Vocoder backing vocals are produced by routing a singing or speaking vocal through a vocoder to modulate an electronic carrier signal. The resulting tone blends the natural articulation of speech with the pitch and synthetic timbre of the carrier instrument. These processed takes are positioned in the stereo field to provide mechanical counter-melodies or robotic harmonic textures.
How the songs in the archive use it
In Starboy, a Shure SM7B vocal serves as a modulator for a Roland SVC-350 carrier, creating wide robotic Daft Punk counterpoints that answer the chorus hooks and repeat in the outro.
How to do it in Logic Pro
Synthesize backing vocals by generating an harmonic carrier pad to combine with vocal articulation. Use this to create robotic, tight harmonic layers beneath a lead vocal.
Create a Software Instrument track and insert ES2.
Set the oscillator waveforms to rich harmonically dense shapes to serve as the vocoder carrier.
Adjust ES2's envelope sustain and filter parameters to keep the tone bright and open across sustained chords.
Record the backing vocal chord progression via MIDI to provide the pitch carrier for vocoding.
Plug-in
Control
Value
Listen for
ES2
Keyboard Mode
polyphonic
carrier responds with polyphonic chords
ES2
Cutoff
max
bright carrier allowing vocal formants to pass clearly
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.
Starboy by The WeekndRobotic Vocoder Staging: Shure SM7B modulator routed into Roland SVC-350 carrier, mixed wide in the chorus to provide mechanical Daft Punk vocal counterpoints.Sheet score 8/10 · Source given: Florian Lagatta engineering documentation · 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