Electro-Harmonix Stereo Talking Machine
The Talking Machine is such a cool idea. All the various vowel sounds that it can make would surely add some intriguing individuality to your sound. Sadly, it falls short of its potential. The effects simply do not speak well and its controls are less than stellar. If you still feel the need to sound kind of like a person through your horn (a funky person obviously), definitely give this pedal a try despite its shortcomings. Hopefully you will be able to find some useful sounds on it.
External Control: EXP
Cost: $$
HornFX Review
Interface: 3.5/5
This pedal’s controls are quite simple and easy to understand. The presets are simple to save and recall. Accessing the LFO and the distortion on the fly can be difficult and confusing.
Versatility: 3.5/5
Not only does this pedal have a large range of filter sounds, but there is an LFO that oscillates the filters automatically and distortion to add dirt to your sound.
Clarity of Effect: 2/5
This pedal’s vast array of vowel effects are almost rendered useless by its lack of clarity when used with a horn. The sounds do not speak clearly at all and are hard to hear.
Complexity: Medium
Live application: 2/5
Although this pedal has a large number of easily accessed presets, and an even larger amount of different sounds, its lack of clarity is a definite problem. Also, not many sounds that this pedal can make are not all practical or useful. There is a lot of fun cool stuff this pedal can do, but most of it might not be stageworthy.
Product Information
The programmable Stereo Talking Machine, Vocal Formant Filter, presents creative vowel shaping that is controlled by the player’s dynamics. Nine selectable Voices deliver vowel sounds such as AH-OO and OW-EE, as well as Bassballs and wah-type dynamic filters.
The Voices can be shaped with individual Attack and Decay controls while Sensitivity adjusts the envelope response. The resulting effects mimic characteristics of human speech and create sounds that are both organic and harmonically rich.
As its name implies, the Stereo Talking Machine possesses true stereo outputs as well as an Effects Loop. An Expression Pedal Input provides real time control over filter sweeps, while nine preset locations let you store and instantly recall favorite programs. The Stereo Talking Machine delivers compelling sound shaping capability with advanced control.
Vocal Vowel Filter w/ 7 vowel modes
Wah and Baseballs modes
Adjustable Sensitivity control allows both up and down filter sweeps
Attack and Decay knobs control the speed of the envelope follower while it sweeps the filters
External effects loop capability allows effects to be placed on the filters without changing the envelope follower's dynamics.
9 Presets
9 Volt power supply provided
Dimensions in inches: 4.75 (w) x 5.75 (l) x 2.5 (h)
Dimensions in mm: 146 (w) x 121 (l) x 64 (h)
Product info from the EHX website.