1. electronic devices that analyze and synthesize speech by encoding voice signals into digital data
Usage: technical; telecommunications

Examples

• The military used vocoders to transmit secure voice communications.
• Musicians in the 1970s began using vocoders to create robotic vocal effects.
• Modern vocoders can compress speech data for efficient transmission.
• The band’s hit song featured distinctive vocoder harmonies.
• Telecommunications companies rely on vocoders for digital phone systems.
• Early vocoders were large, expensive machines used primarily by researchers.