The actual intervals used are determined not only by the key selected, but also according to what's been selected from six Scale buttons - three each for Major and Minor.įinally, you can select from the Vocalist Performer's 50 preset Programs by rotating the data wheel. The Double option provides a slightly detuned version of the same note, Low, Lower and Bass produce harmonies below your voice, and High and Higher do the same above your voice. Since there are only two harmony notes available in addition to the input note, only the two most recent button‑presses have any effect - pressing another one if two are already in use cancels the one least recently used. The actual harmony notes are chosen from a vertical strip of buttons down the left hand side of the case. Since the Performer provides intelligent harmonies that fit the key of the song, a bank of 12 buttons above the rotaries allows you to select every key note in the octave a further Cue‑in button sounds the root‑note pitch until it is pressed again (the Reverb level control also acts as a volume control for the Cue‑in function when it is activated). The other two rotary controls adjust the level of Harmony voices (with an associated Mute button) and Reverb three preset types (Room, Hall or Plate) are available. The first control to play with is the Input level rotary, with accompanying two‑colour LED (green shows signal present, and occasional flashes of red show a suitable signal level).
On the front panel, the basic controls are in a horizontal strip along the bottom. The back panel is straightforward - apart from the socket for the supplied wall‑wart (inevitable, with such a bijou case) there's a balanced XLR mic input, a quarter‑inch jack line input (which overrides the mic when something is plugged in), a pair of quarter‑inch jack outputs (Left/Mono and Right) and a quarter‑inch jack footswitch socket which can be used to switch the harmonies in and out.
The soft‑touch buttons have the added advantage of being totally silent in operation, which is important if the unit is being used by a vocalist in a studio environment.
Every one of its 30 or so buttons is illuminated (either red or green), and although the actual buttons feel a bit wobbly and rubbery to the touch, once the unit is powered up this illuminated approach makes everything feel extremely responsive. The ergonomics are excellent, and the basics can be learned in a minute or two. However, there is still sufficient weight to stop it sliding about when you're adjusting the controls. The Vocalist Performer's casing is 'cute hi‑tech', and is quite small and light, weighing just 1lb. The Vocalist Performer, under review here, costs around the same as the MIDI Vocalist, but can only produce two harmony notes, though it adds a built‑in reverb. This was followed by the Vocalist Workstation (reviewed March '97), a desktop unit with most of the effects of the top‑end Studio model, but at a much lower price. The top of the range is still the Studio Vocalist (reviewed in the August '95 issue), a 2U‑high, rackmount device which allows up to four harmonies to be added to the original voice, and gives a choice of gender too! The MIDI Vocalist, a simpler unit which still allowed four additional harmonies, but with an easier‑to‑use interface and MIDI control, was released next (reviewed July '96). The Vocalist Performer has a balanced mic socket on its back panel, and its intended use is obvious - direct connection straight into a PA or recording system.ĭigitech have carved out quite a niche for themselves in the area of vocal harmony processors, and with the arrival of the Vocalist Performer there are now four models in the series. Digitech have done away with the need for cryptic LCD screens and have replaced them with a set of illuminated buttons, and a data wheel. The Digitech Vocalist Performer is intended specifically for solo singers, acoustic or electric guitarists, or keyboard players, and comes in a desktop package designed from the ground up to be easy to use.
Martin Walker sings up a storm in three‑part harmony. This new Vocalist has been designed to be easier to use than ever.
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