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A vocoder is a sound effect that can make a human voice sound synthetic. It is often used to speak like a robot, with a metallic and monotonous voice.
To put it simple: whenever you speak, your voice consists of two components. The first component is your basic voice type, produced by your vocal chords. It varies in pitch but remains nearly constant in type and is quite unique. That's why you can distinguish between persons when you hear their voices. The second component is how you modulate the basic voice. Modulation means that you dynamically amplify and attenuate frequencies. This is done by the mouth and tongue when you speak.

The benefit of doing this is, you can make the carrier speak or sing. As a side effect, the formant's voice type is absolutely irrelevant to the output so everybody (even those with an ugly voice) can create cool and futuristic samples.

If you want to hear good examples of it's usage, listen to a few songs from Zapp & Roger/Roger Troutman.
The group Zapp & Roger was known for producing funk music while using the vocoder. The popular song "More Bounce to the Ounce" has been sampled into many hip-hop artist's songs.
vocoder by Devin th' Dude August 3, 2005
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n. Synthesized voice used in any form of music.
vocoder by Anonymous August 26, 2003
Related Words
An electronic device used to alter the voice. Typically used by talentless "musicians" to try and sound like they can sing.
Guy 1: "Have you heard any new songs by Akon or T-Pain?"

Guy 2: "Why should I bother? I can type lyrics into my Macintosh and have it sing just as well as they do."

Guy 1: "What is that supposed to mean?"

Guy 2: "It means anybody who can get a hold of a vocorder can sound good."
Vocorder by SeventySixtyThree April 4, 2009
Vocoera

A hot lady; like a volcano

Describes a fierce, fiesty like lady.
She has her way an is determined!
Who’s that? That’s vocoera
Vocoera by Vocoera May 5, 2021
Cigarette: Northern slang for a cigarette, used oft by mashed up mancunian ravers becasue of the resemblance of a hot(electric)stove to the end of a lit cigarette. Originated circa 1991 in the early halcyon days of the rave culture; we speculate during a drug fuelled hallucination by said manc.
'fuck me noel, i am bolloxed, is that a ciggy in your mouth, or the stove from me 'nans kitchen'/
General use: 'Give us a stove you cunt'
stove by anthony willison March 18, 2004
Word of the Day on August 4, 2026

Walky-Talky 

A derogatory term for able bodied people or people that can walk. This definition was coined by disabled influencer Valerie Weber
Person in wheelchair: “look at that walky-talky over there.”

Friend in wheelchair: *looking at person who is walking* “yeah haha
Walky-Talky by odd muffin October 5, 2021
Word of the Day on August 3, 2026

Scrapnel 

(N) :
All pieces left over after an art project or home improvement.
"After we made the decorations for the party, there was 'scrapnel' all over the floor"
Scrapnel by IceSniper February 22, 2025
Word of the Day on August 2, 2026