Sennheiser VSM 201 Vocoder

YouTube via DJDonotask.

Update: new post here. Saving this one for history.

via robovoice on the forum "Vocals by "Nobody beats the Drum'" through my VSM 201, carrier is a Roland Jupiter 6 This Sennheiser VSM 201 Vocoder (serial number 04) was owned and used by Kraftwerk on their albums Man Machine and Computerworld. I purchased it from Kraftwerk's Kling Klang studio about 8 years ago. DJ DNA aka DJ Donotask" Update via Voice in the comments: "On 'The Man-Machine' album, both "The Man-Machine" and "Spacelab" are a Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201. But "The Robots" is an EMS Vocoder, possibly a 5000. On 'Computerworld' "Computerworld" is an EMS Vocoder (I believe it to be the 3000), "It's More Fun To Compute" is a Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201, while "Pocket Calculator" has no vocoder at all in it."

Sennheiser Vocoder Demo, 1 of 2

YouTube via VoiceEncoder.

via the forum
"Sennheiser Vocoder Demo, 1 of 2
Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201"

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Vocoder Videos via intromix

Vocoder What Is It? EMS 2000 Demo w/ Oberheim OB-8

YouTube via intromix. via Nusonica.
"Here is how an analog vocoder works. I am not going to use technical "jibberish" so I will speak normal vocabulary. This is the legendary EMS Vocoder 2000 (from 1977) which soundwise compares against Sennheiser, Moog(Bode), Synton, Roland, Korg. I will give a basic demonstration on how to use a vocoder and how a vocoder functions to give it that "robotic" sound. I used an Oberheim OB-8 Keyboard to trigger the pitch on the vocoder"

Sennheiser VSM-201 Vocoder Audio Samples

"Here are some audio samples dedicated to the usage of the legendary Sennheiser VSM-201 Vocoder. Being that there is hardly any info on the web in reference to this unit, I took the initiative to be probably the first person to post audio samples of this vintage dinosaur....ENJOY!!!"

Cylon Costume With Vocoder Sample

"Here is a sample of what my Cylon costume sounds like with the vocoder and red eye warble sound."

SENNHEISER VSM201 VINTAGE VOCODER

via this auction

The pics and description appear to come from Los Angeles Guitar Shop which shows it as sold. The top of the listing on eBay claims "make it yours for $1800!" but the seller has 100% feedback with 2873 transactions. The sellers other items appear to be all over the place. You be the judge. The seller also had a Waldorf Q+ that was pulled.

"Sennheiser Vocoder VSM 201!
#32 with Original Wood Case!
Perfectly Serviced, 100% Original!

For your consideration is this extremely scarce 1978 Sennheiser VSM 201 Vocoder. With regard to design, sound quality and historical context, the VSM 201 is considered by many to represent the absolute pinnacle of vocoder effects. With production believed to be under 100 units total, combined with an original price of $20,000.00 US, claiming the Sennheiser VSM 201 was reserved for a highly specific clientele would be a serious understatement: there are simply none available. Take advantage of this probable once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy the best vocoder ever made.

First and foremost, this particular example (serial number 32) was recently professionally serviced, and is currently in absolutely perfect working condition. The capacitors, resistors and chips that were removed during the maintenance are all intact and included, so the unit remains 100% original. The original wood transportation case and original rubber feet are also included.

Famously used by Herbie Hancock, Kraftwerk and iconic silver screen robots, the VSM 201 is the ultimate vocal effect. Having inspired modern digital representations and miscellaneous plug-in programs, this original VSM 201 is superior in every respect.

A superficial inspection will reveal and impressive; 55 knobs, 69 LEDs, 11 switches and 34 sockets. Technically, this legendary unit features; 20 separate channels with fixed envelope routing internally from each analyzer envelope generator to the corresponding VCA, numerous mic and line inputs with a corresponding VU meter. As the complexity of the control panel implies, there is much much more to describe. All photos are of the actual item!"

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Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201 Demo, pt.1 of 2

YouTube via AnalogVocoder1. No video, just audio. Update: videos re-uploaded
"Information and demonstration of the Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201."

Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201 Demo, pt.2 of 2

Voice of the Cylon - Battlestar Galactica, The ARP 2500, and the EMS Vocoder 1000

Published on Nov 20, 2019 supajc

Amazing series sent my way via John L Rice. Playlist and descriptions for each video in the playlist above, directly below. Enjoy. ;)

See here for previous posts featuring Battlestar Galactica.

Playlist:

1. Voice of the Cylon Pt. 1 The Synthesizer [ARP 2500]

Battlestar Galactica fans & synthesizer community, rejoice! For the first time in history the mysterious sound of the Cylon voice is revealed. I tracked down probably the last person alive who knows the entire formula, very private individual still works in visual arts. To him it was just a job he did 40 years ago, to me it's one of the most mesmerizing sounds in musical/sci-fi fx history. 6 parts to this series as of 11-2019.

2. Voice Of The Cylon Pt. 2 the Voice Recording

My contact told me "they brought us the voices" on Nagra III and IV tape machines. Vocoder recorded back to Nagra for film sync. Voice actor Micheal Santiago was hired to do the voice, but didn't, telling youtube user intromix later that "they ended up getting someone cheaper" to do it. One actor did all the voices, for consistency, reading the script in a lifeless, monotone voice as to not shift the frequency spectrum in the vocoder.

3. Voice Of The Cylon Pt. 3 The Vocoder [EMS Vocoder, specifically the Vocoder 1000]

Finally it is known exactly which vocoder was used for the Cylon voice. Universal Studios had rented the EMS and Sennheiser, and when sound designer Peter Berkos was asked about it circa 2008 he mis-remembered due to having the Sennheiser manual still. Youtube user intromix has owned both and tested oscillators, it could not have been the Sennheiser but now we know for sure anyway.

4. Voice of the Cylon Pt. 4 the Phaser & Distortion [Countryman Associates Type 968A Phase Shifter]

The rare, quirky effect box that was used as an impromptu distortion device. My contact told me that they floated the idea of using a guitar amp and/or pedals, but did not even try it once they found this. ** Also, he told me NO Marshall Time modulator was used as it hadn't even been released yet.

5. Voice of the Cylon Pt. 5 Recording Gear

Two main pieces of studio recording gear that were present at Universal Studios in 1978 that had a big impact on the sonic character of the Cylon voice recording. Big thanks to Ken from Electrodyne for all his advice, as well as https://vintageking.com/ and http://petesplaceaudio.com

6. Voice Of the Cylon Pt. 6 Audio Demos & Credits

Resurrecting the sound of the Cylon Centurion from the original Battlestar Galactica 1978 using the original equipment. Once the vocoder was recorded, it was further altered/degraded by multiple tape transfers in the video editing process, post-production techniques (EQ and reverb, to "place" the character in a big room, spaceship, etc) My contact said there were just pieces of tape on the gear to place knobs/switches back where they were; and that the synthesizer frequently sounded very different from day to day or after a power outage. In the series there are wildly differing Cylon tones, tiny movements in gain or EQ settings (especially the ringy ARP 2500 filters) radically alter the vocoder due to the ultra-harmonic richness of the tone. So many preamps and transformers involved, it was hard for THEM to make the Cylon voice consistent. Supposedly sound designer Peter Berkos wrote notes on the process, Universal Studios couldn't locate any info at all, it likely all burned down in the great fire of 2008 as well as the golden ARP 2500 oscillator used all throughout Galactica 1980.
Preamp was running a bit hot in this demo, didn't catch until after, so this tone sounds extra crunchy in this example. I sampled my tones with lowpass filter a bit too low, hope to get another chance with the real thing some day.

7. Gold Cylon Voice Vulpa [extra video]

Recreating the lower voice of the Gold Cylon commander. There are so many steps and factors to re-creating the Cylon voice even the original crew could not make it consistent on a day-to-day basis. Out of hundreds of test files this year I'm only really happy with about 5 of them but will keep working to recreate it perfectly.

Sennheiser Vocoder VSM 201 Serviced by Studio Electronics

via this auction
"Selling a VSM 201 Classic Sennheiser vocoder. It literally looks brand new OUT OF A TIME MACHINE.. and its more than 30 years old! i believe. This piece was worth more than 20k when it came out and they only made about 30 of them.

What is special about this unit is that this unit its serial number 11. Most of the units that came out to the public where serial number 13 up, therefore this unit is one of the original, It comes with a custom case. I had it checked by David Kulka las week and its all good to go. Look at the pictures and feel free to ask me any questions.

THIS IS SOME INFO I FOUND ONLINE ABOUT IT

This is the famous vocoder used for the robot voicesin the Grandmix intro's. It has several inputs of which the voice input and the carrier input are the most important.
What it does is this. It takes a carrier sound (synth waveformor any other sound containing sufficient harmonics) and articulatesthat sound with your voice, much in the same way as your mouth articulates the sound coming from your vocal chords. It achieves this by detecting frequencies in the voice section, andopening the corresponding frequencies in the carrier section.The more frequency bands used, the better is the resulting effect.The sennheiser uses 20 frequency bands. Many more than most other vocoders, making it one of the best vocoders ever built. There are only 3 copies of this model in Europe, one probably ownedby Kraftwerk. Other people using this model are Herbie Hancock, the Cylon robots in Battlestar Gallactica, and some droids in Star Wars."

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Moog Modular IIIc ▪ Sennheiser Vocoder VSM 201 ▪ Heinz Funk 1978 ▪ English subtitles

Published on Mar 24, 2017 MonoThyratron

► Educational Purpose only, please ◄
► English subtitles provided ◄

Videosource without English subtitles:
https://www.youtube.com/user/funkheinz

"In 1978, German musician, technician and businessman Heinz Funk (* 1915 - † 2013) tried to bring the average television consumer closer to the possibilities of electronic sound production. Going for half-measures wasn't his scene then: The TV demonstration included the cabinet-size Moog Modular IIIc, on which 2 copies of the Sennheiser Vocoder VSM 201 resided (only 50 pieces were allegedly produced). Left to them was placed the - here unused - Moog license module 1630 of the Bose Frequency Shifter.

'Storm wind', 'canary' and 'Lili Marleen' were pre-produced for this televised report, but the speech-laden vocoder demo was obviously done live. A white lab coat and patch cables wrapped around the neck should symbolize the technician. Body language and positioned leg of the presenter should bring out the relaxed handling of the then still quite unknown music technology.

Since this presentation was embedded in a musical entertainment program of the 'Second German Television', it should not deal too much with scientific and technical matter. The entertaining aspect was in the foreground, because the target audience on this TV show was not much drawn to electronic music production at that time. Heinz Funk mastered the tonal span between convention and modernism with wit and at the end of his performance even staged the "crazy professor". This was something usually not expected of a serious musician, as Funk was one. According to reports, he presented this highly "casual" style of a Moog and Sennheiser sales presentation even to a specialist audience, which was not always accepted with approval in German sales circles those days.

The vita of Heinz Funk reveals a "Jack-of-all-trades": Flight instructor, film composer, accordion and piano player, orchestra director, arranger, producer, music teacher, sound engineer, author of technical documentation, Moog sales partner, founder and proprietor of the nationwide „Studio Funk“, which still produces for radio stations, as well as film and sound studios. Heinz Funk's wide network within the AV media industry also brought together numerous musicians and developers, thus promoting the emergence of the German electronic music scene of the 1970s and 1980s."

EMS Vocoder 5000

Paul Sop sent in the following on the EMS Vocoder 5000. It is interesting how much it does sound like the cylons in Battlestar Galactica. Thanks Paul!


Shot via EMSRehberg, who still makes Synthis and some other EMS products including the EMS Vocoder 5000 which will only set you back 23,000 Euro.













"I'm all about Vocoders lately. Check it out

EMS Vocoder 5000- AND -
EMS Rehberg 5000 Page (great pic here)

Pretty cool. A few factoids:

http://www.bigbluewave.co.uk/ems_vocoder_5000.htm- It is probably the highest specified vocoder ever. 22 bands.
- Includes things like Frequency Shifters, Oscillators, etc.. It's a whole synth!
- It weighs about 20kg!

Cyclons Forum
- It may have been used on the cylons.
- From this page:

Here are some audio samples of both the EMS Vocoder 5000 and the Cylons, see if you think they sound a like and are. Some sites such as one from Ben Liebrand "claim" it's the Sennheiser but after hearing this audio from EMS I have to go with that one.

First the Cylons:

cylon.wav
cylon2.wav
cylon3.wav
cylon4.wav
cylon7.wav
cylon9.wav

EMS Vocoder 5000:

EMS5000plab1.mp3
EMS5000p2.mp3
EMS5000p3.mp3

Apparently it cost 5000 pounds in 1976. If you want one today, it would cost you 23,000 euro from:

Pricelist

I guess it wasn't in the new Battle Star Galactica's budget!"

Update via Derek Wildstar in the comments:
"Some say the Cylons used the EMS Vocoder 5000 and others say it was the Sennheiser VSM-201!! The only thing I knew for sure is that a ring-modulator was also used (I don't know if that was part of the vocoder or not) and that it was based on the voice of Colossus according to Mr. Glen A. Larson himself. Matrixsynth if you, Paul, or anyone knows for sure please post the answer here. I personally believe they used the EMS Vocoder 5000. Thanks."

The Voice of Q

Published on Oct 22, 2018 VoiceEncoder
Update: looks like VoiceEncoder pulled the video.
I found other uploads and a link to the 12" on Bandcamp for those interested.
This of course went up as a demo of the Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201 according to the original description from VoiceEncoder further below.

"12" Now On Bandcamp:

https://isleofjura.bandcamp.com/album...

The leftfield electro disco gem originally released in 1982 finally gets an official reissue. Bootlegged badly in recent years, Isle Of Jura does it right with fully remastered versions from Matt Colton and the added inclusion of a previously unreleased Q song ‘Keep It Strong’."

Original description from VoiceEncoder:

"Q: 'The Voice of Q' (Full VINYL album uploaded in 1080p HD). Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201. Full VINYL album.

Tracklisting:

1. "The Voice of Q" (Original 12").
2. "Keep It Strong" (Unreleased Dub Edit).
3. "The Voice of Q" (Vocoder 12")."

SYNTOVOX 221 VOCODER

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"Vocoder built by the dutch high end synthesizer company Synton. Distributed in the USA by [Bob] Moog's Big Brair company.

This is the flagship vocoder from Synton, and is among the best vocoders of all time. It shares company with the EMS 5000 and the Sennheiser VSM-201 vocoder.

It's really rare, only 20 pieces was made.

One of the ultimate best vocoders in the universe, if not THE best. This is what Wendy Carlos said (on the web )- 'Question #4 -- What kind of vocoder do/did you prefer? Felix Visser made the best ones, for his long-gone (alas!) Synton company, all during the 80's. Some other fine devices exist, as the EMI/Synthi big one, and Sennheiser's expensive one, those and dear Harald Bode's design that Moog's good 16-band one was similar to. The ultra-basic analog units were generally mushy-sounding. Synton's had the best intelligibility on spoken words for their original 32-band device, .......' This is Felix's own machine, serial number 010, and was actually used extensively by Wendy Carlos - there's a typed note to her on the power supply saying it had been changed to 115V for her. It has now been changed back to 220V by Felix Visser. Unlike some models, it has a complete case. It will be sold fully working, and with a signed cerificate of provenance.

Synthovox 221 is a 20-channel vocoder system which has made its way to numerous recording studios, radio stations, composers and scientific institutions for its outstanding quality and its unexcelled intelligibility.

It includes 54 dB/octave filter, a feature not found in any other vocoder on the market. It also offers the versatility of a build-in pulse generator for direct speech sythesis and several control units for pitch modulation.

It features matrix patching for format shifting and a highly precise voiced/unvoiced detector system. And it offers extreme flexibility by the multiway connector which gives access to the analyzer and synthesizer sections and the control terminals of the voiced/unvoiced detector.

The Intelligible Machine has set standards in vocoder techniques.

High end model, attenuator per channel.

Only about 20 of these were made. Users include Wendy Carlos (who owns a 221 & SPX 216), various electronic studio's in Europe. Best suited for studio use due to complex control.

The 221 has a 50-pin connector on the back which provides CV in and out for each channel, and other functions as described above."

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EMS Vocoder 1000

Title link takes you to shots pulled via this auction.

According to the auction this is serial number 1. Some Details: "The Vocoder 1000 is a 16 band model and has great intelligibility, along with a lot of cool features like adjustable and VC slew rate/shape with freeze input, pause stuffing from either input with adjustable release time, built-in oscillator, etc. In short, this is a serious big-league vocoder... not quite a Sennheiser, big Synton or EMS 5000, but definitely far beyond the Roland/Korg/MAM league.

Before listing, I did a few Google searches on this model and there's not a lot of information other than Jarre using one in 1978. The owner's manual is dated at 1984 and has a picture of an older 1000 with a disclaimer that "the photo of the Vocoder 1000 on the following page differs slightly from the unit which you have, although the two units are electronically identical." It goes on to describe the differences (added features, better HF response, jacks in different places) and then goes on to say "FOR VOCODER 2000, PLEASE READ VOCODER 1000" and then the rest of the manual refers to it as the Vocoder 2000. So my theory is that the 1000 was originally released in 1978, there was a second revision (of which this is serial #1) was released in 1984 after Robin Wood took over, and the Vocoder 1000 and 2000 are the same with minor panel differences (and added stuff on the 1000 Rev 2). Please note that I'm just guessing here, but all the info I can find seems to back that up. I can find nowhere that authoritatively discusses the differences between the 1000 and 2000 (except for a post by myself on a mailing list archive, so hardly authoritative) and the manual refers to them interchangably."

If you know more, feel free to comment.

EMS Vocoder 1000 Audio-Sample

YouTube via VoiceEncoder

"EMS Vocoder 1000 audio-sample.
Courtesy 'intromix'."

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SENNHEISER VSM201 VINTAGE VOCODER

via this auction
(more pics there)

"extremely scarce 1978 Sennheiser VSM 201 Vocoder. With regard to design, sound quality and historical context, the VSM 201 is considered by many to represent the absolute pinnacle of vocoder effects. With production believed to be under 100 units total, combined with an original price of $20,000.00 US, claiming the Sennheiser VSM 201 was reserved for a highly specific clientele would be a serious understatement: there are simply none available. Take advantage of this probable once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to buy the best vocoder ever made."

SENNHEISER Vocoder und MOOG Modular Synthesizer - präsentiert im ZDF von Heinz Funk

YouTube via funkheinz
"Heinz Funk demonstriert das MOOG Modular System und den Sennheiser Vocoder VSM 201. Mitschnitt einer ZDF-Sendung 1978."

JH Living Vocoder

via JH:

"Just to let you all know ... I'm getting into "vocoder mood" again. :)

I thought about it a lot in the last few days. I think I will put the whole circuit onto one huge board, filling a 19" rackmount enclosure, like EMS did with the 2000 and 3000. The board will have a much higher component density than EMS, though, so you can expect something more complex than the EMS. Not more channels - but other goodies. :)

I think I'll be able to offer that PCB for EUR 150.00 + shipping if I get enough orders.

Oh yes, and I have a name for it too:

It will be the "Living Vocoder". :)

I try to include what I consider the best of Sennheiser, EMS, ETI and Roland. It probably owes the most to EMS, but it will in no way be a clone.

I have made some demos with a preliminary version I've built on veroboard many years ago. This is *not* from the upcoming "Living Vocoder", though:

http://www.jhaible.de/jh_freeze_ohh_1.mp3
http://www.jhaible.de/jh_freeze_ahh_1.mp3
http://www.jhaible.de/jh_throat_1.mp3
http://www.jhaible.de/jh_talking_synth.mp3

There will be Freeze, symmetric and assymmetric slew control (a la EMS), a multifilter function with filtered silence bridging (a la Sennheiser), a compander for high dynamic range (a la Roland Vocoder Plus), and the filters will most probably be calibrated bands al a ETI (which I like better than the uncalibrated EMS filters).
I also plan to make an interface for external patch storage and CV control. just the interface, not the storage.)"

Contact jhaible at debitel.net if interested. Let him know you saw it on MATRIXSYNTH.

EMS 2000 Vocoder for Sale

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction
yousenditworks (RSS)

"For sale is an insanely rare EMS Vocoder 2000, from the same company that brought you the Synthi AKS and VCS3. If you've seen Battlestar Galactica you've heard this vocoder as the voice of the Cylons. An amazing sounding analog vocoder, perhaps the most intelligible ones out there of the Moog / Bode / Sennheiser VSM201 / Roland VP330 SVC-350 / Korg VC10. It just has a very nice tone to it, and most important you can really hear what you're saying without working too hard at it. In mint shape and fully functional. Looks fantastic. I've tried almost all of the ones out there, and if there was one go-to vocoder to use, this one would be it. See pictures below for more details. Don't miss out on this awesome classic!.."

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EMS Vocoder 3000

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.

via this auction

"For sale is an insanely rare EMS Vocoder System 3000. A once in a lifetime chance to own one of these? We think so. In our 10+ years of synthesizer hunting, this is the first ever 3000 we have encountered. The 2000 is quite rare, but the 3000 even more so. We've owned almost every major vocoder made (Roland VP330, SVC-350, Korg VC10, EMS 1000/2000, Sennheiser VSM201 (3 total!), Moog Vocoder etc) and to our ears the EMS is the best for dialing in intelligible vocals with synthesized tones. It just sounds excellent, easy to use and all around fantastic vocoder. The EMS 3000 adds level controls for 16 bands which makes it incredibly useful for dialing in more specific tones.

This unit is fully functional, recently serviced and in excellent shape. Don't pass this one up!"

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Synton Syntovox 221 Vocoder

via this auction

"This is the flagship vocoder from Synton, and is among the best vocoders of all time. It shares company with the EMS 5000 and the Sennheiser VSM-201 vocoder. This particular unit was in fact used by Wendy Carlos, but that is not as interesting as how it sounds, nor as interesting as how nice the condition of this vocoder is.

The face of the unit is without blemish. The pots feel smooth and new, no pins are missing and all LEDs work as new. The power supply has been converted for US power and it even comes with original Synton literature - the original manual and informational documents from tradeshows back in the day. A technician has gone over it thoroughly, early last year, and couldn't find a fault...

This auction includes:
- Synton Syntovox 221 Vocoder
- Synton Syntovox 221 PSU w/ a little note to Wendy Carlos taped to it, from back in the day ;-]
- Cable for connecting the 221 to the PSU
- Original documents"

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EMS 1000 Vocoder

Note: Auction links are affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
via this auction
See the seller's other items for more.

"For sale is an insanely rare EMS Vocoder 1000, from the same company that brought you the Synthi AKS and VCS3. If you've seen Battlestar Galactica you've heard this vocoder as the voice of the Cyclons. An amazing sounding analog vocoder, perhaps the most intelligible ones out there of the Moog / Bode / Sennheiser VSM201 / Roland VP330 SVC-350 / Korg VC10. It just has a very nice tone to it, and most important you can really hear what you're saying without working too hard at it. The 1000 is very similar design as the 2000. In excellent shape and fully functional. I've tried almost all of the ones out there, and if there was one go-to vocoder to use, this one would be it. See pictures below for more details. Don't miss out on this awesome classic!"

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