Effects for Vocals

I have really enjoyed using a VoiceLive Touch 2 for vocal effects, as it sounds great, and mounts right on the mic stand, for easy access.

There is one vocal effect that I hear a lot of duos use (and a few singles). A harmony generator.

If you have a couple of people on stage, the audience will not wonder where an occasional third or fourth vocal part is coming from.

The ones that generate harmonies based on the guitar chords you are playing work really well.

Zappledan being a singer myself I find vocal effects really help a vocal and don't think I'd like to do many gigs without at least a reverb or delay. Live in my band I use a very small amount of reverb and a slightly bigger amount of delay. I've done gigs In the past were we have used the provided PA and they may not have had any effects I found the vocal to lack that extra something. I also find that I sing better if I have some kind of effects on the vocals in my IEM's
i would say pick up a little cheap effects unit at least to make the vocals have something remember vocals are what most people listen to

Quote from Zappledan

So other than the VoiceLive mentioned above, what other products have you guys used - both positive and negative?

for years I used an Alesis quad reverb great unit but very old now a days. Then I used the effects that were on board the Allen and Heath mix wizard these were quite good. now I'm using the on board effects on the Allen andHeath QU-16, must say these are really good.
i have heard a lot of people say how good the helicon stuff is especially
for harmonies. Maybe go into your local music store and try a load out see what suits ya and takes your fancy

I could not perform w\o at least some reverb, both on the guitar and the voice. And yes, automatic harmony would be my second must, maybe along with a graphic EQ.

As for me, the main issue with harmonies generators is that usually there's no smart\practical way to get out of a scale\mode onstage

I'm the main singer in my band and I'm very picky of what FX I want to have in my channel strip.
As most soundguys often don't have the time to deal with the voice sufficiently (taking too much time doing the drums, guitars etc., voice comes last) I strongly recommend the TC-Helicon VoiceLive2 which I use myself.
1. It has a very good vocal compressor
2. It supplies good time based FX (delay, reverb, modulation (note: personlally I hate modulation on the voice channel)
3. It generates superb harmonies in realtime. Really really good.
4. Most stores blow them out for abot 2/3 of its original price (due to the VoiceLive 3 being out)

A great unit which I have used in an acoustic duo is the Harmony G XT - it is very compact, reasonably priced and features reverb, compression and harmony fx (which go along with the key of the guitar input). I would recommend it. The handheld mic comes to life with it.

Ingolf, what's your experience with compressors on stage? I've always been worried about a potential tendence to feedback.

Quote from viabcroce

Ingolf, what's your experience with compressors on stage? I've always been worried about a potential tendence to feedback.

In my band (The Floating Greyhounds ) we use compression on nearly every thing and don't have feedback at all, well ever since we have had our QU-16 I find digital desks are some how less likely to give feedback, when I used to use a roland VS2480 I never seemed to get feedback issues with that either. But then again my band has never used floor monitors and for a year now we have been running IEM's.

if you use such stuff live its the best to give the FOH both - the dry + the wet signal so that he still does have some control over the amount of used delay/reverb and other stuff
usually all those units provide both signals

Quote from Raoul23

Quote from viabcroce: “Ingolf, what's your experience with compressors on stage? I've always been worried about a potential tendence to feedback.”

In my band (The Floating Greyhounds <img src="http://www.kemper-amps.com/forum/wcf/images/smilies/smile.png" alt=":)" /> ) we use compression on nearly every thing and don't have feedback at…

Well, I guess your case doesn't help me then

Quote from Zappledan

That Harmony G-XT is an interesting unit. Looks a bit simpler than the Voicelive2, but still has the primary features I think I would need.

I used both the G-XT and the Voicelive touch (which for the most is the same as Voicelive 2) and I kept the Voicelive touch which worth every pennies and is not so complicate to use. You will get a LOT more of high quality FXs. No comparision!

I've been using TC Electronics products for vocals on stage since many years. First I used VoiceLive, than (and still) VoiceLive Play GTX. User friendly, harmonies can be generated automaticly by guitar input, great preamp for stage and very nice dynamics & FX. Highly recommended.

Another great option is the voicelive play gtx. Same types of effects as the voicelive 2 only in a smaller stompbox. I use a midi controller thru the kpa to control both units simoutaneously. just another option. Good luck

lol. Looks like noyan beat me to the punch so...+1

G-XT ant GTX is not the same box. It can be confusing. The G-XT is a smaller footprint with fewer FXs and harmony choice but still very good. The GTX provide a lot more choice + guitar modeling (faaaar from KPA quality). And the Voicelive 2 or 3 or touch or touch 2 etc. are dedicated to voice FXs (even more choice) with the possibility to control the Harmony with your guitar playing.