Voice changers for costume

[Stampedemag]

I am in the need for a voice changer for a costume I am preparing. I want a good one as opposed to the cheap toys you see in stores. I have seen a couple for $300-$400 on the net but they just don't make the sound I am looking for and I don't want to spend that much for it.

Is there anything out there that will work? Has anyone tried to use a phone voice changer with an amp and speakers?

I am looking for something like Soundwave's voice (even though it isn't a Transformer costume I am doing)

 

[Studio Stasis]

For Transformers, Soundwaves voice was achieved using a Vocoder. Typically, you would play notes on a keyboard or synthesizer and speak into a microphone to shape the consnants that make it into words while the notes are being played. Thats why you'd hear Soundwave speak in one note and then his next dialogue would be in a note one half step lower. They'd just speak the lines and play the notes on the synth to make his voice sound that way. Also, they'd use harmonizing notes, so it sounded fuller. Without a true vocoder it would be so difficult to make anything sound that way. Im experienced in vocoders as a musician and getting his voice sound is achievable for me but only with some synthesizer gear and a microphone. I have been floored by how good the Cylon voice was that Hyperdyne makes at Hyperdynelabs.com
He is probably the one person on the planet that could make you something that would come close. The only thing that would be almost impossible to do is to trigger multiple notes, they way they do when soundwave speaks, and then altering the notes so its not the same monotone note. In the case of a vocoder you cant change the notes with your voice, the synth makes the notes and your voice enunciates the sound. Does any of that make sense?

Josh

 

[Stampedemag]

I am following you. I do know about Hyperdyne. I may have to pony up the $$ for one. What I am actually making is a Iron Man costume and want something that can be used on the fly.

You seem to know about music and such, and I have another question.

Is it possible the use a guitar pedal (distortion, reverb, etc) with a mic input and then going out to an amp? I never tried and I am wondering if it would work.

All I need is something that sounds like Iron Man did in the Avengers movie or Soundwave or an almagam of both or close.

Like all of my projects this is going to be a 'hybrid' taking parts from different styles and not going with just one look.

 

[Studio Stasis]

Well, I havent seen the Avengers movie, so I dont know what that particular voice sounded like. Hooking a mic up to effects processors or guitar pedals is something I do quite often. Hyperdyne can create something to emulate anything you can do with those combinations. It isnt as complicated as making a synthesizer vocoder. Using the method you described, outputting to a guitar amp would be very obtrusive, since you are talking about being costumed and then being tethered to a microphone and guitar amp with other accessories wired to the setup. I'd imagine going with something from Hyperdyne would be MUCH more realistic. If you can experiment with what types of sound modulation combinations produce the sound you want, you could iterate to Hyperdyne what you'd like constructed for your project. It helps to know what sound you're going for, so getting some audio track examples would also be beneficial. I'd do that and see where it goes.

Josh

 

[robstyle]

talk to hyperdyne as Josh says.
I have a couple Vortex boards and they are programable but Hyperdyne should be able to get you the closest'est'es your going to get realisticly.

On a side note,
yes you can use guitar pedals. We used to use them all the time for the old anual haunted house during the 80's and 90's. If you know how to use the digital programable effects box's, you can do alot. There are also mini guitar amps that fit on your belt.
In the end, you will probably save time and money by talking to Hyperdyne. Odds are he can program you a chip to use on the Vortex board. You would then be able to change chips between trooper, fett, vader.... for instance.

 

[takevin]

Jim from Hypderdyne makes the best stuff, pricey but well worth it.

 

[RoCKo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(takevin @ Dec 31 2006, 03:37 PM) [snapback]1387686[/snapback]</div>

Jim from Hypderdyne makes the best stuff, pricey but well worth it.
[/b]

second that. i bought one of his stormtrooper soundboards and it´s just fantastic.