TC-Helicon Voice Jam Studio User Manual

User Manual

Version 1.0.00

Introduction

Voice Jam Studio combines real-time vocal effect processing taken directly from TC-Helicon’s
best-selling professional vocal processors, the most innovative four track stereo looper app on
the market today, and a music video recorder with direct-to-social media sharing capabilities.

Quick Start

The best way to get familiar with Voice Jam Studio is to attach a pair of headphones to your
iPad, fire up the app, and run through the built-in tutorial. The second best way is to watch the
tutorial videos found on http://www.voicejamstudio.com

2

Table&of&Contents&

INTRODUCTION ) 1)

QUICK)START) 1)

MAKING)CONNECTIONS) 4)

CONNECTION)OPTIONS) 4)

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SETTING)LEVELS) 5)

THE)CONTROLS) 6)

VOCAL)EFFECTS) 6)

VOCAL)EFFECT)LIST) 7)

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"3!&() ?)
"@,7"2")(!+A,+'6) B)
(%"3+#0)"AA"3,() B)

LOOPING) 9)

WHAT)IS)LOOPING?) 9)
METRONOME) 9)

0&&%)#3,+&')(C'3!7&'+D#,+&') E)

CREATING)LOOPS) 10)
DESTROYING)LOOPS) 10)
STARTING)AND)STOPPING)LOOPS) 10)
OVERDUBBING)LOOPS) 11)
WAVEFORM)TOUCH)MODES) 11)

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SYNC)LOCK) 13)

3

TIME)AND)PITCH)MANIPULATION) 13)

MIXER) 14)

SESSIONS) 14)

THE)DEFAULT)SESSION) 14)

PERFORMANCE)RECORDER) 15)

TAKES) 15)

PERFORMANCE)LIBRARY) 15)

SAVING)TAKES)TO)THE)LIBRARY) 15)
MANAGING)PAST)PERFORMANCES) 15)
PERFORMANCE)DETAIL)EDITING) 16)
YOUTUBE)EXPORT) 16)
CAMERA)ROLL)EXPORT) 16)
SOUNDCLOUD)EXPORT) 16)

APP)SETTINGS) 16)

SLAVE)TO)EXTERNAL)TEMPO) 16)
OVERDUB)DECAY) 16)
KNOB)AUTOMATION)TIME) 16)
AUDIO)LATENCY) 17)
PERFORMANCE)RECORDING) 17)
STOP)AUDIO)WHEN)IN)THE)BACKGROUND) 17)

MIDI)SYNC) 17)

SYNCING)TO)AN)APP) 17)
SYNCING)TO)EXTERNAL)MIDI) 17)

AUDIOBUS) 18)

BASIC)CONNECTION) 18)
ADVANCED)CONNECTION) 18)

LOOP)TRANSFER:) 19)

AUDIO)COPY) 19)
SEND)TO)DOCUMENTS) 20)

4

Making Connections

Voice Jam Studio is a real-time vocal effects processor, meaning you hear the results of the
effect algorithms applied to your voice as you are singing with almost no perceptible delay (refer
to the latency section for more information). This presents an incredibly liberating experience
for singers. Singing through live effects in real-time is like playing a new musical instrument.

Caution:

When singing through low latency professional music processors, whether it be on stage or in
the studio, one has to be careful to avoid creating audio feedback loops.

A feedback loop occurs when the sound coming into a microphone is amplified out through
speakers and is picked up again in the same microphone, which goes back through the
speakers again and again. This often creates a high-pitched squealing sound.

Feedback can be avoided by reducing the gain or by making sure the microphone is pointed
away from the speakers.

Note: All iPads have a built-in microphone and speakers. At minimum, Voice Jam Studio should
be used with a pair of headphones in combination with the built-in microphone. Voice Jam
Studio automatically prevents your live voice from passing directly through to the internal
speakers as the metal shell of the device would start vibrating and would feed back into the
internal microphone causing a feedback loop.

Connection Options

Headphones with iPad’s built-in Mic

The simplest option. Make sure you don’t cover up the microphone port on the iPad with your
finger. Attach any set of compatible headphones (earbud, over-the-ear, etc.) to the ⅛”
headphone port.

Headset (Headphones with integrated mic)

Connect a headset with a built-in microphone to the ⅛” port audio port on the top of the iPad.
The iPad internal microphone will automatically be disabled.

Mic/Instrument Adapter Device with ⅛” Connector

There are devices on the market which make it possible to connect an XLR microphone with a
headphone adapter through the ⅛” port. This setup is similar to using a headset. Some
devices provide an output to a PA system instead of headphones. In this case there is always
the possibility of audio feedback if the speakers are pointing at the microphone.

5

Lightning Enabled Audio Device

Modern audio-interfaces (external hardware devices) connect directly through the lightning port
(at the bottom of the iPad) and can provide multiple input and output channels from the device
to your iPad. Sound quality with these types of devices is generally much higher than using the
⅛” jack. The common configuration of these devices is to have a microphone going to the first
input (mono vocal channel) and an instrument like a guitar going to the second input channel
(mono input channel). Voice Jam Studio will feed the vocal channel through the vocal effects
path and into the looper. Note: It’s also possible to record more instrument channels into your
performances. See the AudioBus section for more information.

TC-Helicon Product with USB Audio Support via Camera Connection Kit

Many of TC-Helicon’s world-class vocal effect processors support USB audio streaming. Any of
these products can be connected to the iPad using Apple’s camera connection kit and a USB
cable. Plug your XLR microphone into the TC-Helicon device, as well as headphones or a
connection to your PA system where applicable. Using TC-Helicon products will offer enhanced
vocal effect processing.

USB Sound Cards via Apple Camera Connection Kit

Any USB sound card supported by Apple can be connected via the camera connection kit.
Voice Jam Studio will take the first channel and send it through the vocal effects and into the
looper. Note: It’s also possible to record more instrument channels into your performances.
See the AudioBus section for more information.

Setting Levels

No matter what connection method you use to get audio into Voice Jam Studio, it’s important
that it receives the ideal signal level. Depending on the device you are using, there may be a
microphone sensitivity control, or an input level control. Adjusting this level in combination with
controlling your distance from the microphone and how loudly you sing will enable you to find
the perfect input level for optimum sound quality.

While you are singing, the level meters in the top right corner of Voice Jam Studio’s interface
should be constantly rising to show green, often yellow, sometimes orange, but never red. If the
level meters only show blue, you don't have enough input level for the vocal effects to sound
their best. Bars rising on the left indicate lower frequencies while bars to the right show higher
frequencies.

6

The Controls

Before we get into detail, take a quick glance at the layout of the user interface. It’s worth
skimming through the brief descriptions of each of the controls. Refer back to them when
reading through subsequent sections.

Vocal Effects

The name at the top left (between the left and right arrows) describes the current vocal effect.
“Dry” means no effect and is useful in situations where you are speaking to the audience or
where you want to rely 100% on the natural sound of your voice. In Dry mode the “Note Hold”
and “Pitch Bender” controls have no effect as Dry operates as a “true bypass” in the sense that
no effect processing occurs.

Voice Jam Studio offers many different vocal effects. You can step through them one by one
using the left and right arrows. You can tap on the vocal effect name to see the complete list
which you can scroll through. You can try out each effect by touching the name of the effect and
singing through the microphone. To scroll through the list touch and drag the list with your finger