Vocal harmonizers?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Glergo
  • Start date Start date
G

Glergo

New member
Hello!
Yeah, so I've been talking with my dad and he'd really like a harmonizer as he calls it. I've been searching on Google and haven't found anything VST-related plug-ins of the sort. From what I could understand is there effect boxes made for this.

Could anyone suggest some hardware for me to buy or give me some tips about the subject as I don't know much.?
 
 
Glergo said:
Hello!
Yeah, so I've been talking with my dad and he'd really like a harmonizer as he calls it. I've been searching on Google and haven't found anything VST-related plug-ins of the sort. From what I could understand is there effect boxes made for this.

Could anyone suggest some hardware for me to buy or give me some tips about the subject as I don't know much.?
Click to expand...

Yeah there's lots of hardware stompboxes that do that.
 
But are the harmonizers deisgned for guitars or what? I don't completily understand. I'd rather have some hardware I can put in my rack, rather than a pedal to step my feet on.
 
I'm most likely going to buy this one:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...t-Live-Pro-Vocal-Harmony-Processor?sku=181049

The description says as quoted:
The Digitech Vocalist Live Pro Vocal Harmony Processor enables you to generate live multi-part vocal harmonies accompanied by your keyboard or guitar. Singers can now have their own line of back-up singers harmonizing in perfect pitch.
Click to expand...

Would that mean I will have toplay on my keyboard or a guitar to get it to work? Or can it just create harmonies by analyzing my voice as I sing?
 
Glergo said:
But are the harmonizers deisgned for guitars or what? I don't completily understand. I'd rather have some hardware I can put in my rack, rather than a pedal to step my feet on.
Click to expand...

they make the same thing in rack form. No it's not tied to guitar specifically. Basically you get a signal from guitar or keyboard or whatever that tells the unit what chord you're playing so it can select the right harmony. Otherwise you have to program the chord changes. This way is much better. You're not stepping on any pedals unless you want to use it live.
And I thought this was for your dad ...... he might not care about it being a pedal.
 
Glergo said:
I'm most likely going to buy this one:

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.co...t-Live-Pro-Vocal-Harmony-Processor?sku=181049

The description says as quoted:


Would that mean I will have toplay on my keyboard or a guitar to get it to work? Or can it just create harmonies by analyzing my voice as I sing?
Click to expand...
It has to know what chord is being played so it can choose the correct harmony.
You don't have to hook up a git or keyboard to it but that's the absolute best way to use it because otherwise you have to program the chord changes and step thru them on a pedal.
And you don't have to be playing live while using it.
You could take, say, a guitar track that you've already recorded and send a line out of that part to the unit.
So any recording you do you're gonna have some kind of rhythm recorded ..... just take that and send it to the unit for chord recognition.
And it doesn't have to be a great sounding track either. If you DON'T have a rhythm track recorded ..... just slap down a sloppy rhythm struming the chords ..... that'll be fine even if it's not good enough for you to want on the final mix.
 
Lt. Bob said:
they make the same thing in rack form. No it's not tied to guitar specifically. Basically you get a signal from guitar or keyboard or whatever that tells the unit what chord you're playing so it can select the right harmony. Otherwise you have to program the chord changes. This way is much better. You're not stepping on any pedals unless you want to use it live.
And I thought this was for your dad ...... he might not care about it being a pedal.


Try reading the descriptions a little more .... they clearly explain what these units do.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know I'm asking a lot of dumb questions here. I'm not so educated when it comes to sound engineering so I don't wish to buy something I can't handle.

Had a closer look at the description as well, and it seems like it can create real-time harmonies with my live voice as well. So that'll make it good for studio use as well, right?

Again, sorry for stupid questions, just wanna be sure before I buy anything.
 
Glergo said:
Yeah, I know I'm asking a lot of dumb questions here. I'm not so educated when it comes to sound engineering so I don't wish to buy something I can't handle.

Had a closer look at the description as well, and it seems like it can create real-time harmonies with my live voice as well. So that'll make it good for studio use as well, right?

Again, sorry for stupid questions, just wanna be sure before I buy anything.
Click to expand...

nah man, these aren't stupid questions and it's smart of you to want to be sure before you spend a chunk of money.

Yes, it will do harmonies with your voice in real time with your live voice. I use mine in a live gig I do. But once again, it needs to know what the chords are and there's only two ways to do it. Either you send a signal from a guitar or keyboard to it, either live or prerecorded, or you program the chords into it and change chords by stepping on a pedal.
To me, sending a rhythm instrument to the unit is clearly the easiest
 
Lt. Bob said:
nah man, these aren't stupid questions and it's smart of you to want to be sure before you spend a chunk of money.

Yes, it will do harmonies with your voice in real time with your live voice. I use mine in a live gig I do. But once again, it needs to know what the chords are and there's only two ways to do it. Either you send a signal from a guitar or keyboard to it, either live or prerecorded, or you program the chords into it and change chords by stepping on a pedal.
To me, sending a rhythm instrument to the unit is clearly the easiest
Click to expand...

Ah, I see. I'm not that good with the guitar, but I have friends which are and my dad knows how to play as well so this should work out. Another thing, could I run this device on a pre-recorded track? I currently have Mixcraft 5, would it be hard to hook up? I have a 2-channel external sound card as well.
 
Glergo said:
Another thing, could I run this device on a pre-recorded track?
Click to expand...

Lt. Bob said:
Either you send a signal from a guitar or keyboard to it, either live or prerecorded
Click to expand...

Lt. Bob said:
And you don't have to be playing live while using it.
You could take, say, a guitar track that you've already recorded and send a line out of that part to the unit.
So any recording you do you're gonna have some kind of rhythm recorded ..... just take that and send it to the unit for chord recognition
Click to expand...

Does anybody read AND comprehend any more? Sheesh. :rolleyes:
 
I didn't think you had to tell it what the chords were. I would have thought you could tell the thing a key, scale and what interval you want the harmony line to use..ie 3rd, 4th, 5th etc (yeah, I'm pretty sure my terminology sucks, I'm no theorist).
 
Glergo said:
Another thing, could I run this device on a pre-recorded track? I currently have Mixcraft 5, would it be hard to hook up? I have a 2-channel external sound card as well.
Click to expand...

It's possible and probably pretty easy to do.
 
Wish14 said:
Does anybody read AND comprehend any more? Sheesh. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

What I mean't was if I could run this device to create a harmony on a vocal track that I have already recorded. Not the track that will tell the device which harmony to use.

If you do not have anything to contribute with then stay away please.
 
Glergo said:
What I mean't was if I could run this device to create a harmony on a vocal track that I have already recorded. Not the track that will tell the device which harmony to use.

.
Click to expand...
yes you could do that.
 
legionserial said:
I didn't think you had to tell it what the chords were. I would have thought you could tell the thing a key, scale and what interval you want the harmony line to use..ie 3rd, 4th, 5th etc (yeah, I'm pretty sure my terminology sucks, I'm no theorist).
Click to expand...
no that won't do it expcept to simply play parrallel intervals.
When chords change the intervals will 'open' or 'close'. So simply giving it a key and scale will only work until a spot comes where the chords force a change in the interval.

For example .... your initial key/scale/interval might be in a Major key. So the second one of your chords goes minor that all goes out the window.
 
I've tried almost all of the hardware vocal harmonizers. I think the TC Helicon products sound more realistic than the others. They are a bit pricey.
 
sajs said:
I've tried almost all of the hardware vocal harmonizers. I think the TC Helicon products sound more realistic than the others. They are a bit pricey.
Click to expand...

Then I guess the Eventide Eclipse is out of the question as well .... BTW is a great unit!!!!







:cool:
 
I have another question. Are there absolutely no VST that does a proper job doing harmony? I've tried two; Antares Harmony Engine and MuVoice and I can't say I'm pleased with the results. I may just be a newbie though. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top