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  #1  
Old 08-09-2013, 11:07 AM
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Joe F Joe F is offline
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Default TC Helicon Mic Mechanic: What a nice gadget!

I've recently begun leading music in a church with a sound board older than I am. Since previously they were in an organ/choir type format, not a lot of time or money was invested in their sound equipment. There are no outboard effects like reverb. It's just staight to the board and to the monitor/mains cold flat and dry.

This setup is what we'll have to utilize for the immediate future and I was already not overly fond of my vocals, let alone having them dry and sterile.

I picked up one of these up and I have to say it was more than worth the investment! A very intuitive plug and play device and I was up an running through it in just a few minutes. Setting it to "hall reverb", about 50% wet, about 30% pitch correction and the tone control on, it was a significant difference. Even the others on the team said it was quite noticable.

After rehearsing with it for an hour I bypassed it and could not stand the sound of my vocals at all. It's a keeper!

http://www.tc-helicon.com/products/mic-mechanic/


Last edited by Joe F; 01-28-2015 at 07:43 AM.
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Old 08-09-2013, 11:45 AM
Glennwillow Glennwillow is offline
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Thanks Joe,

What a cool device!

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Old 01-27-2015, 08:29 PM
saneff saneff is offline
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Is there a way to use this with two mics, and if so how? Probably a stupid question.
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Old 01-27-2015, 09:59 PM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is offline
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Default Mic Mechanic

It's designed to be used by one person. I suppose you could add it after the mixer and before the speakers, but am not sure if you would gain enough that way to make it worth while. I have one but rarely use it. But then I rarely perform by myself.
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Old 01-27-2015, 10:28 PM
MBE MBE is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks View Post
It's designed to be used by one person. I suppose you could add it after the mixer and before the speakers, but am not sure if you would gain enough that way to make it worth while. I have one but rarely use it. But then I rarely perform by myself.
If you use it in a signal chain with two mics, be sure to turn the pitch correction 100% off - a polyphonic signal would confuse the heck out of it and you wouldn't want to hear the result. The reverb would work fine though.
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Old 01-27-2015, 10:55 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MBE View Post
If you use it in a signal chain with two mics, be sure to turn the pitch correction 100% off - a polyphonic signal would confuse the heck out of it and you wouldn't want to hear the result. The reverb would work fine though.
Hey, turn the pitch correction all the way off anyway! 👍

No, I've heard nothing but good things about the tone and richness these things give you -- that the tone control button itself was worth the price. Glad you like it.
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Old 01-27-2015, 11:59 PM
OneMansGuitar OneMansGuitar is offline
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Sorry, but am confused. This is designed for you to plug a mic into it, on the way to the PA or amp?

Is this designed specifically for vocals? Or is it also usable for instrument mics?
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Old 01-28-2015, 12:42 AM
slewis slewis is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OneMansGuitar View Post
Sorry, but am confused. This is designed for you to plug a mic into it, on the way to the PA or amp?

Is this designed specifically for vocals? Or is it also usable for instrument mics?
Yes to the first, yes to the second, and "useable, yes, but not intended" for the last.
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Old 01-28-2015, 03:37 AM
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I have one; I was given it as a gift for Christmas. I have t even played with it yet... I guess I have to! I could use some pitch correction.
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Old 01-28-2015, 04:55 AM
Fretto Fretto is offline
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I have had it for almost a year too, like the device.
"Pitch correction?" how could it know where I want the pitch corrected to?
I wish there was the firmware upgrade (via USB) on the left switch functionalities: I use the flap and club/hall often, but the da*n "echo" positions ( 98% useless) are in between... who was that "smart" to place them in the middle?
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Old 01-28-2015, 05:17 AM
Strayslack Strayslack is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks View Post
It's designed to be used by one person. I suppose you could add it after the mixer and before the speakers, but am not sure if you would gain enough that way to make it worth while. I have one but rarely use it. But then I rarely perform by myself.
Huh. You should probably sell it to me, then.
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Old 01-28-2015, 07:32 AM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is offline
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Default Mike Mechanic

Maybe I should... but I don't want to give you false hopes.
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Old 01-28-2015, 08:30 AM
Kip Carter Kip Carter is offline
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I've been looking for one of these used but evidently those that got them don't want to give them up... I may have to spring for new cost. I have the VoiceTone GT XP which is great for the studio but this would work wonderful sunday mornings on stage.
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Old 01-28-2015, 09:47 AM
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I had to google "wet" vs. "dry" reverb. Learned something.

By the way, shouldn't this thread be in the "Record" section?
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Old 01-28-2015, 10:38 AM
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I've got one, and use the "correction" feature at about 12 o'clock. It still sounds natural to me there. Much more and my vocals start sounding a bit "robotic."

I bought mine used for $90, in the box and like new.
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