Hello and welcome to our Helium Voice Changer! This is a fun, free online voice transformer that will convert your voice into one that sounds like you just inhaled a few mouthfuls of helium (without the trouble of having to actually do that).
You don't need to download any software to use this - just click on the "record a clip" button, make a voice recording, and we'll add microphone effects to it. You can also upload an audio clip of a friend or family member if you're feeling cheeky. Don't forget to play with the drop-down menu we've added for you to experiment with different vocal pitches.
Helium
We've all heard of helium balloons, but helium plays a much wider role in society. It's a chemical element that is colourless, odorless, tasteless, and non-toxic, with the lowest boiling point among all the elements. It's also the second lightest and second most abundant element (hydrogen is the first).
While it's commonly remembered as a gas, we also use it in liquid form as a cooling agent in cryogenics (which is actually its most common usage) and in MRI scanners (the most common commercial use for helium).
Its use as a lifting gas in balloons and airships is actually quite minor compared to its other industrial uses (as a pressurising gas, to help in arc welding, etc).
Helium provides interesting vocal effects when inhaled. Our vocal tract is a cavity that's responsible for filtering the sound and vibrations that are emitted from our vocal cords. The lowest frequency in a gas-filled cavity (which is what our vocal tract is) is affected by the speed of sound of the gas within it. Usually, our vocal tracts are filled with oxygen, but when we inhale helium, we're replacing that air with helium - which has a speed of sound nearly three times as fast. The higher frequencies affect our vocal timbre, giving a high-pitched, almost chipmunk-like effect that's used for comedic purposes.
However, even though helium is non-toxic, it isn't without hazards and risks. You only need to inhale a very small amount to modify your voice, and inhaling too much is dangerous. Helium is an asphyxiant and displaces the usual concentration of oxygen in air - so breathing in too much will suffocate you. Apart from providing fun voice effects for you to play with, this voice transformer allows you to experience what you'd sound like on helium without the risks of actually inhaling it. Ever wondered if you'd have a cute girl's voice, something similar to Elmo's voice, or the classic old chipmunk voice? We're here to help you find out!
If you enjoyed using this voice modulator, you might also be interested in the microphone effects over at voicechanger. They provide voice converters to transform the pitch and frequency of your voice, even to the point of being able to emulate some popular fiction characters.
We always welcome feedback and suggestions, so if there's a new voice effect you'd like to see, or improvements you think should be made, let us know in the comments or in the suggestions box!