Back in 1999, this rackmount beast burst onto the scene as the ultimate standalone vocoder for DJs and producers craving instant robot voices without lugging a full synth rig.
It packs a dedicated formant input section with a front-panel XLR mic preamp featuring variable gain and simple 3-LED metering, plus a selector for mic, line (ess on/off), or auto modes. The core Warp section lets you twist sounds via big, hands-on knobs for Speed (LFO rate), Band (low/high freq optimization for bass/drums or highs), and Gender (shifts formants up/down without pitch change), with Tap Tempo, Division for MIDI clock sync (1:4 to 6:1 ratios), and an Effects Mix for dry/wet balance. Three analog source inputs (1/4" TS, RCA phono/line, 1/4" TRS) feed into balanced 1/4" TRS and XLR outputs, all with pro specs like >115dB dynamic range on mic bypass and 10Hz-14.3kHz response; MIDI In handles real-time control of every knob (except mic gain) for sequencing or automation, though no internal patches—save via SysEx. Housed in a sturdy 1U rack/desktop chassis with no display, just LEDs for power, MIDI, and signal activity, it's pure tactile analog fun.
Vintage users still hunt these down for their raw, immediate vocoding punch on live vocals or loops, though some note it can feel limited without deeper editing once you master the basics.[web:1][web:2][web:4]
