DigiTech STUDIOVOCALISTEX Manual
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DigiTech STUDIOVOCALISTEX Manual

DigiTech STUDIOVOCALISTEX Manual

Vocal harmony processor
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EX Version 1.10

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Summary of Contents for DigiTech STUDIOVOCALISTEX

  • Page 1 EX Version 1.10...

  • Page 2: Safety Instructions

    EN 60065 EMC: EN 55022 (1987): IEC 65 (1993) CISPR 22 (1993) Class B European Contact: Your local DigiTech Sales and Service Office or Amendment 1 (1987) EN 50082-1 (1992) International Sales Office Amendment 2 (1989) 3 Overlook Drive Unit #4...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    TABLE OF CONTENTS AC Power & Safety Warnings ..........inside cover Program List .
  • Page 4 Studio Vocalist EX Program List Program Name Program Type Hints SILKY THICKENER Auto Doubling Sing or play a vocal track. No front panel or MIDI input required STEREO DOUBLER Doubled voice left, input voice right MONO DOUBLER One double voice plus input voice panned center GROUP DOUBLER Loose, four voice doubling effect VOICE THICKENER...
  • Page 5 Program Name Program Type Hints PCorr 1 Hit a note Pitch Correction Hit a note from the front panel or a MIDI keyboard while singing. PCorr 2 Major scale Select the key from the front panel keyboard PCorr 3 Minor scale “...
  • Page 7 INTRODUCTION Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the DigiTech Studio Vocalist EX. This product is the flagship of the DigiTech Vocalist line of products. It offers a clean and quiet audio path, excellent real time har- mony voice generation and sturdy hardware design to provide years of trouble-free service.

  • Page 8: Front Panel

    SETUP Front Panel 1) LCD display Provides visual feedback of all operating modes including performance, editing and utility modes. 2) LED displays The Input LED monitors the incoming signal from the Mic and Line inputs. The 0dB LED lights 3 dB before the onset of clipping. The MIDI LED indicates that the Studio Vocalist EX is receiving MIDI.

  • Page 9: Back Panel

    6) Edit mode group The Edit button presents the parameter editing screens from within Factory, User and Song modes. The Exit button backtracks through successive menu layers in all editing and programming modes. The Store button offers the option of saving an edited program in the User bank.
  • Page 10 The MIDI Thru jack transmits an exact copy of any MIDI information received at the MIDI input. 7) Footswitch jack 1/4" stereo jack for a DigiTech FS-300 footswitch to provide remote con- trol of Bypass, Program and Song functions. 8) Expansion port This removeable plate is to accomodate extra hardware for the optional digital I/O card.

  • Page 11: Audio Connection Examples

    Audio Connection Examples Basic Audio Setup The drawing at left represents the simplest audio setup. You would most likely use this in live performance or if you are recording with a mixer that has a limited number of inputs. Connect as follows: •...

  • Page 12: Midi Connection Examples

    MIDI Connection Examples Basic MIDI Setup This setup could be used for a live performance or live recording situation. The Studio Vocalist EX can recognize the chords you play and output the appropriate harmony or you could use a Vocoder preset to play the exact harmony notes you need. These concepts are explained in greater detail later on in this manual.

  • Page 13: Setting Levels, Generating A Good Signal

    PERFORMANCE This chapter discusses the main operating features of the Studio Vocalist EX. It begins with setting the correct levels and proceeds with discus- sions of the different harmony modes and their uses. We assume that you have connected your Studio Vocalist EX according to the diagrams on the previous pages and that you are familiar with the other devices in your system.

  • Page 14: Program Name

    Loading Programs The Studio Vocalist EX is shipped from the factory with the first factory program selected once it is powered up. Turn the Data Wheel knob to scroll through the different factory programs. Programs are loaded auto- matically as you turn the wheel. Programs can also be loaded via MIDI program change.

  • Page 15: Loading Programs From The Front Panel,The Lcd Display Window .12 The Harmony Controls, Understanding The Five Harmony Types

    The style naming conventions are are described in the “Understanding the Five Harmony Types” section. The Harmony Controls For musically correct harmonies to be generated automatically, you must provide the Studio Vocalist EX with some musical information. It’s just like when you are playing with other musicians;...

  • Page 16: Chordal, Scalic

    These two Harmony types are for more • Chromatic specific uses. Chromatic doesn't require any special musical control. Used in Unison presets to thicken the sound of the Lead vocal. • Pitch Correct Pitch Correct can take input from a pitch bend wheel, front panel keyboard or a MIDI note.

  • Page 17: Vocoder

    Programs based on Scalic harmony have a selection of different scales you Note: Scalic har- can choose from by pressing the softkeys. For example, the “Everlys” pro- mony programs gram (#41) has 3 different major scales and two minors as do many of the that generate a other Scalic-based programs.

  • Page 18: Pitch Correct

    Chromatic Chromatic mode does not require the Studio Vocalist EX’s intelligent har- mony because the harmony notes always remain a fixed interval away from the input note. This harmony type is used in programs that feature unison, octave, or fifth interval harmonies. You do not need to enter key information when you load Chromatic harmony programs.

  • Page 19: Using Styles, The Menu System

    EDITING This chapter describes the general principles of editing in the Studio Vocalist EX and the individual editing modes in detail. To reduce the amount of redundant information, the general procedures, menu system and controls are described at the beginning of the chapter followed by detailed discussions of each of the edit parameters.
  • Page 20 The Edit Button When pressed from Factoryor User Programs mode, the Edit button pre- sents the Parameter/Style Select screen. Once a parameter is selected, another press of the Edit button enters the Style Modify screens. When pressed from Songs mode, the Edit button presents the Arrangement screen.

  • Page 21: Gender

    The Store Button The Store button allows you to save any changes you have made to a program or style. You can also use it to copy programs and styles to other locations. Store can be pressed in any Studio Vocalist EX mode except for Utilities.

  • Page 22: Detune

    Press the Right Arrow button to go to the Gender settings screen. You will see the settings for Gender #1 on the left and #2 on the right. Select which Gender setting you want to change with the softkeys and turn the Data Wheel to make the changes. Detune The Detune styles add a subtle “out-of-tuneness”...

  • Page 23: Vibrato

    6. To edit the amount of Pitch Randomization, press the Right Arrow button. Turn the Data Wheel to adjust to the desired value. Vibrato Adding Vibrato to the Studio Vocalist EX’s harmonies is another way of adding realism. Vibrato is the regular modulation of a voice’s pitch that lends interest to an otherwise static note.

  • Page 24: Scoop

    other voices for editing. The softkeys are also be used to raise or lower values. 5. To edit the Vibrato Rate, press the Right Arrow button to move to the next edit screen. Select one of the voices with the softkeys and use the Data Wheel to edit the value.

  • Page 25: Timing

    To edit the Scoop parameters: Use the Data Wheel to select the program you want to edit and press the Edit button. Press the softkey that corresponds to Scoop. (Scp) Select a different style preset using the Data Wheel. If you are satis- fied with loading a different style, refer to the “Storing your Edits”...

  • Page 26: Mix

    when no harmony is heard and you might want to soften the jump from silence to the harmony voices. If you sing a sustained note and then press a key on your keyboard, a slower Attack makes the harmony voices fade in a bit more gradually. The Release parameter adds a slight sustain effect to the harmony voices that is only audible if you release the keyboard note while you are still singing.
  • Page 27 Harmony/Lead Mix This parameter varies the mix between your uneffected input voice and the sum of the harmony voices. Both settings are interactive, that is, set- ting either sets both. The relative levels are displayed in percent. Harmony Voice Levels The volume of each of the four voices are adjusted independently.

  • Page 28: Harmony Editing, Changing Softkey Assignments

    Harmony Editing The Studio Vocalist EX has automatic functions capable of producing musically correct harmonies and a large number of factory programs crafted to fit many performance situations. There may be, however, instances where the factory harmonies need to be edited to to suit your requirements.

  • Page 29: Editing Individual Harmony Styles

    When you are satisfied, press Store once to save your changes. See “Storing Your Edits” at the end of this chapter for more details on saving. Level 2: Editing Individual Harmony Styles If you can’t find the harmony style you need from the pre-programmed harmony styles, you can enter the next editing level and create or modify one for yourself.
  • Page 30 Because they are corrected, the harmony notes “step” up and down even when your voice is sliding between notes. When you want the harmonies to follow your exact pitch, out-of-tune notes and all, you can set this parameter to “Smooth” bending. Smooth har- monies sound more natural and allow you to perform “Blue”...

  • Page 31: Customizing A Harmony

    To edit the harmony style parameters: Use the Data Wheel to select the program you want to edit and press the Edit button. Press the softkey that corresponds to the Harmony parameter. The LCD shows the the current softkey selected by an arrow, its harmony style in quotation marks, and the other softkey assignments.
  • Page 32 Custom harmony variations are used in the Everlys program and many of the other Scalic harmony programs. These harmony styles are based on a major or minor Scalic harmony that has been edited so that certain input notes produce different harmonies from those in the strict definition of a these scales.

  • Page 33: Naming Programs And Styles, Storing Your Edits

    Naming Your Programs and Styles When you have completed your editing you have the option of modifying or creating a 16 character name for the program. Fifteen character style names are available for harmony styles as well. The humanizing styles can also be named but with 10 character names only.
  • Page 34 Press Store again to accept the default name and destination. If you want to, you can change the destination with the Data Wheel. To store styles to the user bank: (Style Store) After editing the parameters of a style, press the Store button. A Style Store is initiated only from Style Modify layer.

  • Page 35: Midi

    UTILITIES Overview The Utilities mode allows you to make global (affecting all programs) configuration changes to the Studio Vocalist EX, including MIDI chan- nel assignments, audio configurations, program, song and style initializa- tion and user preferences. To enter and exit Utilities mode: Press the Utilities button in any of the other operating modes including Programs, Edit, and Songs modes.
  • Page 36 The Key & Harmony channel allows you to select different keys or Note: If you decide to chords (depending on the harmony type) and any of the eight different use the option of access- harmony styles assigned to a program via MIDI. ing styles by MIDI pro- gram changes, the key The 4 MIDI Channel Vocoder setting allows each of the four individual...

  • Page 37: Midi Selection Of Key And Harmony

    MIDI Selection of Key & Harmony Controlling your harmonies can be done through MIDI as an alternative to using the front panel. You have the option of independently selecting key or chord root and style. There are several ways in which this can be done to provide you the most flexibility in live performance or sequenc- ing.
  • Page 38 Controller 16 is a MIDI continuous controller that can be used to select key and harmony together. The Studio Vocalist EX’s front panel key- board and softkeys transmit this information over MIDI when you press them and can be recorded and played back from a sequencer. Each button has its own CC16 value and is shown in the following graphic: MIDI Notes give you another way to combine program changes and key and harmony changes into one MIDI channel.
  • Page 39 Program Change messages can also be used to select key and harmony simultaneously. The following table shows how they are assigned. The top row represents the softkeys, the keyboard represents the chord root or key and the table shows the resulting program change number. To choose MIDI Key &...
  • Page 40 blow into a breath control device. It is with CC’s that you introduce dynamics and emotion into your harmony performance. Studio Vocalist EX parameters you can modify by continuous control and Note: CC’s their default MIDI mappings: except Volume (CC7) reset to their default values •...

  • Page 41: Midi Keyboard Split Point, Midi Song Utilities

    To set the Vocoder mode split point: Press the Utilities button from any mode; this presents the Note: The split UTILITIES main menu. point is only available for the Press the MIDI softkey; this presents the MIDI Utilities sub-menu. single channel Vocoder modes.
  • Page 42 This utility can also control the reception and transmission of program changes. This is handy if you want the Studio Vocalist EX to retransmit any program remappings you have created. These messages are sent from the MIDI Output jack The program change receive and transmit options are: Ignore MIDI program changes •...
  • Page 43 Any incoming Song Select command can be: Mapped to the same song number in the Studio Vocalist EX • Mapped to any other song number • • Ignored by the Studio Vocalist EX (no change from previously load- ed song) To edit the MIDI Song mapping: 1.

  • Page 44: Midi Program Dump Utilities

    The Studio Vocalist EX’s MIDI Dump Utilities allow you transmit pro- Note - Supporting earlier grams, songs, and utility settings as MIDI system exclusive messages to DigiTech Harmony prod- other Studio Vocalist EXs, or computer-based sysex (system exclusive) ucts: To maintain compati- librarian programs for future retrieval.
  • Page 45 To dump a single program to an original Studio Vocalist (non-EX): Press the Utilities button from any mode; this presents the UTILITIES main menu. Press the MIDI softkey; this presents the MIDI Utilities sub-menu. Press the softkey corresponding to Dump. Press the Right Arrow button once.
  • Page 46 To dump all songs to another Studio Vocalist EX: Press the Utilities button from any mode; this presents the UTILITIES main menu. Press the MIDI softkey; this presents the MIDI Utilities sub-menu. If you are dumping all programs to a sysex librarian, ensure that the librarian is ready to receive a sysex dump.

  • Page 47: I/O Utilities, Initialization Utilities

    I/O Utilities (Input /Output) Quad or Stereo Mode The Output Mode selector lets you choose between stereo or quad out- put modes. The stereo mode assigns all outputs (dry voice plus harmony voices) to the left and right rear-panel outputs, with the associated pan values defined in the current program’s Mix setting.
  • Page 48 Pressing the Init softkey from within the Utilities mode presents the Initialize Utilities sub menu. From the Init screen you can choose to initialize: • a user Program • any Song • all unused styles all programs, styles and songs (factory restore) •...

  • Page 49: Footswitch Utilities

    Footswitch Utilities The Studio Vocalist EX Footswitch Utilities allow you to reconfigure the functions of the DigiTech FS300 3-button footswitch to meet your per- sonal preferences. Any button on the FS300 can be configured to control: •...

  • Page 50: User Utilities, Synthesizer Mode

    Use the Data Wheel to select the desired footswitch action. Repeat steps 3 and 4 for other button assignments, if desired. Press the Utilities button once again to exit; this will return you to the mode from which you entered. User Utilities The User Utilities allow you to select between eight different levels of LCD display contrast, and to enable or disable voice editing of harmony...

  • Page 51: Audio Utilities

    cue-in note will be produced at the outputs. This feature is only available within Utilities mode. When you set the internal synthesizer to On, you can return to Programs mode and press any note on the front panel keyboard to play the note through the Studio Vocalist EX’s pitch shifters.
  • Page 52 Ess Sensitivity The Ess Sensitivity adjustment allows you to decrease the amount of sibilant energy (i.e. “ess”, “tee” and “ch” sounds) presented to the input of the Studio Vocalist EX’s pitch recognition circuitry. An increase in the Ess Sensitivity parameter increases the Studio Vocalist EX’s ability to “ignore”...
  • Page 53 added to the dry voice in the audio outputs. Once the input level again drops to less than -20 dB, the harmonies will be disabled and removed from the audio outputs. To adjust the Harmony Gating Threshold: Press the Utilities button from any mode; this presents the UTILITIES main menu.

  • Page 54: Playing, Creating, Editing, Naming, Arranging Songs

    “on the fly”. Song mode also pro- vides a convenient way to select key or chord change sequences from a Digitech FS300 footswitch. Choose different Styles, scales or special effects by entering them into a list that can be stepped through, almost like a manual sequencer.
  • Page 55 which demo song you have chosen, you may see the program change also. Creating Your Own Songs The arrangement and section editing screens in Song mode make it easy to create your own songs for non-MIDI performance. Each song in the Studio Vocalist EX is made up of up to 16 different sections with a choice of preset names such as Verse, Chorus etc..
  • Page 56 Section Letter Key or Chord Step Number Program Number Program Name Step Insert/Delete Name Editor Press the Insert softkey to add a new step to your section. This pre- sents the Step Insert screen. In this screen you can choose a different chord root or key, harmony style and program for each step in this section.
  • Page 57 Use the Data Wheel, softkeys and keyboard to enter the new infor- mation. The Arrow buttons are still active so you can make changes to additional steps. Press the Exit button twice to exit and store your changes if you decide to keep them.
  • Page 58 If, however, you have other parts of your song you would like harmonies in, you will probably want to create some more sections and then piece them together in the Arrangement editing screen. To create more sections: Repeat steps 1 to 4 above. Make sure to load the song you have just started even though it may still be called “Blank song #”.
  • Page 59 Changing Song Keys (Transposing) If you want to change the key of your song to accommodate a different singer or a sore throat, you can do so with the Song Transpose feature. All of the chords in your songs will automatically shift to the new key and you can decide whether to temporarily change the key or make the change permanent.
  • Page 60 BASIC HARMONY CONCEPTS Overview A well-crafted vocal harmony can do a great deal towards enhancing a musical selection. The contrast between a lone singing voice and a group of voices signing together makes the music that much more interesting. But harmonies can be somewhat difficult to understand, so in this chap- ter, we will try and demystify this process.
  • Page 61 The opposite of a diatonic harmony is chromatic. A chromatic scale is defined as: a scale type that uses all 12 semitones. Notice that the previous scale example had 8 notes. The chromatic scale uses all the sharp and flat notes in between as well. There are 12 of each of the major, minor, etc.
  • Page 62 The word “scalic” has at its root the word “scale” and this is important. To the Studio Vocalist EX, a scale is: a group of notes within one octave that falls in one of the following scale types; Chromatic, Major, Minor, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Wholetone, Diminished, Dorian and “Blues”.

  • Page 63: Specifications

    Studio Vocalist EX is turned off, this may be due to a dead battery. Take the Studio Vocalist EX to a DigiTech dealer or service centre to have the battery replaced. In normal use, a battery should last three to five years.

  • Page 64: Midi Implementation Chart

    MIDI Implementation Chart IVL Technologies Ltd. Date: February 1998 Studio Vocalist EX Version: 1.00 Function Transmitted Recognised Remarks Basic Channel Default Changed 1-16 1 - 16 memorized Mode Default Mode 3 Messages Altered ******** Note Number 0-127 0-127 Key&Harmony Select, Vocoder and Pitch Correct, True Voice...
  • Page 65 .6=edit MIDI MESSAGES MIDI PARAMETER EDIT format (edit buffer) : format: Example: procedure number 5Dh procedure number 60h PACKED { effect number query type (1=edit buffer) style number data size hi parm number data size lo value MSB (0,0,0,0,0,0,value lo.7,value hi.7) data value hi (6-0 bits) value lo (6-0 bits)
  • Page 66 Translate each number into binary MIDI EDIT BUFFER EDIT 0,0 hex = 0000,0000 binary 8,3 hex = 1000,0011 binary format: result: 0000,0000 1000,0011 procedure number 5Ch Remove the most significant bits (MSB) - the leading PACKED { numerals - and make them zeros edit buffer data result: 0000,0000 0000,0011 removed 0 &...
  • Page 67 MIDI SYSEX Dump 1 Studio Vocalist EX Program Formats F0h - Beginning of SYSEX Message 00h 00h 10h - DigiTech Product Identifier SYSEX Header xxh - Channel # (7 bytes) 37h - Studio Vocalist EX Device ID 42h - Procedure number (Dump 1 Program)
  • Page 68 MIDI SYSEX Dump All Studio Vocalist EX Program Formats F0h - Beginning of SYSEX Message 00h 00h 10h - DigiTech Product Identifier SYSEX Header xxh - Channel # (7 bytes) 37h - Studio Vocalist EX Device ID 42h - Procedure number (Dump 1 Program)
  • Page 69 MIDI SYSEX Dump 1 Studio Vocalist (non EX) Program Formats (Note: this dump will also be accepted by a Vocalist Workstation (non-EX version)) F0h - Beginning of SYSEX Message 00h 00h 10h - DigiTech Product Identifier SYSEX Header xxh - Channel #...
  • Page 70 13 delay 0 0 to 250 (for 0 to 2.50) MIDI Sysex Parameters 14 delay 1 0 to 250 (for 0 to 2.50) PARAMETER EDITS 15 delay 2 0 to 250 (for 0 to 2.50) 16 delay 3 0 to 250 (for 0 to 2.50) PROGRAM EFFECT STYLE: (EFFECT: 1 STYLE: 0) 17 random 0 0 to 10...
  • Page 71 VARIATION STYLE: (EFFECT: 1 STYLES: 7-14) 23 MIDI current CCparm 0 to 15, 20 to 119, 120=aftch, 121=none Style 7 = Variation 0 Style 8 = Variation 2 and so on up to Style 14 = Variation 7 24 MIDI current CCpol 0=-, 1=+ protected 25 MIDI KVS mode...
  • Page 72 50 USER uservoiceedit 0=OFF, 1=ON CONTROLLER SWITCHES AVAILABLE THRU MIDI SYSEX 51 USER footsw1 0=BypL, 1=BypM, 2=Pgm down, 1 NOTE KEY use controller absolute and note key 3=Pgm up, 4=Sng down, values 5=Sng up, 6=Stp down, 2 ARROW controller increment (right arrow) 7=Stp up, 8=Dat down, controller decrement (left arrow) 9=Dat up...
  • Page 73 Decimal / Hexadecimal /Binary Decimal / Hexadecimal Packed Table Bytes Table Decimal Hexadecimal Binary Decimal Hexadecimal Packed 0000 -100 FF9C 03 7F 1C 0001 FFCE 03 7F 4E 0010 FFE7 03 7F 67 0011 FFF6 03 7F 76 0100 FFFB 03 7F 7B 0101 FFFE...
  • Page 74 Telephone (801) 566-8800 Fax (801) 566-7005 International Distribution: 7 Farmington Road Amherst, New Hampshire 03031 U.S.A. Fax (603) 672-4246 DigiTech is a registered trademark of DOD Electronics Corporation Copyright 1998 DOD Electronics Corporation Studio Vocalist EX VERSION 1.10 Mar 02/98...

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