SONIVOX VOCALIZER PROBLEMS

I use Vocalizer with X1 and have no troubles at all.  I'll check when I'm back at the studio and see if I can figure out what might be causing your trouble. 

FoxExperience


Hey guys, I saw there was another thread for this a few months back but it didn't really help at all. Basically I just bought Sonivox Vocalizer...however, there's no way for me to load it as an instrument for some reason. I loaded it as a VST no problem. However, when I go to click "configure as synth", it won't even allow me click it...it's just dim like it's not even an option. I looked at the sonivox files and they're all .svx files so when I drop them in the software synth folder, it isn't recognized as an instrument (the others are all .dll). I'm still using Sonar 6 (mostly because I just hate what they did to 8.5) so I don't know if has to do with that, although I really doubt it.

So in short, it opens as a VST...but I can't get sound because my Sonar will not recognize it as an output/instrument...and it also won't allow me to make it an output/instrument.

CAN SOMEBODY PLEEEASE HELP?

What I generally do with Vocalizer is to create a vocal track and insert Vocalizer as a synth into the effects bin on that track. I don't insert it as I would a normal synth at all. If I recall the Sonivox guys have a video clip somewhere showing how to do this with SONAR. Pretty much matches my MO. Then I can either drag a groove clip or a drumloop onto the track and use that for Vocalizer to "feed on", or I can arm the track and make stupid and silly vocal noises. Very therapeutic. I no longer need therapy. The thing to remember is that Vocalizer is poor as a sound generator - it excels at chewing/spitting/manipulating other sounds and turning them into something more awesome and useful.
Having said that - if you can't even get it to configure as a synth - it may be a problem with VST support in SONAR 6.

yorolpal


Right.  I just checked to make sure and that's how I have it setup as well.  I insert it into the FX bin of an audio track and then create a midi track to control it.  Vocalizer DOES need to be configured as a VST synth in order to work properly.  When you open your plugin manager is it showing up in VST effects or VST instruments?  It should be instruments.  If not what happens exactly when you click on it's options and/or properties tab?  Don't use your browser.  Do this in the plugin manager.  Make sure it's showing up under VST instruments and that it's configured as a synth.  If you cannot, as you allude in your OP, configure it as a synth try uninstalling/reinstaling and if that doesn't work contact Sonivox.

When I open my plug-in manager, it is listed a VST. When i open up it's properties page, it won't even allow me to click "configure as synth". It's just dim.

yorolpal


Is it in the VST effects section or the VST instrument section?  I'm assuming from what you say it is int the effects section.  It should show up in the VST instrument section already configured as a synth.  Sonivox as some videos you could watch and other info that show how to both install and configure Vocalizer in Sonar.

Yea it's in the effects section. Unfortunately it won't show up in the instruments section which seems to be the problem.

Okay so here's the deal. I called Cakewalk Support and now it is appearing in the Soft Synth folder like it should, however I still can't hear any audio from it. I have my vocals on an audio track, I then right-clicked and chose Vocalizer from the soft synth menu...then Ii did this on 2 computers...1 of them is sonar x1 producer, and the other is sonar 6. and both have the same exact problem. am i missing something???

FoxExperience


Okay so here's the deal. I called Cakewalk Support and now it is appearing in the Soft Synth folder like it should, however I still can't hear any audio from it. I have my vocals on an audio track, I then right-clicked and chose Vocalizer from the soft synth menu...then Ii did this on 2 computers...1 of them is sonar x1 producer, and the other is sonar 6. and both have the same exact problem. am i missing something???

You also have to enable the transport (press Play). What I will often do if I am working on a specific loop, is enable looping at least until you get something interesting set up in Vocalizer, then apply the effect, etc. Also be sure Vocalizer is set up to receive MIDI from your MIDI device. 
 
(EDIT) - Mesh beat me to it.....

Mesh


Brando,
Do you use only the presets (that's all I've been messing around with my limited time on it so far) or have you got any interesting sounds after tweaking?
I should probably spend a lot more time on this & check out if there are any good tutorials...lol

The thing is there really isn't a lot of range in Vocalizer as an instrument itself. So I find the presets are a good place to start and generally only use 3 or 4 favorite presets as a starting point. Initially I had hoped to use it for percussive type loops - layered to a drum track. It's ok for this, but I find NI's "The Finger" much more musical and tweakable for this. Also, I am not a fan of vocoder type effects and Vocalizer is not even really exceptional as a vocoder. Just sounds too dated. Where I find Vocalizer far more versatile is in its ability to take a vocal stream of "chugs" and "whooshes" and "Tchk..tick...whirr" sounds and to turn it into a beautiful thick pad - with filter sweeps triggered automatically (or helped/tweaked by a knob crank) by the timbre/rhythm of the incoming vocal. Just record a few measures of nonsense sound effects like this with the odd word or a simple rap line using a click track as a guide. Then turn it into a groove clip and set SONAR up to loop it while you look for a preset that gets you roughly where you want it to be, and start tweaking - I often layer multiple synths at once so will have a big moving pad in Rapture overlaid with something created in Vocalizer to give it a lot more motion. If you are using words, I find it best if they are tweaked beyond recognition - otherwise you end up with that tired old vocoder sound. The words are only important for the rhythm and timbre they impart.
Where I do use percussive loops in Vocalizer, it is usually still to end up with a pad - where I want a gated-like synth sound from one of the more synthy presets - good for keeping a more subtle rhythm going before a drum track kicks in, or layered with a more dynamic rhythm track.
On balance (for me) I like Vocalizer a lot but its strength is in its ability to "pull" the timbral elements from an audio track and use these to shape a synth sound - it is better for this if the incoming sound changes (like a filter sweep would for example) slowly as it evolves. The other good thing is you can easily set up rhythmically moving pads and gated-synth effects that help to keep things moving -
That's why I don't think it's as much about the presets or the synth features of Vocalizer as it is about the "raw material" you are using that gives it the desired characteristics. Even the presets sound wildly different depending on what you feed it.  

Hey guys so I just bought Vocalizer and an trying to get it working in X1. I am pretty much having the same issue as it seems most of you were at first where the plugin shows up as a Audio FX instead of a Soft Synth. I followed the advice of Yorolpal and in the plugins manager window under properties I tried to configure it as a synth. The only problem I am having there is that Sonar is only allowing me to check the box of either "Configure as synth" or "Configure as tempo-based effect" folr some reason they are mutually exclusive: when i select one it deselects the other. Ok, so I roll with the "configure as synth" option and then once I have closed that window I hit the "Add Plugin" button and it shows up in the window on the right. I save my presets and then go out to my project and attempt to add Vocalizer as a soft synth and once it again it shows up in the FX area. SMH... FoxExperience you mentioned that you got it to show up as a soft synth insert, any advice?

Still works here (also haven't used it in a little while).
Although it looks like I have it set up using JBridge. If you are 64 bit, maybe it's a Bitbridge compatibility issue(?)
Also, in case there is some confusion about how to set it up - here is what works for me, just verified still works.
1) Configure as Synth
2) Create an Audio track and a MIDI track.
3) Right Click in the audio track FX bin, Select "Soft Synths", then "Vocalizer (32 bit)" 
4) Open the Media Browser, find a loop, and drag it into the audio track. Make it a groove clip, then stretch it out a few measures, select and set the loop points for the selection, and set the project to loop.
5) Set the output of the MIDI track to Vocalizer on the audio track, and set input echo active on the MIDI track
6) Click play and play some notes on your MIDI controller.
7) If you get nothing, try a different preset in Vocalizer. On my 64 bit set up, the Vocalizer presets reside in C:\Program files (x86)\SONIVOX\SONIVOX\Vocalizer\ and also   C:\Program files (x86)\SONIVOX\SONIVOX\Vocalizer\Experimental

If you can't get it to work this way, I suspect it is an incompatibility with Bitbridge, although I thought it did work with Bitbridge in the past. Not positive though.

Note - instead of using the loop, you can of course arm the track and feed audio from a microphone like a Vocoder.
But as mentioned, the method above works here.

pabrown888


Dang... no luck... I appreciate the replies fellas. I am not running 64 bit just 32 so no bitbridge is involved. I mean I guess Im going to try and run the X1 patch to make sure that doesnt fix it. Other than Vocalizer not installing itself as either a Audio FX or Soft Synth off the bat, I feel it must be a SonarX1 issue. Its pretty dissapointing though. I guess if I cant figure out though Ill just try and return the software. I really wanted to use it though. Thanks for checking it out though. Let me know if you have any luck Mesh. I think I understand the process just need to be able to insert as a Soft Synth to make it all work. 
 
Oh didnt see your update Mesh. Thanks I have already tried unistalling and reistalling once but I will try once again.
Cheers,
P

I don't understand what your actual problem is - If I look at your previous message, everything you outline is as expected and normal. (Configure as a synth, not as a tempo based effect). You have to insert Vocalizer into the FX Bin of an existing audio track - it won't work inserted as a synth in the regular manner - Don't let the fact that it is configured as a synth dissuade you. If you tried the procedure I laid out, where are you getting hung up?

It certainly doesn't make any sense pabrown.....I don't see why X1 would be the issue if it works for the rest of us. Which version of Win are you using? (not that this may have a bearing on it.....just thinking out aloud).
I'm using it in Win Vista Ultimate (32bit) and X1D Expanded. 

Just to make sure......after you "Configure as a synth", did you save that setting before exiting Plugin Mgr.? 

Yes Brando, that's exactly how I also have it. Thus, the reason I asked pabrown if he "Added the Plugin" and saved the VSTi in Plug-in Menu Layout so it'll show up as a synth when trying to insert it. (he prolly did this, but just making sure)..... 


If these are all covered....then I don't know what else it could be?