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The best vocoder plugin is the UAD Softube Vocoder. It sounds rich and full without getting harsh, though it needs UA hardware to run. Without UA gear, start with TAL Vocoder, which is free and models the sound of 80s vocoders, or use Ableton’s stock Vocoder if you’re already in Ableton.
Quick picks
| Name | Best for |
|---|---|
| UAD Softube Vocoder | Rich vintage vocoding (needs UA hardware) |
| Polyverse Manipulator | Clean digital vocoding and vocal mangling |
| iZotope Vocalsynth 2 | Lots of vocal options with stellar sound quality |
| TAL Vocoder | The 80s vocoder sound for free (free) |
| Arturia Vocoder V | Vocoding without wiring up a separate carrier track |
| Ableton Vocoder | Ableton users |
| Native Instruments Razor | Unusual ambiences from a synth with a built-in vocoder |
| Waves OVox | Vocal resynthesis beyond vocoding |
Before we get into the best vocoder plugins, let’s discuss what exactly a vocoder is. In 1928, Bell Labs invented it to reduce bandwidth for long-distance audio communication. It didn’t work great for that purpose, but we now hear its signature sound on countless hit records.
You may have heard it on songs like “Stay” or “The Middle” by Zedd, or Daft Punk’s 2001 hit “Harder Better Faster Stronger.” It is that signature robotic vocal sound that is rich, full. And intriguing to listen to. Vocoders work their magic by modulating a signal, usually a vocal, with another source. The most common of these carrier signals is the track’s chord progression or lead synth.
Vocoders began as extremely expensive hardware units. But with software, we now have many more options to choose from that won’t break the bank. Here’s information about each plugin, including cost, type, sound quality, UI design, and other details. Here are the eleven best vocoder plugins.
Pro Tip: Learn how to apply these tools in creative ways by checking out our video at the end of this article.
1. UAD Softube Vocoder
- Price: $199
- Plugin Type: Vintage Emulation
- Quality / Design: Extremely high-quality sound, featuring an easy to use and simple design, despite packing a lot of advanced features.
My favorite software vocoder, hands down, would be the Softube Vocoder. It offers a rich and full sound, without being too harsh. It is also incredibly malleable, giving many options to remodel the signal. This is especially important with vocoders because dialing in the precise settings will make the effect sit in the mix way better with far less work.
UAD and Softube are both companies known for their extreme attention to having accurate sounding emulations. And this plugin is no exception. As with all UAD software, this plugin requires having UA hardware to run, but this little guy is well worth it.
2. Polyverse Manipulator
- Price: $149
- Plugin Type: Digital Effect
- Quality / Design: Sporting a fun and simple interface, this plugin has a bunch of goodies bundled in that makes it way more than just a vocoder.
If you’re looking for a clean digital vocoder, look no further. While the Softube Vocoder has a vintage analog feel to it, Manipulator comes in strong with a more modern approach to its sonic characteristics. It is more than just a vocoder. The Manipulator can handle all your vocal mangling and warping in one, making it an excellent mid-market investment.
3. iZotope Vocalsynth 2
- Price: $199 or $9.99 on Splice.com
- Plugin Type: Digital Effect
- Quality / Design: iZotope comes in strong with this organized and well thought out plugin, featuring tons of options and stellar sound quality.
I have always been a big iZotope fan, but Vocalsynth 1 fell short of my expectations. They redeemed themselves with the release of iZotope Vocalsynth 2, garnering support from pop producer Ian Kirkpatrick (Dua Lipa, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, Britney Spears), and offering a completely redesigned and revamped plugin. If the price tag scares you, this monster can be picked up rent-to-own from Splice.com for a mere $9.99/month, making it way more approachable for the home-studio producer.
4. Tal Vocoder
- Price: Free
- Plugin Type: Vintage Emulation
- Quality / Design: Not the most beautiful design, but easy to navigate and sounds great.
There’s a reason why the Tal Vocoder is the only free option on this list. It does its job, and it does it well. Designed to model the sound of 80s vocoders (but not any model in particular), the Tal sounds stellar and even has great built-in features like de-essing, frequency shaping. And a chorus option borrowed from the Juno. I’ve used this in many productions, and I love the sound I can squeeze out of it with minimal tweaking.
Pro Tip: The TAL Vocoder’s built-in chorus (borrowed from the Juno-106) adds a subtle shimmer that makes the effect feel warm and vintage rather than robotic and sterile. Leave it on by default and adjust to taste.
5. Antares Autotune EFX+
- Price: $199
- Plugin Type: Vintage Emulation
- Quality / Design: While designed mainly for tuning vocals, EFX+ also includes some vocal modulation features packed into an easy to use interface with a super high-quality sound.
Antares is famous for their pitch correction algorithm. And their Autotune EFX+ tool is designed to be both a tuning plugin and an all-in-one vocal warping solution. While EFX+ includes multiple vocoder emulations, it merely applies the tonal effect of vocoding without allowing for MIDI input. If what you’re looking for is a quick touch-and-go solution for vocoding and other creative processing options, EFX+ is the way to go.
6. Image-Line Vocodex (Windows Only)
- Price: $99
- Type: Automatic
- Interface: Simple, clean, fun
- Quality: High
Vocodex, one of FL Studio’s built-in effects, is a reliable option if you don’t want to dish out extra money. I find that this plugin has a very hollow sound when compared to other standard vocoders. I don’t enjoy it, but if it’s your cup of tea, it may be just what you’re looking for!
7. Ableton Vocoder
- Price: Stock with Ableton
- Plugin Type: Digital Effect
- Quality / Design: All of Ableton’s plugins showcase an unassuming interface, but this vocoder is anything but dull.
You might just be surprised at how phenomenal Ableton’s vocoder sounds. You’ve probably heard it on some of your favorite EDM artists’ tracks, and for a good reason. It’s simple, gets the job done, and sounds fantastic. As a Logic user, this is one of the very few Ableton features I’m jealous of.
Pro Tip: When setting up the Ableton Vocoder, route your carrier signal (like a synth chord) into a separate audio track and use it as the carrier input. Running a chord progression through the vocoder gives you that lush, full robotic tone without any extra plugins.
8. Native Instruments Razor
- Price: $99
- Plugin Type: Synth
- Quality / Design: Since this is a fully-fledged synth with an in-house vocoder, there are a lot of features that are not standard for a vocoder. If you’re familiar with synthesis, you should pick it up pretty quickly.
Native Instruments Razor is built from the Reaktor platform, and its built-in vocoder makes it extremely versatile. Having the unit packaged into an entire synth allows you to produce radically different sounds compared to other vocoders. This is not a standard vocoder, but you can make some phenomenal ambiances and unique sounds with it.
9. Arturia Vocoder V
- Price: $149
- Plugin Type: Vintage Emulation
- Quality / Design: A faithful take on the Moog/Bode 16-band vocoder, with the carrier source built right into the same window instead of left for you to wire up.
Arturia Vocoder V emulates the Moog/Bode 16-band vocoder, and it solves the thing that trips people up the first time they try vocoding. Nearly every plugin above expects you to record or route in a second signal yourself, usually a synth playing your chord progression, and get the routing right before you hear anything at all. Vocoder V ships with its own analog-style synth carrier and a sampler carrier inside it, plus an effects section. Load it, sing into it, and the effect is there.
If you have tried a vocoder before and got silence out of it, this is the one that makes the technique click. The tradeoff is that it only does this one thing, so it will sit unused unless vocoding keeps coming up in your work. If it does, having the carrier and the vocoder in one place saves a setup step every single time.
10. Waves OVox
- Price: $69, but watch for one of Waves’ frequent sales
- Plugin Type: Synth
- Quality / Design: With a pretty interface and unique sounding options, OVox is a contender to be your next secret sauce for vocals.
Waves OVox is one of Waves’ newest plugins, and Andrew Huang was quick to jump on its endorsement. While I don’t have personal experience with OVox (yet), it is a powerful vocal resynthesis tool that does much more than just vocoding. With tuning, talkbox, arpeggiation, and tons of customizable modulation options, standing out from the crowd has become easier than ever.
11. Waves Morphoder
- Price: Price varies based on current sale price
- Plugin Type: Vintage Emulation
- Quality / Design: By far the most outdated design on this list, but an inexpensive plugin that, while not sounding fantastic, will get the job done.
Waves Morphoder is one of those plugins that’s been around forever and is still chugging along. It doesn’t sound great, and doesn’t have any newfangled or fancy features. It just does what it does, and is one of the cheaper options on this list.
It has a 5-band linear phase EQ built-in, making sculpting the sound slightly more convenient. I’m not particularly enthusiastic about the Morphoder, but it is one of the original vocoder plugins and deserves a spot.
Vocoders are powerful creative tools, and amateur producers often miss out on opportunities to get the most out of these plugins. Watch this video for modern applications for these timeless effects and start using them to their full creative potential.
Getting the Most From Your Vocoder
The biggest mistake I see with vocoders is treating them like a one-trick pony. Most producers load one up, run a vocal through it once, and move on. But the real magic happens when you start experimenting with what you feed into it.
Try running synth pads through a vocoder instead of vocals. Feed in drum loops. Layer a vocoded signal underneath a dry vocal to add texture without making it obvious. The carrier signal matters just as much as the modulator. So swap out different synth patches and listen to how dramatically the character changes.
And don’t sleep on automation. Sweeping the formant, bandwidth, or number of bands over time can turn a static vocoder effect into something that breathes and evolves with your track.
Pick One and Start Mangling
Vocoders are a serious tool to have in your creative kit. If you’re truly passionate about the process, a hardware vocoder can easily be an additional source of inspiration. A great piece to look at is the Korg microKORG XL+ Synthesizer. While at $550, this is a much more expensive option than software. But compared to other hardware synths and outboard gear, the microKORG is quite affordable.
Now that we’ve broken down the eleven best vocoders, you’re ready to figure out which one works best for you, and get started on mangling your vocals. Just remember, none of these options is a “wrong” choice. And you can make fantastic music with any one of them.
Heads up: some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy through one, we earn a small cut (costs you nothing extra). But we'd point you at this exact gear whether we made a dime or not.
