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How to Record a Voice to Sound Like Chipmunks

One of the most iconic voices heard in the past century is the voice of Alvin the chipmunk. In recent years, this type of vocal effect has been widely copied in different music genres, such as pop, electronica and hip hop. A vocal or guitar processing effect pedal can quickly and simply allow you to change the pitch of your voice to the range of a chipmunk. These pedals have simple controls and are relatively inexpensive to buy.

Things You'll Need

  • Amplifier
  • Microphone
  • Instrument cables
  • Vocal effect
  • Guitar effect
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a microphone so that an instrument cable goes into a vocal or guitar effect, which will then be hooked up to an amplifier. One of the best ways to achieve a chipmunk voice is to speak through an Electro-Harmonix Poly Octave Generator 2 (POG 2), or a Digitech Whammy pedal. Other effects pedals can produce a similar sound as well.

    • 2

      Speak into the microphone and adjust the pitch of a POG 2 or Whammy pedal. With the POG 2, raise the slider of the +2 Octave all the way, and lower all others. With the Whammy, spin the knob until the 2 Octaves Up is selected.

    • 3

      Adjust the levels until the desired sound is achieved. For the POG 2, you can set the slider to higher or lower setting depending on how high-pitched you want the voice to be. The Whammy effect is not as adjustable as the POG 2, but can still get the job done if you select an octave or two higher.

    • 4

      Record the voice to a computer or looping effect for further sound engineering possibilities. For example, adding a vibrato effect at a fast rate of speed can make the voice sound exactly like a singing chipmunk. Reverb can be added as well to make you sound like you are performing in a concert hall.

Recording Music

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