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On-stage vocal gear?

#41
Thumper said:
I did look at the Boss VE-20 on YouTube and agree with Munji & others, it didn't sound natural. I'll look into the TC Electronics next.

BTW, I can sing and may be being too hard on myself (as usual with us bass players). But I am not a 45 songs a night voice, I have to pick and choose what I can sing both vocally and as a bass player (I"m trying to avoid dumbing bass lines down just so I can sing). Really, I just want to sound better because we have no FOH and our 70's era PA has no effects, so I think anything would help.
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Just a quick note. People are going to notice dumbed down or dodgy vocals a lot more than dumbed down bass lines. The vocal is much more important. If the song requires it so I can sing it better (and being a song I can sing well normally) I'd simplify the bass line, no question.
 
#42
Jools4001 said:
But I will pose my question again, if a soundguy is given a signal from any device whatever (doesn't have to be a vocal device), it will produce a signal that may be either spot on in terms of level or (more likely) weaker or hotter than optimal. Surely, this shouldn't present a problem for any soundguy to trim at the desk should it? Or deal with a dry signal on one channel and wet on aother? That's all I'm saying.
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the actual signal voltage output of the box is a trivial issue (within reason).

the problem is usually with the EQ, effects, and compression, which serve to make the lead vocal (usually the most important part of the show) murky, distorted, or feedback-prone, and which can't be "un-done" by the soundguy.

compression especially is problematic, as it necessarily shows up in the monitor, causing feedback issues and blown-out voices from over-singing.

the original bands i've mixed where the singers used these boxes as "legit" voice-altering devices fared a lot better after i insisted that all compression be removed (so i could add my own out front while keeping it out of their monitors).
 
#43
One thing if you use any kind of device like this, make sure you turn it off before anybody talks to the crowd.

As an audience member I think it's funnier than heck when a guy gets on the mic and says "how y'all doing tonight" and it comes out in 3-part harmony... but as a band it's not terribly professional when that happens.
 
#44
As a bass player, you should be aware of the limitations of the pitch correction offered by product like Voice Live 2 and the various TC-Helicon singles. For them to work out what chord you are playing and hence what note to choose to correct for vocal pitch to, these device need to be connected to an instrument that is playing (at least) the root and the third of the chord.

I am using a Voicelive Touch - it can really easily do harmonies, reverb etc and can use a guitar as input so that it can use that signal to work out what chord. It can also be told that key of the song and it will use that instead. It is pretty quick to change between songs. You also have access to 5 bank of 5 presets each of which can be in a different key. This works fairly well for me...there have been no complaints about singing out of tune since I started using it.
 
#45
By coincidence I asked my vocal coach about this a few weeks ago

He uses the digitech..... He also ditched all presets and remixes..... He also constantly is riding a blend pedal and switches. Looks almost like an organ player when hes playing

For what it's worth he told me NOT to buy a harmonizer and to go with a line6 pod xt.... The reason is that then eq, delay, compression, reverb, chorus can all be tailored to my exact vocals----- his comment was that most folks really want "thick vocals-not harmony". It took some time to dial it on I believe he was right

------

I am a duo freak...... Went to meet a guy who had a harmonizer.....he wasn't in control of it - he sucked because of his love of this one piece of gear
 
#48
Thanks to the input in this thread (in particular Jools thoughtful insights) I bought the Harmony G-XT.

What a great box, I've used it twice (tone and doubler, and slight reverb) and it has done a great job clarifying my voice (it took all the mud out of a 40 year old Peavy PA). I can actually hear all the words and no longer cringe when I hear my voice. Of course the increased confidence will also help. I'm looking forward to using the Harmony feature, pitch correction and other effects when time permits.

Thanks all, :hyper:
 

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