5 of the best voice machines

Waldorf’s Streichfett, one of this decade’s best compact synths, now comes bundled in this new keyboard with added vocoder. The result is a powerful 49-note device with a freeze mode that lets you capture a fragment of speech which is then repeated by the vocoder when you press a key.

£657, buy here.

Don’t let the cartoon screen animations fool you: this is a very useful tool. Record in a voice and process it via artificial speech algorithms, 16-step sequencer and single-voice drum machine with 16 sounds.

£77.99, buy here.

Korg updated what was once the world’s best-selling synth in 2017 with this limited edition model. Its direct competitor is Roland’s VP03, but for ease of use and value for money, the MicroKorg edges it for us.

£274.25, buy here.

The Roland VP-330 is a classic string synth and vocoder from 1979 that was a key influence on modern vocoder synths of a similar ilk. This is Roland’s digital homage to the device. For purists, Behringer is developing an unofficial analogue clone, the VC-340, due early next year.

£275.56, www.roland.com