Vocoder Performance Technique

[Bob.Schrum at harpercollins.com]

     I've tried asking about this in various performing musician forums, 
     but haven't gotten any feedback other than "What's a vocoder?"  I 
     hestitated to ask here, because this question is not "how to build" 
     but "how do I use this thing I built?"  I figure if folks on this 
     forum are building them, they must be using them too.
     
     I built the Paia vocoder and I've also played with the vocoder program 
     in the Boss SE50 multieffects processor.  I've had mostly good results 
     with either in the studio, but have had embarrasingly dismal results 
     in a live environment.  I play keyboards in a 10-piece horn band 
     (http://www.grfn.org/~pocket) so stage volumes are naturally high.  
     I've tried both a EV N/DYM 757 and a Toa headset microphone (both 
     supercardioid) through a Mackie mixer's preamp, but neither one 
     prevents false triggering from the drum kit and the guitar rig.  
     
     Intelligibility is a problem as well.  In the studio, I found a 
     breathy speaking voice worked best, as singing caused formant and 
     dynamics problems when the pitch comes close to a filter band.  
     Onstage, I found I needed to set the sensitivity so low, I have to 
     really belt it out just to get results that sound like "AAAA 
     AAAA-AAAOOOO EEE OOO AAAAAA."
     
     I'm almost sure it is possible to use a vocoder onstage, witnessing 
     Phil Collins, Pink Floyd, Herbie Hancock and Roger Troutman (80% of 
     his lead vocals are vocoded!)  ...unless they're all cheating by using 
     pre-recorded tracks.
     
     Does anybody have any ideas or experiences with this?  Are there any 
     articles or books on vocoder technique?  Is there a better 
     noise-rejecting mic, like a $15-thousand fighter pilot helmet?   Do I 
     need to compress/gate the daylights out of the mic signal?  Should I 
     be looking at another vocoder?  Or should I just cheat and use tape or 
     (mothers, protect your children's ears<G>) a sampler?