Vocal Harmonizers

[TrinityEB]

I'm really looking forward to hearing comparisons and opions of the new XT from you guys who have owned or used the original Harmony-G. I've seen the YouTube video where someone has done a comparison of the new features of the XT compared to the original, but it didn't really do any audio comparisons, either of the new "studio quality" effects or voice algorithms.

[geokie8]

Originally Posted by FingerPlucked

Geokie, have you tried the Digitech VL4? I listened to some of the TC Helicon Voice Live 2's sample clips on their site and wasn't impressed, but I'm not sure if that means a whole lot.

No, I haven't.

My intro to Digitech was many moons ago -- and thru the electric guitar world. A long time ago I A/B'd a Digitech effects pedal vs an identical Boss pedal and liked the Boss better. I made the (unfair) conclusion that every Boss pedal would beat every Digitech pedal so I never A/B'd another effects pedal. I just bought the Boss.

When it came to the harmonizers, I did not A/B them; however I did scan a lot of reviews of people who did. At last count, it seemed that the TCH units were preferred over the Digitech units 2 or 3 to 1. That was good enough for me.

Did my Boss bias carry over to TCH (i.e, did I find what I was looking to find)? Perhaps.

If there was no TCH, would I be happy with the Digitech? Probably.

Have I spent too much time posting on this forum with Xmas around the corner and my kid in BB tournaments all this week? Hell, yes.

geokie8

[DavidE]

I played through my bandmate's TC Hamony G XT last night at his acoustic gig. He bought his after hearing me use my Digitech VL4. I have been coveting the small size of the GXT, but really wanted to try one out before laying out the cash as I have the VL4 dialed in nicely.

First, I will say that the GXT did wonderful things for the straight voice. The effects sounded great and very useable. If I didn't already have the VL4, the GXT would be worth it for just that. But, I was not impressed with it's harmony tracking at all. I tried some tunes with a single higher harmony voice and it was mostly ok, but the machine generated some strange harmony notes from time to time. Then I tried a couple of CSN tunes with one higher and one lower harmony. Man, I heard some very strange harmonies that just did not follow the chords I was playing. My digitech does a much better job in this regard. My bandmate actually brought it up and thought that mine did a better job when he heard it.

I think I'll just stick with the big VL4 (though I hate it's hugeness and the placement of the pedal switches) and work on some of the effects settings that I really haven't used.

Originally Posted by TrinityEB

Sorry Bob, I missed your question earlier. In the Digitech product line, the Vocalist Live 4 (VL4), VL3D and Vocalist Pro (I believe) have the gender changer. The VL2 is the only one that doesn't.

On the TC-Helicon side, the VoiceLive 2 (I won't call it VL2 as it gets confused with the Digitech VL2) does have gender capabilities, while the Harmony-G and Harmony-G XT do not.


A few other key differences to note when comparing the two brands side by side...

- The Harmony-G and Harmony-G XT have voice doubling IN ADDITION to the two harmony voices they provide. The digitech units (at least the VL2 and VL3D) have doubling as one of the harmony choices within the two harmony voices they provide.

- The "Pre Effects" section on the Digitech VL3D performs pretty much the same functions of the "Tone" switch on the Harmony-G and XT. The VL3D however allows full control of each of the individual elements (tube emulator, compressor, de-esser and noisegate).

- The TC VoiceLive 2 has more features than you can shake a stick at... 4 harmony voices (8 if you use midi), separate doubling, separate effects engine for the vocals vs. guitar, harmony hold, a choir function (which sounds really cool), "steps" which allow you to setup a series of changes within a single patch (this allows you to set up a patch for every song, and use the steps to account for changes within that song). separate footswitches for just about every function, etc. It's in another league compared to the Digitech VL4.

Curiously, the one feature missing on the VoiceLive 2 (that the Digitech VL4 has) is the ability to set the double and harmony footswitchs from latching to momentary. Being able to do that would allow you to hold down on the footswitch when you wanted to add the harmony, then simply release your foot to turn it off. I hope TC addresses this in a future firmware upgrade for the unit.

- Frank.

[M.D.Smith]

If you haven't done this yet...Visit the TC website..watch the videos and read some articles..

I did this for a while before I puchased my Voice Live 2 and I don't regret it.

http://www.tc-helicon.com/

[GibbyPrague]

Firstly, what a great thread. Im just in the process of putting togethre my live set up so this thread has been a godsend.

Ive ordered a GX-T as from what ive read and heard it perfectly fits my needs - i also received advice that that GX-T has a pitch corrector installed, which is great.

One question - I also have a Fishman Aura Spectrum DI.

Can i aussume that it will not be a problem using both the Spectrum DI and the GX-T together ?

cheers.

[DrDavid]

Originally Posted by TaylorPrague

One question - I also have a Fishman Aura Spectrum DI.

Can i aussume that it will not be a problem using both the Spectrum DI and the GX-T together ?

cheers.

No problem at all. I used the G-XT with an Aura Spectrum (no longer have the Aura).

You can either (1) run your guitar through the Aura first, and then into the G-XT, or (2) run your guitar first into the G-XT, then from its "guitar thru" into the Aura.

..

[Losov]

Originally Posted by BoB/335

(It could also end my search for a duo partner)

If ever there were a reason to get a harmonizer, that's it. Minimizing the number of people involved in a project cuts way down on the arguments.

[lpa53]

I just got an intriguing answer from the folks at TC Electronic concerning a query I submitted about the efficacy of their harmonizers when used by those who play mostly fingerpicking rather than strum. I gave JT songs as an example. I'll mention that their response was very prompt.

My query:

"Most of my solo work is singing over fingerpicked tunes such as those by James Taylor. I rarely, if ever, strum. I've never seen a demo of a unit such as yours, from any vendor, that shows anything but singing with a strummed guitar. Does it work just as well with fingerpicking or are the harmonies produced unpredictable?"

The response:

"Hello Paul,

Thank you for contacting TC Electronic.

To generate harmonies the VL2 needs a chord (or at the very least a root and 3rd) to determine key and scale information and generate harmonies - Harmonies would be unpredictable with fingerpicking although you could program in key/scale information as well instead of having it respond to your guitar playing -


Best Regards,
Eric
User Support-Product Specialist
TC Group Americas"

Has anyone ever tried what is suggested here? Has anyone tried one of these units, TC or otherwise, with a picked background?

[ferg]

Originally Posted by Losov

If ever there were a reason to get a harmonizer, that's it. Minimizing the number of people involved in a project cuts way down on the arguments.

Awww, come on now. While I agree with you in part (it cuts down on arguments, is easier to get on the same page, quicker to get new material together), I personally don't wanna go it alone. I love having a buddy to practice with and join me on stage.

I actually have a Harmony G XT, and there's no doubt it's less likely to be flat (if I'm not flat, that is) than my partner, but it's just not the same.

We're all different, but I personally like experiencing the whole thing with someone else rather than alone. Maybe it's my own cowardice, but that's how I feel personally.

In the long run, though, if you're splitting the paycheck, the Helicon will save you money in the long run.

[Pegleg]

Originally Posted by lpa53

I just got an intriguing answer from the folks at TC Electronic concerning a query I submitted about the efficacy of their harmonizers when used by those who play mostly fingerpicking rather than strum. I gave JT songs as an example. I'll mention that their response was very prompt.

My query:

"Most of my solo work is singing over fingerpicked tunes such as those by James Taylor. I rarely, if ever, strum. I've never seen a demo of a unit such as yours, from any vendor, that shows anything but singing with a strummed guitar. Does it work just as well with fingerpicking or are the harmonies produced unpredictable?"

The response:

"Hello Paul,

Thank you for contacting TC Electronic.

To generate harmonies the VL2 needs a chord (or at the very least a root and 3rd) to determine key and scale information and generate harmonies - Harmonies would be unpredictable with fingerpicking although you could program in key/scale information as well instead of having it respond to your guitar playing -


Best Regards,
Eric
User Support-Product Specialist
TC Group Americas"

Has anyone ever tried what is suggested here? Has anyone tried one of these units, TC or otherwise, with a picked background?

Yep, it gets dicey if you don't strum.... it's pronounced when ending a song in harmony and you're attempting to "retard" the guitar piece; ie. pick hitting each string with a delay between... so, I just "don't do that". If you're just hitting a note on the way to the next chord, it does ok. But, in your case whereby your entire song is finger picked, I think your only option would be to put it in "manual". I've tried that and it's hard, at least for me. My two cents...

[MuzicMaKen]

After 2 months of reading reviews and forums I have decided to buy the TC's VoiceLive 2 to enhance our show for backing vocals with the band. (will be here Wed)..

Is anyone using this with a whole band and if so how well does it sound and how well do you like it.


Ken

[Foss38]

Hi Ken ~ I have had a VL2 for about a week and used it live yesterday. I lead worship at a church of 500 and had three female BGV's. I used the harmonies minimally but I did use the doubler for one song (God You Reign-Lincoln Brewster). The FX are a little tricky to dial in to suit....I set them up at home but until you are singing in the actual room and through the mains it's kind of unpredictable.

I tried to minimize the harmonies/doubling as I didn't want them to be a distraction but to add ambiance to a section of a song.Most people at my church have never heard a voice doubled B4 (maybe listening to one of me is enough for them :+).

When the spice becomes the flavour,it's too much.

[MuzicMaKen]

Thanks for the reply Foss!!!

That is a great tip because some venues are way different than others...