Vocals play a crucial role in defining the character and emotional depth of a track, especially in genres like melodic techno, deep house, and progressive electronic music. Whether you're looking for ethereal vocal chops, spoken-word phrases, or full acapella stems, here are the best sources to find and incorporate vocals into your productions.

1. Royalty-Free Vocal Sample Packs

Many producers turn to high-quality sample packs from platforms that offer royalty-free vocals, making it easy to use them without licensing concerns. Some of the top sources include:

• Splice – One of the most popular platforms, offering a vast collection of pre-cleared vocal loops and phrases.

• Loopmasters – Known for high-quality vocal packs across various electronic subgenres.

• Producer Loops – Provides full acapellas, vocal one-shots, and processed vocal fx.

• LANDR Samples – A growing collection of unique vocal textures.

2. Vocal Recording Platforms & Collaboration Sites

If you're looking for original, exclusive vocals, collaborating with vocalists online is a great option:

• Vocalizr – Connects producers with professional singers and topliners for custom vocals.

• SoundBetter – A marketplace for hiring singers, songwriters, and vocal producers.

• AirGigs – Offers session vocalists with different styles, from haunting cinematic vocals to deep house phrases.

3. DIY: Recording & Processing Your Own Vocals

If you want complete control over the vocal sound, recording your own voice (or working with a friend) is a great option. With modern pitch-shifting, autotune, and resampling tools, you can:

• Record spoken phrases and chop them into rhythmic elements.

• Layer harmonies and add vocoder effects for robotic textures.

• Use granular synthesis to create unique vocal atmospheres.

Tools like iZotope VocalSynth, Antares Auto-Tune, and Little AlterBoy by Soundtoys help transform simple recordings into rich, processed vocal layers.

4. Acapella Archives & Public Domain Sources

• Acapellas4U – A database of acapellas (some require clearance for commercial use).

• The Public Domain Review – Offers a selection of historic spoken-word recordings that can be manipulated creatively.

• Freesound.org – A collection of spoken-word and vocal samples under Creative Commons licenses.

5. AI-Generated Vocals & Vocal Processing Innovations

With AI-powered vocal synthesis, you can now create realistic vocals from text input. Some cutting-edge tools include:

• Synthesizer V & Altered AI – AI-generated vocals with expressive articulation.

• Vochlea Dubler 2 – A real-time vocal-to-MIDI converter for beatboxing and singing melodies into synths.

• iZotope Nectar 3 – A vocal processing suite with pitch correction, harmonization, and mixing effects.

Final Tip: Making Vocals Unique

To avoid generic-sounding vocal loops, consider:

• Reversing, stretching, and re-pitching samples.

• Layering vocals with different FX chains.

• Chopping syllables to create rhythmic patterns.

• Blending different vocal layers for a richer sound.