• Registered: 2010-08-24
  • Posts: 1

Topic: Effects Rookie Looking to Make My Horn a Little Saxier

I play sax in a cover band.  Pretty simple set up.  Plug the mic into the board and play. 

I’ve been wanting to do something a little different and have been toying with some ideas.  My research has brought me to the possibility of getting a vocal effects pedal.  Both from an ease of connectivity perspective and for what they can do.  I have basically no knowledge about this type of equipment other than what I've been researching the past few days.  I like the idea of harmonies, octaves, chorus sounds, etc to help me at times sound bigger or different.  So I was looking at the Harmony G-XT as an option. 

Is it necessary to have another instrument coming through the pedal (guitar in this case) to achieve the correct results with some of the effects.  For example, major vs. minor chords, etc.  Would a possible solution be to take the lead or rhythm guitar through the pedal and then into his own pedal/amp rig? Would this change his sound at all? I'm guessing this is what a non playing vocalist does when using one?

I’m open to other suggestions too around equipment I might be able to use or the best way to use something like the G-XT and not create any sound issues for my band (feedback, etc).  Is there a place where I can go to learn about the proper way to set something like this up?

Thanks!!

Last edited by saxymas (2010-08-24 19:28:03)

  • Registered: 2009-06-19
  • Posts: 1,183

Re: Effects Rookie Looking to Make My Horn a Little Saxier

Hiya saxymas,

Although the TC-Helicon range was specifically intended for voice - I have heard some fantastic feedback from horn/sax players.

For the best amount of options and editability, I'd suggest checking out the TC-Helicon VoiceLive 2. Here's some of the benefits:-
- Up to 8 seperate harmonies at any one time.
- Comes with over 200 factory presets.
- Can trigger harmony via guitar, midi/keyboard, backing track
- Gate to help limit spill.
- adaptive eq - always working to your specific tone throughout your performance on the fly.
- Pretty much every parameter is editable.


The Harmony-G XT may work well too but with less options - You don't have to have a guitar plugged into it for the unit to harmonise... in this scenario you'd just need to set a key/scale. However, if you did want to trigger harmonies using guitar, your guitarist could either use the guitar effects built in to the unit or indeed go into the "THRU" and then out to his own rig so that the harmonies are still being triggered but he's using his own amp and effects.

Do search TC-Helicon pedals on YouTube and check out the manuals downloadable for free via TC-Helicon's website to get a fuller understanding of what each product can do.

Best wishes,

Joey

  • ege
  • VC New Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2010-10-18
  • Posts: 3

Re: Effects Rookie Looking to Make My Horn a Little Saxier

? play trumpet ? use tc helicon voicetone harmony m  how can ?play harmony or octave  with trumpet    thankyou

  • Registered: 2009-06-19
  • Posts: 1,183

Re: Effects Rookie Looking to Make My Horn a Little Saxier

Hiya ege,

Please bear in mind that the Harmony-M is designed purely with the voice in mind. As this is the case we cannot guarantee results with other monophonic instruments although we have found that some users have been successful.

If you were t do this, you would need to mic up your trumpet and run this thought the Mic input of the Harmony-M. Then you would need to either set the key/scale in manual mode or have the harmonies generated by a midi device of some kind (DAW / Keyboard player etc.).

Best wishes,

Joey

  • Registered: 2011-02-02
  • Posts: 1

Re: Effects Rookie Looking to Make My Horn a Little Saxier

I do not understand how to work it, what is DAW and how to work it tall me more about it by the way I also search u tube and other browser.
Midvale Title Loan
Thanks

Last edited by cristian43 (2011-02-15 06:43:37)

  • Registered: 2009-06-19
  • Posts: 1,183

Re: Effects Rookie Looking to Make My Horn a Little Saxier

Hiya Cristian43,

DAW stands for Digital Audio Workstation - which is basically your computer used with recording software such as Cubase, Logic, Nuendo, Pro Tools etc.

Google any of these software names and you'll see what I mean smile.

Best wishes,

Joey