DigiTech Vocalist Live 2

The instruction manual is a little booklet. Most of the pages deal with the various ways you can hook it up. This is very easy unit to work with. Out of the box, through all the features in 15 minuts. Once it is set up you're probably going to leave it alone with the exception of turning it on and off via the footswitch.

I used the Digitech Vocalist Performer for (I don't know) 10 years? So, I was used to using the backup vocals on high. The problem was there was something lose in the unit so that I had to wrap it with my knuckles to get it working. Recently I was playing a bar and it cut out in the middle taking all the vocals down. I gave it a wrap and I was back up. Also the dog ate the footswitch. When I saw this unit in a magazine and went to the web for a demo I knew it was time to replace the old Vocalist. The sound was truly amazing. I had only been using one higher voice before, now I'm using a high and low because it sounds so good. I'm playing acoustically through an amp alone with the mic. Initially I did think it was noisy but it turned out the input was turned up too high. It's perfect. I'm glad I read the reviews before I went out and played the first time because I know there is going to be a tendency to keep this thing on all the time rather than just use for the backup spots. It will sound like a barbershop quintet is doing blues songs.

Since my last vocalist eventually was having problems I wanted to make sure this came as advertised. Works beautifully. We'll see what happens down the road but it looks tough.

Don't know. I called Digitech one time about the problem with my old unit and they said send it in but I continued to use hammer on it. It wasn't that much of a problem till recently.

I play rock and blues in a solo act. My voice is a big part of the presentation. This is the coolest thing I could imagine. What an asset! Inexpensive, easy to use, and dramatically cool sounding. I immediately learned to play Fun, Fun, Fun just to play a Beach Boys song. The secret will be to not use this too much. It is so sweet. $299? You got to be kidding me.

Vocal harmony generator that tracks guitar chords in real time to create musically related 3rd and 5th parts which can be stacked above, below or around the original lead vocal. Reverb, compression and enhancement effects are provided, plus a guitar tuner. Very easy to use, no presets as such, intervals and effects are selected with illuminated switches. Only thing missing is a remote footswitch jack for the harmony on/off, this would enable the unit to be operated without bending down.

Sound quality is excellent, just remember there is a limit to how much harmony, or how many Eagles tunes an audience can take in one evening. I can't seem to fool the unit with obscure jazz chords and the tracking is unreal, although the sus4 in the chorus of Long Train Running does need to be played very cleanly. My bass/baritone, with occasional forays into the lower foothills of Don Henley territory, sounds better than ever (or should that be less like a wounded buffalo than usual).

Never had a problem with other DigiTech kit I own, it even uses the same PSU as my RP-100 - which is nice.

Downloaded software updates and stuff from t'internet but never dealt direct.

I play guitar and keyboards solo and with a three piece band - rock, blues and jazz covers. The unit sounds great when used in moderation - the first night I tried it, at a small bar I play solo once a month, people were saying "great vocals, but I didn't realise Brian Wilson had arranged so much stuff!"

I had looked at various MIDI harmonisers triggered from my keyboards, plus the TC kit, but had eliminated it all due to cost and complexity - the DigiTech is just so easy to use and doesn't get in the way of the music - just make sure it doesn't dominate it!

It is the most amazing vocal tool for gt players and singers that I ever experienced, take it out of the box and play with it...amazing, no need to glance at the manual.

just perfect, via a Prs custom and to my mesa boogie and the shure sm58 to a roland cube mc30 , perfect.

on my home studio, I got it two days ago, so hard to say.

The most pleasent effect from digitech in years , and I own over 10 from their brand.

I gave it a 9 only because I, like every gear freak out there, try to operate my freshly opened gizmos without even looking at the "Quick-Start" instructions, let alone the manual... Who needs that?... I always discover that I do!... But the Digitech V2 is so easy that a quick glance over minor points will get you going in no time at all!

I've had TC Helicons over the years (two models: the rack and floor) and, as good as they sound, I was simply blown-away by the V2.... I started impovising dreamy 60's, 70's stuff as if we (the V2 and I...hehe) were Seals & Croft, or The Beach Boys (kept singing: Cool Water all over me... Warm Water makes me feel so free... and darn it if I didn't hear an album cut right there...) What ever noise was taken care of with a few twists and turns of gain and compression... Experimenting with the Reverb and Ehancement knobs made the vocals sound either more dreamy or more upfront... Combining the 6 settings was the most fun... Combining from both columns Higher Left, Lower Right... Unison Right with Higher Left... You get the picture... so many possibilities!... The effects are well suitable and I plan to use it for home recordings!...

Have had it for just a day so can't tell... I predict this, like other Digitech toys, will take a licking and keep on... well you know...

We'll see someday?

Run don't walk to get one of these!... It's one of the most useful and best recording/live enhancers I've ever had the pleasure to use!... It's fun and will bring a smile to the other band members (if they're not too egotistical)...lol... It's great!

Just plug in the guitar and microphone, push a couple of buttons, and instant harmonies. It is very simple to use. It takes around 5 minutes to know all there is to know about how to use it....and it sounds fantastic. In a way, it is too simple because the you don't get a lot of options. BUT, it is what it is and does what it does.

The sound quality is good. The harmonies are digital so there is a sterile nature to them, but because you can set the level a little lower than the main voice (yours) then you can get a good mix.
The mic level is boosted so you can get feedback at higher volumes but with a little bit of tweaking you should be able to eliminate any unwanted noises.
I was a bit sceptical at first whether this would be suited to using in a live full band situation but after first use at a full blown rehearsal my doubts were happily answered. The unit works really well in a full volume situation.
I had my LP and strat (not at the same time) running in to the unit and then on to a Boss GT8 multi pedal and then on to my ENGL Thunder 50 tube amp and vintage cab and a mic in to the unit and out to a vocal desk and it performed perfectly.
The options are quite simple and a bit limited but it does what it says it does.

I have not had it long enough yet but it is small and simple and looks well made.

I purchased it from a local retailer in Australia so i dont expect there will be an issue with customer support.

I am planning on using it for a full rock band situation. I am the only singer really so a little bit of colour with some extra voices will really fill out many songs that we play. The set list consists of pub rock standards from the 70's 80's & 90's and a nice loud volume. This unit seems to work really well in this situation.
I found that when I was trying out the unit in the shop before purchase, it made me sound a bit pathetic because you cant really belt out a tune like you would at a gig but after using it at rehearsal I discovered that it really comes in to it's own when you really project yourself.
It is definately worth the money and I think that it would be perfect for a backup singer to use a second one to cover all of the secondary ooh's and la la's etc as well.

This might be the easiest vocal processor ever invented as far as I know. I think a monkey good honestly operate it, but of course that doesn't mean it's completely idiot proof. One to watch is to make sure that your gain setting is high enough on the unit itself, if not the compressor won't work at all. I do however wish you could change the harmony voice by using the foot pedal instead of having to reach down and change them. You just can't change the harmony once a song starts, you can only start and stop the harmony.

Keep in mind this is not a vocal processor from TC Helicon, therefore a rating of 10 for the vocalist live 2 would mean the helicon registers at a 13 or something.

Harmony voices themselves sound as good as you do. That can obviously be a good or bad thing depending on the singer. I feel that adding just one harmony sounds much better than adding two, unless you are singing a hymn or eagles cover. Adding a unison voice and a high harmony can also be a real nice effect in a lot of acoustic music the second time you sing the chorus.

As far as the vocal effects go, it's just not my cup of tea. It would do great in a small setting, but the effects just don't sound that great. And I personally thing the compression on this unit sucks the life out of the performance. Reverb is only okay and the enhance is pretty marginal too.

So far so good, it doesn't feel as solid as a lot of boss pedals, but solid enough to gig with for now.

Never have dealt with them yet

I have been a worship leader for the past 5 years and at big events this processor just doesn't cut it for vocal effects, but the harmonies are very passable. If you play regularly for less that a couple hundred people, than this is a must have unit. If it were lost I would probably purchase it again because the TC Helicon is around 800 dollars new, and that is way to much for me. My favorite feature is the added harmony, and there just aren't that many products out there that can do it so easily. Actually there aren't any products that can produce harmony this easily, so for that reason alone it should be worth the purchase.

My SM58 wireless finally gave out and I picked up the stellar Shure 87A (Beta) but it needs phantom power to run. My previous Vocalist Performer did not have this feature. So, I was in a spot to overnight this unit which comes with phantom power built in! Nice. IT IS as easy as they say. Plug the thing in, play your guitar through it and you're up and running. No more setting chords to songs which is a hassle for a solo (one man band) artist in the middle of show when people want you to go song to song. Not wait for you to set things up for 5 minutes before the next song begins. Manual was excellent but not really needed. It IS that simple.

Sound quality was stellar. Like that there is a switch for effects on or off (in case you want to tweek it on the board). Gives you some options. Harmonies are very high quality, and YES, they are in tune now thanks to the smart musicIQ that puts the harmony in tune on the fly (with your guitar). No more guessing what key your in (especially off tunings, like Goo goo dolls). Does take some tweeking to get the right amount of harmonies you want coming through. This was very easy for me though, especially having used the performer previously (just as nice, but you have to select the key your playing in).
No extra noise. Very quiet and clean when not being used.
Like I said, I'm using this with a Shure 87A with phantom power on, then going direct to my board (Mackie 808S). I plug my guitar in the "in" and "thru" jacks, to my pedal, then to my amp (Behringer). Then go from my amp out to the board. Stellar sounds by all. Very simple, effective setup. I play a variety of country and rock and it handles all "in" key, everytime now. Also comes with a variety of reverb effects and compressor. Phantom power is a very nice feature as well (turns on and off).

Only have used it once so far. Seemed to hold up through the nights set without a problem with me stomping on it.

Not used so far.

This is an excellent match for me from doing country harmony like Alabama to the harmonies of today's rock like Nickelback use consistently. I was seriously impressed and it made me sound a notch above (now that it's guided to the guitar chords)! No more guessing at one key through a chorus that changes multiple keys! And oh, how about them country songs or rock songs that go up 1 or 2 octaves on certain end chorus'! No problem now. Goes up with your guitar key switches! Awesome.
I've been playing solo now for 12 years and have reliably used a Performer throughout. This is the next level! Very cool. Especially for solo artists, although I would use this in a band without a question either!
I would definitely replace this thing if it were stolen! (damn roadies!)
I love everything about this pedal (effect). It just made my life one step simpler.
I was thinking of the TC Electronics effect board which I hear is stellar as well. But this makes it simple for the live guy! I'm not working in a studio when I play out! I want setup times within a half hour and be on time, in key. This product delivers!

This product doesn't get any easier to use. I literally got home, took it out of the box, hooked it up, and started singing. You can play with the harmony levels, or just take a minute and read the short manual, which tells you a standard level is about 11 o'clock. I could not stop playing with this device. I've waited so long for something like this to be released and it is better than I imagined. Also allows you to sing more effortlessly and on key.

I really tried to keep an open ear to hear if this was just producing synth-type notes as a harmony, or actually duplicating my voice, and it definitely duplicates the voice, or gets about as close as you can to it. No one wants an Alvin and the Chipmunks type harmonizer. This is far from it. Best on the market for a long time to come. Props to Digitech on this one.

You won't be disappointed.

I saw this unit reviewed in a recording magazine, went to my local store and said, man you guys need to get one of these...they had one. I bought it and within minutes of getting home and set up was singing old Van Morrison, Eagles & America tunes. What a blast. It really is very easy to use. It's simply a matter of finding the right harmonies for the song type. The one knob compressor, reverb and vocal enhancer work great. I've already used it live several times and I can tell from the audiences reactions they like it. It's like adding 2 more singers to our 3 piece band.

The unit sounds very good. The harmonies sound pretty darn good. The reverb is very good for being a simple 1 knob effect. The compressor is very useful. Just a good sounding very useful box.

Well I've only had it a few weeks, but it's held up to a handful of live gigs no problem.

I've never used the customer support

I've been playing live for 20 years and do a minimum of 125 shows a year.Buying this pedal has actually made me regain an almost childlike interest back into music. It reminds me of buying my first guitar effects pedal. It's fun. You don't have to play the effect any more and be distrcted by complicated menus etc..you can simply pick up your guitar and sing. In a world of complicated gadgets that have way to many features, the ease of this pedal is a welcome change. I've already ordered the live 4 version. I've always played in a band, but wanted to do a little acoustic solo show. Just practicing with this unit and hearing the sound has encouraged me to go ahead and put a show together. It has also given the band a chance to maybe take on some songs we would maybe not normally have done. Thanks Digitech.

I just bought this unit yesterday after trying it in the store first and then going directly to a band rehearsal. To say this thing is easy to use is an understatement as I am a confirmed technophobe. Basically you just connect it and start singing. When I did a solo version of Blue Bayou in our drummer's basement studio and kicked it in on the chorus, he was startled and asked where I was hiding the chick singer doing the high harmony. I was amazed myself and having been a pro for over 30 years, it takes more than it used to. The only thing I would have like to see was a footswitch that would allow you to add a third part midsong without having to stoop down and hit it. The mix takes some fiddling with to get a proper balance but a good tip would be to try and record a few tunes like I did. That being said, I think this machine is idiot proof.

When I tried this on a Gatlin Bros. song, I sounded like all 3 of them together and I was very impressed with the built in compression and reverbs. It eliminates the need for outboard effects on your vocals and for what I figured would be an extra 7 or 8 hundred bucks for them, I paid $360.00 Canadian for a do it all unit for any singer in a band doing covers without the benefit of 3 great singers or just to fatten up a solo voice using the doubling effects. The 9 rating is because you have to tweak the mix control to find the right balance between the lead vocal and the harmonies selected. The built in guitar tuner is a great feature as well and gives you silent tuning without another box on the floor.

I haven't had it long enough to give an opinion but have used their guitar effects for a long time and had no prolems. It also seems to be very quiet as well.

Never called them.

I play country and blues in a 4 piece format and this works fine for that. Been playing over 30 years and always had the hardest time finding the right combination of complementary voices. With this unit it sounds like me cubed and the other guys can smile and concentrate on their instuments. I play a Godin Acousticaster and Fender Tele thru a whole bunch of stuff with Peavey and Marshall amps. The thing I like the most is the ease of use for this unit (see above). Some sort of Microphone stand mount would be very useful. The guy in the store asked me to check out a TC Electronics unit that was 3 times the price in the store to compare and 8 of us could not get the thing up and running as it had to be programmed for each song and key rendering it moot. With the Digitech I can change keys mid song (say up a half step) and it comes with me on the fly without having to consult the design engineer to figure out how to program it. This thing is probably the best bang for the bucks since the Deluxe Reverb came out in the 60's