A talk box solo routes an instrument signal through an enclosed speaker driver and up a plastic tube placed into a performer's mouth. By shaping mouth shapes and vocal cavities around the vibrating tube, the musician modulates the instrument's output into distinct vocalized syllables and formant articulations. This technique substitutes standard instrumental phrasing for vowel-like, speech-like solo textures.
How the songs in the archive use it
Delilah uses this technique on an electric guitar solo to produce vocalized articulations that mimic the phonetic sound of a cat meowing.
How to do it in Logic Pro
Directs an instrument's sound into the mouth via a plastic tube to shape notes into distinct vocal formants. Use it to deliver expressive, singing synth or guitar solos in funk, rock, or electro arrangements.
Route the output of your synthesizer or guitar into the external talk box amplifier unit.
Insert the plastic delivery tube into the corner of your mouth, resting it along your molars.
Position a vocal microphone directly in front of your lips to capture the acoustic sound leaving your mouth.
Mouth words, vowels, and shapes silently without vocalizing while playing lines on your instrument.
Record the microphone signal to an audio track in Logic Pro.
A general method with Logic Pro's own plug-ins. Control names are checked against Apple's manual; the values are starting points, so adjust them by ear.
Songs that use it (1)
What each track sheet's analysis found, with the sheet's own score. Analysis, not verified credits.
Delilah by QueenThe most notable production element is Brian May's guitar solo, which utilizes a talk box to simulate the phonetic sound of a cat meowing, a drastic stylistic departure from his usual orchestral multi-tracked solos.Open the full track sheet
Want these sounds in your own mixes? Every song above has a full track sheet with its signal chains and a step-by-step recreation for your DAW. Open Track DiveAll techniques