User’s manual
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.
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.
INTRODUCTION Thank you for purchasing VoiceWorksPlus, a vocal processing powerhouse designed to enable the singing musician to produce captivating vocals in recording and live performance. Everything from exciting harmony parts to evocative character impersonations to simply better vocal sound is possible with VoiceWorksPlus.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Product Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Front Panel Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Back Panel Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Quick Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Editing Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Harmony Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PRODUCT OVERVIEW VoiceWorksPlus can be thought of as a rack full of vocal processing in one single rackspace unit with a couple of specialty effects thrown in for good measure.
FRONT PANEL DESCRIPTIONS 1 2 1. Power Switch Press to turn the unit on or off.As the unit shuts down, it saves any setup data you may have changed. 2. Alphanumeric LED display This 15 segment LED display shows the current preset number whenever the EDIT and SETUP buttons are not lit. There are dots on the bottom line indicating whether the current preset is in the Factory or User bank. The legend below the display indicates which dot represents which bank.
FRONT PANEL DESCRIPTIONS 6 7 8 9 5 5. Soft knobs overview 6. Block On/Off button group During normal operation these controls act as a mixer, allowing you to quickly modify the global mix levels without entering an edit menu. Moving any of the knobs will momentarily switch the LCD display so that it shows the levels before reverting to the preset name and the information line.
FRONT PANEL DESCRIPTIONS BYPASS button Pressing BYPASS mutes all processing blocks of VoiceWorksPlus. Any audio signal that is received at the line or mic input is passed directly to the left and right audio outputs. STORE button Pressing STORE initiates the storing sequence and presents the preset name and target user preset number in the main display.
BACK PANEL DESCRIPTIONS 1 2 1. Mic Input When the MIC IN switch on the front panel is lit, this becomes the main analog input. It accepts a balanced mic level XLR cable carrying a monophonic vocal source. 3 4 5 6 must be set to Digital for the digital input (DI) to receive audio. Also, the ClockSrc must be set to Ext(ernal) for proper audio synchronization when using the digital input. 5. MIDI 2. Line Input When the MIC IN switch is not lit, this 1/4” jack becomes the main analog input.
QUICK START Getting set up There are several ways to connect and use VoiceWorksPlus, including using a microphone, analog line input and output or digital input and output, but in order to speed things up during this quick start, we’ll assume you’re using analog connections between either a mic and PA system or a computer setup with a couple of monitors. Note: When connecting the unit to a computer, you’ll need to know how to route your dry vocal track to a separate, auxilliary output. Unpack 1.
QUICK START 12. Hopefully, you’ve waited until now to raise your monitoring/PA levels and if you have, you should be greeted by a voice that sounds nice and dry at a reasonable level. 13.Turn off BYPASS by pressing the button so the LED is off.Turn the DATA WHEEL to preset number 1 and press the wheel to load this preset. You’re now ready to explore the factory presets in VoiceWorksPlus. Making front panel tweaks Before you get to exploring the presets, here are some tips that will help you.
QUICK START Exploring the presets The factory presets are grouped by the different abilities of the product which makes it much simpler for browsing. The different harmony modes require different inputs from you and the preset groupings make it easier to compare presets of a harmony single control method with others of that same method.
QUICK START Presets that create automatic doubling Presets that feature the Transducer Presets 41-50 The presets in these group send your voice through the Transducer to provide interesting distortion, megaphone and telephone effects. Care must be taken when using this effect because it can cause feedback simply because of the nature of distortion which tends to raise the average level of the signal.
EDITING OVERVIEW Editing overview When you want to make a change to the sound you’re hearing from VoiceWorksPlus, you’ll need to press the EDIT button to navigate the various menus, find the setting you want to change with the Data Wheel and then press STORE to name and save the result to the User preset bank. The first editing menus are different for Harmony and Modeling presets as you can see in the graphic at the right.
EDITING OVERVIEW Quick editing guides The following quick guides cover standard edits you may require. How to store modified presets We’ll discuss this first so you can get on with modifying and saving right away. 1. Make a parameter change to a preset 2 Press the STORE button.The main LED and the STORE button’s LED will flash indicating store mode. 3. Select a user location for the new preset with the Data Wheel.
EDITING OVERVIEW How to change the levels and pan position of the harmony voices 4. Scroll to screens H2 and H3 to change vibrato styles and adjust the amount on each voice. In the case where one or more of the voices in a harmony preset stand out or are too quiet, or you would like to change pan position of each voice, you can do the following and then store your edited preset to the user bank.This procedure also allows you to add or remove harmony voices to the preset. 5.
HARMONY EDITING Chapter Overview V1:Voice Pans Presets are configured as Harmony or Modeling. The following pages detail only the editing interface for presets configured to produce harmony. The edit interface for modeling presets is discussed in the chapter entitled Lead Voice Modeling Editing. Each voice may have a unique pan position. There are 100 possible steps in each of the left and right pan positions.
HARMONY EDITING Humanization - menus H0-H7 The term “humanization” simply means the application of processes designed to increase realism.All harmony modes usually benefit from careful application of humanization styles that make each harmony voice respond slightly differently to your singing voice. Humanization is especially useful to make Notes and Chords harmonies sound more natural.
HARMONY EDITING Equal tuning is the compromised tuning standard that instruments such as guitar and keyboards are designed to. This tuning mode allows you to play in any key without completely retuning your instrument for every chord.This value is the default from the factory. Just tuning is what is known as “perfect” intonation between harmony intervals. It is best to use this when performing with other instruments tuned to Equal, or standard tuning.
HARMONY BACKGROUND AND TIPS Chapter overview By now you’ve likely browsed through the harmony presets in VoiceWorksPlus and are relatively familiar with the harmony modes and features. This chapter gives some background and tips to help you produce the best harmony performances possible using VoiceWorksPlus. Editing your settings is discussed in the following chapter. Why are there different harmony modes? For every note you sing, there are many notes that could qualify as good sounding harmony notes.
HARMONY BACKGROUND AND TIPS A Comparison of the Harmony Modes The following table gives an overview of the plusses and minuses of each harmony mode. Harmony Mode Scale Input Set Key and Scale of song Benefits Challenges Most natural sounding with mini- Diatonic harmony doesn't work mal input. Can be the fastest way with all chord accompaniments. to produce harmony. Requires that you know how to choose Key and Scale correctly Works for nearly every chord Limited harmonic movement not change accompaniment.
HARMONY BACKGROUND AND TIPS transitions that Scale mode gives you with the benefit of a MIDI chord override that solves the Scale mode dilemma. Because inputting a chord is only required during problem sections, you have to be aware of where these sections are and while you’re performing, your mind is usually focussing on your performance. Also, an intricate keyboard part is usually not required so limited keyboard skills are all that’s needed.
HARMONY BACKGROUND AND TIPS Scale types and voicings table Lead Voice MAJ1 3rd Above MAJ2 MAJ3 MIN1 MIN2 MIN3 5th Above 3rd above 5th above 3rd above 5th above 3rd above 5th above 3rd above 5th above 3rd above 5th above C C# D Eb E F F# G G# A Bb B E G E G E G Eb G Eb G Eb G nc nc nc nc nc nc nc nc nc nc nc nc F A F A F A F Bb F A F A nc nc nc nc nc nc G Bb G Bb G Bb G B G C G Bb nc nc nc nc nc nc A C A C A C Ab C A C Ab C nc nc nc nc nc nc nc nc nc nc nc nc B D C E Bb D Bb D Bb D B D
HARMONY BACKGROUND AND TIPS Chord types and voicings table The following gives additional detail on Chords mode. It shows the range of chords recognized by Harmony4 based on a chord root of C in the left column. To the right in the table is the combination of notes that are required to be played in order for Harmony4 to recognize each chord type.
LEAD VOICE MODEL EDITING Chapter Overview When you load a preset that has modeling enabled you will see an M: at the lower left of the display.The “M:” indicates that the primary effect is modeling. Information beside the M: shows the method of pitch shifting and the amount.
LEAD VOICE MODEL EDITING L2: Scoop Amount, Duration and Randomization ScpAmt (Scoop Amount) sets the amount of pitch swing (0 to 8 semitones) that a scoop can cover during its onset. Note that each style has a slightly different scoop trajectory curve. Dur (Duration) sets how long it takes for that scoop to reach its target note. L4:Vibrato Amount, Envelope and Time VibAm (Vibrato Amount) sets the pitch swing of the current style in cents.
LEAD VOICE MODEL EDITING FreqncyStyle (Frequency Style) allows selection of preconfigured modeling tones for your voice. The range covers thick-sounding effects to thin. Amt (Frequency Amount) allows you to add more or lessen the Frequency effect.The amount set when the style is loaded is what was created at the factory. Note that further Frequency modification can be performed with the Trct (Tract) parameter in menu L9 and the Frmt (Formant) and Hybr (Hybrid) parameters in menu S1.
LEAD VOICE MODEL EDITING Hybr (Hybrid Amount).This works only when the pitch of the modeled voice is shifted.Typically, there are two types of pitch shift techniques: Mixing - menus MV and DV o Formant corrected and; It is possible to vary the blend between the modeled voice and your dry voice with the parameters in these two menus. o “Instrumental” shifting. MV: Model Level Applying a pitch shift using Formant correction better preserves natural humanlike sound when the pitch is shifted.
PITCH CORRECTION Chapter Overview Pitch Correction Menus CO to C2 A brief intoduction to Pitch correction is discussed in the Quick Start chapter.This Pitch Correction chapter provides more detail on usage and the editing menus for this feature. All correction parameters except the front panel Correction On/Off button are located in these three menus. Setting expectations C0: Correction Key and Scale Set the key and scale here to match your song.
PITCH CORRECTION value is 200 cents which, in a Major scale having no more than 100 cents on either side of any scale tone, would result in fulltime correction activity. Attk (Correction Attack Time) determines how fast the algorithm pulls you toward scale tones. A value of 0 is off and a value of 100 is instant resulting in something like the infamous “Cher” effect where the pitch correction effect is stair-stepped and obvious when using non-chromatic scales.
REVERB, MOD AND DELAY EDITING Chapter Overview X1: Sends to the effect blocks This chapter discusses editing of the “classic” effects blocks that produce Reverb, Mod and Delay. In VoiceWorksPlus, these three effects are only available in a parallel or aux send-type configuration meaning they are added to the effect in a maximum 50/50 mix of wet and dry, never 100% wet. The outputs of each of the Dry voice, Lead modeling/Harmony, and Auxilliary input paths can be routed to the effects here.
REVERB, MOD AND DELAY EDITING scientific symbol for micro).The Mod effect is capable of creating many different sounds that range from subtle but lush thickening to creatively destructive. It uses a combination of stereo pitch shifting (Detune), small amounts of stereo delay (Delay), and then a complex path of filtering, feedback, and modulation. Mod does a faithful job of emulating classic detune, chorus, flange and thickening sounds.
REVERB, MOD AND DELAY EDITING to use to set delay times. These include setting the exact delay time for the left and right delay lines manually(Time), tapping the Data wheel in time with your music to have the times calculated automatically(Tap), or the unit can be set to derive it’s delay times from incoming MIDI clock signal(MIDI). L-DelTime-R: (Left and right manual delay times) These settings are shown when the Src is set to Time.You may set up to 1800ms (1.
THE TRANSDUCER BLOCK Chapter Overview The edit screens and usage tips for the Transducer block are discussed in this chapter.The Transducer can create many of the megaphone and telephone effects in popular music, as well as replicating the vintage audio quality of older audio effects and recordings.
THE SETUP MENU IO to I4 - Inputs/Output I0: Input sensitivity MicSens (Microphone sensitivity) This allows further adjustment of microphone input sensitivity. Normal is best for the majority of microphones. However, the Low and High settings can be useful for extra high output or extra low level microphones. the dry Aux Input audio from the signal path. This allows VoiceWorksPlus to produce only 100% wet effects when receiving an effects send from a mixing board into the Aux Input.
THE SETUP MENU Cut/Boost Range: Sets how much boost or cut to apply to the low band. Range: -12dB to +12dB. HiShelf: Sets the cutoff frequency above which the high shelf EQ may be boosted or cut. Range: 80Hz - 16kHz Cut/Boost Range: Sets how much boost or cut to apply to the high band. Range: -12dB to +12dB.
THE SETUP MENU M1: Controller enable and disable F1: File functions CC-Ctrl: (CC control) Enables or disables CC message control. Function: Pushing the data wheel triggers the listed function. VibCtrl: (Vibrato control) Specifies how the Mod Wheel message affects vibrato. The Boost setting will add more vibrato once the part of the wheel movement reaches the corresponding amount of vibrato and then return to the original amount once the wheel resets to its rest position.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Digital Inputs and Outputs EMC Connectors Formats Sample Rates Freq. Response Complies with IEN 55103-1 and EN 55103-2 FCC part 15, Class B, CISPR 22, Class B RCA Phono (S/PDIF) S/PDIF (24 bit), EIAJ CP-340, IEC 958 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz DIO DC to 22/23.9 kHz ± 0.01 dB @ 44.1/48 kHz Analog Inputs Connectors, balanced Mic.: XLR, Line: 1/4" phone jack Impedance Bal./Unbal. Mic.: 3.6/1.
VoiceWorksPlus Signal Flow SIGNAL FLOW DIAGRAM 38
MIDI IMPLEMENTATION VoiceWorksPlus MIDI Implementation Details Note: individual parameter editing is done via system exclusive using the free Vysor editor for VoiceWorksPlus. Other MIDI messages: Program Change: Received/Transmitted. Pitch Bend: Received. Note On/Off: Received.
