Any TC Electronics M300 users for live vocals?

[Bullitt5135]

I just upgraded my mixing board (no onboard effects), which necessitated the purchase of an outboard effects processor for vocals. As luck would have it, I was able to score a good deal on a TC Electronics M300 on CL. Anybody have experience with one of these (or something similar) for live vocals?

I'll be using this for classic rock gigs -- mostly bar & grill type venues (50-200 people). I'd like to fatten up the vocals without it being obvious or cheesy. Since we run sound ourselves from the stage, I need to arrive at a set-it-and-forget-it setting. I know that's less than ideal, but it is what it is. I've done a little research already, and I'm thinking Option #1 would be to combine some light compression with a little Plate Reverb (30-50ms with a very short repeat). Option #2 would just be to use a 30-50ms Delay and a very light reverb for color. To make matters slightly more complicated, my lead singer insists on having some effects in his monitor. Seems like delay would drive singers crazy, but what do I know?

Any insight on effects for live vocals would be greatly appreciated!

 

[s0c9]

Most singers I know prefer some reverb in their monitors.. and it took me forever to figure out why.. Makes 'em sound better to themselves..!! LOL
You challenge will be setting input levels and the mix/blend back to the console...
Yes, both reverb and delay to taste.. but not too much!

 

[meycom]

I have this unit in my rehearsal PA rack. I am surprised your singer wants any effects in his monitor or IEM's.
Most want absolutely none. I don't want any delay, reverb in my IEM when singing.

 

[musicman7722]

I find reverb in IEM to be an absolute must have for me. I had a FOH tech once who was good but he would would mute the reverb channel on my Mackie Dl1608 when he wasn't using it. Ouch I went from lush to dry. I asked him in the future to leave it on and just bring down the channel. when he didn't want reverb in the mix.

 

[seanm]

This isn't what you want to hear, but I would recommend the TC Mic Mechanic over the M300. Why? The M300 is meant for a sound guy who can be messing with the settings. If you want set and forget that is what the Mic Mechanic is for.

That said, going for a bit of compression and some reverb is a good choice. For small/medium bars I like the club setting. Some nice reverb without being overpowering.

And I *always* run reverb through the monitors. If, for some weird reason, I could only run reverb through the mains or the monitors I would choose monitors. Just to keep the singers happy.

 

[Geri O]

I find reverb in IEM to be an absolute must have for me. I had a FOH tech once who was good but he would would mute the reverb channel on my Mackie Dl1608 when he wasn't using it. Ouch I went from lush to dry. I asked him in the future to leave it on and just bring down the channel. when he didn't want reverb in the mix.

That's interesting. I've been in many, many, single-desk-for-both gigs. No one has ever requested that we leave the verb on between songs in the monitors. Even my female country artist (who elevated me to hero status when I put verb on her voice in her IEMs!) hasn't mentioned it.

But you learn something new every day. I'll pass this on to my buds to be aware of this request and be ready to accommodate it. The house verb can be muted by un-assigning the bus button on the verb channel, or with a digital desk, assign a pre-fade mute on that channel. Easy enough.

Or, in my case, with an X32, simply assign one verb to the monitors/no house and another one to the house. Again, easy enough.

I do like that M300. Set it and forget it.

 

[TimmyP]

Reverb in the monitors can make it harder for the singers to discern small pitch errors. This is not so good.