Vocal processors are digital effect devices that allow you to add various effects to your voice or manipulate and completely transform it. In addition to effects that are already well-known in the recording studio, such as reverb or delay, our V-Series Multi-Effects Processors also offer special effect algorithms for voice and vocals, such as various harmonisation options, pitch correction, real-time formant alteration and a wide variety of voice distortion effects. The features of our vocal effect units also include a built-in microphone preamplifier with XLR input and switchable +48V phantom power, meaning both dynamic and condenser microphones can be connected directly. The audio signal is output via one balanced line output. In addition, the V3 Vocal Processor and the V6 Vocal Processor also offer a USB connection so that you can also operate them as an audio interface directly on a PC or Mac and thus use them for live streaming, video conferencing or operation with DAW software, for example.

Zoom introduced the V6 Vocal Processor back in 2019, its first multi-effects processor for vocals and voice. We drew on our years of experience and expertise in developing multi-effects processors for guitar, bass and other instruments, as well as for recording studio applications, to develop the V6, an effects unit for singers specifically tailored for live performances on stage or in the rehearsal room. The V6 Vocal Processor has a convenient floor pedal design and is the first floor effect pedal for singers that has a formant pedal. Formants are overtones or overtone ranges created by resonances when speaking or singing. The formants are what make up the tonal character of a voice. With the V6’s Formant Pedal, you can change the character of your voice in real time and, for example, turn a female voice into a male-sounding voice and vice versa. What makes this so special is that the pitch remains unaffected.

Of course, our Voice Processors also offer classic voice effects such as vocoder, pitch shifter, talkbox, whistle, robot, unison and pitch correction. With these typical voice distortion effects, there are no limits to your creativity on stage or in the studio. Pitch correction can be used to compensate for minor errors or as a stylistic device if it is used in a deliberately exaggerated way, as was the case in a song by one well-known American singer – so much so that this effect is now also known by her name. In contrast to the formant pedal described above, the various effects based on pitch shifting deliberately change the pitch. Additional filters are used to create the familiar *Child*, *Robot*, *DEEP* or *Monster* voices that are often used in modern EDM productions.

Two features of a vocal processor pedal that are particularly interesting for singer-songwriters, solo entertainers and solo artists are, of course, the harmonisation function – also called the harmoniser – and an integrated looper. The Harmony effect creates one or more additional voices, meaning you can create polyphonic, choir-like vocals from your singing. The additional harmony voices created then ensure that you’ll always have your backing singers with you, even if you’re a solo artist.

A looper allows you to loop certain phrases, i.e. record them and then play them back in a loop to sing along with them live. Several layers can then be created one by one using your voice, which creates interesting options for loop artists, hip-hop, rap vocals and beat boxers. The V6 Vocal Processor even allows you to loop your effect-altered voice, which opens up unprecedented creative possibilities for your live performance.

Another popular style of vocal processors is the desktop vocal effects unit. The Zoom V3 Vocal Processor, released in 2020, is our compact effects processor for voice and vocals in a convenient desktop format that fits on every desk. It can be operated directly and creatively via buttons and dials, which also allows for real-time editing during vocal performances.

Some voice processors like our V3 and V6 Vocal Processors can also be connected to a computer via USB and used as a USB audio interface. This allows you to take your live stream performance to a whole new level with the different voice effects.

The microphone you use plays a major role in the sound quality of the voice effects produced. The cleaner the signal received by the voice processor, the better it works. The quality of the effects produced depends crucially on whether the effects processor receives only the pure signal of your voice or if it is accompanied by ambient noise, as can occur on a stage, for example. We developed the ZOOM SVG-6 microphone for precisely this reason. A special microphone that is perfectly suited for use with the V3 Vocal Processor and the V6 Vocal Processor, the SVG-6 uses a similar technology to directional microphones, where noise from the side and rear is suppressed by the directional characteristic of the microphone.