The Talk BoxThe Talk Box
By Alex BowersBy Alex Bowers
Background/HistoryBackground/History
Device which enables individual to Device which enables individual to manipulate the sound of an instrument by manipulate the sound of an instrument by changing the shape of the mouth.changing the shape of the mouth.– Produces classic “talking guitar sound”Produces classic “talking guitar sound”
Ex. Peter Frampton, Frampton Comes Alive Ex. Peter Frampton, Frampton Comes Alive Created by Bill West in 1971 for Joe Walsh to Created by Bill West in 1971 for Joe Walsh to
play "Rocky Mountain Way" live play "Rocky Mountain Way" live Later patented by Bob Heil of Heil SoundLater patented by Bob Heil of Heil Sound 1973: Heil gave his talk box to Peter 1973: Heil gave his talk box to Peter
Frampton as a Christmas present Frampton as a Christmas present 1988, Heil sold the manufacturing rights to 1988, Heil sold the manufacturing rights to
Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc.Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. Peter Frampton also sells his own line of Peter Frampton also sells his own line of
“Framptone” products“Framptone” products
HistoryHistory
Created by Bill West in 1971 for Joe Created by Bill West in 1971 for Joe Walsh to play "Rocky Mountain Way" live Walsh to play "Rocky Mountain Way" live
Later patented by Bob Heil of Heil SoundLater patented by Bob Heil of Heil Sound 1973: Heil gave his talk box to Peter 1973: Heil gave his talk box to Peter
Frampton as a Christmas present Frampton as a Christmas present 1988, Heil sold the manufacturing rights 1988, Heil sold the manufacturing rights
to Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc.to Dunlop Manufacturing, Inc. Peter Frampton also sells his own line of “Peter Frampton also sells his own line of “
FramptoneFramptone” products” products
Other ModelsOther Models
Danelectro Free Speech Danelectro Free Speech TalkboxTalkbox
Rocktron Banshee Rocktron Banshee Heil Sound TalkboxHeil Sound Talkbox Electro-Harmonix (E-H) Electro-Harmonix (E-H)
Golden Throat Golden Throat – 1970s, first to include 1970s, first to include
integrated ampintegrated amp Kustom Bag Kustom Bag
– 1970s, enclosed 1970s, enclosed compression in suede compression in suede pouch worn over shoulder, pouch worn over shoulder, looked like strange looked like strange bagpipe/water bongbagpipe/water bong
Famous Talk Famous Talk Box UsersBox Users Peter FramptonPeter Frampton – "Do You Feel Like We – "Do You Feel Like We
Do", "Show Me the Way"Do", "Show Me the Way" Bon Jovi (Richie Sambora)Bon Jovi (Richie Sambora) – "It's My Life", – "It's My Life",
"Livin' on a Prayer“"Livin' on a Prayer“ SlashSlash – "Lower", "Anything Goes", "Dust n' – "Lower", "Anything Goes", "Dust n'
Bones", "Rocket Queen" (Live) Bones", "Rocket Queen" (Live) Aerosmith (Joe Perry)Aerosmith (Joe Perry) – "Sweet Emotion", – "Sweet Emotion",
"Walk this way“"Walk this way“ Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl)Foo Fighters (Dave Grohl) – –
"Generator" "Generator" The Flaming LipsThe Flaming Lips – –
"The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song", "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song", "The Wizard Turns On...”"The Wizard Turns On...”
Stevie WonderStevie Wonder
Talk Box in ActionTalk Box in Action
Stevie WonderStevie Wonder Stevie Wonder 2Stevie Wonder 2 Peter FramptonPeter Frampton Peter Frampton 2Peter Frampton 2 Random DudeRandom Dude
How it WorksHow it Works
Instrument signal Instrument signal into ampinto amp
Amplified signal Amplified signal sent to horn driversent to horn driver
Sound sent Sound sent through tubing through tubing into mouthinto mouth
Mouth-shape Mouth-shape modifies soundmodifies sound
Picked up by micPicked up by mic
Source –Source –Filter ModelFilter Model
Vocal chords (folds) create Vocal chords (folds) create periodic signal of pressure periodic signal of pressure pulses, high harmonic contentpulses, high harmonic content
Vocal tract operates like a Vocal tract operates like a variable filter variable filter – Response different for Response different for
different frequenciesdifferent frequencies– Shape of tract changes Shape of tract changes
frequency responsefrequency response Gain of tract sampled at Gain of tract sampled at
multiples of the fundamental multiples of the fundamental frequencyfrequency
Resonances can be estimated Resonances can be estimated from the peaks in the from the peaks in the envelope of the sound envelope of the sound spectrum. spectrum. – FormantsFormants– Easier to determine for low Easier to determine for low
fundamental, i.e. man’s voicefundamental, i.e. man’s voice
FormantsFormants
Vocal tract acts as a Vocal tract acts as a closed open pipe w/ closed open pipe w/ nodes and anti-nodes and anti-nodesnodes
When tract (pipe) is When tract (pipe) is constrained at node, constrained at node, the resonant the resonant frequency (formant) frequency (formant) decreases, when decreases, when expanded, rises.expanded, rises.
Opposite is true for Opposite is true for anti-nodesanti-nodes