Easiest way to get this effect (vocoder/talk box sound) is to use Cubase vocoder plugin. Basically, use te vocoder plugin, triggered by a midi keyboard, while enabling an audio in of a microphone. You get that great sound, plus the convenience of saving all of your settings once you get there. Generally that west coast **** is mood like triangle wave single osicallator mono lead joints, that were vocoder. The envelope of your microphone triggers when the notes you are playing on the keyboard stop/start. Check out the band, Air, they did some cool stuff with using other synth noises and chords, etc. The classic Talk Box sounds are great, but a pain to properly mic via Amps, etc.
The real classic **** is Roger Zapp though, like More Bounce to the Ounce, etc.
