XILS-lab has announced the XILS Vocoder 5000, which was inspired by the company's EMS Vocoder 5000 hardware (partial) namesake. It's a vocoder plug-in for Mac OS X (10.6 or higher) and PC (32- and 64-bit, AAX, RTAS, and VST for Windows XP, Vista, 7, and 8).

A vocoder is an analysis and synthesis system used to reproduce human speech.  XILS-labs says its software-based vocoder virtually emulates the filtering techniques and circuitry of its analogue predecessor to achieve the same organic sound, precision, and clarity. Just like the EMS Vocoder 5000 before it, XILS Vocoder 5000 can be made to "speak" clearly in English and German.

XILS Vocoder 5000 is available to purchase and download directly from XILS-lab (www.xils-lab.com) as an eLicenser or iLok copy-protected virtual instrument and effects plug-in for an introductory discounted price of approximately US$121 until Jan. 17. After this, the cost will be $182.