DigiTech Vocalist Live 2

(Originally written by Jhq/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
First post: May 2008

The Digitech Vocalist Live 2 is conceived to create vocal harmonies using a technology based on guitar chord recognition.

It has a 10" x 10" aluminum housing with two expression pedals and several controls on the top panel. The rear panel provides different 1/4" jack and XLR inputs for guitar and mic.

The unit provides 48 volt phantom power for condenser mics, and also a guitar tuner.

UTILIZATION

It's very easy to use and effective:

- Plug your guitar or your bass (previously tuned otherwise it won't work) as well as the vocal mic;

- When you play your instrument, the MusiQ technology recognizes its melodic component and analyzes it;

- The vocals are then doubled or tripled and harmonized to the third or the fifth depending on the settings and the chords or notes being played. It's magic!

SOUND QUALITY

I've been using the Live Vocalist for six months and I just can't get enough. The ease of use and especially the results are addictive.

Another important point is that this pedal allows you to become a better singer because it systematically reproduces every pitch inaccuracy, so it forces you to always give your best

The sound quality is good: the harmonized signals are the exact copy of your voice so if you have a nice sounding voice, the harmonization will sound nice, but If you have an unpleasant voice the harmonies will also sound unpleasant... Nature is not fair!

If you want to listen to some samples here is a song where the lead vocals are tripled by a Vocalist and then each of those voices is tripled again (unbeatable time/effectiveness ratio): https://fr.audiofanzine.com/compos/titres/index,idproduit,124592.html

Here's another sample where you can listen to the harmonization with only one voice! https://fr.audiofanzine.com/compos/titres/index,idproduit,122899.html

As you can surely notice I don't have a nice voice, however although the unit doesn't enhance the singer's performance it does help a lot when it comes to the PITCH of the chorus.

Update December 2008: I'm still very satisfied with my Live Vocalist and I don't want to change my previous review. However I've discovered its weak points, under particular conditions. When I record only the harmony notes (without the root) and also with some augmented chords, where the third or the fifth are more present than the root, the technology has some problems to choose the right harmonization notes. Take the chorus at the end of the following song as an example where the B minor with augmented fifth is followed by a C add9 (very similar chords) making the generated voices to "trill"!

https://fr.audiofanzine.com/compos/titres/index,idproduit,136882.html

Incredible but true...

OVERALL OPINION

For all this reasons I give it the best possible mark because it's a product which really changed my life (like Bob Moog synths or Fender electric bass had done before). I rerecorded all the vocals of my songs with the Live Vocalist and it makes a huge difference!

Don't hesitate to listen to them, you can find them here: https://mp3.audiofanzine.com/jhq

Update June 2008: I just read on the Digitech website that the rack-mounting Live Vocalist version is now available and is compatible with Midi and keyboards ! http://www.digitech.com/products/Vocalistlivepro/index.php

The device is more expensive but provides a lot more functions...

First post: May 2008
The DIGITECH Vocalist Live 2 aims to create vocal harmonies thanks to a technology based on the recognition of guitar chords.
It presents as an aluminum watch case from about 25 X 25 cm, with two pedals pressure in its lower part and rglage commands in faade. The connections of the various inputs (guitar, microphone) are made on the rear bracket with Jack or XLR.
48V supply for the microphone is included, and a tuner for guitar.

USE

The operating principle is simple but effective:
- You plug your guitar or its low (pralablement accorded, it is mandatory for a walk) on a prvue between this, the micro singer also;
- When playing the instrument embeds technology, which responds to the sweet name of "MusiQ" recognizes the melodic component of it and decomposes;
- The song is then doubled or tripled the third or fifth in the crowd, according to initial rglages effectus and chords or notes that you play. Magic!

SOUND QUALITY

I use the Live Vocalist for six months now and I can not get enough. The ease of use and most importantly, the results obtained are bluffing that we can not do without.
Another point not ngligeable, the pedal allows you to learn to sing better, because it systematically reproduces the note pitch errors: one is condemned apply
The sound quality is at the rendezvous, the harmony voices as a true copy of the original voice (in other words, if you have a beautiful voice, the harmonies are beautiful, if you have a voice falsetto, you will also falsetto harmonies of nature is unfair).

For example, a song or lead vocal is tripled thanks to the Vocalist and, subsequently, the three voices are themselves triple (relative time / efficiency hitherto unknown): https://fr.audiofanzine.com/compos/titres/index,idproduit,124592.html

Another example harmonies with one voice!" rel="ugc noopener" target="_blank"> https://fr.audiofanzine.com/compos/titres/index,idproduit,124592.html

Another example harmonies with one voice! https://fr.audiofanzine.com/compos/titres/index,idproduit,122899.html

As you can hear, I do not have a terrible voice and the unit using essentially the CORRECTNESS of choirs, no improvement of the singer's voice.

Update December 2008: I am still very happy with my Vocalist Live and I does not add or subtract anything prcdent my opinion. However, I now turn to the "dcrocher" under certain conditions. Let me explain: by keeping only the harmony voice recording and augments with certain agreements, where the third or the fifth prsents are the fundamental note, the technology has trouble choosing make notes; concrete example, the choirs the end of this piece o If minor aug5 followed by Do add9 almost similar agreements are "wobble" voices produced!
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Unbelievable but true ...

Update March 2009: even a small piece with two voices choirs, transformed into six using the Live Vocalist: https://fr.audiofanzine.com/compos/titres/index,idproduit,143609.html.
FYI, after eighteen months of use, I'm still happy. It's really a great investment. For information, prices start really be affordable: https://www.thomann.de/fr/digitech_vocalist_2_live.htm?sid=1e695d2789e92bd16b3a11137c4a087e

NOTICE GLOBAL

For all these reasons, I put it without hsiter the highest rating because it really is a life changing product, such was able to do the invention of Bob Moog synth or bass electric Leo Fender. I took all my little music with the Live Vocalist and r-recorded all voice: this is the day and the night between the two versions!
Do not hesitate, it is that has happens: https://mp3.audiofanzine.com/jhq

Update June 2008: I just read on the US site Digitech the rack version of the Live Vocalist compatible Midi Keyboard is now available! http://www.digitech.com/products/Vocalistlivepro/index.php

At HIGHLIGHTING it's more expensive, but the functionalities are much more numerous; then ...</a>

- What are the effects or types of effects available?
adds two voice the singer's voice thanks gnre harmony with technology that I musiQ Whereas a rvolution that will change the lives of singers.
- What technology is used? (Analog, numrique, lamp ...)
I do not know! But it works well!
- Are they ditables? Via an editor Mac / PC?
I do not know!
- What is the connection? (Audio / MIDI)
The audio is exclusively connactique!
- Is this a rack or rack MODEL?
No one is PDAL!

UTILIZATION

- The configuration gnrale Is it easy?
We can no longer simplissime
- The edition of sounds and effects is it easy?
The gnognotte!
- The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
Quick read! And it hardly needs it!

SOUND QUALITY

- Effects are they effective, suitable and adequate ralistes?
I'm The variety of rolls and a 100%
- Which instruments do you use?
With a guitar!
- What are those you prfrez, you dtest?
It's simple! Reverb level there are three classic (Studio Room and hall) and assayed the amount!
Balance is the lead voice and the voices gnres!
We choose the types of voice!
Simple and effective!

OVERALL OPINION

- How long have you use it?
A week!
- What is the particular feature you like best and least?
aarvolutionn my job as a singer guitarist of variation on!
- Have you tried many other models before acqurir?
No!
- How do you report qualitprix?
Perfect!
- With the exprience, you do again this choice? ...
Yes! So much so that I 'hsite to take on top MODEL!