Native Instruments (http://www.native-instruments.com) has introduced The Mouth, an US$79 performance instrument and sound processor designed by electronic artist Tim Exile. Based on Reaktor technology, it generates melodies and harmonies from any audio signal on the fly, turning vocals, drum loops and other sources into electronic textures and original sonic mayhem.
The Mouth is the second instrument collaboration between Native Instruments and Exile, following the keyboard-controlled effects processor The Finger, and originating from the same custom Reaktor-based live setup that is at the center of Exile’s stage performances.
Equipped with automatic pitch detection and harmonizing controls, The Mouth provides an array of expressive and inspirational synthesizer, vocoder and talk box-style sounds and effects with an electronic character.
The Mouth offers separate “Pitch” and “Beats” modes for tonal processing of all kinds of audio material, enabling anything from auto-tuning effects to chord structures and arpeggiated melodies. For flexible harmonization, musical scales can be either preselected or triggered in real time from a MIDI keyboard.
The input signal can be mixed and replaced with the output from separate Synth, Bass and Vocoder sections, complemented by an additional FX path. Each generator section offers a convenient preset matrix with additional editing options, while eight global performance controls.
The Mouth is based on the latest Reaktor platform, and can be used with the free Reaktor Player and in the full Reaktor 5.5 software, both as a standalone processor and as a plug-within a DAW or music sequencer.