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Effect
iZotope VocalSynth 2
iZotope · $199.00
VocalSynth 2 is a creative vocal synthesizer plugin combining five modules to produce electronic vocal textures, robot voices, and computerized harmonies.
7.6
Good7.6
GoodThe Dubspot verdict
A deep, characterful vocal-mangling toolbox that owns the robot-voice and vocoder niche, but at $199 it's a specialist buy rather than an everyday mix tool.
Best for: Producers and sound designers who want authentic vocoder, talkbox, and sci-fi vocal textures in one plugin instead of chaining separate effects.
Pros
- Five distinct vocal engines cover vocoder, talkbox, and robot tones convincingly
- Built-in stompbox effects chain shapes tones without extra plugins
- Auto, MIDI, and Sidechain modes fit many production workflows
- Fast, inspiring presets that sound finished out of the box
Cons
- $199 is steep for a creative-only effect used occasionally
- Modules can get CPU-hungry when stacked with effects
- No longer actively updated since iZotope's roadmap shifted
iZotope VocalSynth 2 is a creative vocal processor built for transformation rather than correction. It bundles five character engines - Biovox, Vocoder, Compuvox, Talkbox, and Polyvox - into a single interface, so you can blend a classic vocoder with a formant-shifted talkbox or stack a synthetic harmony layer without patching together separate tools. Where a channel-strip aims for a natural vocal, VocalSynth 2 aims for the opposite: robot voices, sci-fi textures, vintage vocoder leads, and computerized harmonies.
It excels at fast, inspiring results. The plugin runs the incoming vocal through your chosen modules and can follow pitch automatically, respond to MIDI, or duck to a sidechain source, which makes it flexible across singing, spoken word, and even non-vocal material. A seven-slot chain of stompbox-style effects - distortion, filter, chorus, delay, and more - lets you finish a sound inside the plugin instead of reaching for extras. The presets are genuinely usable, and the animated Voice display makes the interaction between modules easy to read while you dial things in.
The trade-off is scope and price. At $199, VocalSynth 2 is a specialist purchase; it does creative vocal design brilliantly but has no role in a transparent mix, so the value depends entirely on how often you chase these textures. Stacking multiple modules with the full effects chain can also get CPU-hungry, and the plugin has effectively stayed put as iZotope's development focus moved elsewhere.
Against its alternatives the positioning is clear. Soundtoys Little AlterBoy is cheaper and unbeatable for quick pitch and formant shifting, but it lacks vocoding and multi-engine depth. Sugar Bytes Effectrix 2 and Oeksound Spiff solve entirely different problems - rhythmic multi-effect sequencing and transient de-harshing - so they complement VocalSynth 2 rather than replace it. Choose VocalSynth 2 if authentic vocoder and talkbox character in one deep, preset-rich package is what you're after, and watch for a sale to soften the cost.
Specifications
- Processing modules
- Five modules: Biovox, Vocoder, Compuvox, Talkbox, and Polyvox
- Multi-effects chain
- Seven stompbox-style effects
- Processing modes
- Auto, MIDI, and Sidechain
- Architecture
- 64-bit only
- Mac support
- macOS Sonoma, Sequoia, and Tahoe; Intel and Apple silicon M-series
- Windows support
- Windows 10 (22H2) and Windows 11 (24H2)
Last verified 2026-06-16
FAQ
What is iZotope VocalSynth 2?
VocalSynth 2 is a creative vocal synthesizer plugin that combines five modules (Biovox, Vocoder, Compuvox, Talkbox, and Polyvox) to create electronic vocal textures, robot voices, and computerized harmonies.
Does VocalSynth 2 support MIDI control?
Yes. VocalSynth 2 offers three processing modes including a MIDI mode, allowing the modules to be controlled via MIDI.
What plugin formats and DAWs does VocalSynth 2 support?
VocalSynth 2 is available in AAX, AU, VST2, and VST3 formats (64-bit), with supported hosts including Logic Pro 11, Pro Tools 2024, Ableton Live 12, Cubase 14, Nuendo 14, Studio One 7, Reaper 7, FL Studio 2024, Adobe Audition 2025, Adobe Premiere Pro 2025, DaVinci Resolve 19, and Reason 13.