Skip to main content

Hi I was wondering, how do you accomplish the effect on the vocals that Cher has in her song "Believe", I don't really know how to describe it, it sounds as if done by a vocoder but I don't know in which way

Topic Tags

Comments

anonymous Tue, 09/26/2006 - 21:14

Autotune on Automatic with a very harsh and quick retune variable, or something like that.

It quickly jumps from one note frequency to another when the singer starts sliding up and down the notes. To 'get' that effect, you need the singer to sing out of tune or go up and down frequency wise.

Also heard in "Only God Knows Why" by Kid Rock, though from what I hear that was accidental.

anonymous Wed, 09/27/2006 - 08:55

You can actually DRAW the automation so that the effects INTENSITY (and NOTES affected) vary throughout the song. YOu can also turn the effect ON/OFF at will, also using automation.

Depending on your DAW just about every parameter can be automated very precisely by drawing the automation onto the track(s).

moonbaby Wed, 09/27/2006 - 09:44

I read that what you are describing (the Cher song) was a combination of a vocoder modulating another vocal track that is being pitch-shifted by a 'sample-and-hold' modulator. The 'S/H' modulation is an algorithm available on some Eventide units. This can be further manipulated in real time by a MIDI keyboard controller. I believe that's the erratic glissando you hear. The vocoder imparts the regeneration of the vocal track, with a
heavily 'comb-filtered' timbre. Then the Harmonizer trips around with the pitch.
Either that, or she was singing with her head in the john of a Winnebago going 55mph over a REALLY bumpy road!