TC-Helicon VoiceLive 3 Reference Manual

English Manual

3 VoiceLive

Important safety instructions	1	Editing the Vocal layer	52	Setup			89
Caution	2	Harmony block/tab	53	Input tab			90
Service	2	Double block/tab	55	Output tab			94
Warning	2	Vocal Delay block / tab	56	Guitar tab			96
EMC / EMI	3	Vocal Reverb block / tab	57	MIDI tab			98
Explanation of graphic symbols	3	HardTune block/tab	58	Tone tab			102
		Synth block/tab	59	System tab			108
Before you begin	4	Transducer block/tab	60	Buttonmap tab			111
About this manual	5	Vocal µMod block / tab	61	Pedal Calibration tab			116
Getting support	5	Choir block/tab	62	Product info tab			116
VoiceSupport	5	Vocal Rhythmic block / tab	63
Please register your VoiceLive 3	5	Stutter block/tab	64	Appendix			117
		Vocal Buttonmap block / tab	65	MIDI CC List			118
Introduction	6			System Maintenance/Factory Reset			119
Design concepts	7	Editing the Guitar layer	67
Top panel overview	12	Amp block/tab	68	Technical Specifications			120
Footswitches overview	14	Drive block/tab	69	Features			121
Back panel inputs and outputs	19	Guitar Delay block / tab	70	Design			121
Diagram legend	21	Guitar Reverb block / tab	71	Connections			122
Diagrams	22	Comp(ression) block/tab	72	Details			123
		Wah (Wah-Wah) block / tab	73	Included with VoiceLive 3			123
VoiceLive 3 overview	23	µMod block/tab	74
Getting started – setting up	24	Octaver block/tab	75
Quick troubleshooting tips	29	Guitar Rhythmic block / tab	76
Getting to know VoiceLive 3	30	Guitar Buttonmap block / tab	77
Tips and tricks for working with
layers and effects	48	The Looper	78
		Basic Loop concepts and terms	79
		Entering and exiting Loop mode	80
		Your first loop	80
		The Utility menu	84
		Loop limits	88
					Product	VoiceLive 3
					Product (firmware) version	1.0 R70
					Document	Reference manual
					Document version / date	2014-03-29
VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)							a

Important safety instructions

Important safety instructions

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

1

Important safety instructions

1.Read these instructions.

2.Keep these instructions.

3.Heed all warnings.

4.Follow all instructions.

5.Do not use this apparatus near water.

6.Clean only with a dry cloth.

7.Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

8.Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

9.Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A grounding-type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong is provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.

10.Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the apparatus.

11.Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

12.Use only with a cart, stand, tripod,

bracket, or table specified by the manufacturer, or sold with the apparatus. When a cart is used, use

caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.

13.Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

14.Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

Caution

You are cautioned that any change or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.

Service

–All service must be performed by qualified personnel.

–There are no user-serviceable parts inside.

Warning

–	To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do
	not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture
	and objects filled with liquids, such as vases,
	should not be placed on this apparatus.
–	This apparatus must be earthed.
–	Use a three wire grounding type line cord like
	the one supplied with the product.
–	Be advised that different operating voltages
	require the use of different types of line cord
	and attachment plugs.
–	Check the voltage in your area and use the
	correct type.
	Voltage	Line plug according to standard
	110 to 125 V	UL817 and CSA C22.2 no 42.
	220 to 230 V	CEE 7 page VII, SR section 107-
		2-D1 / IEC 83 page C4.
–	This equipment should be installed near the
	socket outlet and disconnection of the device
	should be easily accessible.
–	To completely disconnect from AC mains, dis-
	connect the power supply cord from the AC
	receptacle.
–	The mains plug of the power supply shall re-
	main readily operable.
–	Do not install this device in a confined space.
–	For use at an altitude of 2000 m or lower.
–	Do not open the unit – risk of electric shock
	inside.

2

Important safety instructions

EMC / EMI

Electromagnetic compatibility / 

Electromagnetic interference

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules.

These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in residential installations. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.

If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

–Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

–Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

–Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

–Consult the dealer or an experienced radio / TV technician for help.

For customers in Canada

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

Explanation of graphic symbols

The lightning bolt triangle is used to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltages” within the unit’s chassis that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to humans.

The exclamation point triangle is used to alert the user to presence of important operating and service instructions in the literature accompanying the product.

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3

Before you begin

Before you begin

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

4

Before you begin

About this manual

This reference manual will help you learn understanding and operating your VoiceLive 3.

You can download the most current version of this reference manual from tc-helicon.com/products/voicelive-3/support/

To get the most from this reference manual, please read it from start to finish, or you may miss important information.

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

Getting support

If you still have questions about the product after reading this reference manual, please get in touch with TC-Helicon Support: tc-helicon.com/support/

VoiceSupport

VoiceSupport is the application that allows you to fully unlock the potential of your TC-Helicon product and stay in touch with the latest news, tips and tricks.

VoiceSupport key features include:

–Professionally authored preset libraries

–Direct access to product manuals

–Update messaging – helping you stay up to date with the latest software

–Drag & drop preset management

–Customizable content about your products

–VoiceCouncil feeds for the latest advice for singers

–Firmware upgrading

–Account management

–Access to support.

You can download VoiceSupport for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X from tc-helicon.com/products/voicesupport/

Please register your VoiceLive 3

To register your VoiceLive 3 using the VoiceSupport software, launch VoiceSupport and click on the ACCOUNT button.

!Please note that registration of your product is NOT required to use VoiceSupport, download presets, update firmware or contact support.

5

Introduction

Introduction

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6

Introduction

Welcome to the Voice-

Live 3 reference manual!

First, thank you so much for taking the leap and purchasing VoiceLive 3. We at TC-Helicon are honored that you chose to spend your hardearned money on our vocal, guitar and loop processing system – and we are confident that VoiceLive 3 will fundamentally change your performances.

As you discovered in the Quick Start Guide (the short manual that came in the box), VoiceLive 3 is easy to use at the top level but offers unprecedented depth in both control and editing. We recommend you treat your VoiceLive 3 like any other new instrument and dedicate some time to learning how to use it.

Yes, that means RTFM!

Read the… full manual.

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

Design concepts

Layers & footswitch mapping

VoiceLive 3 is built on the fundamental concept of “layers”. From a design perspective, there are thee layers to work with:

–Vocal

–Guitar

–Looping

You may switch between layers using the Layer footswitch, which we will discuss in more detail later in the manual.

Essentially, when you tap the Layer footswitch, the effects associated with the six effect footswitches (labeled µMod, Delay, Reverb, HIT, Double/Comp, Harmony/Drive) will change from vocal effects to guitar effects or looping controls.

You can even remap footswitches within a layer or from one layer to another. This approach solves one of the most common requests from our massively popular VoiceLive 2 unit: “I love it – but I want the ‘X’ footswitch to be where the ‘Y’ footswitch is”.

We also recognize that layers and remappable footswitches can be a bit daunting to learn. This is why we have designed the system to be consistent and straightforward. Once you have learned how to remap one footswitch, you know how to remap them all.

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Introduction

Global effects

Another common request from TC-Helicon users has been for “global effects”. VoiceLive 3 allows you to define a specific Preset as the “Global” Preset. This defines all of the effects and parameters within that Preset and allows them to be easily applied to other Presets.

What does that mean for you? Easier, quicker Preset creation and access to consistent sounds!

Here is an example:

“I want to use this great reverb on a whole bunch of Presets. How do I do that?”

–First, edit the guitar reverb on your Global Preset (by default, this is Preset no. 491). Editing guitar settings is explained in greater detail in “Editing the Guitar layer”.

–Then go to each Preset where you would like to use the same Reverb, go to the Reverb settings and change the Global parameter to “On”.

Done! This Preset will now use the Reverb settings from the Global Preset.

Global effects are available for each and every effect in the Vocal and Guitar layers. There are endless possibilities for Global effects handling, but here are a couple we think you might like:

Use the same guitar effects across all Presets

This essentially turns VoiceLive 3’s Guitar layer into a series of stomp-boxes that you only need to set up once.

“How do I do that?”

–Simply edit ANY Preset until all of the guitar effects and footswitch assignments are how you like them.

–Enter the Setup menu and navigate to the System tab using the horizontal Arrow buttons.

–Dial the Control knob until the line saying “All Guitar FX Global: Off” is highlighted.

–Turn Mix knob 3 or Mix knob 4 under the display until “Off” changes to “on”.

Done! Every Preset will now have the same guitar sounds.

Set All Guitar FX Global to “On” to use the same guitar effect in all Presets

Setting Global to on links an effect to the settings defined in the Global Preset

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

Make sure a particular effect always sounds the same

Want a certain Delay available in every Preset? No problem.

–Just edit the Global Preset’s Delay setting.

–Go to each Preset where you would like to use the same Delay, go to the Delay settings and change the Global parameter to “On”.

Always use the same guitar amp model, but have everything else change

–Easy! Adjust the Global Preset’s Amp setting the way you want it.

–Go to each Preset where you would like to use the same Amp, go to the Amp settings and change the Global parameter to “On”.

Updating Global settings

The Global system is “opt in”. This means each Preset carries its own individual settings until you change an effect to Global. Once that happens, the current Preset and Global Preset settings become shared.

Once you have changed an effect to Global ON, any edits you make within that Preset affect the Global settings as well. This means you don’t have to bounce back and forth between the Global and current Preset to make changes to Global effects.

It also means that you need to be aware of the above, so you don’t accidentally edit a Global setting, thinking you are only editing the current Preset. With great power comes great responsibility!

8

Introduction

Multi-track looper

Looper – main view

Having access to multiple, independent loops allows for a lot of flexibility and functionality when looping. Our multi-track looper has some really amazing performance features that will help you to make great loops.

The Swap feature allows you to record two loops and alternate between them with the push of a footswitch. This is particularly useful for recording different “sections” of a song, (like a verse and chorus) and quickly moving between them.

Looper – Swap feature

Loop length no longer matters. In some loopers, your longest loop track will dictate the length of all others, which can be a big hassle. Imagine a “beat box” style rhythm that is 1 bar long and a guitar progression that is 8 bars long. In the past, you would have to record 8 bars of the “beat box” segment in order for there to be “enough”

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

to play your guitar part over. Now, you can record unequal length phrases!

Record your 1 bar “beat box” on one loop Track, then record your 8 bar guitar section on another.

There are a few different Sync modes in the Looper – so be sure to read the “The Utility menu” to familiarize yourself with the way they affect your loops.

Store loops

Those of you who have jumped on board with looping have likely made a really, really good loop in the past – only to see it vanish into thin air when you power off the device. VoiceLive 3 allows you to store your creations right in the box!

Loop Utility menu with Save function

Not only can you store your loops – you can assign a stored loop to a Preset. This, in our opinion, is a game changer.

Imagine recording a really cool ambient loop, synced to the tempo of your song, while you are at home – and then fire it off at your gig. If the band is using a click track, everything will line up perfectly with what you are playing, including all of your time-based vocal and guitar effects!

This storage ability removes a lot of the repetitive nature of building loops live in front of an audience. Sure, it’s neat the first time you see someone build a loop live, but then it gets a bit boring. It often takes a while to get all of the “bits” of the loop recorded. You can do that work in advance and then add to things in real-time during performance.

9

Introduction

If you are using backing tracks, you can even record them into the looper and use VoiceLive 3 as your complete playback system!

Complete guitar effects

With VoiceLive Play GTX, we introduced our first “complete” guitar effects suite. Previously, we had provided Chorus, Reverb, EQ and Compression blocks. VoiceLive Play GTX added Amp/ Distortion and Delay to the options, greatly expanding the sound possibilities for guitar players.

VoiceLive 3 takes that ball and runs with it. In fact, it pulls a Forrest Gump and runs straight out of the stadium and across the country!

Guitar effects in VoiceLive 3

The guitar effects in VoiceLive 3 come from some of TC Electronic’s most successful effects, like Corona Chorus, Hall of Fame Reverb, Vortex Flanger and Flashback Delay!

When you couple those beautiful effects with great amp modeling, Drive/Boost, Compression, Rhythm/Tremolo, Wah-wah and Octave Down, you can truly manipulate your guitar and vocal sounds as a cohesive unit.

Imagine your time-based vocal and guitar effects being perfectly in sync, without having to set up complex timing systems or tapping tempo on multiple devices. Everything just lines up!

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

Advanced monitoring

More and more people are jumping into the In Ear Monitor (IEM) pool. It’s a great thing to do – but it can often require a fairly complex setup. VoiceLive 3 offers two features that make custom monitor mixing really easy for you.

Monitor IN

Using the Monitor IN XLR connection, you can bring a “monitor or cue” mix into your VoiceLive 3, blending it with your own vocal, guitar and loop sounds. The incoming monitor IN does not get passed back out of the unit – so you can rest assured that it won’t cause feedback.

Headphone Mix

VoiceLive 3’s headphone mix is independent of the output mix – allowing you to hear “what you want” in your headphones or IEMs, without affecting what comes from the main outputs.

Headphone Mix

10

Introduction

This monitoring capability can literally eliminate the need for expensive belt packs, transmitters, secondary mixers and other gear required for a custom IEM solution. Using our included Guitar/ Headphone cable, you only use one cable to connect your guitar and headphones/IEM’s to the unit!

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Introduction

Top panel overview
1	2	3	4	5

12

11

6 7 8 9 10

Below is a brief description of the top panel controls and buttons. Full functionality for each will be described in more detail later.

1. Genre button

Use the Genre button to sort Presets based on their musi-

cal genre or featured effects. For example, you may want to

restrict the Presets “visible” to

you in VoiceLive 3 to those that are defined as “Rock” or “Country” in nature.

2. Setup button

Use the setup button to access to all system setup settings, including Input, Output, MIDI, Tone, Guitar and more.

Push and hold the Setup button to enter the automated microphone and guitar gain setting mode.

3. Store button

Use the Store button to store Presets. Tap once to activate the store procedure. Tap again to confirm.

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Introduction

4. Home button

Use the Home button to return to the “top level” interface. The screen will show Preset Number and any effects associated with the current layer.

5. Control knob

Use the Control knob to move through Presets and scrolls up/ down when in an edit screen. When in the “Home” screen, press to add or remove the current Preset from the Favorite genre.

6. Vocal button

Use the Vocal button to enter the Vocal edit screens. This is where you can make changes to the vocal effects for the current Preset. For more information, see “Editing the Vocal layer”.

7. Guitar button

Use the Guitar button to enter Guitar edit screens. This is

where you can make changes to any of the guitar effects for

the current Preset. For more information, see “Editing the Guitar layer”.

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

8. Looper button

Use the Looper button to enter the Loop options screen. Here you can control several general Loop options.

9. Mix knobs

From the Home screen, turning any mix knob enters the Mix screens (Main, Headphones and Effects).

Within an Edit page, the mix knobs adjust values and settings.

10. Arrow buttons

When you are on the Home screen, you can use the Arrow buttons to move through Presets.

When you are on an Edit screen, use the Arrow buttons to move between pages.

11. NP LED

The NP LED lights when NaturalPlay (chord) information is received via Guitar, MIDI, Aux or RoomSense.

12. Level LEDs

The Level LEDs show input level for the Mic input. The red LED also lights if any other input – for example your guitar – clips (too much signal).

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Introduction

Footswitches overview

2

4

5

6

1

3

7

8

9

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

Below is a description of the footswitches on VoiceLive 3. Some switches will be discussed in more detail later in the manual.

1. Preset up / Preset down footswitches

–Tap the Preset Up/Preset Down footswitches to move through Presets.

– Hold the Preset Up/Preset Down footswitches to quickly scroll through Presets.

–Tap both footswitches simultaneously to enter Talk/Tuner

mode.

Talk/Tuner mode mutes guitar output, activates the guitar tuner and bypasses all vocal effects so you can speak to your audience.

You can still tap the Preset Up and

Down Preset buttons while in Talk/Tuner mode to change presets. This is great for changing presets while addressing the audience to queue sounds for your next song.

To exit Talk/Tuner, press any button other than Preset Up or Preset Down.

For more information, see “Talk/Tuner Mode”.

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Introduction

2. Layer footswitch

–Tap the Layer footswitch to swap between the Vocal and Guitar effects layers.

–Vocal layer active: Layer footswitch LED lights blue.

–Guitar layer active: Layer footswitch LED lights red.

–Hold the Layer footswitch to access the Loop layer.

–Loop layer active: Layer footswitch LED lights purple.

–To return from the Loop layer to previously active layer (Vocal or Guitar), hold.

Here are a couple of examples showing how the effects footswitches might look when each layer is active:

Vocal Layer with Reverb, Double and Harmony activated.

Guitar Layer with µMod (let’s say it’s Flanger for this example), Delay and Drive activated. If you were previously on the Vocal Layer, you would tap the Layer footswitch to move to the Guitar Layer, changing the footswitch LED color from blue to red.

Vocal Layer with some guitar effects remapped to vocal effect footswitches. You may find that you would like to “hang out” on a particular layer (Vocal or Guitar) and have access to a key effect or effects from another layer. Remapping footswitches allows you do to just that. This is best referred to as a “mixed layer”. This is a more advanced operational mode that we will cover later.

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Introduction

3. Step footswitch

– To move to the next Step within the current Preset (from 1 to 2 etc.), tap the Step footswitch.

! Not all Presets have Steps.

–To move to the previous Step in the current Preset (e.g. from 2 to 1), tap the Preset Down footswitch.

–To enter the Step management screen, hold the Step footswitch.

Step management

Step management

You can use the current Preset or a different Preset as a Step.

If you are using the current Preset, make sure that it sounds the way you want it to before you enter Step management.

Adding a Step to a Preset

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

If it is a different Preset, enter Step management and then use the Preset Up and Preset Down footswitches to locate the Preset you would like to add as a Step.

Adding a different Preset as a Step

–To accept changes, tap Step.

–To delete the current step, tap the Layer footswitch.

–To cancel, press Home.

The Step footswitch can be Globally reassigned to several different functions – such as Tap Tempo, HIT, Set Key, any Vocal or Guitar effect and more. We have found that remapping Step to enter/leave the Looper can be incredibly useful in performance, when you need quick access in and out.

For more information about Steps, see “Using Steps”.

4. µMod footswitch

Tap the µMod footswitch to turn the micro-modulation (µMod) effect on or off.

The µMod block encompasses effects such as Chorus, Flange, Detune and Rotor.

16

Introduction

5. Delay footswitch

Tap the Delay footswitch to turn the Delay effect (also known as echo) on or off.

The Delay block encompasses effects such as ¼ Note, Multi-Tap and Ping Pong.

Tempo tapping

–To access tempo tapping, hold the Delay footswitch.

–Tap the footswitch in time with your song. A few taps are enough.

–When you are happy with the tempo, stop tapping.

6. Reverb footswitch	7. HIT footswitch
Tap the Reverb footswitch to turn	Tap the HIT footswitch to activate or
the Reverb effect on or off.	deactivate HIT. HIT can control:
The Reverb block encompasses ef-	–	Vocal HIT (blue)
fects such as Hall, Club, Room and	–	Guitar HIT (red)
Plate.	–	All HIT (purple)

HIT is covered in greater detail in “Using the HIT footswitch”.

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8. Double/Comp footswitch

On the Vocal layer, tap the Double/ Comp footswitch to turn the Double effect on or off.

Double encompasses effects such as 1 Voice Tight, 2 Voices Wide and 4 Voices Wide.

On the Guitar layer, tap the Double/Comp footswitch to turn the Compressor on or off.

9. Harmony/Drive footswitch

On the Vocal layer, tap the Harmony/Drive footswitch to turn the Harmony effect on or off.

Harmony encompasses effects such as High (3rd up), Low (4th below) and Low & Lower (4th below and 6th below).

On the Guitar layer, tap the Harmony/Drive footswitch to turn the Drive effect on or off.

Drive encompasses effects such as Boost, Boost & Drive and Drive.

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Introduction

18

Introduction

Back panel inputs and outputs

VoiceLive 3 offers extremely robust input and output routing. Using the Monitor IN/THRU and dedicated Guitar outputs effectively, you can greatly reduce the amount of gear you need to take to a performance.

Inputs

1.DC Power connector

2.XLR & ¼” Combo jack

3.¼” Guitar input

4.1/8” Stereo Aux input jack.

Please note that Aux input and Monitor input are mutually exclusive. Only one may be used at a time.

5.MIDI In

6.Footswitch (for Switch-3) In.

You can also connect a second expression pedal here – see “Working with a second expression pedal”.

7.Expression (pedal) In

4

SWITCH-3

2 3 6 7 5 1

VoiceLive 3 inputs overview

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19

Introduction

Outputs

1.

Guitar THRU: If you only need chord detec-

tion and want to pass your dry guitar signal

onto a different processor or record a dry gui-

tar track, use the THRU jack to pass your gui-

tar signal to your amp.

2. Monitor THRU: The Monitor THRU jack al-

lows you to receive an incoming Monitor IN

signal from a mixer and pass it on to another

monitor.

3.

Headphone out: Connect headphones or

IEMs to the Headphone out and use the Head-

phone Mix to set up your personal mix.

4. Main Outputs: The Main Outputs carry Vo-

cals & Effects. If nothing is connected to the

Guitar outputs, Main outputs also carry Guitar

signals.

5. Guitar Outputs: The Guitar outputs carry the

Guitar signal. If only one output is connected,

guitar output is automatically in MONO. When

you connect the Guitar Out(s) to your amp(s),

guitar sounds will be removed from the Main

VoiceLive 3 outputs overview

outputs.

6.

MIDI Out: The MIDI Out jack sends MIDI Con-

trol Change messages (MIDI CCs) related to

footswitches and buttons pressed on Voice-

Live 3. If no CC is sent, there is likely no CC

assigned to that particular action.

Currently, Vocal & Guitar effects ON/OFF and

their respective levels are represented by MIDI

Control Change messages.

If you experience hum from your guitar amp or PA, try pressing the GRND LIFT switch, located between the Headphone out and the Left XLR output.

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

20

Introduction

Diagram legend

The following icons are used in the diagrams in this manual.

Mixing Board

1/8” cable (guitar cable)

Microphone

P.A.

Acoustic Guitar

Guitar/Keyboard amp

Electric Guitar

Keyboard or other instrument

XLR cables

Monitor Mix

TRS and TS cables

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

21

Diagrams

On the following pages, you will see some connection diagrams. We have set things up to give you clear and concise representations of what goes where.

There are a few things we would like you to keep in mind as you look at the diagrams:

1.Inputs to VoiceLive 3 will be to the left of the back panel image.

2.Outputs from VoiceLive 3 will be to the right of the back panel image.

3.There are two boxes on the bottom of each diagram.

–The VoiceLive 3 box shows “what you hear” from your VoiceLive 3 headphone output.

–The P.A. box shows “what you hear” from the P.A. speakers.

4.We don’t account for other inputs/instruments when showing “what you hear” from the P.A., so you won’t see pictures of drums etc.

5.In a lot of cases, “what you hear” will be the same for both VoiceLive 3 headphone output and P.A. – but it can also be different.

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

Introduction

22

VoiceLive 3 overview

VoiceLive 3 overview

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

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VoiceLive 3 overview

Getting started – setting up

Instead of jumping directly into a whole bunch of descriptions of parameters and fine tuning controls, now is a good time to back up a bit and approach VoiceLive 3 from a “Let’s use this thing!” perspective.

First, if you haven’t read through the VoiceLive 3 Quick Start Guide that came in the box, we suggest you do so now.

The minimum gear you will need from here is:

–Your VoiceLive 3

–A microphone – either

–Dynamic (MP-75, SM58, OM5 etc.)

–Condenser (Beta 87A, enCore 300 etc.)

–An XLR cable (microphone cable) to connect your microphone to VoiceLive 3

–A guitar or MIDI keyboard, if applicable

–Headphones

–The Guitar/Headphone cable that came with your VoiceLive 3.

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

If you would prefer to use VoiceLive 3 via your PA, you will need one or two additional XLR cables to connect VoiceLive 3’s XLR outputs to inputs at your mixer. A lot of PAs are mono and only require one XLR connection. If you have a stereo PA, you will want to connect both VoiceLive 3 XLR outputs to your mixer.

Connecting VoiceLive 3 to your mixer/PA

–Determine whether your mixer/PA is stereo or mono.

–Connect the appropriate number of cables from VoiceLive 3’s XLR outputs to the mixer/ PA inputs (1 for mono, 2 for stereo).

!If your P.A. is Stereo, you will need to pan one channel left and the other one right in order to receive the benefits of VoiceLive 3’s stereo effects.

–Watch the Craig’s Corner episode about connecting to a mixer: youtube.com/watch?v=qq0AOtafIjs

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VoiceLive 3 overview

Stereo PA connection for vocals (and guitar if applicable)

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

This diagram shows a “Stereo” output mode. Stereo sends a Left and Right signal via the XLR outputs to your PA or mixer.

This allows you to enjoy the full benefits of stereo audio effects.

Setting Output Mode to Stereo

Changing VoiceLive 3 from Mono (default) to Stereo output:

–Press Setup.

–Use the < or > Arrow buttons to move to the Output page.

–Use the Control Knob to move the selection bar until Output Mode is highlighted (white).

–Turn the Mix Knob directly below the Output Mode box on the screen until the mode changes to Stereo.

–Press Home to exit.

–When choosing Stereo, ensure the PA is actually outputting a stereo signal. It’s common for a PA to have 2 speakers but still be mono.

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VoiceLive 3 overview

Dual Mono PA connection for vocals (& guitar if applicable)

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

This diagram shows a “Dual Mono” output mode. Dual Mono sends two mono signals from the XLR outputs on VoiceLive 3. One XLR carries the vocal sounds and the other XLR carries the guitar sounds.

This allows you to balance the vocal and guitar levels via your mixer. Dual Mono can be especially effective at a venue with a sound tech. The guitar and vocal signals are separated and can be controlled independently, making the tech’s mixing job easier.

Setting Output Mode to Dual Mono

Changing VoiceLive 3 from Mono (default) to Dual Mono output

–Press Setup.

–Use the < or > Arrow buttons to move to the Output page.

–Use the Control Knob to move the selection bar until Output Mode is highlighted (white).

–Turn the Mix Knob directly below the Output Mode box on the screen until the mode changes to Dual Mono.

–Press Home to exit.

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VoiceLive 3 overview

Stereo vocals and a guitar amplifier

This setup is great if you have got a guitar amp and want to send VoiceLive 3’s guitar sounds to that amp instead of to the PA.

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

You may want to make a quick adjustment to the guitar output if you are connected to an amp. It might be desirable to turn off VoiceLive 3’s speaker simulations while preserving all of the other guitar effects. This will allow the “character” of your amp to stay the same from Preset to Preset.

Follow the Stereo PA connection instructions to change your output mode to Stereo.

Turning speaker simulation off

–Press Setup.

–Use the < or > Arrow buttons to move to the Guitar tab.

–Use the Control Knob to move the selection bar until Speaker Sim Enable is highlighted.

–Turn the Mix Knob directly below the display until the setting for Speaker Sim Enable changes from On to Off.

–Press Home to exit.

Turning speaker simulation off

For Mono vocals via the PA and guitar sounds via a guitar amplifier, follow the diagram above, but connect only the Left XLR output from VoiceLive 3 to your PA and set the output mode to Mono.

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VoiceLive 3 overview

The kitchen sink – everything hooked up

Aux	SWITCH-3
Send

Computer

or

DAW

Stage

Monitor

PA

Speakers

VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29)

It’s unlikely that you will have absolutely everything seen here hooked up to VoiceLive 3 – but the above diagram can serve as a general connection diagram that you can use to configure your personal setup.

The setup shows:

1.Microphone

2.Guitar

3.Music Player

4.Incoming Monitor (or cue) mix from the Front Of House mixer

5.Monitor THRU to another monitor

6.Headphone out (possibly using the headphone/guitar cable and In Ear Monitor’s)

7.XLR Outputs carry stereo vocals to the P.A.

8.Guitar Outputs carry stereo guitar sounds to amps

9.Switch 3 and Expression pedal for extra controls

10.MIDI IN for NaturalPlay chord information from a keyboard (NaturalPlay will “listen” to Guitar/Keyboard over the AUX input and will automatically switch between Guitar/Keyboard if they are both plugged in)

11.MIDI OUT to control a DAW, perhaps with backing tracks and/or show control software

Loop and Metronome sounds generated by VoiceLive 3 are not shown, but any Vocal Loops will be sent out via the XLR outputs and Guitar loops will be sent out via the Guitar outputs.

The Metronome can be heard in the XLR Main Mix and headphone mix or just the headphone mix, depending on your mix settings.

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