3.5

265MainStage Effects
Use the Vocal Transformer Pitch and Formant parameters
• In MainStage, rotate the Pitch knob to transpose the pitch of the signal upward or
downward. Adjustments are made in semitone steps. Incoming pitches are indicated by
a vertical line below the Pitch Base field.
Transpositions of a fifth upward (Pitch=+7), a fourth downward (Pitch=−5), or by an
octave (Pitch=±12) are the most useful harmonically.
As you alter the Pitch parameter, you might notice that the formants don’t change.
The Pitch parameter is expressly used to change the pitch of a voice, not its character.
If you set negative Pitch values for a female soprano voice, you can turn it into an alto
voice without changing the specific character of the singer’s voice.
• To shift the formants while maintaining—or independently altering—the pitch: Rotate
the Formant knob. If you set this parameter to positive values, the singer sounds like
Mickey Mouse. By altering the parameter downward, you can achieve vocals reminiscent
of Darth Vader.
Tip: If you set Pitch to 0semitones, Mix to 50%, and Formant to +1 (with Robotize
turned off), you can effectively place a singer (with a smaller head) next to the original
singer. Both will sing with the same voice, in a choir of two. This doubling of voices is
quite effective, with levels easily controlled by the Mix parameter.
Use Vocal Transformer Robotize mode
1. In MainStage, click the Robotize button to turn on Robotize mode. In this mode, Vocal
Transformer can augment or diminish the melody.
You can control the intensity of this distortion with the Tracking parameter.