TC-Helicon Play Electric User Manual
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TC-Helicon Play Electric User Manual

Voice processor for electric guitarists
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Summary of Contents for TC-Helicon Play Electric

  • Page 1 English Manual...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Stereo (or mono) vocals and guitar Guitar amp page (1/5) Mono vocals and guitar amp Advanced Amp page Mono vocal and guitar with a TC-Helicon Guitar compressor page (2/5) FX150 Guitar µMod page (3/5) Mono vocals via FX150 and a guitar amp...

  • Page 3: Important Safety Instructions

    Important safety instructions Important safety instructions Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)
  • Page 4 When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over. 13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)
  • Page 5 Connect the equipment into an outlet on a cir- ► cuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult the dealer or an experienced ra- ► dio / TV technician for help. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 6: Before You Begin

    Before you begin Before you begin Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 7: About This Manual

    Please register your Play Electric This manual will help you understand and oper- If you still have questions after reading this ref- To register your Play Electric using the Voice- ate your Play Electric. erence manual, please read the FAQs, visit the...

  • Page 8: Introduction

    Introduction Introduction Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 9: Diagram Legend

    Read the… full manual. And if you ever find yourself without this manual: Power Input 1/8 inch jack GRND Lift On the bottom of your Play Electric , you will find USB Type A Power Input 1/8 inch jack GRND Lift...

  • Page 10: Diagrams

    There are a few things we would like you to keep in mind as you look at the diagrams: OUTPUTS GUITAR 1. Inputs to Play Electric will be to the left of the THRU back panel image. 2. Outputs from Play Electric will be to the right...

  • Page 11: Basics

    Basics Basics Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 12: Inputs And Outputs

    Use a 1/8” cable to connect any music source setup examples, see “Connection diagrams”. tric to read your chords for NaturalPlay key/scale you want to use to your Play Electric (especially detection, plug your guitar into the IN connector that 8-Track from your 1974 Comet). When an in-...
  • Page 13 GND switch “just the vocals and guitar”. This is a ground lift switch. If you experience hum while using Play Electric, try pressing the GND Power socket switch to reduce or remove the hum. Connect the included power supply. Your Play Electric will power up immediately.

  • Page 14: Gain Settings

    Presets concept is explained in “What are pre- Level Meter Works you’ve got powerful lungs! sets?”. The LED on the top of your Play Electric is used Preset Number for both vocal and guitar level metering. The unique preset number – i.e., the number of When setting the level for your microphone the slot where the preset is stored.
  • Page 15 If you have set the Genre selector to any other value than “All”, the currently selected genre is shown in the upper left corner of the display. In the screen shot above, it is “Harmony“. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 16: Switches And Operation

    TALK/Tuner mode, activating the STOP ► guitar tuner built into Play Electric. The guitar ERA (HOLD to erase) ► output is muted to allow tuning, but the dry voice Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)
  • Page 17 TC-Helicon website: your music. If you connect a TC-Helicon Switch-3 (optional) support.tc-helicon.com/entries/ to the PEDAL connector of your Play Electric, 21051886-scale-chart-for-TC-helicon-products/ When you are finished, stop tapping, and the you can use it to control all Loop features. screen will “time out” back to the preset screen.

  • Page 18: Control Knob And Arrow Buttons

    Edit, What are presets? Storing presets System or other menus. To use Play Electric effectively, you need to un- When you have made a change to a preset, sim- derstand the concept of Presets. ply press the STORE button.
  • Page 19 Blue soft Button and use the control knob to select the destination number for the preset. Press store again to complete the process. If you change your mind and don’t want to save the changes, simply press BACK. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 20: Soft Buttons

    To remove the current preset from your Favor- ► Vocal FX button There are six “soft” buttons on the Play Electric ites, press the FAVORITE button. – three on each side of the LC display. Press the Vocal FX button to open the Vocal FX To only browse your Favorite presets, press ►...
  • Page 21 Presets can be associated with multiple genres. Setup button Press the SETUP button to open the Setup menu, which controls the general functions of the device. This button is described in its own chapter: “Setup button/section” Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 22: Connection Diagrams

    Connection diagrams Connection diagrams Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 23: Mixer Setup

    Connection diagrams Play Electric back panel inputs and outputs The following connection diagrams show you some common ways to hook up Play Electric. For basic information about audio inputs and outputs, see “Inputs and outputs”. Mixer setup For connection to your mixer or PA, check out OUTPUTS this Craig’s Corner video:...

  • Page 24: Stereo (Or Mono) Vocals And Guitar

    This diagram shows connections for both Stereo and Mono PA applications. OUTPUTS GUITAR THRU If your Play Electric is set to Stereo, you’ll need to pan one channel left and the other channel right (or use a single Stereo channel) on your RIGHT LEFT MIC IN mixer.

  • Page 25: Mono Vocals And Guitar Amp

    OUTPUTS GUITAR vocal signals to a mixer or powered PA speaker. THRU RIGHT LEFT MIC IN PLAY ELECTRIC Setup example: Mono vocals and guitar amp Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 26: Mono Vocal And Guitar With A Tc-Helicon Fx150

    For additional control, you can opt to plug a mu- sic player into the Aux channel on the FX150, instead of Play Electric, giving you control of Vocals, Guitar and Aux independently. Signals will still be summed to mono at the output of the FX150.

  • Page 27: Mono Vocals Via Fx150 And A Guitar Amp

    Here, you can send the vocal signals to an FX150 OUTPUTS GUITAR and guitar signals to an amplifier. THRU RIGHT LEFT MIC IN FX150 Setup example: Mono vocals via FX150 and a guitar amp Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 28: Guitar And Vocals Via Fx150 And Stereo Out To A Pa

    PA In this setup, you can use the Headphone Out OUTPUTS GUITAR from Play Electric to send Guitar, Vocal and Aux THRU signals to your FX150 and send a stereo mix to the PA via the Play Electric XLR outputs.

  • Page 29: Stereo Pa And Tc-Helicon Guitar & Headphone Cable

    Guitar & Headphone cable If you own our Guitar &  Headphone cable (sold OUTPUTS GUITAR separately), you can use an external monitor THRU send to the Aux in on Play Electric to create a headphone/IEM mix. RIGHT LEFT MIC IN PLAY ELECTRIC Setup example: Stereo PA and guitar/headphone cable (not included) Play Electric –...

  • Page 30: Setup Button/Section

    Setup button/section Setup button/section Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 31: Input Page (1/8)

    Controls the way the two onboard RoomSense With the Voice setting, the RoomSense micro- microphones work. phones of your Play Electric are used as the pri- Input parameter mary vocal input. This setting is only available via Use the Input parameter to select the type of mi- Ambient setting headphones.
  • Page 32 LESS BRIGHT NG setting due to you hearing both the corrected signal The LESS BRIGHT NG is the same as the LESS from Play Electric and your own voice (via bone Tone Style parameter BRIGHT setting, but with the Gate function re- conduction in your noggin).

  • Page 33: Output Page (2/8)

    Use the USB Out Level parameter to adjust the On setting (with tone and global pitch correction) are sent overall level of the USB output from Play Electric. via the LEFT XLR output and vocal effects only With the On setting, Play Electric will attempt to Use this parameter to attenuate the signal if your (no dry) are sent via the RIGHT XLR output.

  • Page 34: Guitar Page (3/8)

    Use the Speaker Sim parameter to turn on and Go to the preset you’d like to copy the guitar ► off Play Electric’s Speaker Simulation. If you are effect settings FROM. connecting to a PA via the XLR output or to an Set the Global Guitar FX parameter to ON.

  • Page 35: System Page (4/8)

    Aux audio via headphones, but not pass equal to the latency of the currently enabled that audio to the PA. This is a great solution for Please note that when you connect a TC-Helicon effect blocks. Using more effect blocks will in- cost effective in-ear monitoring.

  • Page 36: System Page 2 (5/8)

    In this mode, the total available loop time is 15 ping within a preset, that tempo will remain even seconds. when you switch to another preset. Off setting Disables undo, freeing some memory for addi- tional looping. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)
  • Page 37 I.e. input + (Loop x 90%) = output (Run away! Scary math!) Most users find the default setting of 98% works well, but you may find a different setting that works best for you. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 38: Switch-3 Page (7/8)

    Gtr Boost ► ► Button 2 stops recording/playback and can be Gtr Compressor Tip: If you prefer to have Play Electric up on a ► ► used to erase the loop (by holding). Gtr µMod music stand, you can use “Preset DN”, “Preset ►...

  • Page 39: Product Info Page (8/8)

    The System Info page contains information about… the installed firmware version, ► serial number and ► manufacture date for your device. ► If you need to contact support, please have this information handy. See “Support resources”. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 40: Vocal Fx Button/Section

    Vocal FX button/section Vocal FX button/section Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)
  • Page 41 HIT button (or the button on a microphone supporting Mic Control) and will become active when the HIT button is lit. See the Setup section for instructions on how to activate Mic Control. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 42: Harmony Page (1/7)

    GUITAR IN ► Oct Up & Lower and tracks playing via the Aux in, the system will ► +7 Semitones read key/scale information from the guitar. If the ► -5 Semitones ► Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 43: Harmony Advanced Page

    “slide” between notes as you sing. The more Portamento you use, the more the Harmony voices will slide, instead of jump, from note to note. The 0 setting turns Portamento off. ► 100 is the maximum setting. ► Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 44: Double Page (2/7)

    Loose tim- ing can feel “larger” or more effected. Level parameter Use the Level parameter to control the overall level of the doubling effect. Press the right upper Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 45: Delay Page (3/7)

    Multitap 4 ► Multitap 5 ► Multitap 6 ► Classic Slap ► Set Time ► Level parameter Use the Level parameter to control the overall level of the delay effect. Press the right upper Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 46: Delay Advanced Page

    “taps” sound the same. Some delay filter are cumulative – e.g. “analog” where processing is applied throughout the feedback loop, which changes the sound of the delay over time. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 47: Reverb Page (4/7)

    Snappy Room ► Library ► Dark Room ► Music Club ► Studio Room ► Warehouse ► Bouncy Room ► Cozy Corner ► Bright Chamber ► Wooden Chamber ► St. Joseph Church ► Dome Chapel ► Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 48: Hardtune Page (5/7)

    Shift parameter Use the Shift parameter to shift the note you are singing up or down by one or more semi-tones. You can shift your voice up or down by up to 36 semitones. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 49: Transducer Page (6/7)

    Use the Filter parameter to apply an EQ filter that will make the Transducer sound “thinner” or more “muddy”, depending on the preset. Thinner filter settings sound more like a radio or walkie- talkie. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 50: Transducer Advanced Page

    Raising the threshold will cause the effect to “kick in” at a higher input volume, which can help avoid feedback while you are not singing. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 51: Μmod Page (7/7)

    Flange Feedback ► Flange Negative ► Mono Flange ► Soft Flange ► Tube ► Up Tube ► Down Tube ► Down & Up Tube ► Rise and Fall ► Auto Filter ► Underwater ► Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 52: Guitar Fx Button/Section

    Guitar FX button/section Guitar FX button/section Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)
  • Page 53 Guitar effects are handled in the same way as vocal effects – see “Vocal FX button/section”. Guitar sounds in Play Electric are customizable “per preset” – meaning that you can simultane- ously change your vocal and guitar sounds when you change presets.

  • Page 54: Guitar Amp Page (1/5)

    Chunky Brit ► Lil Champion ► Chime Drive ► 2x12 Combo ► 4x12 Crunch ► Swamptone ► Nasaltone ► Brown ► Scooped ► Metallic ► Dark Matter ► OD Pedal ► Dark OD Pedal ► Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 55: Advanced Amp Page

    The Bass parameter controls the level of a low- band EQ meant to emulate a “low” or “bass” control on an amplifier. Mid Freq parameter The Mid Freq parameter controls the operating frequency of the mid-band EQ. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 56: Guitar Compressor Page (2/5)

    After changing the “Amount” setting, you may need to “make up” reduced gain to maintain your output signal level. Makeup gain allows you keep your signal levels consistent from the input of the compressor to the output. Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 57: Guitar Μmod Page (3/5)

    Silky Detune ► Medium Detune ► Mono Chorus ► Fast Rotor ► Stereo Panner ► Flanger ► Flange Feedback ► Flange Negative ► Mono Flange ► Soft Flange ► Tremolo ► Auto Filter ► Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 58: Guitar Delay Page (4/5)

    Choose from the following styles: Flashback 2290 ► Flashback analog ► Flashback Tape ► Flashback LoFi ► Flashback Slap ► Edge-Y Mod ► Analog Modular ► Half ► Quarter ► Dotted 1/8 ► Ping Pong ► Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 59: Delay Advanced Page

    Use the Dly Filter Style parameter to add filters to the delay signal that will simulate different types of delay hardware or sound. Choose from the following styles: Digital ► Tape ► Analog ► Radio ► Megaphone ► Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 60: Guitar Reverb Page (5/5)

    ► Quick Plate Each Reverb style has its own decay time, but ► Soft Hall you can change it. ► Amsterdam Hall ► Broadway Hall ► Snappy Room ► Library ► Dark Room ► Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 61: Mix Button/Section

    Mix button/section Mix button/section Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 62: Mix Page (1/2)

    Use the Out Level parameter to control the over- If you prefer to only hear the Aux input over your all output level of your Play Electric. headphones, go to the Setup/Output menu and change “Aux to Main Out” to OFF.

  • Page 63: Mix Page (2/2)

    This control has no effect if Input is set to USB and you are post-processing the received signal via a DAW. The track controls within the DAW it- self will determine the output level (and therefore the Play Electric USB input level). Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 64: The Looper

    The Looper The Looper Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 65: What Is Looping

    ► Basic looping concepts to record an overdub (another part) onto the Most loopers – including the one in Play Electric initial recording. You can overdub as many – are built around a few basic controls: Record, times as you want to.

  • Page 66: Looping Tips

    4. At the end of the chord progression, press and do it again. You can also use Undo and REC again. Play Electric will immediately be- Redo creatively for a part/track that you would When it comes to looping, practice is the key!

  • Page 67: Using A Switch-3 For Looping

    Play Electric. When the Switch-3 is unplugged, the DOWN and UP footswitches revert to whatever the UP/DN setting was prior to connecting the Switch-3. For more info on Switch-3, check out: tc-helicon.com/products/switch-3/ Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 68: Troubleshooting

    Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 69: General Troubleshooting

    Back up your custom presets and setup data ► If you are using an MP3 player to sing along via VoiceSupport. ► with tracks, set the AUX IN TYPE parameter in the Setup Menu to TRACKS. Some tracks Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 70: Appendix

    Appendix Appendix Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 71: Tc-Helicon Scales Reference Chart

    Min 1 3rd (High/Lower) Min 1 5th (Higher/Low) Min 2 3rd (High/Lower) Min 2 5th (Higher/Low) Min 3 3rd (High/Lower) Min 3 5th (Higher/Low) Highlighted cells show differences between scales. “nc” = no change Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 72: Links

    Links Links Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 73: Support Resources

    ► answer. Twitter: ► TC-Helicon Support: twitter.com/tchelicon ► tc-helicon.com/support/ YouTube: ► TC-Helicon user forum: youtube.com/tchelicon ► support.tc-helicon.com/categories/ 20073491-User-Forum/ TC-Helicon Play Series forum: ► support.tc-helicon.com/forums/ 21577876-Play-Series/ TC-Helicon warranty information: ► tc-helicon.com/support/warranty/ Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

  • Page 74: Technical Specifications

    Technical specifications Technical specifications Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)
  • Page 75 EIN @ Max Mic Gain Rg = 150 Ohm -127 dBu Mic SNR > 104 dB Phantom Power +48 V (on/off via Setup menu) Aux Input Level @ 0 dBu +2 dBu A to D Conversion 24 bit, 128 x oversampling bitstream, 110 dB SNR A-weighted Analog Outputs Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)
  • Page 76 Safety – certified to IEC 65, EN 60065, UL6500 and CSA IEC 65, EN 60065, UL6500 and CSA Operating Requirements Operating Temperature 32° F to 122° F (0° C to 50° C) Storage Temperature -22° F to 167° F (-30° C to 70° C) Humidity Max. 90 % non-condensing Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)
  • Page 77 Technical specifications Play Electric – Reference manual (2014-07-16)

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