Korg DVP-1 : Digital Voice Processor (Vocoder)

The Korg DVP-1 Digital Voice processor was released in 1986. It consisted of a Vocoder with its own internal waveforms, a five part Harmonizer, a Pitch-shifter and an Internal Synth. The Vocoder is very intelligible and while the Harmonizer does not sound super realistic, it has its own unique effect. It has five polyphonic voices, four with chorus on, unison mode and 64 memory patches to store your settings.

Modes :Vocoder, Internal wave, Harmonize, Pitch shift
Vocoder range : 5 octaves
Harmonize range : 1 octave
Pitch shift range : – 1200 cents to + 1299 cents (1-cent steps)
A/D, D/A : A/D 12-bit: D/A 16-bit (linear)
Polyphonic : 5 voices
Program capacity : 64
Inputs : XLR (impedance: l0kohms), Standard phone jack (impedance 100kohms), (Input level: -5OdB/-lOdB/+4dB)
Outputs : Direct out (impedance 1 kohm), Mix out (impedance: H:L 1 kohm, L=10kohm; output level H:L= 10:1), Phones out.
Frequency response : Direct: 2OHz-2OkHz (~3dB), Effect: 20Hz~6.5kHz (-3dB), 2OHz-9kHz (-6dB)
Dynamic range : Direct 104dB
S/N ratio Effec : 70dB (JIS-A, Pitch shift mode, Attenuator at +4dB)
Vocoder & internal wave parameter Formant (Formant shift, Keyboard track, Window length), Breath bypass (Level, Level threshold, Pitch threshold), Internal(Waveform), Pitch EG (Attack time, Decay time, Polarity, Intensity), DCA EG (Attack time, Release time), MG (Frequency, Delay, Pitch, DCA), Bend (Pitch, Formant), Portamento (Portamento time, Hold)
Harmonize mode Key note, Key change, Chord memory, Chord (Note1 ~ Note5).
Pitch shift mode: Shift level (Coarse, Fine)
Chorus Speed, Intensity, Effect leve
Unison Detune
Gate Threshold, Decay
Weight 6.3kg
Dimensions 429.5(W)x412.5(D)x90(H)mm (not including rack mount adaptors)

“The Korg Vocoder became part of my arsenal in the mid-80s when I first set up a home studio in order to record ‘Hydrology’ and ‘Bloodline’. It was used on both those Recoil albums for processing many sounds. It has a character of its own shall we say and acts somewhere between an effects processor and a voice manipulator.”