TC-Helicon VoiceTone E1 - Vocal Echo and Delay Pedal Manual

Important Safety Instructions

1. Read these instructions.
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with dry cloth.
7. Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
8. Do not install near heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
10. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.

• To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock, do not expose this equipment to dripping or splashing and ensure that no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, are placed on the equipment.
• Do not install in a confined space.

Service

• All service must be performed by qualified personnel.

You are cautioned that any change or modifications not expressly approved in this manual could void your authority to operate this equipment.

EMC/EMI
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B Digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules.

Introduction

VoiceTone E1 adds depth to live vocals with a wide range of echo effects

Vocal echo and slapback have long been used to create a sense of acoustic space in vocal recordings and live performance. VoiceTone E1 offers singers the ability to recreate these effects in an affordable and easy-to-use effect pedal.

Features

• 13 preset echo styles from "Slap" to "Tap" to "FX"
• Footswitch tapping can match echo repeats to song tempo
• Analog button produces softer echo sound from the days of tape recording
• Easy inline connection between standard mic and mixer
• Phantom power always available
• USB connection to free VoiceSupport application offering updates, product-specific news and more
• Mic Control (patent pending) allows remote on/off switching with optional TC-Helicon MP-75 mic

1. Effect on/off footswitch
2. MIC GAIN input level control
3. Style selector (13 positions)
4. Feedback: Controls echo duration
5. MIC: Balanced XLR mic input
6. OUT: Balanced XLR mono output
7. Power in
8. USB connector to computer
9. Input level LED; green=signal, red=clip
10. Dry & Wet (echo) mix control
11. MIC CONTROL via optional MP-75 mic: in=on
12. Analog on/off: Reduces highs on echoes
13. Effect on/off and delay time LED (Tap mode).

Connecting

MIC jack
Connect your mic here using a balanced XLR cable. Phantom power is always on.

OUT jack
Connect to your PA mixer, another VoiceTone pedal or powered speaker.

Power in
Connect the supplied 12VDC power supply.

USB
Connect to a computer running the TC-Helicon VoiceSupport application for registration, latest version and tips. Download VoiceSupport at www.tc-helicon.com

Note

• Turn down your PA when making all connections
• The latest version of VoiceSupport is available free from www.tc-helicon.com\voicesupport
• The USB connection does not provide power to the unit

Phantom Power

There is no switch to enable phantom power on the VoiceTone singles. Phantom power is available when the product is powered up. Microphones that don't require phantom power will operate properly.

First Setup and Use

1. Turn down your PA's master volume.
2. Connect and power up unit. You can cycle the footswitch to light the LED and confirm unit is powered.
3. Connect your mic and PA as shown in the diagram. For live performance, a USB connection to a computer is not required.
4. Sing into your mic while adjusting the MIC GAIN control so that the input level LED flashes green to orange. Brief flashes of red on the LED on your loudest singing are ok.
5. Set the Dry/Wet knob to the center notch.
6. Activate the echo effect with the footswitch (LED will light).
7. Sing while turning up your PA volume to a comfortable level.

The Style Selector

"Styles" are preset echo effects offering a wide range of sounds you can load quickly. They are grouped into four categories:

Slap: These 2 styles mimic the "slapback" or "flutter" echo sounds used by Rockabilly artists in the 50's, among others. They employ a pre-programmed short delay with no repeats.

Echo: The timing of these 3 styles is independent of the Tap delay time. They are intended to offer generalized non-tempo-matched echo sounds.

Tap: These 6 styles can be used when you want the echo repeats to land on the beats or on beat divisions of your song. They will use the most recent Tap tempo you have set and place the echoes on the beat subdivision listed for the current style. See below for more.

FX: These 2 styles employ a steep audio filter to offer special-effect echo sounds. They have preset delay times.

Setting the Tap Delay Tempo

Having echo repeats fall on song beats or beat subdivisions can add rhythmic interest, especially with longer echo times. You can set a tempo and use styles from the Tap group to make this effect. Note that the Slap, Echo and FX styles have pre-programmed delay times but they still can be tapped after being selected to fit your song tempo if you want. The following is a quick start for tempo setting:

1. Select the quarter note () style from the Tap group.
2. Hold the footswitch for a moment. The LED will flash at the last tempo set or a default.
3. Tap a few beats to set tempo. Tempo is measured by the time between the last two taps.
4. After 3 sec Tap mode will exit or you can hold the footswitch to exit Tempo Tap mode. Now you can experiment with the different styles and other tempo settings.

• An alternative to using the different Tap styles is to remain on Quarter note and tap in any beat division
• Echo on/off status will remain the same when you enter Tap Tempo mode

The Tap Styles

The Tap styles are shown in standard musical notation as follows. The following assumes a tempo of 120 Beats Per Minute (BPM).

Quarter Note. Echo time is 500 ms. Echoes land directly on the beat.

Eighth Note. 250 ms. Straight eighths feel.

Triplet Eighth. 166 ms. Dense shuffle feel.

Dotted Eighth. 375 ms. Think "Get Back" by the Beatles

Quarter Note Triplet. 333 ms. Sparse shuffle feel.

Dotted Quarter. 750 ms. Sparse syncopation feel.

The Feedback Control

This controls the number of repeats and thus the duration of the echo effect. All styles have preset feedback settings that don't rely on the position of the Feedback control. Adjusting Feedback will override the current style's feedback setting until another style is chosen. Setting this control to maximum when the Analog button is off will cause the echoes to loop indefinitely even if you turn the effect off with the footswitch. To stop the echoes in this case, change styles or turn the Feedback knob back to minimum for a moment.

Using Multiple VoiceTone Single Pedals

It is possible (even encouraged!) to use more than one VoiceTone Singles pedal at a time. You only need to adjust the MIC GAIN control of the first pedal in the chain. On the rest, MIC GAIN should be set to the minimum (fully left) position. The order of the pedals is important. See the following for signal flow.

Microphone > T1 > C1 > D1 > H1 > X1 > E1 > R1 > To PA

Using the Mic Control Feature

Mic Control allows you to turn the main effect on and off from the optional TC-Helicon MP-75 mic. Each VoiceTone Single pedal has a switch labelled MIC CONTROL that can be pushed in allowing remote on/off control for that pedal. Mic Control can be used for single or multiple pedals on any or all pedals. When Mic Control is not desired, ensure the Mic Control switch is out.

Tips for Avoiding Feedback

• Ensure your monitor and/or PA speakers don't aim directly at the front of your mic
• Sing close to the mic, even touching the grill with your lips
• Try a super-cardioid dynamic mic such as TC-Helicon's MP-75 and MP-70
• Set your PA channel EQ and graphic EQ flatter or off
• Have your band play quieter on stage

FAQ

Why am I hearing distortion?
Likely the MIC GAIN knob is set too high. Ensure that the Input LED is green most of the time with only brief and rare peaks of red.

Can I use the product on an auxilliary send/return?
Yes. Ensure that the MIC GAIN knob is set to minimum to accept the line level signal from your mixer.
Note that the noise floor may rise slightly in this setup.

Will I need a DI box to connect to a mixer?
No.

Why is the product turning the effect on and off by itself?
This can happen when you have the MIC CONTROL knob pushed in and the Mic input is connected to a mixer send with "pseudo balanced" outputs. Unless you are using only the TC-Helicon MP-75 mic with the Mic Control feature, the MIC CONTROL knob should be out.