Akai HV1 DuoBuddy Vocal Processor

I'm not very technical but even I started using it right away. I found the presets suit my needs very well. I'm sure it will do much more than I am using it for now and maybe in time I will learn to do more with it.

I am using it in a small combo setting, using a guitar amp with an XLR input. I haven't heard the "pop" that some say they experience when cutting the effect on and off. I get better harmony results when I sing in a medium range, when I get high it seems to get confused and harmony notes sound off.

I haven't used it enough yet.

I had to call tech support to understand how to link "A" and "B" pedal together so I didn't have to set the "key" to each independantly. They didn't know but together we figured it out. There was nothing in the book about it.

Not every song requires harmony. I find when I use it sparingly, that, when I do use it, it makes a good impression with the audience. I have been a musician almost 50 years and this is a dream come true. I use it only on the songs that it sounds the best on. Some tunes have notes that the harmonizer doesn't sound good on, I don't use it on those. I personally like the high thirds.

Okay, First of all you will need to know a little music theory to get this to work correctly. If you understand harmony & the root chords, this thing is a snap to use & sounds really good. I set up a whole set list worth of backup in a couple of hours. Easy to set paramaters.

Just plug it in a fool around a little. Watch your input level & you'll be fine. The only complaint is it does pop a little when you re-engage it from bypass.

I think it will hold up but we'll have to see. Seems sturdy enough.

Don't know.

We do an alt-country rock & roll original music & backups are important. Our other singer recently left the band & I used this the other night at practice & the guys were amazed as was I. This thing is a backup harmony in a box for sure. I would recommend it for live playing if you need backup.

Pretty simple to use. The manual seemed unclear about a couple of features, but that could just be because it's my first harmonizer.

Sounds good (enough). The demo you download off the website sounds really good, but who knows if/how that was manipulated. But it does what I need it to do. The random delay feature is nice and humanizes the harmony a bit--but just a bit. It claims to have "true bypass" which is supposed to not color the incoming signal at all when pedal is off, but after reading the manual, found that is can create a "pop" when enguaging the pedal, so I don't use it. Who wants to hear that at a live show? Anyway, the thing tracks pretty well as long as the signal is strong (sing close to the mic) and you're singing is on key.

It has XLR out (that many harmonizers don't) for hotter signal levels to mix boards. Also, just the fact that it had built in pedals (unlike the digitech that you have to buy separately for another $50) sold me on it. You can use the presets for 95% of what you need (3rds & 6ths) and can preset some of your own as well (up to 9 user). It contains 9 programs. You can switch between 2 styles on each prestet that you can assign (this is coolf if your song modulates or changes keys).

Wouldn't know, just bought it and have not used it live yet. It is made of plastic however (EVERYTHING! the pedals, the casing, the knobs, etc.) and it doesn't look as if it will endure as well as a metal pedal.

Not tested. Unfortunately, AKAI Pro distribution in US is completely OUT OF BUSINESS so I wouldn't count on support or warranty :(

8 out of 10. This would probably sound better if it were in a band context (I'm only play acoustic guitar and sing) but it sounds good enough for me. I would recommend this product for anyone that can't get a BU singer in a live situation. I'd never use it for recording because you should always try to sing your own harmonies--would sound WAY better. (* find the cheapest price on the WEB, print it and take it into guitar center and tell them you want that price OUT THE DOOR--not tax--and they'll probably do it). Keep on rockin' the free world.