BOSS - VO-1 | Vocoder

Make Your Axe Talk, Sing, and Cry

The VO-1 Vocoder is a unique and innovative stompbox that puts the massive expressive range of the human voice in the hands of every guitarist and bassist. By vocalizing into a connected mic as you play, it’s easy to transform your tone with electronic voices, classic talk box sounds, and tons of all-new colors that are perfect for modern music styles. It’s even possible to create impressive ensemble vocal sounds without the need to connect an external mic. When you plug into the VO-1, you can literally talk, sing, and cry with your axe, taking your playing to places you never dreamed of before.

Features

Innovative, easy-to-use vocoder pedal powered by BOSS’s famous guitar synth technology
Use your voice to dramatically extend the expressive range of your instrument in countless ways
Vintage mode for classic electronic synth-voice sounds and Advanced mode for all-new vocoder tones with enhanced clarity
Talk Box mode enables “talking lead guitar” tones without the hassles of a traditional talk box setup
Choir mode for achieving rich vocal sounds with no mic connected
Effect loop for sound enhancement and easy integration with existing pedals
Works with guitar, bass, or any instrument with a 1/4-inch output
BOSS five-year warranty

Powerful Vocal Expression for Guitar and Bass

Without a doubt, the human voice is the most expressive instrument there is, capable of producing a massive range of sounds. Vocoder technology lets you harness this power and control the tone of your instrument in endless ways via real-time vocal manipulation, achieving speech-like sounds, infinitely controllable wah, and much more. For decades, keyboardists have used vocoders to create electronic vocal tones and other voice-like textures with synthesizers. Now, the VO-1 makes it simple for guitarists and bassists to use this inspiring creative tool with their music.

Cutting-Edge Vocoder Technology in a Compact Stompbox

Driven by BOSS’s famous guitar synth technology, the VO-1 delivers power and versatility that goes well beyond other vocoders. Vintage mode produces the familiar synthesized voice sounds heard on numerous pop and electronic music records through the years, while Advanced mode utilizes new BOSS tech to translate speech and other vocalizations to your axe with unprecedented definition and clarity. Talk Box mode recreates classic “talking lead guitar” tones without having to use a traditional talk box rig and mouth tube, making these cool sounds much more accessible and convenient. Finally, Choir mode produces rich, impressive vocal textures from a direct input, with no mic needed.

Infinite Possibilities Made Easy

With the VO-1, BOSS has made the vocoder straightforward and incredibly simple to use. First off, it connects to your rig like any other pedal. The only additional connection needed is a microphone, which you’ll use to drive the VO-1’s vocoder engine when using the first three modes. After that, just turn on the effect, tweak the knobs, and vocalize into the mic as you play. Don’t worry—you don’t even need to be able to sing in tune. You handle all the pitch control with your hands as normal, while the VO-1 applies the complex formant characteristics of your voice to the tone in real time. The VO-1 also features an effect loop for patching in external effects, plus a Blend knob for mixing vocoder and straight tones together.

Specifications
Modes: 4 modes
ADVANCED
VINTAGE
TALK BOX
CHOIR
Nominal Input Level: INPUT, RETURN: -20 dBu
MIC: -40 dBu (MIC SENS: LOW)
Input Impedance: INPUT, RETURN: 1 M ohm
MIC: 4 k ohms
Nominal Output Level: OUTPUT, SEND: -20 dBu
Output Impedance: OUTPUT, SEND: 1 k ohm
Recommended Load Impedance: 10 k ohms or greater
Bypass: Buffered bypass
Controls: Pedal switch
MIC SENS switch
MODE knob
COLOR knob
TONE knob
BLEND knob
LEVEL knob
Indicator: CHECK indicator (Serves also as battery check indicator)
Connectors: INPUT jack
MIC jack (XLR type)
RETURN jack
OUTPUT jack
SEND jack
DC IN jack
Power Supply: Alkaline battery (9V, 6LR61)
AC adaptor (sold separately)
Current Draw: 70 mA
Expected battery life under continuous use: Alkaline: Approx. 4 hours
*These figures will vary depending on the actual conditions of use.
Accessories: Leaflet ("USING THE UNIT SAFELY," "IMPORTANT NOTE," and "Information")
Alkaline battery (9V, 6LR61)
Options (sold separately): AC adaptor: PSA series
Size and Weight
Width: 73 mm
2-7/8 inches
Depth: 129 mm
5-1/8 inches
Height: 59 mm
2-3/8 inches
Weight (including battery): 430 g
1 lb
* 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms
*The specifications are subject to change without notice.

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Support

If you have questions about operating your BOSS product, please check our Knowledge Base for answers to the most common questions.
You can also contact our Product Support department by phone or email.
In addition, we have a library of Owner’s Manuals and Support Documents that you can download and reference.