played at the wrong speed! It was supposed to be a 30 Hz sine wave but in some episodes the tapes were played at half speed (Destiny of the Daleks being 14.5 Hz for instance!) or twice the normal speed. Also the tape recording/playing equipment seems to have been a little unreliable as there's several variations of a few Hz even when the tape was played at the right speed.
 
Wow don't know how I missed this thread the first time around...

I actually purchased a bunch of parts to do a run of these back when the new series was launched, including sourcing vintage diodes... This thread sparked my memory so now it's time to go on the hunt for those parts and make the damn things...
 
exoray said:
Wow don't know how I missed this thread the first time around...

I actually purchased a bunch of parts to do a run of these back when the new series was launched, including sourcing vintage diodes... This thread sparked my memory so now it's time to go on the hunt for those parts and make the damn things...
Click to expand...
I really wouldn't worry too much about using vintage germanium diodes. I've tried them with this set-up and there's not much difference in sound quality. I've noticed when you're really driving them hard the silicon diodes are best (this is how I got the new Paradigm Dalek voice, lots of volume when playing the oscillator frequency).

Effingham said:
Ever think about selling those for people who hate working with electrical thingies?
Click to expand...
I think I've mentioned this before but I am considering making these up to sell. The main thing is making it so it's easy to set the input and output levels right (very critical in getting the right sound!) The modern digital systems seem to do this automatically, but in my opinion, nothing beats the pure sound of the analogue system.
Another advantage of the analogue system is it's very resistant to feedback which is handy if you were to put this in a Dalek as I know being that close to the speaker can be a problem.
 
I set this system up at Maker Faire 2011 Newcastle (11-12 March) allowing the general public to have a go "talking like a Dalek" as part of the Northern Charity Daleks display and I have to say it was hugely popular!
Here's some videos of this in action - these were mostly set at the Daleks Masterplan frequency of 42.85 Hz:
YouTube - Maker Faire 2011 kids have a go of the Dalek voice modulator
YouTube - Maker Faire 2011 Dalek voice
YouTube - Maker Faire 2011 Dalek voice 2
The audio in these clips doesn't quite illustrate how menacing this sounded! I had a bass amp under the table which provided the amplification and it scared not only a lot of children but several adults too. It also seemed to confuse several electronics engineers who weren't used to analogue circuits as they didn't understand how so few components can produce such amazing results.


It was very busy over that weekend and at least 100 people had a go so it did give me a unique opportunity to try a range of different frequencies with a range of different voice styles. I've concluded that the Genesis of the Daleks frequency of 28.57 Hz is good for Dalek voice experts and the the Daleks Masterplan frequency of 42.85 Hz is good for people who maybe have difficulty doing Dalek voices (or you've got a very sore throat from doing Dalek voices all weekend like I had!) Also, the New Paradigm Dalek frequency of 25.64 Hz doesn't work with everyone's voice. Quite a few people had difficulty getting good results with this including one of our Dalek operators. However, there was one 6 year old girl who could do the New Paradigm Dalek voice better than me!
 
Thanks!

What really brought it all home was there was a family that were mostly blind (the Dad and both kids were blind) and were not only Doctor Who fans but they informed me that this was their favorite exhibit at Maker Faire as most of the other exhibits had very little in the way of sound interaction. Plus they also got to touch the Daleks and feel how they look, the kids had only been used to toy Daleks and never quite realised how big Daleks are in real life.
 
I was told that the original dalek voice was done by recording the actor talking into a desk fan... You should try it realy works :)
 
Here's the current voice of the Daleks, Nicholas Briggs having a go of my Dalek voice ring modulator at Dimensions 2011:
Nicholas Briggs has a go of the Northern Charity Daleks voice modulator at Dimensions 2011 - YouTube
(Yeah, I had a fanboy moment :$ )


Oh yeah, Jamie if you have a look at this photo of the BBC Radiophonics workshop, it's very clear why they wouldn't have used a fan!
Radiophonic_12.jpg


Imagine a fan + all those tape loops!? :wacko
Dick Mills and Brian Hodgson (in the photo) have both stated they initially used a two transformer four diode ring modulator. They eventually used a VCS3 analogue synth which also has a ring modulator built in.
 
Passing on wrong info I guess.... But if you have ever said EXTEMINATE.... Into a fan you would see why I belived it (;
 
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