I need some vocal effects for live performance.

[dmbpettit]

I work the sound board at my church for our worship team. A member of our church body said he would buy a vocal processor for the band and he wants me to get him some ideas. He wants to have reverb on it and I think it would be good to have a compressor too. Does anyone have any ideas for what he should get. He wants to stay around $200 so I know the options are limited.

 

[GABritton]

You would want to get seperate units for compression and reverb. A TC Electronic M300 is only about $200, and will do good for live situations. If you're looking for compression, stick with a DBX266. One reason you need 2 units is compression is an insert effect, while reverb is a wet/dry effect. To work compression correctly, use the insert of a channel...the compressor actually breaks the signals chain and places the compressed signal back in the chain, there's no original signal left. No reverb on the other hand can be mixed wet/dry, depending on the thickness of the 'verb' you're wanting...
I didn't answer all quesitons, but this should give you a decent idea.

 

[Seeker of Rock]

That is a tight budget for what you want. Most Behringer products, which not many people are very fond of (to put it lightly), will offer a budget line you could afford new. Most will agree, however, that you may sacrifice quality in going with Behringer, though live performance is a lot less critical than recording. Depending on your system, there may be no need to spend $700 on a Lexicon MPX-1 if you're running through a Behringer board and Nady speakers. If you go to www.ebay.com you will be able to find a pretty decent product slightly used and stay close to your budget. Check out a Lexicon MPX-100 or MPX-110 in the search column. This is your reverb (Lexicon reverb is favored by many musicians and engineers) as well as a couple of other effects included in the unit like chorus, flange, delay, and you may be able to pick one up for just over $100 or so. Don't know much about the dbx 266, but saw them for just over $100 on ebay as well. I think the reverb should be your first priority. I have played live without compression but rarely (except truly "unplugged" stints) without reverb, especially on vocals.

 

[lumbago]

The TC Electronics M300 box is worth investigating.

Lexicon MPX-100/200/500/550 are worth investigating (new or S/H)

If the enemy is feedback, then a compressor (dBx 163) may be your best friend, or possibly a graphic EQ from a hifi (to filter out the trouble frequency spots).

An old S/H Yamaha SPX-90 or R1000 will also provide cheap reverb.

Alesis Quadraverb/Miniverb is worth investigating.

Even a standard Boss delay pedal will offer some additional warmth on vocals.

When operating on a budget - try before you buy if possible.

 

[EVT]

what kind of effects?

II got this digitech purple pedal.. for studio, and live... but.. it has a lot of hiss.. and the sounds aren't that great.. i wouldn't recommend this...

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/150177/

but... I do like the way this tc.helicon looks

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/183029/

although it looks like it is complex somewhat.. and would need to be practiced with a lot first.. to make sure that it doesn't mess up live.. there are enough other things to worry about.. so, I don't know if i would like to use it...

in a review.. someone wrote... having troubles using it during live performances, it just picks up and harmonizes everything not matter how low the volume i've set and now i'm not even using it anymore....

now that's something that would really suck...Using the VoiceWorks live is pretty tough, since there's no indicator on the pedals that even tell you if the thing is bypassed (let alone what program you're on, etc).

I like the idea of the control.. right in front of you.. and especially if you want to experiment with getting different effects for different parts of the song and stuff..

But, it seems like they tend to be involved.. and potentially screw you over and mess you up live..
Unless you get an effects rack.. and just leave it on one sound or something.. it all depends on how involved you want it to be.... What kind of effects are you looking for?

EVT