The Cylon Vocoder/Voice is the...

[EMS Vocoder 5000]

EMS Vocoder 2000W MkI (white, biege), and the Marshall Time-Modulator!!! Synth/Keyboard...still unknown.

Thank you, thank you very very much!!! Fyi, James-Earl Jones used a Bode 7702 Vocoder and a Marshall Time Modulator for the voice of Darth Vader in the three "Star Wars" films of 1977, '80, and '3, btw.

On Jan 18, 2008, at 12:09 AM, minime123 wrote:

-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Thu, 17 Jan 2008 22:36:49 -0700
To: minime123
Subject: Re: Cylons, NOT Cyclons, BUT...

So Mr. Peter Berkos or one of the others who worked in the sound
department for the original series version of "Battlestar Galactica"
told you (confirmed for you) that the vocoder used for the voices for
the Cylons was indeed the EMS Vocoder 2000W MkI (white), and not the
Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201 as most erroneously believe?!!

*someone who said he worked on the team said it was a "beige" 2000 and a marshall time modulator.
mini

Makes a LOT MORE sense than the Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201 that Mr. Peter Berkos said, since the Sennheiser sounds NOTHING like the Cylons and the EMS DOES!!! I'm truly CONVINCED this is the REAL ANSWER (just need to find-out if it's still possible the synth/keyboard that was used as well)!!

[GoldCylon]

This posting makes no claim at all WHO is making this statement. Thus it can't be followed up via independent source, so it is a worthless comment.
Make this claim that can be backed up by someone, and can be verified. Site your source, don't just make a claim with out backing it up. Joe anyone could have just made this claim, so site your source WHO is making this claim. What is THEIR connection to this claim, and how did they come about having this knowledge. Did they work on the set, or second hand information pass down.

[EMS Vocoder 5000]

I'm going to try to find-out from 'mini' who from the sound department (Mr. Berkos isn't the only one, if you go to IMDb you'll see other names in that deparment) on the original series version of "Battlestar Galactica" gave him/her this info. Despite what Mr. Peter Berkos' says, being an expert on the sounds of vocoders I know for a 100% fact that INDEED it CAN NOT BE the Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201 regardless if what he says!!! If you listen to a known audio-clip of a Sennheiser vs. one for the EMS Vocoder 2000W MkI (white, silver, and biege) you'll know this as a FACT as well!! I have a manual for the Korg VC-10 Synthesizer/Vocoder, BUT I've NEVER own one, so him having a manual for the Sennheiser PROVES NOTHING!! And he even ADMITTED his memory is dimming. But the way to settle this once and for all is to simply pit the Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201 against the EMS Vocoder 2000W MkI and use the Marshall 5002 Time-Modulator with both!!! Now if only someone would say what the correct synthesizer to use would be we'd be all SET!!!!

[EMS Vocoder 5000]

This posting makes no claim at all WHO is making this statement. Thus it can't be followed up via independent source, so it is a worthless comment.
Make this claim that can be backed up by someone, and can be verified. Site your source, don't just make a claim with out backing it up. Joe anyone could have just made this claim, so site your source WHO is making this claim. What is THEIR connection to this claim, and how did they come about having this knowledge. Did they work on the set, or second hand information pass down.

I just sent an email to the person making this claim to tell me who exactly it was in the BSG:TOS sound department who said this!!! Anyway here's where I got this from so you too can contact as well: EMS Vocoder 2000 For Sale

Cylons, NOT Cyclons. BUT Cylons!!!

[GoldCylon]

I agree that many others were involved to a degree with the sound effects in the production of Galactica, but to stand up and make this claim your making with out anything to back that claim up at all is very sloppy at best. Your promoting hear say from an unknown source. I have no idea WHO is making this claim. Siting the source that can be verified is the only legit way to make this a agreed claim. Also exactly what was this Vocoder used for? The Cylon voice, or a blaster sound, or something else. Was more than one type of Vocoder used? I lean that direction more than one type of Vocoder was used. I believe 100% Mr Berkos did use the Sennheiser for something related to Galactica. His quick recall on this manual was to fast to 2nd guess any other Vocoder. Also the 8x10 photos inside that manual help back up that claim. With photos of ships inside the manual, was the Senn used to create ship sound effects? Was it used to make the rumble of the Galactica, instead of the Cylon voice?

[GoldCylon]

You have to be kidding? A sales pitch is your claim that this was used for the Cylon voice? Now that is the ultimate insult to us here trying to prove what is the correct Vocoder. This is what I was afraid of, someone with out any research to back up a claim on their person comment. No proof at all to back this up. The guy is trying to sell a used car (selling used audio equipment),and he will say anything to move his merchandise, and get top dollar for it.
PS he can't even spell Cylons, so that allow tells you his worth in this claim. Cyclons.......

[EMS Vocoder 5000]

I agree that many others were involved to a degree with the sound effects in the production of Galactica, but to stand up and make this claim your making with out anything to back that claim up at all is very sloppy at best. Your promoting hear say from an unknown source. I have no idea WHO is making this claim. Siting the source that can be verified is the only legit way to make this a agreed claim. Also exactly what was this Vocoder used for? The Cylon voice, or a blaster sound, or something else. Was more than one type of Vocoder used? I lean that direction more than one type of Vocoder was used. I believe 100% Mr Berkos did use the Sennheiser for something related to Galactica. His quick recall on this manual was to fast to 2nd guess any other Vocoder. Also the 8x10 photos inside that manual help back up that claim. With photos of ships inside the manual, was the Senn used to create ship sound effects? Was it used to make the rumble of the Galactica, instead of the Cylon voice?

What you said is TRUE!! Vocoders can be used for much more than processing vocals in order to give them that robotic-sound. I do believe that a Senn was used in production for non-vocals sounds. Did you have a listen to my "Sennheiser Vocoder Demo"? NOT once do they make it sound like a Cylon (which I'm sure they would've if it were SO). As an expert on what vocoders sound like I can MOST assuredly tell you the the Cylon voices are NOT the Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201, BUT an EMS Vocoder!! Is it the 2000 as claimed or the 5000, or 1000? They're pretty close so it's very hard to differentiate. It can't be the 3000 since it wasn't around by then. Mr. Roy/Ron? Wood? (I can't recall but Chris Dexter knows) the current head of EMS says he believes it to be the 2000. Mr. Michael Santiago somewhat recalls them calling it the 4000 (there is NO 4000). 4000 is a lot closer in sound to 1000, 2000, or 5000. 201 isn't close at all for attesting to the FACT that an EMS was used for the voices and NOT a Senn!!!

[EMS Vocoder 5000]

I'm including links to songs featuring either the Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201 or an EMS Vocoder (most notably the 1000 or 2000) so you too can tell the difference between them. After listening to them and comparing them to what the Cylons sound like you should have NO trouble at all realizing that an EMS was used and NOT the Sennheiser for Cylon vocals. Even without all the necessary equipment ONLY the EMS's come close to sounding Cylonish!!

First up the Cylons:

By Your Command

Presenting his eminence...our Imperious Leader

Scan for identification

The Information is not complete

See that the humans remain entertained until the end, and

It is done, Imperious Leader

[GoldCylon]

I'm going to try to find-out from 'mini' who from the sound department (Mr. Berkos isn't the only one, if you go to IMDb you'll see other names in that deparment) on the original series version of

I have talked with Mini about the seller, and he has gotten back to me about this person that sold the unit. The owner of the unit, not Mini has now back down a bit about his claim about what he did. He now claims he was a 2nd string sound effects person, not even claiming to work on Galactica, or even Universal.

Also Mr Berkos supplied contact information on the other two gentleman that took over after he left to go work on Buck Rogers. I tried making contact with them, but I appear to be to late. The other two gentleman have since pasted on.

[GoldCylon]

Mr. Michael Santiago somewhat recalls them calling it the 4000 (there is NO 4000). 4000 is a lot closer in sound to 1000, 2000, or 5000. 201 isn't close at all for attesting to the FACT that an EMS was used for the voices and NOT a Senn!!!

When speaking Mr Berkos about the voice actor, he said he had to go meet the person in the recording studio a few building away from the location Mr Berkos did his work. Mr Santiago never came to Mr Berkos editing studio. He said he did try to keep the same person doing the voice work, but sometimes because of scheduling conflicts other voice actors were used. Mr Berkos said he was present at all voice recording, and they were down off site from where he worked.

[EMS Vocoder 5000]

Songs featuring the Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201:

Herbie Hancock "Trust Me"

Herbie Hancock "Come Running To Me"

The Rockets "Radio Station"

The Rockets "Astral World"

The Rockets "On The Road Again"

The Rockets "Electric Delight"

The Rockets "Ideomatic"

Herbie Hancock "Rockit"

The Rockets "Galactica"

Herbie Hancock "You Bet Your Love"

Herbie Hancock "I Thought It Was You"

The Rockets "Future Game"

Kraftwerk "The Robots", and

Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201

[EMS Vocoder 5000]

Songs featuring an EMS Vocoder: such as the 1000, 2000, 3000, or 5000:

Giorgio Moroder I'm Left, You're Right, She's Gone"

James Bond plays a video game

Battlestar Galactica Razor Remix Cylons Speaking

Man Parrish "Heatstroke"

Jean-Michel Jarre "Zoolook"

ELO "Midnight Blue"

ELO "Mr. Blue Sky"

ELO "Confusion"

ELO "Sweet Talkin' Woman"

ELO "Believe Me Now"

ELO "Steppin' Out"

ELO "Big Wheels"

The EMS Studio-System Vocoder 5000 aka "The Big One":

EMS Vocoder 5000

EMS Vocoder 5000/2, and

EMS Vocoder 5000/3

[EMS Vocoder 5000]

After listening to both the Sennheiser Vocoder VSM201 and the EMS Vocoder's, one should CLEARLY be able to tell (unless they're 'TONE-DEAF') that ONLY the EMS's comes even CLOSE to sounding like the vocoder used in production for the sounds of the Cylon voices!!! The 5000 in that demo almost NAILS-IT!!! All they would've needed to do was to use the same synth/keyboard and other effects and it would be 100% Cylon.

[GoldCylon]

Under the approach that has been tried so far, yes I agree it sounds close, but not the real deal. As long as no one expands the methods that Mr Berkos used, it will never be found. The constant trying the WRONG method will never achieve the Cylon voice. The method Mr Berkos laid out to me no one has tried, our at least reported back they got it. Changing the equipment, and adding things in that Mr Berkos never touched, let alone used will never recreate the original Cylon voice. A Chevy is a Chevy, and a Ford is a Ford, and changing the driver doesn't change the car. Bottom line as long as no one does anything, but keep trying these made up as you go methods the Cylon voice will never be found, even though I have laid out in black in white what he did to make the voice.
The biggest challenge is finding the vintage toy that he used to drive the input, because it isn't a known item.

[EMS Vocoder 5000]

But the fact still remains that even without trying that an EMS Vocoder just naturally sounds closer to the Cylon voice than the Sennheiser does. This leads one to the inevitable conclusion that an EMS Vocoder was used and NOT a Sennheiser. Just listen to that 5000 demo and you can tell that if they did use Mr. Berkos' other equipment (toy driver?, synthesizer, etc.) they would've NAILED the cylon voice!! And if a Sennheiser was used it still WOULD and COULD NOT and NEVER WOULD or COULD NOT sound like a Cylon NO MATTER WHAT YOU DID!! BUT the ULTIMATE WAY to prove what vocoder was used is to take a sample of the Cylon voice and than a sample of the Sennheiser and than each of the EMS models and run them through an audio-analyzer. UNFORTUNATELY I don't have or have access to such a machine, so until I do...