Archive for March, 2010
Marina V and her TC-Helicon VoiceTone Harmony-M
VoiceTone Synth getting some love
VoiceTone Synth will be the kind recipient of firmware update. Version 1.1 adds features and improvements directly requested by musicians using VoiceTone Synth. So what do you get with the update?
• Chromatic mode allows complete vocal freedom with HardTune and voice-to-synth vocoder
• Natural pitch correction styles available with HardTune block
• Improved instrument vocoder presets for use by guitarist singers
• Significantly lower lead voice latency
• Improved megaphone styles
• MIDI improvements over USB including patch change and channel select for those integrating Synth into their computer-centric electronic music setup.
• User interface fixes and improvements
The update will be available March 31st via VoiceSupport.
VoiceLive 2 Update – Available Now (seriously)
After a month’s delay, version 1,2 of VoiceLive 2 is now available. A manual addendum, details on backing up preset & setup data, upgrading the firmware, and restoring preset & setup data can be found at the end of this post.
This version adds many new features, improvements, and fixes:
Features
- new Rhythmic effects
- set tap tempo by holding the Delay button
- new Dual Mono output option
- lead voice level added to preset and effects blocks
- gender added to Double effect
- guitar and lead voice phase reverse added
- added momentary on capability for Harmony and Double effects
- added +6dB and +12dB analog output modes
Improvements
- last preset recalled on power-up
- added new expression pedal parameters including: more effect levels, delay send level, Rhythmic parameters, output level, and more.
- lead voice latency reduced
- guitar compressor improved
- MIDI SysEx improvements for VoiceSupport version 1.1 and beyond
- faster auto Mic Gain setting
Fixes
- digital output level increased
- HardTune scale saved correctly on preset change
- guitar reverb style now unchanged by vocal preset changes
- lead delay Setup parameter now working correctly
- Transducer on/off switching corrected
- Notes mode low input level performance improved
Manual Addendum
Download the manual addendum here. It includes instructions on upgrading your firmware as well as using the new features.
New Rhythmic Presets
Download new Rhythmic Presets here. The manual contains instructions on how to upload these presets to VoiceLive 2.
Important – Backing Up Presets/Setup
Backup preset and system settings using VoiceSupport. When updating to version 1.2, VoiceLive2 will be reset to a factory default state. This means that all user presets and settings are erased. However, by backing up presets and setup in advance, they can be restored after the update, and restarting VoiceSupport. For instructions on backing up presets and setup see the version 1.2 manual addendum.
Updating VoiceLive 2
Run VoiceSupport to upgrade VoiceLive 2 firmware. If you are viewing this post in VoiceSupport, click the link below to update VoiceLive 2.
Raw – VoiceLive 2 version 1.2 – Beta Comments
Some readers may remember Brian Stevenson. He frequented this blog when it was setup a year ago. He ended (up) getting an original pre-production VoiceLive 2 to beta test. He provided great feedback to the team and posted on the blog his analysis and thoughts. We were very happy that he was willing and able to put VoiceLive 2 version 1.2 through its paces.
Here are his unedited comments to the team which influenced several items in the last couple weeks of implementation and test. Enjoy – it’s a long, but information-packed read.
1.2 BETA is out to select VoiceLive 2 owners
Thought it would be prudent to pass on that VoiceLive 2 version 1.2 beta has been delivered to a couple dozen VoiceLive 2 customers to be put through its passes outside of the internal test program.
Now some of you want to be part of that BETA test. However, these testers were selected through a blog post in early January. There was nothing special about the selection – we just asked for people interested who were using the product. We set a cut-off with the amount of testers mainly due to the ability to go through the data we get. Please feel free to wimper or whine – as you won’t have to do that for too long. Final version 1.2 software is coming soon.
What’s going on? VoiceLive 2 version 1.2
Some VoiceLive 2 customers have been colourfully commenting on the blog and forums, and many others want to know the whereabouts of the of version 1.2 of VoiceLive 2. There’s nothing for us to hide behind here – it’s late. The original plan was a BETA release to pre-selected VoiceLive 2 customers in late January, and a final release of the upgrade in February. Both dates missed. Ouch!
There are many excuses you may imagine for us being late (watching too much Olympics, staying in bed sick, complete laziness, just being cruel, etc.) Although everyone on the team is susceptible to such excuses at times, the team also loves what they do – putting great products out the door. Version 1.2 of VoiceLive 2 is a great upgrade– but it wouldn’t have been if it was released on time. Issues came up from the mundane to complex that needed to be addressed.
One the more significant issues that affected the schedule was how the new Rhythmic Effects are organized and triggered. These effects were ready to go when the upgrade was announced, but once internal testing starting performing with them – there was a major overhaul to how the new effects are controlled for better use in live performance.
What’s the current schedule? An internal BETA version has been in test for many weeks. This week, a BETA release will go out to VoiceLive 2 customers picked just before the NAMM show in January. Based -on the results of external and in-house testing everything is focused on a March 15th release date. We take responsibility for it being late (we’ll also take responsibility for what the upgrade brings to VoiceLive 2).
As BETA testers come on line, you’ll likely hear about some of the new features and improvements on the forum and the blog.
Thanks for keeping us motivated!
The TC-Helicon Team
