Complete Voloco Effects Guide

Voloco has over 70 vocal effects. This article helps you find the right one for your sound!

 

Free Effects (Starter Pack)

Everyone gets these five effects for free:
 

Hard Tune

The classic, "digital" pitch correction used by countless rappers and singers alike. This preset uses a hard, more electronic sound.

Use this when: You want that obvious pitch correction sound in hip-hop, rap, or pop.
 

Natural Tune

Similar to Hard Tune, but with a less pronounced effect and a more natural, rounded tone.

Use this when: You want pitch correction that's less obvious. Good for pop, R&B, and ballads.
 

Super Vocoder

Instead of pitch-tuning your vocal input, a vocoder takes the formant (character) of your voice and feeds it into a synthesizer for a more "robotic" effect.

Use this when: You want a robot voice for electronic music or creative tracks.
 

Big Chorus

This duplicates your voice into multiple notes in your selected Key and Scale, creating a large chorus effect common in pop, R&B, and electronica.

Use this when: You want big, wide vocals without recording multiple takes.
 

Clean

This effect doesn't process pitch correction or use a vocoder. It simply uses audio filtering technology to remove background noise while leaving your natural voice intact.

Use this when: You want your natural voice with no effects, or you're recording in a noisy place.

Premium Effect Packs

Unlock 50+ more effects with Voloco Premium.
 

Modern Rap I includes:

• World Wide I/II/III: A unison preset with two voices with slightly different pitch correction settings. Each voice has a unique and dynamic spectral panning effect to create an impression of swirling stereo effects.
• Triple Double: A three voice preset with two slightly different unison voices and a subtle third voice pitched an octave down.
• Bodyguards: Deep pitch & vocoder. Bodyguards uses a unison voice in the center of the stereo field, and two voices on the left and right sides with a lower octave pitched down and formant compression to create the effect of two bodyguards flanking your voice.
• Big Fella: A higher pitched vocoder effect, Big Fella alters the formant shape of your voice to change your perceived body size.
• Shadow Bass: A lower octave sits below your voice with heavy pitch correction.

• Light Distortion: Adds mild distortion to the voice with a lower-octave effect.

   

Modern Rap II includes:

• Congrats: A chordal sound with chorus effect.
• 2% Helium: Electronic pitch correction with formant effects reducing the perceived size of the vocal tract, resulting in a higher tone.
• Force Field: Hard pitch correction & vocoder effects with a rough shine.
• Super High: Formant thinning and one-octave pitch correction for sky-high vocals.
• Cranked: Formant thinning with crunchy, blown-out distortion, great for backing vocals.
• Baby Voice: A smoother high-pitched effect.

Use these when: Making modern rap, trap, or hip-hop.
 

Jazz

Lush jazz vocal harmonies.

• Lullaby: Soft, night-time seventh chords evoking midcentury bebop ballad progressions.
• Cocktail Hour: Harmonically dense suspended chords with added high voices.
• Atomic Swing: Obtuse chords utilizing jazz's modal interchange, launching into the stratosphere.
• Harmony Heaven: Sweet, rich harmony layers that create a unique progression up the scale.

Use these when: You want sophisticated, warm harmonies for jazz, soul, or R&B.
 

P-Tain

Extreme pitch correction plus sexy seventh chords. Perfect for R&B and rap.

• Looking Sharp: A basic rap/R&B pitch correction sound.
• Get Low: Rap/R&B pitch correction at a lower octave for a deeper tone.
• So Smooth: A classic Minor 7th chord for your smoothest tracks.
• Star Duet: Pitch correction with a subtle two-tone chorus.

Use these when: You want smooth R&B vocals or heavily pitch-corrected rap.
 

Talkbox

Classic and future electro-funk sounds.

• Classic: A talkbox emulation sound inspired by classic electro-funk.
• Fat Saw: A buzzy two oscillator patch with a lower octave.
• High Harmony: Stacked harmony with a classic pitch-bent tremolo effect typical in funk.
• Metal Mouth: Power chord harmonies and crunch inspired by heavy metal.
• Organ: Stacked octaves mimic the sound of an electric organ.
• Sci Fi: Takes the talkbox sound to outer space with LFOs that modulate FM synthesis.

Use these when: Making funk, electronic music, or electro-funk style vocals.
 

Spooky

Eerie, fearsome, and slightly threatening.

• Behind You: Pitch correction with eerie, delayed whispers right over your shoulder.
• Alien Warlord: Pitch correction with vocoder for a deep, authoritative sound.
• Ghost: Vocoder with a frail, after-death growl.
• Angry Bells: A harmonization preset with harmonics detuned to resemble bell spectra.
• Medium Demon: A frequency-modulated, LFO effect for experimentation. Only slightly demonic.

Use these when: Making Halloween tracks, horror content, or experimental music.
 

LOL

Experimental and unconventional vocal effects.

• Vibrato: Moves the pitch of the input up and down in a repeating pattern.
• Vibrato Chorus: Same as the above effect, but adds a doubling chorus sound.
• Drunk Tune: A loose, pitch-corrected effect that moves in and out of in-tune and out-of-tune.
• Chipmunk Chorus: A squeaky, high-formant-filtered lead with backing harmonies.
• Vocal Fry: A growly effect.

Use these when: Making comedy tracks, experimental music, or just having fun.
 

Sitar Hero

Inspired by Indian classical music.

• A Drone Supreme: Chorus with a free-flowing melodic run.
• Ascension: Melodic vocoder with a soft gated stutter.
• Om: Run up and down the scale with a strong backing drone & delay.
• Interstellar: Multiple tone centers along the scale create clusters of harmony.

Use these when: You want world music vibes or Eastern musical flavors.
 

Bon Hiver

Lush harmonies in the style of Bon Iver's song "Woods."

• Night Chorus: A full-bodied 7th chord effect in the style of the artist.
• Crystal City: 7th Chords with the low end scooped out & mild frequency modulation. A light, airy effect.
• Grand Organ: Like a combination of Night Chorus & Crystal City, a deep 7th chord with crisp, breathy high-end.
• Glass Circles: High-end 7th chords with extra tonal dynamics and overtones.

Use these when: Making indie folk or atmospheric vocals with a dreamy quality.
 

Duft Pank

Funky vocoder sounds similar to a certain French electronic duo.

• Danger Bot: A low-octave robotic vocoder.
• Dirty Transmission: Upbeat vocoder with steady gated stutter & jumping octave effects.
• Another Dimension: This vocoder introduces a funky lick of harmony on top of a gated volume effect.
• Echo Beams: Low-octave robotic vocoder with a pulsating phaser effect.

Use these when: Making electronic music, dance tracks, or funky robot vocals.
 

Wormhole

Vocoder presets from a different galaxy.

• Demogorgon: A low-octave effect with heavy phaser.
• Andromeda: This effect uses step-sequenced frequency modulation for a razor sharp sound.
• Lost Astronaut: Similar to Andromeda with a stronger, more pronounced frequency modulation.
• Pulsar: Vocoder with a consistent pulsating, on-off gated stutter.
• Subspace: Vocoder & high frequency overtones with a rhythmic, loose stutter.
• Expanse: Intense, slow frequency modulation up and down the spectrum.

Use these when: Making sci-fi soundtracks or otherworldly experimental music.
 

8 Bit Chip

Funky bleeps and bloops inspired by classic video games.

• Super Bloop: Intense & driving melody with pitched vocoder.
• Mega Maze: An arpeggiated melodic rhythm with syncopated delays.
• Phasers on Stun: Bit-crushed rhythmic octave jumps.
• Space Invasion: Heavy delay & reverb with step-sequenced modulation.
• Beat the Boss: Extreme gated stutter with an 8 Bit sound.

Use these when: Making chiptune music or retro gaming content.

Beyond Effects: Audio Processing Tools

Voloco also has tools to shape your sound beyond just FX. These work alongside whatever effect you choose.
 

Compressor (Add Punch)

Make your vocals more consistent and punchy.

Free presets include: Gentle, Medium, Hard, Heavy

Premium unlocks: Custom compressor settings for professional-level control.

Want to learn more? See: How to Use the Compressor
 

EQ (Shape Your Tone)

Make your voice brighter, warmer, or cut out problem frequencies.

Free presets include: Vocal Presence, Air, Warmth, De-Ess, Bass Cut

Premium unlocks: Custom EQ where you control exactly which frequencies to boost or cut.

Want to learn more? See: How to Use EQ in Voloco
 

Echo (Add Delay)

Create echo effects from subtle to rhythmic repeats.

Free presets include: Slapback, Quarter Note, Dotted Eighth

Premium unlocks: Custom echo with advanced delay controls.

Want to learn more? See: How to Use Echo Effects
 

Reverb (Add Space)

Make your vocals sound like they're in a room, hall, or cathedral.

Free presets include: Small Room, Large Room, Hall, Cathedral, Plate

Premium unlocks: Custom reverb where you control room size, width, and more.

Want to learn more? See: How to Add Reverb to Your Vocals

How to Pick an Effect:

If You Know Your Genre

• Making hip-hop or rap? → Start with Modern Rap effects or Hard Tune
• Making pop or R&B? → Try Natural Tune or P-Tain
• Making electronic music? → Check out Talkbox, Duft Pank, or Wormhole
• Making something weird? → Explore Spooky, LOL, or 8 Bit Chip
• Want natural vocals? → Use Clean

If You Know the Sound You Want

• "I want obvious pitch correction" → Hard Tune or Modern Rap
• "I want subtle pitch correction" → Natural Tune
• "I want a robot voice" → Super Vocoder or Talkbox
• "I want big harmonies" → Big Chorus or Jazz
• "I want my natural voice" → Clean

If You're Not Sure

Start with the free Starter Pack. Try all five effects on the same recording to hear what each one does. Once you know what you like, explore Premium packs for more options.

Remember: you can always change effects after recording, so experiment freely.