TC-Helicon VoiceTone Create XT
| Posted in Music Technology
The VoiceTone Create XT marks TC Helicon’s latest attempt to hit a high note in pedal-based effects for vocalists, with the manufacturer claiming that its “the ultimate all-in-one vocal producer pedal”. As introductions go, that gives the XT a lot to live up to as it makes its public debut today at the 2010 NAMM show.
Yet with impressive new features and an admirable willingness to pay attention to the demands of its existing customers, TC Helicon may have succeeded in delivering the kind of effects unit that vocalists are clamouring for in this replacement for the original VoiceTone Create. In particular, the manufacturer is quick to reveal the feedback from users of that first pedal, claiming that the top three requests for improvements centred on more and better effects, easier editing of presets, and a clearer display of what’s switched on in the preset being used. It says a lot about the VoiceTone Create XT’s designers that they have reportedly delivered on all three criteria.
However, arguably the most attention grabbing addition is HardTune, a new auto-tune feature that TC is comparing to the kinds of fashionable high-end effects currently employed by T-Pain and Kanye West. Expect much merriment in the DV247 office when we persuade Rob Sandall to review that feature. A Tone button has also been integrated into the design to, says TC, “polish and smooth vocals” with a range of adaptive Live Engineer Effects.
Other important add-ons to the VoiceTone Create XT include the same “front of house quality” reverb as used in the manufacturer’s VoiceLive 2 processor, improved control options including a pedal input that accepts TC’s three-button footswitch, and individual on/off buttons for the effects blocks.
Meanwhile, that customer request for better editing options has been honoured with new Tweak controls to facilitate quick adjustment – no bad thing during a live performance – plus an input for an optional Switch3 footswitch controller providing stompbox on/offs for applied effects, modulation settings and delay. As has become regulation in effects units, a USB connection has also been added alongside an updated preset editor package in the shape of VoiceSupport.
It’s worth also noting that the key features of the original VoiceTone Create remain in place, including pre-programmed effect chains, 100 customisable factory presets, space for 10 user presets, reverbs including halls, rooms, plates, spring, and ambience, and tempo-controlled delay effects such as slap, echo, ping pong and multitap.
Taking place elsewhere on the TC Helicon booth at NAMM meanwhile is the addition of auto-chromatic tuning to the VoiceTone Harmony-G XT. According to TC, auto-chromatic tuning means that vocalists in need of a little pitch-correction can simply “plug in a mic and deliver perfect vocals every time” courtesy of presets based on the chromatic scale.
The manufacturer is also announcing a software update for VoiceLive 2. The v1.2 update reportedly adds rhythmic effects, improved lead voice latency plus other improvements drawn from a blog contributed to by users.
Check back in the coming weeks for more on the TC Helicon VoiceTone Create XT.
About Barney Jameson
A contributor, editor and in some cases creator of more music and pro audio magazines than he cares to remember, Barney Jameson is a veteran of writing about gear, and a pretty keen singer songwriter to boot.
Having started his musical education reading old copies of the Melody Maker while riding the tube to University in the mid-nineties, Barney once sang in a band called Sugarstone, troubling record company chequebooks not quite enough to make it a career option. Instead, he achieved his goal of starting a music magazine of his own when he founded Playmusic in the early noughties. Later on, having exploited VIP access to as many festivals as possible, he wrote about the pro audio industry throughout Europe and the Middle East, travelling to far-flung destinations such as Dubai, Doha and Muscat (nice mountains).
As the latest addition to the DV247 team, Barney has big plans. But when he’s not plotting online domination of the musical instrument world, he keeps himself busy writing songs on a battered old acoustic guitar and playing them to audiences in his home town.
Tags: Hardtune, TC Helicon VoiceTone, VoiceTone Create