TC-Helicon VOICELIVE 3 EXTREME, Reference Manual

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Editing the Vocal layer
VoiceLive 3 – Reference manual (2014-03-29) 59
Synth block / tab
Synth effects are created when a “carrier” sound
modifies a signal (your voice) to create an inter-
esting combination of the two elements.
Common use includes the classical guitar “talk
box”, where the notes played on an electrical
guitar dictate the pitch and sound of the voice
output, regardless of what you sing. You don’t
have to use a guitar though – it could also be
sounds from a keyboard or other instrument.
VoiceLive 3 offers polyphonic (more than one
note at a time) Synth effects, so you can play
chords on your instrument and have them act as
the “carrier” sounds. It’s a really great effect to
have fun with!
We have also included several “carrier” sounds
in VoiceLive 3, so you may use the Synth effect
block without an instrument signal.
Tips and tricks for working
with the Synth effect
– When using the Synth block to generate the
well-known talk box effect of the seventies, it
really pays to know exactly the notes you want
to output and practice them ahead of time. It
sounds great when you play the right melody –
but the effect can lose its luster pretty quickly
if you meander around or play the wrong notes
for the song.
– With the above in mind, there’s nothing wrong
with shredding a crazy solo either!
– Synth effects tend to best be used as an ac-
cent during a particular passage of a song,
not full-time.
– Manipulating the way you sing/speak words
into the microphone while Synth is active
can greatly increase the effectiveness of the
sound. Elongating vowels and/or over-pro-
nouncing consonants will really make the ef-
fect stand out.