TC-Helicon VoiceWorks User Manual

Name: TC-Helicon VoiceWorks
Brand: TC-Helicon
SKU: 1803697
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VoiceWorks

Harmony | Correction | Effects

USER’S MANUAL

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

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.

1Read these instructions.

2Keep these instructions.

3Heed all warnings.

4Follow all instructions.

5Do not use this apparatus near water.

6Clean only with dry cloth.

7Do not block any ventilation openings.

Install in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

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

9Do 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.

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

11Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.

12Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.

13Refer 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.

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.

•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.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

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.

Certificate Of Conformity

TC Electronic A/S, Sindalsvej 34, 8240

Risskov, Denmark, hereby declares on own responsibility that following products:

VoiceWorks - Harmony, Correction and

Effects Processor

- 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, 01 - 2003

Mads Peter Lübeck

Chief Executive Officer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

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

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

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

BASIC OPERATION

Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Signal Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Preset Handling

Parameter Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Preset Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Global Effect Presets . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Recall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Store . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Preset Backup via MIDI . . . . . . . . . . .13

VOICES & EFFECTS EDIT PARAMETERS

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Individual Voice Keys . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Harmony Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Thicken Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Effects Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Pitch Correct Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

SETUP

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

Lead Voice Level/Pan . . . . . . . . . . .19

Input Low Cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Dynamics Processing . . . . . . . . . . . .19

EQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Lead Delay Compensation . . . . . . . .19

Mic Sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Output Level/Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Sample Rate Selection . . . . . . . . . . .19

Analog/Digital Input Selection . . . . . .19

Global Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

MIDI Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Footswitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Midi Dump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Erase Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Restore Factory Preset . . . . . . . . . . .21

Viewing Angle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

SONG MODE

Song Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

HARMONY AND TUNING

Harmony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Harmony Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Harmony Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Notes Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Shift Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Chord (Chordal) Mode . . . . . . . . . . .22

Scale (Scalic) Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Diatonic and Chromatic . . . . . . . . . . .24

Just Tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

SPECIFICATIONS

MIDI Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . .29

TEXT CONVENTIONS

Names of front panel controls, and keys are written in CAPITALS. Parameter names are in

SMALL CAPITALS. Parameter values are in underline. Special notes appear in italic.

English Version		Rev 1.06 – SW – V 1.09
Prod. No: E60502401

INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the TC-Helicon VoiceWorks Harmony, Pitch Correction and Effects processor. Designed for live and recording situations where superior vocals are a must, this state-of-the-art product creates the world's most natural sounding harmonies while offering innovative processing for the lead voice as well. VoiceWorks is an end-to-end solution. The signal path includes a studio-quality mic pre-amp, transparent pitch correction, superior manual and automatic pitch-shifting, as well as critically-acclaimed TC Electronic Compression/Gate, EQ, Delay and Reverb. We hope you will enjoy using the VoiceWorks as much as we enjoyed designing it.

Features:

•HybridShift(TM) harmony generation for smooth, natural sound

•4 distinct harmony Modes: Scalic, Chordal, Shift and MIDI Notes

•Humanization of harmony voices utilizing:

-FlexTime(TM)

-Vibrato

-Inflection - (scoop)

-Pitch randomization

-Portamento

•Equal temperament and Just tuning for harmonies

•Harmony Hold(TM)- like a vocal sustain pedal

•Scale Based Pitch Correction

•Fully adjustable voicing and gender per voice

•Lead Voice Thickening - one voice above and one voice below

•HIgh Quality Mic Preamp with 48V phantom power

•TC Electronic 3-band EQ plus low cut

•TC Electronic Compressor/Gate

•TC Electronic Reverb/Tap-tempo Delay

•Song Mode for live performance lets you save internal 'sequences'- up to 50 songs with 30 presets per song

•MIDI CC control over all parameters

•MIDI CC 'echo' of all front-panel controls

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. Enjoy!

The TC-Helicon Team

www.tc-helicon.com

FRONT PANEL

POWER KEY

LCD TEXT DISPLAY

THICKEN KEY

On/Off switch for the unit.

Displays top-level preset

On/Off/Edit functions for lead

information (preset recall

voice thickening.

Note: In order for SETUP and

mode), detailed preset

current preset parameters to be

information (edit menus),

EFFECTS/TAP TEMPO KEY

saved, the unit must be

system configuration (setup

On/Off/Edit/Tap functions for

powered off using this switch.

menu), song data (song

Reverb and Delay. Tap

Powering down by removing AC

mode), and any important

Tempo is available when

power will result in the loss of

status messages or user alerts.

editing specific delay

changes to these parameters.

parameters from the effects

LINE INPUT LEVEL KNOB

VOICES AND EFFECT KEYS

edit menu.

Adjusts the Line Input level.

(GENERAL INFORMATION)

PITCH CORRECT KEY

Range: 24dB

A VoiceWorks preset is made

On/Off/Edit functions for

INPUT METER

up of eight audio processing

pitch correction.

components represented by

Peak meter shows Input level.

the eight VOICES & EFFECTS

The Meter range is: 0 to -40dB.

keys. Each key has an LED

INPUT CLIP LED

that is lit when its component is

enabled in the current preset.

Indicates that the input level is

A single click will toggle

too high possibly causing digital

(enable or disable) the

distortion. Reduce the input

corresponding component.

level to correct this condition.

Double clicking on a key will

OUTPUT CLIP LED

enter its edit menu.

VOICES AND EFFECT KEYS

Indicates an internal DSP

overflow. Reduce the overall

(SPECIFICS)

level of the harmony voices and

VOICE KEYS (1-4)

vocal effects to correct this

condition.

On/Off/Edit functions for each

MIDI IN LED

harmony voice. Edit per-voice

harmony parameters.

Indicates valid incoming MIDI

HARMONY KEY

information.

On/Off/Edit functions for overall

preset harmony settings. Edit

parameters that affect all four

harmony voices.

FRONT PANEL

SONG MODE KEY

Press to enter song mode.

Step through sequenced presets during live performance (using a footswitch or MIDI controller).

SETUP KEY

Press to enter the setup menu. Setup contains all global parameters not stored in individual presets including parameters relating to EQ, Comp/Gate, Audio, digital I/O,

MIDI, and footswitch configuration.

Pressing this key repeatedly will advance to the first parameter in the next logical group of parameters. Use the ARROW KEYS to access each individual parameter.

RECALL KEY

Press RECALL from any menu (edit or setup), or from song or store mode to return to top-level preset recall mode. Press RECALL from recall mode to recall a preset (overwriting the current preset) when the current preset has been edited or when previewing a different preset.

STORE

Press STORE to enter store mode. Pressing store when in store mode will store the

current preset to the displayed location. The STORE key

LED blinks when the current preset has been edited.

ARROW KEYS

These buttons are used to navigate through parameters from the edit menus, the setup menu, song mode, or store mode.

Press and hold to quickly navigate through menus.

In recall mode, pressing up or down will instantly recall the next or previous preset.

DATA WHEEL

Edits the value of the current parameter from any menu or mode.

In recall mode, turning the wheel previews presets (top level preset information is flashed on the display but preset data is not loaded until RECALL is pressed again).

ENTER

Can be used to recall the current preset in recall mode, or to store the current preset in store mode. Parameters surrounded by triangular brackets (eg. Midi Dump <P25>) perform their actions when the ENTER key is pressed. The enter key blinks to indicate a possible action.

BYPASS

Press to toggle (bypass / unbypass) all effects.

MIC INPUT

Press to select Mic input for processing (the line input becomes an AUX input when the MIC input is enabled)

+48V

Press and hold for 2 seconds to enable +48V phantom power on the microphone input.

-20dB

Press to enable a -20dB pad on the microphone input. If the Mic Sensitivity (MICSENS) under the setup menu is set to high, pressing this button will change the sensitivity to normal and enable the -20dB pad.

MIC GAIN

Adjusts Mic Input Gain.

Range: 35dB. This in combination with the -20dB pad and the MICSENS parameter under the setup menu provides 65dB range of gain to accommodate most microphones in most recording situations.

REAR PANEL

Balanced

Digital

MIDI

External

Mic Input

Jack

S/PDIF

In, Out, Thru

Control

with +48V

Analog

Input/

Phantom

Input

Outputs

Output

Power

Note!

The microphone input on the VoiceWorks has +48V phantom power capability.

Never plug single ended (unbalanced) microphones or instruments or signal processors (balanced or unbalanced) into the mic input if +48V phantom power is on.

The 1/4” analog Input and Output connectors on the VoiceWorks are balanced

1/4” jacks.

Optimal connection to balanced equipment is achieved using balanced cables. However, if your equipment is NOT balanced you will generally have no problems using standard mono-to-mono cables as illustrated below.

MIDI Cable