TC-Helicon Voiceprism User Manual

USER’S MANUAL

THE LIGHTNING FLASH WITH 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.

INSTRUCTIONS PERTAINING TO A RISK OF FIRE, ELECTRIC SHOCK, OR INJURY TO PERSON

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS: READ AND SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING - WHEN USING ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS, BASIC PRECAUTIONS SHOULD ALWAYS BE TAKEN, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING:

1. READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING THE PRODUCT.

2. DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT NEAR WATER - FOR EXAMPLE NEAR A BATHTUB, WASHBOWL, KITCHEN SINK, IN A WET BASEMENT, OR NEAR A SWIMMING POOL.

3. THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE USED ONLY WITH A CART OR STAND THAT IS RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

4. THIS PRODUCT, EITHER ALONE OR IN COMBINATION WITH AN AMPLIFIER AND HEADPHONES OR SPEAKERS, MAY BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING SOUND LEVELS THAT COULD CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING LOSS. DO NOT OPERATE FOR LONG PERIOD OF TIME AT HIGH VOLUME OR AT AN UNCOMFORTABLE LEVEL. IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY HEARING LOSS OR RINGING IN THE EARS, CONSULT AN AUDIOLOGIST.

5. THIS PRODUCT SHOULD BE LOCATED WITH SUFFICIENT AIR SPACE FOR PROPER VENTILATION.

6. THE PRODUCT SHOULD BE LOCATED AWAY FROM HEAT SOURCES SUCH AS RADIATORS, HEAT REGISTERS, OR OTHER HEAT PRODUCING PRODUCTS.

7. CLEAN ONLY WITH A DAMP CLOTH. BEFORE CLEANING THE UNIT, TURN OFF THE POWER AND UNPLUG THE POWER CORD FROM THE OUTLET.

8. THE POWER SUPPLY CORD OF THE PRODUCT SHOULD BE UNPLUGGED FROM THE WALL OUTLET DURING LIGHTNING STORMS OR WHEN LEFT UNUSED FOR A LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

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 APPLIANCE.

11. USE ONLY WITH ATTACHMENTS/ACCESSORIES SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

12. THE PRODUCT SHOULD BE SERVICED BY QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL WHEN: A. THE POWER SUPPLY CORD OR THE PLUG HAS BEEN DAMAGED; OR B. OBJECTS HAVE FALLEN, OR LIQUIDS HAS BEEN SPILLED INTO THE PRODUCT; OR C. THE PRODUCT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO RAIN; OR D. THE PRODUCT DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE OPERATE NORMALLY OR EXHIBITS A MARKED CHANGE IN PERFORMANCE; OR E. THE PRODUCT HAS BEEN DROPPED, OR THE ENCLOSURE DAMAGED.

13. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SERVICE THE PRODUCT BEYOND WHAT HAS BEEN DESCRIBED

IN THE USER MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS. ALL OTHER SERVICING SHOULD BE REFERRED TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY

TC-HELICON (TC-IVL VENTURES INC.), A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN IVL TECHNOLOGIES LTD AND TC ELECTRONIC., HEREBY DECLARES ON THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITY THAT THE FOLLOWING PRODUCT:

VOICEPRISM VOCAL FORMANT| PITCH PROCESSOR

THAT IS COVERED BY THIS DECLARATION AND MARKED CE-LABEL CONFORMS WITH THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS AS AMENDED BY CE MARKING DIRECTIVE 93/68/EEC:

LOW VOLTAGE DIRECTIVE, 73/23/EEC

• EN 60065 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINS OPERATED ELECTRONIC AND RELATED

APPARATUS FOR HOUSEHOLD AND SIMILAR GENERAL USE

• UL 6500: SECOND EDITION: STANDARD FOR AUDIO/VIDEO AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENT APPARATUS FOR HOUSEHOLD, COMMERCIAL, AND SIMILAR USE

• CAN/CSA E60065-00: AUDIO, VIDEO AND SIMILAR ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

EMC DIRECTIVE, 89/336/EEC

• EN 55103 1/2: PRODUCT FAMILY STANDARD FOR AUDIO, VIDEO, AUDIO-VISUAL AND ENTERTAINMENT LIGHTNING.

• EN 55022: CLASS B RADIATED AND CONDUCTED EMISSIONS

• EN61000-4-3 RADIATED IMMUNITY

• EN61000-4-6 CONDUCTED IMMUNITY

• EN61000-4-4 EFT/BURST IMMUNITY

• EN61000-4-2 ESD IMMUNITY

• EN61000-4-11 VOLTAGE DIPS/INTERRUPTIONS

• EN61000-4-5 SURGE IMMUNITY

ISSUED IN VICTORIA, SEPTEMBER 15, 2000 BY FRED SPECKEEN, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

EUROPEAN CONTACT:

TC ELECTRONIC A/S, SINDALSVEJ 34, DK8240 RISSKOV, DENMARK TEL: +45 87427000, FAX: +45 87427010 WEB: HTTP://WWW.TCELECTRONIC.COM

PRODUCT SAFETY AND CONFORMITY

IVL PART NUMBER: SUP0065R1.4

IMPORTANT:

FOR CUSTOMERS IN THE UK

THE WIRES IN THIS MAINS LEAD ARE COLOURED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING CODE:

BLUE: NEUTRAL

BROWN: LIVE AS THE COLOURS OF THE WIRES IN THE MAINS LEAD OF THIS APPARATUS MAY NOT CORRESPOND WITH THE COLOURED MARKINGS IDENTIFYING THE TERMINALS IN YOUR PLUG, PROCEED AS FOLLOWS. THE WIRE WHICH IS COLOURED BLUE MUST BE CONNECTED TO THE TERMINAL WHICH IS MARKED WITH THE LETTER N OR COLOURED BLACK. THE WIRE WHICH IS COLOURED BROWN MUST BE CONNECTED TO THE TERMINAL WHICH IS MARKED WITH THE LETTER L OR COLOURED RED. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES MUST EITHER OF THE ABOVE WIRES BE CONNECTED TO THE EARTH TERMINAL OF THE THREE PIN PLUG.

FOR CUSTOMERS IN CANADA

THIS CLASS B DIGITAL APPARATUS MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS OF THE CANADIAN INTERFERENCE-CAUSING EQUIPMENT REGULATIONS.

CET APPAREIL NUMERIQUE DE LA CLASSE B RESPECTE TOUTES LES EXIGENCES DU REGLEMENT SURE LE MATERIEL BROUILLER DU CANADA.

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 A RESIDENTIAL INSTALLATION.

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 ON AND OFF, 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 THE RECEIVER.

• CONNECT THE EQUIPMENT INTO AN OUTLET ON A CIRCUIT DIFFERENT FROM THAT TO WHICH THE RECEIVER IS CONNECTED.

• CONSULT A QUALIFIED DEALER OR AN EXPERIENCED RADIO / TV TECHNICIAN FOR HELP.

THE USER MAY FIND THE FOLLOWING BOOKLET, PREPARED BY THE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, HELPFUL: “HOW TO IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE

RADIO/TV INTERFERENCE PROBLEMS.”

THIS BOOKLET IS AVAILABLE FROM THE US GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON, DC 20402, USA. STOCK NO. 004-000-0034-4.

CAUTION:

YOU ARE CAUTIONED THAT ANY CHANGE OR MODIFICATIONS NOT EXPRESSLY APPROVED IN THIS MANUAL COULD VOID YOUR WARRANTY.

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VoicePrism User Manual Introduction

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for choosing VoicePrism! This complete voice channel system has a great selection of the traditional voice processing tools plus some new features our gurus dreamed up, such as:

•configurable compression and EQ effects block.

•four voice harmony which lets you tweak the human characteristics of each individual voice.

•lead voice doubling over and above the four voice harmony.

•two separate blocks of effects, including Flanger, Reverb, Chorus, and Delays.

You can view, edit and save these to a preset using our intuitive user interface, with relevant information and user controls helpfully displayed on the large LCD screen. We have also pre-programmed 128 presets to help get you started and show the range of what VoicePrism can do.

We have tried to organize this manual for quick reference, based on VoicePrism’s user interface. The table of contents will help you decide where to start reading, the index provides a listing of key words, and there is a glossary to explain the more technical terms for the neophytes.

Text conventions are simple: Bold, all capitals:

FRONT PANEL BUTTON AND KNOB CONTROL NAMES.

Underlines, all capitals:

MENUS (ACCESSED BY PRESSING THE FRONT PANEL BUTTONS).

Italic, all capitals:

CONFIGURABLE PARAMETERS (ASSIGNED TO THE SOFTKNOBS).

Underline, small capitals:

PARAMETER SETTINGS (TWIST SOFTKNOBS TO MODIFY).

VoicePrism User Manual

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Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

TABLE OF CONTENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

USER INTERFACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

FRONT PANEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

BACK PANEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

PRESET SCREEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

VOCALS BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

LEAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

HARMONY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

STYLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

SETUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

MODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

No Vocals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Smooth Shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Stepped Shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Chordal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Smooth Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Step Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Notes 4CH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

EFFECTS BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

FX1/ FX2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Chorus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Flanger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Mono Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Stereo Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Ping Pong Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Mono Tape Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Stereo Tape Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Ping Pong Tape Delay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Studio Reverb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Chamber Reverb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Club Reverb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Hall Reverb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Arena Reverb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

FX1 AND FX2 INPUTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

COMPRESSOR/EQ BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

ASSIGN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

EQ1/EQ2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Low Shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Band Boost/Cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

High Shelf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Low Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

COMPRESSOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

NOISE GATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

MIX BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

MAIN MIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

VOICE MIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

STEP BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

BROWSER BUTTONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

OTHER BUTTONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

BYPASS BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

HARMONY BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

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VoicePrism User Manual Table of Contents

UTILITY BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

MIDI CONFIGURATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

PREFERENCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

AUDIO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

FOOTSWITCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

GLOBAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

MIDI DUMP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

RESTORE/ERASE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

VERSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

UPGRADE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

HELP BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

48V BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

MIC ON BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

PREVIEW BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

STORE BUTTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

STORE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

PARAMETERS COPY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

WRAP-UP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

APPENDIX A: HARMONY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1

“NONE” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1

“NOTES” (MANUAL) HARMONY MODES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1

“SHIFT” HARMONY MODES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-2

“CHORDAL” (CHORD) HARMONY MODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-3

“SCALIC” (SCALE) HARMONY MODES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-4

DIATONIC AND CHROMATIC: EXPLAINED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-6

APPENDIX B: MIDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-1

VOICEPRISM MIDI SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-1

MIDI IMPLEMENTATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .B-2

APPENDIX C: INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C-1

APPENDIX D: GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .D-1

APPENDIX E: TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E-1

VoicePrism User Manual

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Front Panel

USER INTERFACE

FRONT PANEL

1 Power Switch: this turns VoicePrism On/Off as indicated by front panel illumination. When turned

Off, the VoicePrism is not completely disconnected from the mains. VoicePrism starts up with your last settings and preset.

2 Tab Arrows: these scroll forward or back one menu page or preset. You’ll find them especially

useful for navigating the multi-page menus.

3 Softknobs: the softknob names and current settings are displayed on the LCD; they will

change depending on your menu. Turning the softknobs will modify their settings. Pushing the softknob until it clicks will access the softknob submenu (if available). In the softknob submenu, twisting the associated softknob will scroll you through the list of parameters -clicking again selects the highlighted parameter and kicks you out of the submenu. In the top level preset window, clicking the softknobs brings up a shortcut menu of factory preset configurations.

4 LCD Display: the most informative part of VoicePrism, at the highest level this shows preset

information in addition to the softknob libraries and controls. Elsewhere, the LCD provides menus where you can view your editable features, particularly the softknob menus (by clicking the softknobs) and the softknob settings.

5 Numeric Display: displays the current preset number. A “delta dot” in the bottom right corner

shows that the preset or step sequence has been changed but not saved.

6 Input Indicators: these light up for the following input types.

LOCK: illuminates to indicate pitch tracking.

MIDI: lights up when MIDI messages are received.

44.1: digital input received at 44.1kHz, for use with the upgrade card. 48: digital input received at 48kHz for use with the upgrade card.

7 Input Level LED Bar: the LED’s illuminate to indicate the input volume level, from -30dB to

0dB. The red Ovf LED illuminates to indicate the level is too high and is being digitally clipped.

8 Edit Buttons: these 5 buttons jump you directly to your multi-page edit menus. Each button

has its own section later in the manual that describes its menu screens and adjustable parameters, thus only a very brief description is given here.

VOCALS: accesses the editing screens for vocals.

EFFECTS: accesses the editing screens for the two separate post effects blocks.

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VoicePrism User Manual Front Panel

COMP/EQ: accesses the compressor, EQ and gate editing screens.

MIX: accesses the editing screens to set mix levels within that particular preset. The LEVEL

knobs located on the front panel are for altering the levels globally (for all presets).

STEP: allows you to create an ordered group of presets that you can step through either

manually or by footswitch.

Data Wheel: at the highest level this scrolls through the available presets.

10 Browser Buttons: these allow you to view presets of a single harmony type. This is a great

feature if you know you want a particular type of preset, but don’t know exactly which one.

SHIFT: fixed interval, pitch-shifting presets.

SCALE: presets using intelligent key and scale-based shifting.

MANUAL: requires a MIDI keyboard to create harmony.

CHORDS: also requires a keyboard, has intelligence that interprets chords and follows your

lead voice.

EFFECTS: presets without harmony voices.

BYPASS

: while this button is illuminated all VoicePrism processing is bypassed.

12 HARMONY: this button turns all harmonies On/Off without affecting the rest of your mix.

UTILITY

: accesses screens to edit MIDI parameters, audio preferences, footswitch configura-

tion, and other useful features.

14 HELP: accesses a context sensitive help-screen on

the LCD. Use the data wheel to scroll through the

entire help message, the tab arrows to

change topics. Pressing

HELP again makes

the message go away.

15 48V: turns phantom power On/Off.

16 MIC ON: switches the active input from

the back panel

LINE IN to the front panel MIC

input.

17 PREVIEW: can be set in UTILITY to initiate a demonstra-

tion of VoicePrism using an internal audio file, or to provide a cue note based on current preset information.

18 STORE: accesses a menu that lets you rename, modify and store presets. No preset editing

will be saved unless you go through the storing process.

19 Headphone Level Knob: controls headphone audio level.

20 Headphone Jack: plug your stereo headphones in here. The amplifier will work with a wide

variety of headphones.

21 MIC: plug your balanced microphone in here. If you need phantom power, press the 48V

button.

LEVEL KNOBS: The LEVEL knobs set global adjustments of LEAD, HARMONY, EFFECTS and INPUT, as opposed to the MIX button which allow you to save unique mix settings within

each preset.

VoicePrism User Manual

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Back Panel

BACK PANEL

1 Line Input: TRS balanced audio input connects your line level audio input to VoicePrism

through a 1/4” jack. Line Input is the default audio input; the front panel microphone is the audio input when the

MIC ON button is illuminated.

2 Aux In: a TRS balanced auxiliary input for audio signals passing through VoicePrism’s effects

processors. This is not used to create harmonies and does not have an input level adjustment or input level metering, but is dependent on the In Gain switch setting of +4dBu or

-10dBV

3 In Gain: configures VoicePrism’s line audio and aux input sensitivity, +4dBu in the out posi-

tion or -10dBV when pressed in.

4 Left Out: TRS balanced audio output. Use this for mono output.

5 Right Out: TRS balanced audio output.

6 Digital Output: S/PDIF format digital output, 44.1kHz standard.

7 Footswitch: VoicePrism can be configured to use a 1 or 3 button footswitch. You can set the

number of buttons and assign button functions in the

FOOTSWITCH menu, accessed by push-

ing the

UTILITY button.

8 MIDI In: connect the MIDI Out of your keyboard or sequencer here to send MIDI to

VoicePrism. VoicePrism defaults to receiving on MIDI channel one. For details regarding MIDI parameters please read the

UTILITY section of this manual.

9 MIDI Thru: transmits a copy of any information received by MIDI In for convenience in daisy-

chaining your MIDI devices.

10 MIDI Out: used to transmit user selected MIDI dumps. Refer to

UTILITY, MIDI menus for

further information

11 Power Entry: use the standard IEC connector power cord supplied with your unit and plug

in.

12 TC/Helicon VoicePrism Plus Expansion Card: this little piece of real estate is reserved for an

upgrade card and provides a brief description of some of its cool features just to whet your appetite.

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VoicePrism User Manual Preset Screen

PRESET SCREEN

This is the top level display, showing important information about the current preset.

Editing is made quicker and easier because you can access factory libraries of configurations for pre-effects, harmonies and post-effects with the softknobs. Detailed editing is possible, of course, and is described under the manual sections for each edit button. You can reassign the softknobs to different parameters too! Push to click the softknob in order to view the submenu, twist to scroll through your choices and click again to make your selection. The LCD will show the updated softknob parameter, twisting the softknob will modify the setting. Consider the left-hand screenshot as an illustrative example. The third softknob is set to control the

GENDER parameter and the current setting is MALE. MALE is a particular

library configuration of the harmony voices, in this case, four big guys. If you go into the editable parameters and change the settings the

GENDER parameter will read CUS-

TOM, to warn you that you are no longer using a factory library setting.

You can use these libraries to jump from a flange effect to a chorus effect, a mid range boost to a low band cut and waffle between different scoops, genders, vibratos and more with the mere push-click and twist of a softknob.

Preset Name:

to rename and save a

preset use

STORE.

Lead:

shows audio path for lead

voice.

Harmony:

shows audio path for

harmony voices.

Softknob Identifiers:

Twist the softknob to change the parameter value,

push and twist to change the parameter.

Comp/EQ:

Modify the compressor, EQ blocks

and their inputs with

COMP/EQ,

page 23

Effects:

Set effects and inputs to each

effects block using

EFFECTS

page 19

Scales:

this preset uses Scalic

harmony.

Harmony Heads:

Indicate number of harmony

voices and their gender. Modify

using

VOCALS, page 15

Key Point: softknob parameter assignments can be matched to what you change in that preset.

VoicePrism User Manual

Your potential softknob parameters are:

NONE: renders your softknob useless to stop anyone from accidentally changing

parameters. The LCD is blank where the softknob name would be.

KEY/ROOT: modifies the preset key in Scale harmony mode or the root in Chordal

mode.

SCALE/CHORD: changes the preset scale in Scalic harmony mode or the chord in

Chordal mode.

PORTA: alters the Portamento setting. THICKEN: controls Thickening loudness (the level of the doubled lead voice).

The following are parameter libraries, each containing factory standard settings:

GENDER DETUNE VIBRATO SCOOP TIMING

1 LIB FX

2 LIB EQ

1 LIB EQ2 LIB COMP/NG

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Preset Screen

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VoicePrism User Manual Vocals: Lead & Harmony

VOCALS BUTTON

This is the heart of VoicePrism, where you can fatten up your voice and create gorgeous harmonies without having to placate a backup group or multitrack your voice. We have already programmed a sizable quantity of presets, available at the spin of the data wheel. You can use these as they are, or edit them to suit yourself. You access the following menus by pressing

VOCALS and paging left and right with the

tab arrows.

LEAD

Twisting the softknobs will change the settings for the lead voice. No submenus are available, so pressing the softknobs does nothing.

THICKEN DEPTH (0 - ± 50cents): modifies the lead voice to make it sound fuller. THICKEN LEVEL: (OFF - 0dB): sets the loudness of the detuned lead voice. LEAD PAN (100%Left - 100%Right): sets the lead voice pan. LEAD LEVEL (OFF - 0dB): sets the level of the lead voice. This is reflected in the set-

tings of the

MAIN MIX menu accessed by the MIX button (page 26).

HARMONY

Here is where you configure the harmony settings for each harmony voice. The softknob under each harmony head tweaks the selected parameter for that harmony voice. Press any of the softknobs to view the submenu of harmony voice parameters, as shown in the graphic to the left. Twisting the same softknob scrolls up and down the list, click again to select.

/OFF

: twisting the softknob will turn its affiliated harmony voice on or off .

LEVEL (Off - 0dB): sets the loudness of the associated harmony voice. This is reflect-

ed in the settings of the menus accessed by the

MIX button (page 24).

PAN (100% left - 100% right): shifts the location of the voice in relation to the left and

right speakers.

GENDER (-50 Male - +50 Female): changes the gender of the associated harmony

voice, with the current setting indicated by the head icon shown above the softknob. Scroll through the range and watch the heads change -- it’s fun!

VOICING (-2 Octaves - +2 Octaves, or -24 - +24 for Shift presets): spin the softknob

and watch the voice head move vertically to indicate its pitch relative to the lead voice. Voicing only applies to certain harmony modes, and is different in each mode.The exact harmony setting is shown on the LCD just above the softknobs.

Key Point: your modifications will be lost if you change the current preset, or power off the machine before saving

Key Point: 0dB is maximum volume.

VoicePrism User Manual

STYLE

The STYLE

menu lets you tweak the “humanizing” characteristics of your harmony

voices to give them individuality. Pressing any of the softknobs accesses the

STYLE

parameter lists, where you can select the parameter you want to alter.

TIMING DELAY (1 - 40ms): turn the softknobs to change the delay timing for each har-

mony voice. This allows you to stagger when the harmony voices join the lead voice, the same way real voices are not perfectly synchronized.

TIMING RANDOM (On/Off): assigns random delay values to each of the four voices

each time a new note is sung. The delay amount will be between 0ms and the

TIM-

ING DELAY you have selected. DETUNE AMOUNT (+50, -50cents): use the softknobs to set the detune (variance) of

each harmony voice. This gives a more realistic sound, as actual voices are never perfectly on pitch.

DETUNE RANDOM (On/Off): assigns a random detune value to each of the four voices

each time a new note is sung. The detune amount will be between 0cents and the

DETUNE AMOUNT you have selected. SCOOP DEPTH (0 - 900cents): singers often start a note below the final pitch, then rise

into it. The softknobs assign the scoop depth for each harmony voice, or the starting offset (in cents) of the harmony voice from the correct pitch.

SCOOP RANDOM (0 - 100%): sets how often notes will have scooping applied SCOOP RATE (Slow (0) - Fast (10)): sets how quickly the harmony voice corrects pitch

from its initial pitch offset.

VIBRATO DEPTH (0, ±100cents): the softknobs set the vibrato depth for the harmony

voices in cents.

VIBRATO DELAY(0 - 2.5sec): determines when vibrato is applied from the beginning of

a new note.

VIBRATO RATE (None (0Hz), 12.7Hz): allows you to set the vibrato rate for each voice

in 0.1Hz increments.

SETUP

The SETUP menu allows you to set the musical attributes of the current preset, giving you different adjustable parameters depending on the harmony mode you have set. The exception is

PORTAMENTO, which is available in every harmony mode.

The display shows you the harmony notes that are assigned to the input pitch displayed. You can edit these harmony notes (see below). The ±1 and ±2 above the harmony pitch notes show if the note is offset one or two octaves. No changes will be saved unless you go through the

STORE process. The MODE section gives further

details on the adjustable parameters.

SHIFT: in a SHIFT preset the only variable parameter is PORTAMENTO. SCALE: in SCALE presets you can choose from several scales or define the exact harmony

notes for each note you sing with the

EDIT SCALE softknob to create custom harmo-

ny. Click

EDIT SCALE to toggle through the pitch notes, twist to change the high-

lighted note.

MANUAL: for harmonies pitched to incoming MIDI, you can modify the ATTACK TIME and

RELEASE TIME and toggle VELOCITY sensitivity On/Off.

CHORDS: in chordal harmony presets you can alter the key (e.g. “A”) and chord type

(e.g. “major”).

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Vocals: Style & Setup

MODE

The

MODE Menu tab allows you to change the harmony modes in a particular preset.

Harmony and harmony modes are described in greater and more educational detail in Appendix A: Harmony. In this menu you can scroll through your possible harmony modes by turning any of the softknobs or the data wheel. Your harmony mode selections are:

No Vocals

Just what it says. COMP/EQ, MIX and FX controls are valid, but you have no harmony voices.

Smooth Shift

Shifts chromatic harmonies in semitones relative to the lead voice. This mode doesn’t make use of VoicePrism’s intelligent harmony features. Presets using Shift harmony contain unison and fixed semitone interval harmonies: they do not require key or scale information.

SMOOTH SHIFT is so named because it allows harmony notes to follow

the lead voice smoothly between semitones.

Great for thickening up a vocal (live, recorded, group or solo) by adding slightly detuned unison for a richer lead and octave above and below for stronger octave doubling.

Stepped Shift

Identical to SMOOTH SHIFT, except that the harmony notes snap to the next semitone instead of smoothly graduating between semitones. Thus your harmonies will be in pitch, even when your lead voice is not.

Provides pitch corrected shifted (fixed interval) harmonies.

Chordal

Chordal harmonies follow your voice to stay in tune with the chord currently being played on your keyboard. To create harmonies you must input your song’s chords as they occur via a MIDI keyboard or other controller. Each chord consists of a chord root and type; for example an A major 7th chord has “A” as the root and “major 7th” as the type.

CHORDAL mode is handy when you want to play a keyboard

and sing without worrying too much about which harmony note goes where, as VoicePrism does all of the theoretical work for you.

Furnishes continuous harmony support on the input chord and intelligently shifts the harmony intervals to stay within range of the lead voice melody.

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VoicePrism User Manual Vocals: Smooth Shift, Stepped Shift, Chordal

VoicePrism User Manual

Smooth Scale

Scalic harmonies require key and scale information to be input at the beginning of the song in order to create harmonies. Western songs are usually crafted around a single scale, which is completely described by its key ( “A”) and the scale (“minor”). You can customize your scale to create different harmony notes for each input note using the

SETUP menu. SMOOTH SCALE is so named because it allows harmony notes to

follow “in between” bends through semitones, creating a natural, Blues-style delivery.

This is the harmony mode where VoicePrism will make you shine, but a bit of effort is required to pick out the correct key and scale.

Step Scale

The harmonies are based on key and scale, same as

SMOOTH SCALE, but are pitch cor-

rected. Instead of gliding gradually from note to note, as in

SMOOTH SCALE, the harmony

voices will move to the next correct note based on the pitch of the lead voice. This means your harmony voices will always be on pitch, even when your lead voice is between semitones.

Provides pitch-corrected scalic harmonies.

Notes/Manual

Harmony pitches are determined by incoming MIDI notes. You can sing or talk, and as long as a MIDI note is held down, your vocal will be mimicked, pitched at those notes.

NOTES mode allows you to be very creative at producing harmonies. Harmony

voices can change pitches while you sing a held note or vice versa. You can also sing an ascending arpeggio with harmonies descending. You can make the harmony voices sound more natural by adjusting

AT TACK , RELEASE and VELOCITY in the SETUP

menu. For details on how to set up MIDI channels, do MIDI dumps and so on, read the

UTILITY section or press the UTILITY button and toggle to the MIDI menu tabs.

MIDI CC’s are listed in Appendix B: MIDI.

Creates harmonies based on a single MIDI channel.

Notes/Manual 4CH

Each harmony voice is controlled by a single note on a single MIDI channel. A variation of

NOTES

mode, NOTES 4CH overcomes the automatic voice allocation that causes panned voices to jump back and forth in the stereo field when playing chords. When you want ultimate control of your harmonies to weave melodies and countermelodies around your lead voice, this is the harmony mode of choice. For 4 channel mode, VoicePrism uses your selected input MIDI channel (

UTILITY button, MIDI

menu) and the next 3 consecutive channels, wrapping at 16. For example, if your selected channel is 15, then in 4 channel mode it will use channels 15, 16, 1, 2. Be cautious; dedicated MIDI channels, like channel 10 for drums, can be inadvertently assigned as a harmony voice channel if you select 7, 8, 9 or 10 as your MIDI input channel.

Gives each harmony voice a separate channel for MIDI control.

14

Key Point: if you don’t find that the scales we have created fit your needs, you can create your own custom scales on the vocal setup page.

Vocals: Smooth Scale, Step Scale, Notes, Notes 4CH

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