SONiVOX Vocalizer Pro Review

Last Updated on December 29, 2020 by IDS Team

Isn’t it convenient that, in this day and age, we have such an abundance of awesome effects, plugins, and virtual instruments to take advantage of?

Something that was literally unimaginable just a decade or two ago is now something we use every day.

With this in mind, there are plenty of very potent and exciting plugins that we can use in our DAWs.

One of those is most certainly Vocalizer Pro, designed and developed by SONiVOX.

Although its name might suggest that it’s a vocal processing plugin, Vocalizer Pro is more than just that.

This powerful piece of software allows you to process any instrument, virtual instrument (played on a MIDI controller), or vocal track in your project.

And all of these processed tracks get that voice-like vibe to it, kind of like the wah-wah effect, but with more parameters. So let’s dig into this intricate plugin and see what it’s capable of.

What does the Vocalizer Pro do?

Sonivox Vocalizer Pro at a glance

Maker: Sonivox
Main Features: 4 Spectral Synthesis Modules, 8 snapshot pads + 8 chord pads, MIDI integration, pitch, format processing, frequency spread, vocoding, re-synthesis and signal processing.
Supports: 64 & 32 bit, AU, VST, RTAS and AAX.
Our Rating: 4.8/5
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Well, to put it simply – it does everything!

Okay, that is obviously an overstatement, as there are no omnipotent plugins. But still, all jokes aside, Vocalizer Pro is a very powerful tool that you can apply to any recorded track, virtual instrument, full mix, or a whole song.

What’s more, you can also use it standalone through any type of MIDI controllers and in combination with a microphone.

For instance, you can play a keyboard, make this wonderful preset on it, and change the tone color while singing or speaking into a microphone.

Kind of similar to the standard talk box for guitars, only a bit more complex.

So you take this track, sing or speak into your mic, and the plugin does its magic.

You can add harmonies, you can de-harmonize it, you can control the pitch, or whatever.

Basically, it’s a MIDI and microphone-controlled processing plugin capable of re-synthesizing the audio that’s coming into it.

Individual tracks of instruments and vocals or even full mixes can be processed through it. It can be used in the studio, but it’s pretty exciting and comes really in handy for live settings.

Important features

Looking at the plugin’s layout, you have four almost identical Spectral Synthesis Modules.

You can move them around, turn them on and off, switch them, and edit their individual parameters as you wish. On each of them, you can find controls for pitch, envelope filters, as well as resonance and saturation controls.

On the bottom part of the window, right below all these four modules, we can find 16 pads organised in two rows by eight pads.

The upper row features the so-called “Snapshot Pads” that recall the presets of all the set effects parameters.

The bottom row of eight pads, on the other hand, is called “Chord Pads” and recalls chords and keyboard notes.

Right below the pads, we have the keyboard, that works in sync with your MIDI keyboard controller. This is where all the action is taking place. You’ll be using the keyboard to adjust the pitch and other characteristics of the preset. In this section, we can also find a few other standard controls.

We have glide control that lets you adjust the glide between two notes, pitch, modulation, and learn. The “learn” control lets you pick your MIDI controller’s physical controls and assign them Vocalizer Pro functions.

There’s also an additional section for formant processing, adjusting the overall pitch and other sonic properties, including the frequency spread.

Performance

At first glance, Vocalizer Pro might look a bit complicated.

To be fair, it is kind of tricky to get used to, which is what many users have been complaining about. The thing about it is that it might be a bit confusing.

And not just for the beginners, even for some intermediate and advanced users.

Aside from the not so intuitive design, controls, as well as the overall layout, it’s actually not that easy to create tones that you want to. What’s more, some have also complained about a fairly impractical installation and setup process.

On the other hand, it’s also not impossible to create these desired presets. You need to bear in mind that this is a fully professional tool that lets you create some of the most unique tones.

But don’t get fooled, it’s not like everything you make with it will be too chaotic for normal use. In fact, if you’re experienced enough, you’ll be able to create great effects with high practical value.

The whole plugin is very responsive to MIDI controllers, all of the parameter settings, and – most importantly – the microphone.

With some patience and experience, you’ll be able to dial in even some great choir-like presets that will, in combination with your microphone, give some very convincing tones. At the same time, you’re also able to create some very synth-like sounds.

But what’s really exciting here is that you can change the presets in real-time. This is especially useful if you have a more complex midi controller with assigned pads that let you shift through “Snapshot Pads” as well as “Chord Pard” in Vocalizer Pro’s interface.

This is extremely useful for live performers. If you want, you can put entire mixes or entire songs through the plugin and completely shift them and reharmonize them.

Conclusion

We’ve seen many people complain about Vocalizer Pro and its overall functions and layout.

While we most certainly understand them, you can’t really expect such a plugin to be simple.

If it was, then it would not actually be that good.

The discontent among some of the users was probably due to the company’s own failure to promote it among the desired targeting audience.

Other than that, Vocalizer Pro is a very high-end product that’s certainly more than worth the money. You just need to know how to use it, that’s all.

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