TC-Helicon VoiceOne User Manual

VoiceOne

Voice Pitch and Modeling Tool

UUSSEERR’’SS MMAANNUUAALL

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 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 are 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 Unplug this apparatus during lightning

storms or when unused for long periods of time.

13 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.

• This equipment should be installed near the socket outlet and disconnection of the device should be easily accessible.

• Do not install in a confined space.

• Do not open the unit - risk of electric shock inside.

Caution:

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

Service

• There are no user-serviceable parts inside.

• All service must be performed by qualified personnel.

Warning!

• To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this apparatus to rain or moisture.

• 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. See table below:

Voltage Line plug according to standard

110-125V UL817 and CSA C22.2 no 42.

220-230V CEE 7 page VII, SR section

107-2-D1/IEC 83 page C4.

240V BS 1363 of 1984.

Specification for 13A fused plugs and switched and unswitched socket outlets.

The lightning flash with an arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle, is

intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated "dangerous voltage" within the product's enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert

the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Certificate Of Conformity

TC Electronic A/S, Sindalsvej 34, 8240 Risskov, Denmark, hereby declares on own responsibility that following products:

VoiceOne

- Voice Pitch and Modeling Tool

- that is covered by this certificate and marked with CE-label conforms with following standards:

EN 60065 Safety requirements for mains (IEC 60065) operated electronic and

related apparatus for household and similar general use

EN 55103-1 Product family standard for

audio,video, audio-visual and entertainment lighting control apparatus for professional use. Part 1: Emission.

EN 55103-2 Product family standard for

audio, video, audio-visual and entertainment lighting control apparatus for professional use. Part 2: Immunity.

With reference to regulations in following directives: 73/23/EEC, 89/336/EEC

Issued in Risskov, April 2002

Anders Fauerskov

Chief Executive Officer

EMC / EMI.

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 the 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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Text Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Quick Start Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

BASIC OPERATION

Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Setups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Signal Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Preset Handling

Preset Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Recall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Preset Backup via MIDI . . . . . . . . . . .15

VOICE MODELING EDIT PARAMETERS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

VM Inflection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

VM Vibrato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

VM Spectral . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

VM Breath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

VM Growl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

VM Resonance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

PITCH EFFECTS EDIT PARAMETERS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Pitch Correction Parameters . . . . . . .19

PureShift

(TM) Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Pitch Shift Parameters . . . . . . . . . . .19

Pitch Shift Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

I/O SETUP

I/O Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Inputs and Input Gain . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Digital Clock, Dither, Status Bits . . . .22

Lo-Cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Analog Input / Output Range . . . . . . .22

Latency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Bypass Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

MIDI / UTILITY

MIDI Control Parameters . . . . . . . . . .23

Voice Modeling Self Controls . . . . . .23

VM Parameter Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Bulk Dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Foot switch Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Sysex ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Program Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Tuning Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Viewing Angle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

MIDI IMPLEMENTATION

Pitch Correction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Pitch Shifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Voice Modeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Other Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Non-Registered Parameter Numbers .29

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . .30

Preset/Style/Applications Guide:

Preset List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Voice Modeling Styles . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Pitch Correction Scale Definitions . . .39

Voice One Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

TEXT CONVENTIONS

Names of front panel controls, display items and keys are displayed in BOLD CAPITALS. In function descriptions, front panel items appear in PLAIN CAPITALS. Names of second level edit parameters are in Bold Mixed Case lettering. In function descriptions, they appear in Plain Mixed Case. Abreviations of menu items are in BOLD CAPITALS, and their descriptions in Bold Mixed case. Alphabetical listings of parameter values will be in plain Italic. Special notes appear in Italic, plain or Bold.

Rev 3.0 – SW – V 1.02English Version

Prod. No: E60501201

QUICK START BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Thank you for purchasing the TC-Helicon VoiceOne Vocal Pitch and Modeling Tool.We know you want to get started right away. By reading this Quick Start guide you will be up and running in a matter of minutes. Please use this to get into the main functions of VoiceOne, but do refer to the main manual for more detailed features and descriptions.

The TC-Helicon Team www.tc-helicon.com

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

1) Check the contents of your VoiceOne carton. You should have received:

• VoiceOne unit

• Power cable appropriate to the power receptacles for you region

• VoiceOne User Manual

• This VoiceOne Quickstart Manual

• VoiceOne Preset, Style and Application Pamphlet

• TC-Electronic Catalog

• Warranty Card

2) Observe basic safety precautions:

• Operate from a regulated power receptacle.

• Do not open the unit! There are no user serviceable parts inside.

• Turn amplifiers and speakers down or off when patching in this equipment.

WHAT DOES VOICEONE DO?

VoiceOne is a special product for the human voice. With this tool you now have the power to do:

• Voice Modeling

(TM) Effects

- Inflection including FlexTime(TM)

- Vibrato

- Resonance (Warp)

- Growl

- Breath

- Spectral (Voice Optimized Equalizer)

• Pitch Shifting and Correction to +/- 2 octaves, by reference to scales, note mapping, fine tuned cent unit shifts, MIDI notes and

• Pitch Bend

• PureShift(TM) Full DSP Mode for Pitch Effects.

• Foot switch control of select parameters.

• Extensive MIDI control of effect parameters.

Let’s get started!

QUICK START SETUP - AUDIO AND MIDI

SETTING UP VOICEONE

Note: Do not turn the unit on until you make all of your setup connections.

1) Connect the power cable to the back of VoiceOne and plug it in to the power receptacle.

2) Connect your audio source - a) Connect the output from your mixer, preamp or other balanced

equipment to VoiceOne, using XLR analog cable to Channel 1, or b) an S/PDIF digital cable to the DI jack. See the I/O SETUP section for Digital I/O information. VoiceOne defaults to analog settings.

3) Connect your Audio Output - a) Connect the Balanced Analog Output from Channel 1 to your mixer, recorder or monitor system using balanced XLR cable. b) You may also connect the S/PDIF Out ‘DO’ to your S/PDIF digital equipment.

4) Connect your MIDI devices - a) Connect the MIDI Out from your controller or sequencer to the MIDI In in VoiceOne. b) Connect the MIDI Thru to your other MIDI devices if you choose.

c) Connect the MIDI Out to your MIDI recorder or sound module.

5) Footswitch - You may connect a footswitch to control the bypass features. See the I/O SETUP

section for details.

6) Set the Input and Output Knobs to full counter-clockwise as a precaution for power-up.

7) Power up VoiceOne using the POWER key.

Rear Panel Diagram

2a 3a 2b 3b 4a 4b 4c 5

7 6 6

You’re now connected and powered up! You can now set the input gain of your signal to a strong level without clipping (The leftmost meter labelled IN will light up red if there is an overload). Use the Input knob to adjust this.

Now let’s take a look at the front panel controls...

FRONT PANEL NAVIGATION

Now that you know how the buttons are set up, you can experiment with browsing the presets. Use the DATA wheel to do this. Press the Voice Modeling and Pitch keys to toggle the effects on and off. Turn the wheel to preset 99. This is the preset we will use to explore the individual effects.

Let’s look at the effects and what they do...

FRONT PANEL NAVIGATION

PITCH and VOICE MODELING KEYS A single click will activate/deactivate the effect. Double clicking on the key will enter the edit menu of the effect algorithm. A lit key LED indicates that the effect block is active.

FUNCTION KEYS: I/O and MIDI/UTIL A single click will enter the parameters for editing.

RECALL KEY Use the DATA wheel to scroll through the presets, then press RECALL to load the preset.

STORE Press STORE once to save a preset. Select a location using the DATA wheel. Press ENTER to confirm this operation. To edit the name, use the ARROW keys to scroll through the letter positions, and the DATA wheel to select a character. Press ENTER or STORE to finish.

DATA WHEEL

ARROW KEYS

ENTER KEY

BYPASS KEY Bypasses all functions, allowing the original input audio to pass.

QUICK START FRONT PANEL CONTROLS

QUICK START VOICEMODELING EDIT PARAMETERS

VOICE MODELING (VM) STYLES AND AMOUNTS

Here’s a good way to get started hearing all of the Voice Modeling effects with your vocal.

• Go to factory preset 99 - we’ll use this preset to do our experiments.

• Press the VM effect key so that it lights - the effect is now active. Choose between Inflection, Vibrato, Spectra, Breath, Growl and Resonance.

• Double click that same key to enter the edit parameters.

• Set the Amount to 50% - a midrange value.

• Use the ARROW DOWN key to scroll to the next parameter - the styles. Styles are like miniature factory presets for the VM categories. Refer to the Preset, Style and Application guide for descriptions on the effects applications, and the style functions.

INFLECTION EFFECTS

The inflection effect can alter the inflection of your vocals in different ways. You can add various types of "scooping" effects to the onsets of a lead vocal for instance, but inflection is also the place where you can find the humanization tools that will help you give a harmony line its own identity or create extremely natural doubling effect. Inflection provides tools such as portamento, pitch and timing randomization (using our FlexTime

(TM)

algorithm) as well as up/down scoop models.

VIBRATO EFFECTS

Vibrato is a pitch and amplitude effect that singers often use in their delivery of a piece of music. It is a combination of various characteristics of the voice being repeatedly altered in a oscillating fashion. Every singer's vibrato is unique. The Vibrato Styles are based on real vocalists’ vibratos. We have analyzed a large set of parameters from a voice database and created various vibrato models. The Vibrato setting names reflect the style of the vocals from which they were extracted. Experimentation is the key to finding a style setting that best suits your application. You might begin incorporating Vibrato into your sound by setting the VIB Amt control to 50%. This setting matches the depth level that we analyzed in our modeling subjects. You can then vary the effect from this middle range up or down to suit your taste.

SPECTRAL EFFECTS

The Spectral styles reflect the natural equalization equivalent to the native control a singer has over his or her own voice, and apply this equalization to the VM voice. These styles may be used in conjunction with the resonances, or purely as additional tonal control over the VM voice.

BREATH EFFECTS

The Breath styles add breathiness to the vocal. This varies from a whisper, all the way to a rough, raspy sound, such as is found in hard rock and ‘alternative’ rock music. Some styles are sensitive to the dynamics of the incoming vocal, meaning that they can be ‘played’ by varying the level of what is sung into Voice One. This is also known as ‘self-control’.

GROWL EFFECTS

Growl in VoiceModeling mimics friction activity between the larynx and epiglottis regions of the vocal tract. This is a ‘character’ phenomenon used in high energy rock, blues or old soul music for example. The Growl effect also models the changes in the vocal tract shape that growling requires, altering the vocal resonance characteristics. Some styles are sensitive to the dynamics of the incoming vocal, meaning that the effect can be controlled by the volume of what is sung into Voice One. This is also known as ‘self-control’.

RESONANCE EFFECTS

Resonance styles allow you to take the harmonic content that forms the identity of the incoming voice and change the content’s positioning to yield a new character to the sound. Some styles change the voice to a heavier, darker chest resonance, while others lighten the sound to more of a head and throat resonance. Some styles also change the voice in a more complex way that depends on the input voice.

QUICK START PITCH EFFECTS EDIT PARAMETERS

PITCH CORRECTION

Again, we will use Factory preset #99 for our experiments. Turn all of the VM effects off for now by pressing their keys on the front panel. Press the CORRECT key in preset #99 to turn on the effect. We have set this up to correct to a chromatic scale, with a default root of C. Double Click the CORRECT key and use the ARROW keys to find the COR Window or correction window. Sing or play a vocal into VoiceOne, and adjust this window with the DATA wheel. You should also work with the COR Attack and COR Amount parameters to change the strictness and amount of correction. Refer to the main PITCH CORRECTION and PITCH CORRECTION SCALE DEFINITIONS sections to investigate the other correction scales, entering a custom scale, and correction via MIDI control.

PITCH SHIFTING Shift Amount/Mode

To understand how the shift amount is applied in the various modes, it is a good idea to be familiar with how VoiceOne shows the shift offsets in the various modes. Please refer to the PITCH SHIFT section for details.

In our Quickstart test preset (Factory #99) the setting for SHI Mode is Chromatic. You can then apply a static shift to the vocal by changing the SHI Amount. This value is in cents. 100 cents = one semitone. Experiment with upshifts and downshifts. When finished, press the SHIFT key to return to the top level screen. Press the CORRECT button to disable the Pitch Correction.

Now, let’s do an intelligent shift. We’re going to use a major scale as our basis. Remember, to hear the effect, the SHIFT key must be pressed so that the LED lights. Double-click the SHIFT key, and use the ARROW keys to find the SHI Mode parameter. Select Major 1 with the DATA wheel. With the Arrow keys, scroll to the SHI Amount parameter, and select the interval you want to shift to. Try ‘3rd’ as an experiment. The scale is in C major, since you haven’t changed the root note in the Correction section. You should now hear your input shifted to a diatonic 3rd above C, depending on the notes you send in. If you sing C, you should hear E.

There you have a basic hands on demonstration on how some of the many functions of VoiceOne are accessed. We invite you to explore these features in depth in the main User’s Manual.

Have fun with VoiceOne!

Visit our website for technical support, literature, information, presets, FAQs, promotions and many other items related to TC-Helicon Vocal Products.

www.tc-helicon.com

Thank You The TC-Helicon Team

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the TC-Helicon VoiceOne Voice Modeling Tool. This is a unique, state of the art processor designed specifically for vocal applications. We know you will enjoy using it, as much as we enjoyed designing it for you.

The TC-Helicon VoiceOne is designed for studio applications as well as live applications. VoiceOne allows manipulation of a singer's voice to introduce unique vocal enhancement, pitch correction and pitch shift effects. With VoiceOne you can sculpt a vocal to have unique breathiness, growl, rasp and resonant characteristics. The result? Any vocal can have a vastly expanded character range that goes far beyond the ability of what a single singer can produce. VoiceOne also enables stylistic pitch effects such as vibrato and inflections, along with world class pitch correction and pitch shifting. VoiceOne is a tool that makes the voice elastic and pliable. With VoiceOne, the best characteristics of a voice can be brought out and new characteristics can be added.

Features:

• Voice Modeling (TM) Effects:

- Inflection including FlexTime(TM)

- Vibrato

- Resonance (Warp)

- Growl

- Breath

- Spectral

• Static Pitch Shift

• MIDI Based Pitch Shifting

• Scale Based Pitch Correction / Shifting

• MIDI Based Pitch Correction

• PureShift

(TM) Full DSP Mode

• Custom Main LCD display giving feedback on key data.

• Flexible and simple parameter editing.

• Foot switch control of select parameters.

• Extensive MIDI control of effect parameters.

Please refer to this manual often, as there are many features and variations to explore. Our website is another good source for applications, support and other user services. We know you will appreciate VoiceOne as an inspirational creative device as much as a complete Voice Modeling tool. Enjoy!

The TC-Helicon Team

www.tc-helicon.com

FRONT PANEL

POWER KEY

On/Off switch for the unit.

INPUT LEVEL KNOB

Adjusts the Input level. Range: 12dB. The global input range can be set in the I/O menu.

OUTPUT LEVEL KNOB

Adjusts the Output level. Range: 12dB. The global output range can be set in the I/O menu. This knob controls overall output level. It is not correlated with the output meter. The Output Meter measures output levels and DSP activity before the signal is affected by the Output knob.

INPUT METERS

Peak meter showing Input level. The Meter range is: 0 to

-40dB.

INPUT OVERLOAD LEDS

The Overload LEDs indicate that the Input level is too high, or there is an internal DSP overflow.

INPUT TYPE ANALOG / DIGITAL

DIGITAL: Indicates digital input mode is selected.

44.1/48kHz: Indicates the current sample rate. If external clock is selected the

44.1/48kHz indicator will blink until a valid clock can be determined. If digital input is selected but no valid digital signal can be detected the DIGITAL indicator will blink.

DI LED

Indicates that external digital clock input is selected.

CURRENT NOTE INDICATOR

Indicates the current note being sung.

CURRENT SCALE TONIC INDICATOR

Displays the tonic note of the current scale.

CURRENT SCALE TYPE INDICATOR

Shows the scale type currently selected in the preset.

SCALE NOTE KEYBOARD INDICATOR

A piano-style representation of the notes in the currently selected scale. A lit circle around the note shows the current note being sung.

INTONATION METER

Displays the position in cents above or below the nearest pitch shown by the current note indicator.

CORRECTION METER

Displays the amount in cents of correction applied to the note or melody being sung.

MIDI IN

Indicates incoming MIDI information.

VOICE MODELING AMOUNT DISPLAY

This display shows the amount of Voice Modeled (VM) effect in each of the six categories used in the current preset.

TEXT DISPLAY

Displays the preset number and name, effects parameters, and aids in menu navigation and parameter value selection.

EDITED

When this LED is lit the currently recalled preset has been edited but not yet stored.

FACT / USER

Indicates whether you are operating in the FACTORY or in the USER preset bank.

FRONT PANEL

FRONT PANEL CONTROLS - GENERAL INFORMATION

A single click will activate or deactivate the effect. Double clicking on the key will enter the Edit menu of the effect algorithm. A lit key LED indicates that the effect block is active.

PITCH CORRECTION KEY

On/Off/Edit key for the Pitch Correction block.

PITCH SHIFT KEY

On/Off/Edit key for the Pitch Shift block.

INFLECTION KEY

On/Off/Edit key for the Inflection block.

VIBRATO KEY

On/Off/Edit key for the Vibrato block.

SPECTRAL KEY

On/Off/Edit key for the Vocal Spectral EQ block.

BREATH KEY

On/Off/Edit key for the Breath block.

GROWL KEY

On/Off/Edit for the Growl block.

RESONANCE KEY

On/Off/Edit for the Resonance block.

I/O

The I/O menu is where all Input and Output related parameters are controlled.

MIDI/UTIL

Press to access all MIDI and other general parameters.

RECALL

Press RECALL to initiate a recall operation. Use the wheel to select preset. Then press ENTER or RECALL to confirm operation.

STORE

Press STORE once to save a preset. Select location using the DATA wheel in the Control section. Now press STORE to confirm operation. The name of the preset can be altered before pressing STORE for confirmation. To do this use the ARROW keys to select letter-space and the DATA wheel to select letter. When done press STORE to confirm the entire STORE operation.

ARROW KEYS

Used to scroll through parameters when editing a block.

DATA WHEEL

This wheel is used to select the preset number to be recalled, or to set the value of a parameter when editing.

ENTER

Used to confirm a parameter edit, or function.

BYPASS

Press to bypass all effects.

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