How iZotope VocalSynth Can Transform Your Metal Vocals

Modern metal vocals aren't just about raw screams and guttural lows anymore. Think about the atmospheric layers in a Periphery chorus, the glitchy textures in an Architects bridge, or the unsettling harmonies lurking beneath a Sleep Token verse. These sounds are meticulously crafted, and they often rely on powerful, creative tools that go way beyond a simple EQ and compressor.

That's where a plugin like iZotope VocalSynth 2 comes in. This isn't your everyday channel strip. It’s a specialized creative weapon. While you can argue all day about whether to use a FabFilter Pro-Q 3 or a stock EQ for a simple high-pass filter, you can’t fake what VocalSynth does. It’s a prime example of when the specific plugin you choose actually matters.

Let's dive into what this beast is and how you can use it to get some sick, mix-ready vocal effects for your heavy tracks.

What a Metal Producer Needs to Know About iZotope VocalSynth 2

At its core, VocalSynth 2 is a multi-effects vocal processing plugin that combines five different synthesis/effects engines with seven stompbox-style effects. You can blend these modules together to create anything from subtle enhancement to total sonic annihilation.

For metal producers, this means you have a one-stop-shop for crafting unique vocal layers, harmonies, and ear candy that can define a track's vibe.

The Five Engines of Vocal Insanity

The magic starts with the five distinct vocal engines you can mix and match.

Biovox

This is the most "organic" of the bunch. It models the human vocal tract, letting you tweak things like nasality, vowel shapes, and formants. For metal, this is gold for subtly thickening a lead vocal without obvious layering or for creating creepy, inhuman background whispers by playing with the formant shifting.

Vocoder

The classic "robot voice" effect. But it’s so much more than that. In a metal context, running a screaming vocal through a vocoder that's being fed by a synth pad can create epic, harmonically rich layers that sit perfectly behind the main vocal in a massive chorus. It adds texture and musicality to pure aggression.

Compuvox

Remember old-school Speak & Spell toys? That's Compuvox. It’s a glitchy, bit-crushed, computerized vocal effect. Use it sparingly on single words or phrases for that modern metalcore glitch effect or automate it to create chaotic transitions.

Talkbox

The classic effect of a guitar sound "talking" through a tube. While it’s got funky roots, you can use this to create some seriously cool filtered synth-like textures from a vocal performance. Try running a gang vocal chant through it for a unique filtered effect.

Polyvox

This is your instant harmony generator. It takes the input vocal and creates lush, polyphonic harmonies. The key here is the control. You can create gritty, detuned harmonies that sound more like a demonic choir than a clean pop vocal. It’s perfect for adding weight and width without having to track dozens of vocal layers.

Actionable VocalSynth Tricks for Your Next Metal Mix

Okay, theory's cool, but let's get practical. Here are a few starting points to get VocalSynth working in your DAW right now.

Creating Demonic Layers & Eerie Harmonies

This is a go-to for adding size and menace to a heavy vocal.

1. Duplicate your lead scream track or send it to an aux bus.
2. Slap VocalSynth 2 on the new track/bus.
3. Use the Polyvox module. Set the main harmony to an octave below (-12 semitones).
4. Drag the Formant shifter down. This is the key. It makes the vocal sound massive and inhuman without just being a simple pitch shift.
5. Add more voices. Try adding a fifth up or a second detuned voice for more chaos.
6. Blend it in. Mix this effected signal low, just underneath your main dry vocal. It should be felt more than heard, adding a thick, monstrous foundation.

The "Modern Metalcore" Glitch & Vocoder Effect

You’ve heard this sound on countless modern records. It’s that clean vocal that suddenly turns into a musical, synthetic texture.

1. Set VocalSynth to MIDI Mode. This allows you to control the pitch of the effect with a MIDI keyboard or MIDI data.
2. Create a new MIDI track and route its output to the VocalSynth plugin.
3. On the MIDI track, write a simple chord progression that follows the song's harmony. Use whole notes or simple pads.
4. Load up the Vocoder or Biovox engine in VocalSynth.
5. Play the track. The vocal will now be tuned and processed to follow the chords you wrote on the MIDI track. This is killer for turning a clean vocal phrase into a transitional synth pad or an atmospheric background layer.

Beyond Vocals: Mangling Synths and Drums

Don't let the name fool you. VocalSynth is a sick sound design tool for almost anything.

• On a drum bus: Try using the Compuvox module with a fast LFO to add rhythmic, glitchy artifacts to your drum loop for an industrial vibe.
• On a synth lead: Run a simple saw wave synth through the Talkbox module to create a moving, filtered lead that sounds way more complex than the original source.
• On bass: Use the Biovox module to add some subtle formant filtering to a distorted bass guitar, giving it a vocal-like growl that helps it cut through the mix.

Where VocalSynth Fits in Your Plugin Philosophy

There’s a ton of debate about plugins. Do you need expensive ones? Or can you get by with stock tools? Here's our take: for general tasks, it barely matters. Your DAW's stock EQ can handle 95% of the EQing jobs you need for metal guitars. The same goes for basic compression techniques. Getting good with one versatile tool is far more important than owning twenty different SSL channel strips.

But VocalSynth is different. It’s a specialty tool. It does something that a stock plugin simply can't replicate. It’s like Oeksound Soothe for taming harshness or a Neural DSP amp sim for a specific guitar tone. When you need that specific creative effect, having the right tool is a game-changer.

This is where you should focus your energy and budget—not on collecting 15 different '76-style compressors, but on acquiring unique tools that open up new creative doors. Just remember, a powerful tool is useless if you don't know how to wield it. The goal isn't just to own VocalSynth; it's to learn it inside and out so you can call upon its power whenever your mix needs that special something.

Putting It All Together: The Nail The Mix Advantage

Using a tool like iZotope VocalSynth effectively is all about making creative decisions. It’s one thing to know what the knobs do, but it's another thing entirely to know when and why to use a vocoder layer versus a Polyvox harmony in the context of a full, dense metal mix.

How do you develop that instinct? By watching the best in the business do it.

The instructors at Nail The Mix—guys like Jens Bogren, Will Putney, and Jordan Valeriote—are masters of this. They use tools like VocalSynth not as a gimmick, but as a solution to a mixing problem or a way to enhance the artist’s vision.

Inside Nail The Mix, you get to watch them build these complex vocal chains from scratch using the real multi-tracks from bands like Gojira, Lamb of God, and The Ghost Inside. You don’t just learn a plugin; you learn a philosophy.

If you’re ready to see how pro producers use these creative weapons to shape the sound of modern metal, check out our full catalog of mixing sessions and see what you've been missing.