Voloco gives you access to over 70 professional vocal effects (FX) that transform your voice in real time. Whether you want the classic pitch correction sound heard in modern rap and pop, a robotic vocoder effect, or lush vocal harmonies, Voloco's effects library has you covered!
This article explains how vocal effects work in Voloco, how to choose the right effect for your music, and how to get the best results from each effect type.
What Are Vocal Effects?
Vocal effects are audio processing tools that change the sound of your voice. Voloco's effects can correct your pitch, add harmonies, create robotic sounds, remove background noise, and much more.
Key advantages in Voloco:
- Effects can be changed anytime after recording, even in Edit View
- You can record once and try dozens of different sounds without re-recording
- Most effects work automatically with your project's Key and Scale settings
- All effects process your audio in real time
How to Select Effects
In Performance View:
- Start a new Project or Quick Record
- Tap the FX button in the Vocal Controls panel at the bottom of the screen
- Swipe up on the Vocal Control panel or tap any control to enter Live Vocals view
- In Live Vocals view, scroll along the bottom of the screen to select your effect group
- Tap on an effect preset to load that sound
In Edit View:
- Tap on a vocal segment
- Select FX & Volume
- Choose a different effect
- The new effect will be applied to that segment
The Effect Groups
Voloco organizes its 70+ effects into these groups. Scroll along the bottom of the FX screen to access each group:
Starter (Free)
The essential effects available to all users: Hard Tune, Natural Tune, Super Vocoder, Big Chorus, and Clean.
Modern Rap I (Premium)
Rap and hip-hop focused effects including Like a Boss, World Wide I/II/III, Triple Double, Bodyguards, Big Fella, Shadow Bass, and Light Distortion.
Modern Rap II (Premium)
Additional rap presets: Congrats, 2% Helium, Force Field, Super High, Cranked, and Baby Voice.
Jazz (Premium)
Lush jazz vocal harmonies with presets like Lullaby, Cocktail Hour, Atomic Swing, and Harmony Heaven.
P-Tain (Premium)
Extreme pitch correction plus sexy seventh chords perfect for R&B and rap: Looking Sharp, Get Low, So Smooth, and Star Duet.
Talkbox (Premium)
Classic and future electro-funk sounds: Classic, Fat Saw, High Harmony, Metal Mouth, Organ, and Sci Fi.
Spooky (Premium)
Eerie, fearsome, and slightly threatening effects like Behind You, Alien Warlord, Ghost, Angry Bells, and Medium Demon.
LOL (Premium)
Experimental vocal effects including Vibrato, Vibrato Chorus, Drunk Tune, Chipmunk Chorus, and Vocal Fry.
Additional Premium Packs
- Sitar Hero: Inspired by Indian classical music
- Bon Hiver: Lush harmonies in the style of Bon Iver's "Woods"
- Duft Pank: Funky vocoder sounds similar to a certain French electronic duo
- Wormhole: Vocoder presets from a different galaxy
8 Bit Chip: Funky bleeps and bloops inspired by classic video games
Understanding Pitch Correction vs Vocoder
Voloco uses two main types of vocal processing effects:
Pitch Correction
Pitch correction works by detecting the incoming pitch of your recorded audio, then calculating the closest neighboring desired pitch within your specified key and scale. This technology became widely available in 1997 and is now standard in modern hip-hop, R&B, and pop music.
Effects that use pitch correction:
- Hard Tune (classic, digital pitch correction sound)
- Natural Tune (smoother, more rounded tone)
- Modern Rap I and II
- P-Tain effects
- Jazz harmonies
Sound characteristic: These effects will give you a more modern sound common in contemporary hip-hop, R&B, and pop.
Vocoder
The vocoder sound dates back to the late 1920s. Vocoders capture the vocal characteristics of your voice (the formant, sibilance, and pitch) and apply them to a carrier signal. In Voloco's case, the carrier signal is a synthesizer tone. This allows a musical tone to take on vocal characteristics and "talk."
Effects that use vocoder:
- Super Vocoder
- Talkbox
- Duft Pank
- Wormhole
Sound characteristic: Robotic, electronic, synthetic. Vocoders were very popular in the 1970s and 1980s and can be heard in funk, boogie, experimental music, and electronic genres.
Experimenting with both types of effects is crucial to finding the perfect tone for your track.
How Effects Work with Keys and Scales
Most effects in Voloco use your project's Key and Scale settings. These tell Voloco which notes to use when correcting your pitch or creating harmonies.
- Key selects the tonal center (tonic) of your track from the 12-note scale
- Scale selects which notes Voloco will use within this key
When you load a backing track, Voloco will automatically guess the key of the track and set your Key and Scale accordingly. You can change these settings anytime by tapping the Key button at the top of Performance View or Edit View.
Voloco will take your audio input and move it to the closest note in your selected Key and Scale in real time.
Adjusting Effect Strength
For effects with adjustable parameters, you'll see controls when that effect is selected:
Pitch Correction Strength: Some effects allow you to adjust how strongly the pitch correction is applied. This control will appear in Live Vocals view when using effects that support it.
Arpeggiator Speed: For effects with step-sequenced or arpeggiated patterns, you can adjust the speed of the melodic rhythm.
Note that certain effects will auto-select a new Key and Scale that is common to each musical style, but you can change these settings after selecting your effect.
The Starter Pack (Free Effects)
Every Voloco user has access to the Starter Pack, which includes five essential effects:
Hard Tune
The classic, "digital" pitch correction used by countless rappers and singers alike. This preset uses a hard, more electronic sound.
Best for: Modern hip-hop, rap, and pop where you want the effect to be obvious and heard
Natural Tune
Similar to Hard Tune, but with a smoother, more rounded tone that blends more naturally with your voice.
Best for: Pop, R&B, and situations where you want pitch correction but don't want it to sound as mechanical
Super Vocoder
A classic robotic vocoder sound that transforms your voice into a synthesized, electronic instrument.
Best for: Electronic music, creative hooks, experimental tracks, or when you want that iconic robot voice
Big Chorus
Adds depth and width to your vocals by creating multiple layers at slightly different pitches.
Best for: Creating a fuller, more layered vocal sound without recording multiple takes
Clean
Uses audio filtering technology to remove background noise from your recordings without applying any pitch correction or other vocal effects.
Best for: Recording in noisy environments, removing hiss or hum, or when you want natural vocals without processing
Choosing the Right Effect
Start with Your Genre
- Hip-Hop/Rap: Modern Rap I, Modern Rap II, P-Tain
- Pop/R&B: Hard Tune, Natural Tune, P-Tain
- Electronic/EDM: Talkbox, Duft Pank, Wormhole
- Experimental: Spooky, LOL, 8 Bit Chip
- Harmonies/Layers: Jazz, Bon Hiver, Big Chorus
Or Start with Your Goal
- "I want the classic pitch correction sound" → Hard Tune
- "I want to sound robotic" → Super Vocoder or Talkbox effects
- "I want harmonies" → Big Chorus or Jazz effects
- "I want something weird and unique" → Spooky, LOL, or Wormhole
"I just want clean vocals" → Clean (removes background noise, no pitch correction)
Tips for Best Results
Set the correct Key: Most effects depend on your Key and Scale settings. Voloco automatically detects the key when you load a backing track, but you can change it manually if needed. If your vocals sound wrong or out of tune, try adjusting the Key using the button at the top of the screen.
Experiment freely: Since effects can be changed after recording, don't be afraid to try different sounds. Record your vocals once, then switch between effects in Edit View to find the perfect sound.
Start with presets: Voloco's effects are pre-configured with settings that work well for most situations. Get comfortable with the presets before diving into advanced adjustments.
Match your performance: Some effects work better with certain vocal styles. Hard Tune sounds best with confident, rhythmic delivery, while vocoders need clear pronunciation to be understood.
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