VP-330 (click to enlarge)

One of the coolest instruments out there. The vocoder shapes its envelope and filters by any sound source fed into it, your voice or even a drum loop can be used which is then applied to another sound source, typically a synth pad. This creates a very unique and famous robot-like sound.

Aside from the 10-band vocoder, the VP-330 added a string synth section, choir and a human-voice sound, both of which are quite excellent themselves. Its 3 sound sections offer a few different presets that can be slightly edited with de-tuning and vibrato. The VP-330 is one of the best Vocoder synths ever and although there are many other types of Vocoders, none sound as good as this!

SVC-350 (click to enlarge)

The Roland SVC-350 (pictured just above) is a similar rackmount version of the VP-330 with a modernized look and graphic EQ section. These vocoders have been used by William Ørbit, BT, Styx, Kitaro, Underworld, Meat Beat Manifesto, Überzone, Air, Royksopp, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, and many more.

21 VISITOR COMMENTS

Corey

April 14, 2012 @ 6:50 pm

Where does Vintage Synth get their price estimates? I found 1 on ebay and it's going for $3,500. No guarantee it will sell or that price, but has anyone ever really seen one in ok shape going for less than $2,000?

Bhrama

February 14, 2012 @ 7:14 am

Looking for a Mk1 of the these in the US, send me a PM on the forums here

william

July 25, 2011 @ 4:49 pm

got one of these for 50 bucks usd about 2 years ago , best deal i have ever got on a synth. great analog sound , nice strings

bobby h.

June 7, 2011 @ 11:36 am

Very cool early vocoder with some amazing effects. It was used by Phil Collins and Tony Banks of Genesis. (The signature vocoder sound on 'In The Air Tonight' was the VP-330, and it was used on other tracks on Face Value. Banks used one in the early 80s, including the Duke tour, to replace the Mellotron for choral sounds.)

Yves Elegeert

March 29, 2011 @ 4:10 pm

Listen to Laurie Anderson: Oh Superman. Pure sound of the VP-330.

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