Looking to kick your voice to high gear? Why not invest in a good vocal harmonizer. This simple device will give your voice an edge and more voice options that you never thought possible.
In the past, stompboxes were only used by guitarists. Thanks to technology, modern vocalists can also get into the act using specialized pedals that can add reverb, generate harmonies and even correct the notes that are out of tune.
A harmonizer pedal can simply be defined as a pitch shifter. The pedal is used to combine a shifted pitch together with the original note to create harmony between two or more notes. When used right, these pedals can tremendously improve a singer’s vocals and add that extra oomph in a live performance.
While vocal harmony pedals are designed to serve the same purpose, the truth is that they are not created equal. There are some that come with all the necessary features and quality parts to boot. There are also some units that do not deliver what is promised. Ideally, a harmonizer pedal should serve the intended purpose and also stand the test of time.
In this article, we look at the TC-Helicon Voice Tone Harmony G XT harmony pedal. Highly ranked in the list of best vocal harmonizers available in the market today at an affordable price. The product comes with many interesting features that set it apart and make it the ideal choice for vocalists looking to add some extra sauce to their live performances.
TC-Helicon VoiceTone Harmony-G XT
This is a vocal effects unit that works to analyze your guitar chords and create harmonies from your voice. All the harmonies are two-part and can be turned on and off with relative ease using a foot-switch. This guitar-controlled pedal is designed with solo guitar playing singers in mind and comes with 10 programmable presets, 5 banks, and 2 variations.
With this pedal, you get two harmony voices with voice one offering higher, high, low, lower, bass, and octave up harmonies. Voice two, on the other hand, offers octave down harmony as a replacement for octave up. Even better, you get to a few variations for the harmony voice or the effect that you select. You can also double the effect simply by clicking on the double button. Other notable features include:
Controls
The TC Helicon controls are designed with the user in mind. Everything is reduced to the bare minimum which means that users have an easy time navigating through all the available options. The interface features 4 knobs which include the guitar, Harmony, FX, and the Input level knob.
There is also a selection of knobs which you can use to choose effects, select and store presets and so much more. These buttons are not as prominent as the main four knobs which means that it is hard to press them accidentally. The foot-switch also goes to make this a user-friendly piece that is easy to control even for singers with minimal experience.
Sound
Even on default, this pedal’s sounds are great. Tweaking the preset sounds is also straightforward. Once you have programmed the harmonies you want to use in a live performance, you can double the effects using the footswitch. It helps that each effect comes with 3 variations and this together with the four variations on the doubling effects give you more than enough options as far as sound is concerned.
This being a TC group product, the quality of the voice does not come as a surprise. This Company has been consistent in producing outstanding vocal effects and comes with an impressive portfolio filled with a variety of quality musical instruments. It is important to note that despite the quality sounds, switching through different effects can be cumbersome especially if you have to do all that in the stage. However, with some patience and practice, you can use this pedal to get a great variety of professional sounds.
Performance
This is among the most organic-sounding harmonizers. Even when you use the bass mode, the tones are nothing short of spectacular. Tracking here is easy and the pedal reacts well to the guitar chords. It helps that the processor is also high performing not to mention the numerous options that the harmonizer offers to vocalists.
While the TC Helicon will without a doubt exceed your expectations as far as sound quality and variety are concerned, it does take some time to set up all the parts that are required for the pedal to deliver as promised. There are also no editable parameters for effects and reverbs on the board and this can be a little limiting for some singers.
That said the pedal covers the core functions effortlessly and packs the extra flavor that most vocalists are looking for. All you have to do is learn all the ways you can put the pedal into good use.
Quality
There is no doubt that this pedal is built to last. Everything from the simple knobs to the overall constructions works to make this a simple yet versatile piece that will not only deliver as promised but also stand the test of time. The pedal comes with a rugged design that goes well with most if not all accompanying musical instruments.
The fact that the pedal comes with a user-friendly interface and quality sounds makes this an outstanding piece that is worth every penny and so much more. All you need to do is keep your levels reasonable and sing in tune and this pedal will reward you with great harmonies that will take your performance to the next level.
Pros
- Great audio quality
- Wide variety of high-quality human-like voices and enough customization options for singers in different music genres
- Uses a friendly interface with fewer knobs strategically placed to make hard to press any knob by mistake
- Straightforward setup perfect for both novice and seasoned users
- Compact piece
Cons
- Subtle reverb that may not work for someone looking for something blatant
- The manual key setting needs loads of foot switching activity and this can be challenging for one person during a performance
Features to Look for When Choosing a Vocal Harmonizer Pedal – Buyer’s Guide
They say that every musical instrument comes with its own voice. Thanks to technology, musicians today have adequate instruments to help manipulate their voices. A vocal harmonizer is one such tool and it can be used to manipulate the sound of a singer’s voice. Given the numerous vocal harmonizers available in the market, choosing one can be quite a task.
Below are some of the factors that you should consider to ensure that you get a harmonizer that will be worth every penny and so much more.
Quality of Sound
The quality of sound should be top on the list of factors to consider. If you can, try different harmonizers and go with the one that offers the best quality as far as sound is concerned. If you cannot get a chance to try, see what different users have to say about the harmonizers you are interested in and go for the option with the most positive reviews when it comes to sound and other factors.
Phantom Power Capability
Phantom power is another feature highly recommended when buying a vocal harmonizer. The reason is that if you decide to use a condenser microphone you will be able to run it through the harmonizer without the need of having an external phantom power source. Just to clarify, all condenser microphones to function need 48 volts DC, so if your vocal harmonizer includes phantom power all you have to do is activate it. Make sure that the unit you select includes this feature.
Effects
Included guitar effects is another factor that you must consider. Some processors can add or match chords depending on the guitar or keyboard notes. Some also come with fun guitar effects, robot voices, and radio voices among other features. Effects are designed to enhance your voice and it is wise to go with a harmonizer that works best with your voice and offers more than enough options so you are not limited in any way.
Mixing Effects
You want to go for a harmonizer that gives you numerous options. Choosing one that allows with a variety of mixing effects is best if you want a versatile piece. At the end of the day, a harmonizer with a variety of mixing effects will deliver better results than one without them.
EQ
A harmonizer with an inbuilt equalizer will be much easier to work with. With this feature, you can adjust the volume of certain frequencies and ensure that your sound quality is nothing short of perfect.
Conclusion
Adding harmony to your singing can make a lot of difference and give you an edge over other singers. The TC-Helicon Voice Tone Harmony G XT reviewed is among the best of its kind and it offers quality sounds and numerous options that singers can use to improve their music.
If you are not yet convinced, use the above guide when shopping and you can be sure that your purchase will be well worth it. Fortunately, there are many harmonizers available and it is easy to find one that meets your needs and also falls within your budget. Do not forget that the best of vocal processors cannot make up for a bad microphone. Ensure that you get a good quality microphone to complement your vocal harmonizer.