BOSS V0-1 Vocoder Pedal

For those of you with sound design inclinations, few pedals are as creative as a vocoder, an effect that creates new sounds from the interaction between your instruments and your voice (although using rhythmic instrument instead of the voice can yield intriguing results).

Thanks to its link to synth giant Roland, BOSS can enjoy an advantage over the competitors in the niche of “synthy” pedals, and their VO-1 is, to date, the most complete vocoder pedal, with its four modes (Choir, Vintage, Advanced and Talk Box), two tone sculpting knobs (Tone and Color) and flexible routing (Input + Mix Ins and an FX Loop).

Hear the sounds the BOSS V0-1 Vocoder Pedal can concoct in the videos below.

MAKE YOUR AXE TALK, SING, AND CRY
The VO-1 Vocoder is a unique and innovative stompbox that puts the massive expressive range of the human voice in the hands of every guitarist and bassist. By vocalizing into a connected mic as you play, it’s easy to transform your tone with electronic voices, classic talk box sounds, and tons of all-new colors that are perfect for modern music styles. It’s even possible to create impressive ensemble vocal sounds without the need to connect an external mic. When you plug into the VO-1, you can literally talk, sing, and cry with your axe, taking your playing to places you never dreamed of before.

• Innovative, easy-to-use vocoder pedal powered by BOSS’ famous guitar synth technology
• Use your voice to dramatically extend the expressive range of your instrument in countless ways
• Vintage mode for classic electronic synth-voice sounds and Advanced mode for all-new vocoder tones with enhanced clarity
• Talk Box mode enables “talking lead guitar” tones without the hassles of a traditional talk box setup
• Choir mode for achieving rich vocal sounds with no mic connected
• Effect loop for sound enhancement and easy integration with existing pedals
• Works with guitar, bass, or any instrument with a 1/4-inch output
• BOSS five-year warranty

Powerful Vocal Expression for Guitar and Bass
Without a doubt, the human voice is the most expressive instrument there is, capable of producing a massive range of sounds. Vocoder technology lets you harness this power and control the tone of your instrument in endless ways via real-time vocal manipulation, achieving speech-like sounds, infinitely controllable wah, and much more. For decades, keyboardists have used vocoders to create electronic vocal tones and other voice-like textures with synthesizers. Now, the VO-1 makes it simple for guitarists and bassists to use this inspiring creative tool with their music.

Cutting-Edge Vocoder Technology in a Compact Stompbox
Driven by BOSS’ famous guitar synth technology, the VO-1 delivers power and versatility that goes well beyond other vocoders. Vintage mode produces the familiar synthesized voice sounds heard on numerous pop and electronic music records through the years, while Advanced mode utilizes new BOSS tech to translate speech and other vocalizations to your axe with unprecedented definition and clarity. Talk Box mode recreates classic “talking lead guitar” tones without having to use a traditional talk box rig and mouth tube, making these cool sounds much more accessible and convenient. Finally, Choir mode produces rich, impressive vocal textures from a direct input, with no mic needed.

Infinite Possibilities Made Easy
With the VO-1, BOSS has made the vocoder straightforward and incredibly simple to use. First off, it connects to your rig like any other pedal. The only additional connection needed is a microphone, which you’ll use to drive the VO-1’s vocoder engine when using the first three modes. After that, just turn on the effect, tweak the knobs, and vocalize into the mic as you play. Don’t worry—you don’t even need to be able to sing in tune. You handle all the pitch control with your hands as normal, while the VO-1 applies the complex formant characteristics of your voice to the tone in real time. The VO-1 also features an effect loop for patching in external effects, plus a Blend knob for mixing vocoder and straight tones together.