TC Helicon introduces downsized VoiceLive stomp boxes with harmony and effects for singers and guitar playing vocalists

VoiceLive Play - harmony and vocal effects at 1/3rd the price

TC Helicon has just announced at NAMM 2012 the latest version of the VoiceLive family – VoiceLive Play and VoiceLive Play GTX.

Both give vocalists harmony and vocal effects from the top-drawer VoiceLive family. The GTX model also has guitar effects and amp emulations so you don’t need a Marshall to get that sound.

At this point, it’s hard to comment on VoiceLive Play and GTX except to say that if they are likely to continue the excellence I’ve found in the VoiceLive 2, VoiceTone and VoiceLive Touch.

VoiceLive Play

VoiceLive Play has 200 presets of vocal effects and harmonies based on popular songs. Want that Eagles sound? Dial it up.

The presets can also be modified and stored to create your own individual sounds. TC Helicon promise more downloadable presets monthly on VoiceSupport, which runs on your computer and updates the box via USB.

Effects include combinations of reverb, delay, doubling, harmony, pitch correction, de-ess, hard-tune, EQ and compression. These effects are all TC Helicon staples that they do well. The effects are grouped by 18 genres such as Pop, Alt, Rock and Country. This is an improvement over the big brother VoiceLive2 which is more complicated to navigate.

Obviously, the two products are at different ends of the vocalist spectrum. VoiceLive Play is for the budding vocalist with a suggested street price of $250. TC-Helicon VoiceLive 2 Vocal Effects Processor is a professional stage and studio effects machine and sells for around $760.

Four new features include RoomSense, Vocal Cancel, Practice and Hit.

RoomSense uses built in stereo mics to hear the key of the music being performed and provide in-tune harmonies.The mics also provide a vocalist with headphones some room ambiance.

Vocal Cancel allows the singer to plug in an MP3 player and singer over the lead vocalist. Practice spots problems in the vocalist performance in real time and provides feedback. Hit will pump up the effects after you’re ready to add more polish and punch.

There is even a looper included. For the full list of features check out the VoiceLive Play site.

VoiceLive Play GTX

VoiceLive Play GTX - putting guitarist vocalists in control

As you might have guessed, the VoiceLive Play GTX is essentially the VoiceLive Play with more features for guitarists including amp simulation and guitar effects.

Off the top, VoiceLive Play GTX uses the guitar cable to key your harmony in-tune with what you’re playing. This is the way VoiceLive has accurately identified set harmony on VoiceLive 2, VoiceLive Touch and VoiceTone. It also has RoomSense.

Just plug in the guitar and VoiceLive Play GTX will create the in-key harmony in 2 voices and doubling in 2 voices.

VoiceLive Play GTX Preset Showcase

Guitar effects were ported from TC Helicon’s guitar effects including Distortions, Flange, Chorus, Delay, Reverb, and EQ. The amp simulation has acoustic, Fender, Mesa and Marshall tones in several variations. While they may not replace real amps, they can give you a great sound into headphones, a PA or amp.

Effects and amp simulations are one area that VoiceLive Play GTX exceeds the feature list of VoiceLive 2.

Output includes stereo XLR or mono voice and guitar, thru guitar and midi.

For all the details check out TC Helicon’s VoiceLive Play GTX site.

North American pricing hasn’t been announced although it is on pre-order in the UK for 289 British Pounds, about US $440.  I suspect it will sell for less than that in North America.

Both new effects pedal are integrated with TC Electronics MP-75 Dynamic Vocal Microphone which provides a little more hands on control of the effects. The MP-75 has a control button that actuates some VoiceLive features.  It’s is a Shure M58 clone that performs quite well. Modern Vocalist

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