VoMPE is a new voice-to-MIDI plugin from Suzumushi, and it’s free to download now.
The plugin comes in 64-bit VST3 format for Windows.
Suzumushi explores the process of modelling voice production through vocal cord vibration and resonance of the vocal tract and uses it to generate polyphonic MIDI notes.
Voice over MIDI Polyphonic Expression analyzes voice input and outputs MIDI notes based on formant frequencies representing vocal characteristics.
Interestingly, the vocal tract often acts as a filter when the sound frequency is far below the vocal tract resonance frequencies.
This filtering effect plays a role in voice quality and timbre when singing, and although I have no research or evidence to back up my claim, I’m sure it’s defective in some people.
For example, if I consider my singing, all that is good is filtered out, leaving me with a unique vocal timbre that Florence Foster Jenkins would be ashamed to unveil in public.
Voice spectrum – the vibration of the vocal cords and the frequency characteristics of the vocal tract.
Spectral Envelope – the frequency characteristics of the vocal tract.
Formant frequencies – the peak frequencies of the spectral envelope.
VoMPE uses linear prediction coefficients to estimate the spectral envelope and then finds the formant frequencies.
VoMPE divides the spectral envelope into bands (one band = one MIDI channel) and outputs MIDI notes reflecting formant frequencies with the maximum amplitude in a band.
We’ve come across voice-to-MIDI or audio-to-MIDI software before; we had Dubler 2, which, for me, didn’t quite hit the mark for the price. We also had freebies like Dodo MIDI a couple of years back.
VoMPE is a little different in showcasing more of the technical/scientific side of the process.
The GUI displays two graphs: one showing the spectral envelope, formant frequencies, and MIDI on/off threshold, and another, a colour map showing the spectral envelope over time.
With MIDI pitch bend on, a pitch bend is sent before a MIDI note is played, providing a more accurate formant frequency.
The Suzumushi website provides examples of MPE synth configurations (necessary when MIDI pitch bend is set to on) for Surge XT and Vital.
Don’t forget you can grab a 40% discount on Baby Audio’s Transit 2 as part of the limited-time intro offer.
Download: VoMPE (FREE)
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8 Comments
suzumushi
onThanks for the wonderful article!
George
onThat’s what i need ! Thank’s!
HL
onIs there a manual somewhere?
In English?
Can’t get it to produce any MIDI output.
Franz
onHi there!
Would be nice if someone could explain how to get this thing to work.
No Midi Output,too… hmmm
HL
onIt does appear as a possible MIDI input on instrument tracks in Studio One.
But nothing happens, when chosen as input. No data sent, it seems.
Docent Novak
onIn FL Studio the plugin works fine, in combination with Surge XT. In Surge you have to enable MPE, and select the midi input. The plugin has to be placed in the same Insert as the vocal and select the midi output the same as the input to Surge. That’s all
HL
onWhere do I select the MIDI output?
galacov
onhttps://suzumushi0.hatenablog.com/entry/VM/VM_EN
The manual is here. There is no further information at this point in time.