TC Electronic VoiceWorks

For just keying in the settings directly it is easy enough to use. Once you have become familiar with the principles you just make changes and test the result immediately. My only problem here is a smaller one: double clicking the appropriate key is difficult. On average I need 3 attempts to get the right speed and open up the menu. So for making setups using the panel key I would rate ease of use at 9. However, I mainly need to control the unit through midi, and has has been a pain. In fact, I have gone on using my 12 year old Digitech for 6 months after the purchase of VoiceWorks, just because of the midi issue. Why? Because the manual is close to worthless when it comes to using midi. Largely, there is only two pages describing the midi implementation. It only gives the CC#'s. Well, it hardly does that, because often it gives you things like "Scale Type 0-5". Then you have to figure out what those digits refer to. There is some relation to how things are ordered on the panel screen, but not always, as far as I can tell. There is no quick introduction to using midi, no good examples like there were in my old Digitech manual. Some essential information is also split between the quick guide and the manual, so that you have to consult both. Thus, the manual should be rewritten with detailed examples of how to set things up directly and through midi. And midi implementation should be fully documented. Because of the poor guidance on midi I can only give them 5 for ease of use as a total.

I think this unit sounds fine. I am not a singer, but a singing guitar player (if you get the idea). My voice is around average, but this unit makes it sound better than anything else I have tried. Even when recording it can make a plain SM58 sound as good as decent studio condenser. I like the effects: compressor, reverb, delay. The harmonies sound good. Now I even have a couple of girls singing harmony with me. Well, yes harmonizers do sound a little artificial. Particularly because they follow the lead voice too perfectly. TC-Helicon has added some randomization which improves this, and if you do lower the level of the harmonies, so they are not too prominent, they sound close to real in the background.

Thickening works fine too and does a good job adding fullness to my all to average voice. I guess pitch correction could save a slightly out of tune note here and there, so I keep it on, but very soft correction only. If it wasn't there, I wouldn't miss. So either I am good at hitting the pitch or I am so lousy that I can't hear when I get it wrong.

I bought VoiceWorks to have a single unit for doing all processing I need for my live vocal. And in this respect I am happy with it, it is only the documentation of the midi implementation that is lacking. I am the kind of guy who is suspicious about those rating at 10. So believe me, 9 is an excellent rating when I am the judge.

I think every manufacturer making equipment like this should provide a simple program for backup and restore of the settings. I have found out how to get the settings into my sequencer as a sysx dump, but not how to restore the settings. Even after downloading their very hard to read sysx manual. So until I have this sorted out, I don't feel completely secure. Otherwise no problems with the unit.

Got an email response when I told them their documentation of the midi implementation was lousy. They basically confirmed that what I had found I on my own behalf was correct.

I play rock

Incredibly easy to find and tweak the sounds you are looking for. The parameters are fairly simple to navigate through for anyone familliar with processors and the numerous menu's and buttons. They are all spelled out and looking right at you in the display, so you know what you are messing with. The manual is designed niceley and gives you just the right amount of information without overwhelming you. They even have a quick start guide that get's you up and going in no time at all. Kudos to TC for that aspect!

This is strictly a vocal processor I've run many different mic types through it, but for this review I used a Shure Beta58A. The clarity is awesome in this unit. No noise, hum, digital distortion, etc. Set your initial mic level and your good to go. The harmony section is great, (what else would you expect from TC) the pitch correction also very good without sounding digital or processed (remember this is for slight pitch variation. If your vocalist can't sing well to begin with, this unit will not make them better). I wasn't too thrilled over the double tracking feature, but it does provide a means to fatten up the vocals for live situations (I guess). For an all in one unit, the reverb and delays are great!

Brand new unit, so time will tell here.

They were very helpfull and responsive to my two emails I sent them.

This is an awesome little unit geared for live performances, but stacks up well against it's big brother (voice Prism). The quality is incredible and the sound is on the mark. If I lost this unit, I would definitely fork out another $699.00 to replace it. Keep up the great work and R&D TC!