The secret story of the vocoder, the military tech that changed music | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.The secret story of the vocoder, the military tech that changed music foreverComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...PodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsThe secret story of the vocoder, the military tech that changed music foreverOn Version History: how to play your voice like an instrument, with a little help from Chromeo.On Version History: how to play your voice like an instrument, with a little help from Chromeo.by David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceMar 22, 2026, 1:45 PM UTCLinkShareGiftIf you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.David PierceCloseDavid PiercePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David Pierce is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.The vocoder was never supposed to be a revolution in music. It wasn’t supposed to be anything in music, really. Its development began a century ago, when an engineer at Bell Labs was looking for a simpler way to send phone calls across copper telephone lines. The engineer, Homer Dudley, built some pretty neat technology that could both capture and synthesize the human voice.As so much great tech does, the vocoder immediately took on a life of its own. It played a key role in World War II, enabling secret communications across the ocean. And then, only a few years later, it started to become a musical phenomenon. At first a few artists were intrigued by the ability to play their voice like an instrument. Then everybody was. And we never looked back.On this episode of Version History, we tell the many stories of the vocoder. David Pierce is joined by Switched on Pop co-host and music journalist Charlie Harding, along with Dave 1 and P-Thugg, who perform as legendary electro-funk duo Chromeo. Together, the group explores how the vocoder became so popular, and why musicians gravitate to it — and to similar tech like Auto-Tune and the Talkbox. Dave and Pee also brought a vocoder and a talkbox to the studio with them, and have some serious demonstrating to do.

This is the third episode of the third season of Version History. Here’s how to get every episode, and all our other fun stuff, as soon as it drops:The Version History podcast feedThe new Version History YouTube channelOur new TikTok and Instagram accountsIf you’re a Verge subscriber, you can also get access to Version History (and all our other podcasts) with no ads. All you have to do is visit your account settings.If you want to hear some of Charlie’s and Chromeo’s favorite vocoder tracks, you’re going to want to check out this playlist:

And if you want to know more about the history of the vocoder, from Bell Labs to World War II to music studios everywhere, here are some links to get you started:Dave Tompkins’ book, How to Wreck a Nice BeachFrom The New Yorker: The Secret History of the VocoderHomer Dudley’s article in the 1940 Bell System Technical JournalDudley’s 1939 voder demoFrom Rhizome: When Machines SpeakFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceEntertainmentCloseEntertainmentPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All EntertainmentGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsMusicCloseMusicPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All MusicPodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsVersion HistoryCloseVersion HistoryPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Version HistoryMost PopularMost PopularThe improved battery-powered Starlink Mini is hereGemini task automation is slow, clunky, and super impressiveThe new MacBook Pro is still fast as hellThe gen AI Kool-Aid tastes like eugenicsHalide co-founder is suing former partner for bringing source code to AppleThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in PodcastsWhy people really hate AIPlayParamount’s $110 billion Warner Bros. gambleThe future of code is exciting and terrifyingPlayYahoo CEO Jim Lanzone on reviving the web’s homepageThe fast rise and epic fall of ClubhouseThe MacBook Neo is a winnerWhy people really hate AIDavid PierceMar 20PlayParamount’s $110 billion Warner Bros. gambleNilay PatelMar 19The future of code is exciting and terrifyingDavid PierceMar 17PlayYahoo CEO Jim Lanzone on reviving the web’s homepageNilay PatelMar 16The fast rise and epic fall of ClubhouseDavid PierceMar 15The MacBook Neo is a winnerDavid PierceMar 13Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop StoriesTwo hours agoOnline age checks came first — a VPN crackdown could be nextTwo hours agoAI was everywhere at gaming’s big developer conference — except the gamesMar 21Gemini task automation is slow, clunky, and super impressiveMar 21Kodiak CEO says making trucks drive themselves is only half the battleMar 21The new MacBook Pro is still fast as hellMar 21The improved battery-powered Starlink Mini is hereThe VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved

The vocoder’s story is a fascinating intersection of military necessity, technological innovation, and ultimately, musical transformation. Initially developed by Homer Dudley at Bell Labs in the early 20th century, the device’s primary purpose was to improve telephone communication by efficiently transmitting voice signals across copper lines. Dudley’s invention functioned by analyzing and reconstructing the human voice—a process that would later become known as voice synthesis. During World War II, the vocoder found immediate application within the military, facilitating secure communications across vast distances, a crucial asset for strategic operations. Following the war, the technology’s potential extended beyond purely practical uses, captivating artists and musicians who recognized its unique ability to manipulate and distort the human voice. The initial experimentation was driven by a handful of artists seeking a new sonic palette and instrument. However, it soon spread through popular music, becoming a defining feature of genres like funk and electronic music, as explored by Chromeo, who were joined by Dave 1 and P-Thugg in this version history episode. Charlie Harding, co-host of *Switched on Pop*, and David Pierce contributed their expertise to this narrative, detailing the evolution of the vocoder from its origins in military communications to its widespread adoption in music. The episode highlighted the technological lineage, tracing the device’s development from Bell Labs to its implementation in recording studios, showcasing how the vocoder’s versatility created a significant shift in musical expression and production techniques. The exploration of the vocoder’s legacy illustrates a compelling case study of how a technology initially designed for utility ultimately impacted the landscape of creativity and artistic innovation.