# Manipulate a vocal
Source: https://docs.aden.space/docs/help/free-tools/voice-manipulator

Turn a vocal into a robot, a monster, an octave-down double or a choir, sing it on a MIDI file's notes, and download it as a WAV.
The [Voice manipulator](https://tools.aden.space/voice) changes a vocal's pitch, size and color while it keeps singing the melody. It runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.

## Load a vocal [#load-a-vocal]

1. Open the [Voice manipulator](https://tools.aden.space/voice).
2. Drop a vocal on the panel, or press **Choose a vocal**. WAV, MP3, FLAC, AIFF and M4A up to 5 minutes work.
3. Press play. The vocal loops.

A dry acapella, with no reverb or music behind it, sounds best.

## Shape the sound [#shape-the-sound]

1. Pick a preset from the menu at the top left, like **Robot**, **Monster** or **Octave down**. The arrows beside it step through the presets.
2. Turn a dial: drag it up or down, scroll over it, or use the arrow keys. The new sound plays from the same spot when you let go.
3. Double-click a dial to reset it.

| Section   | Dials                                                                                                                      |
| --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Pitch     | **Pitch** moves the note, **Formant** the size of the voice. **Smooth** softens a shift down. **Tune** snaps to semitones. |
| Harmonics | **Harmonics** moves the overtones while the note stays. **Ratio** sets the step size and **FM** adds grit.                 |
| Grains    | **Alternator** adds octaves under the voice. **Octave** sets how deep.                                                     |
| Effects   | **Smear** blurs, **Detune** doubles and **Stereo** widens.                                                                 |
| Output    | **Mix** blends with the original.                                                                                          |

Press **Original** to hear the vocal as it was, from the same spot.

## Sing it on MIDI [#sing-it-on-midi]

1. Drop a MIDI file (.mid) on the panel, or press **Add MIDI**. Its notes show under the playhead.
2. While a note plays, the vocal sings it. **Mono** follows the latest note. **Poly** sings every note held, up to four, like a choir of your voice.
3. Turn on **Gate** to silence the vocal between notes.
4. **Glide** sets how fast it slides from one note to the next.

The MIDI starts with the vocal, so export it from the same bar in your DAW. To hold the whole vocal on one note instead, pick it under **Note**.

## Download it [#download-it]

Press **WAV** to download the manipulated vocal. It has the same length as the original, so it lines up in your session.

## Use it in your DAW [#use-it-in-your-daw]

**Aden Voice**, one of the plugins that come with the Aden desktop app, runs the Voice manipulator live on a vocal track. Every dial is a parameter your DAW can automate, and a MIDI track sent to it sets the notes. See [DAW plugin](/docs/help/more/daw-plugin).