Electro-harmonix harmony machine and vocoder VOICE BOX review
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- Опубліковано 5 кві 2020
- This is a review I made about a vocal processor from Electro-harmonix - harmony machine and vocoder VOICE BOX. This is my first video review even, wo-ho!
Listen to a demo song I recorded using the pedal here: • Electro-harmonix VOICE...
Read about the VOICE BOX in my blog: evilena.lv/blog/electro-harmo...
Check out my web page: www.evilena.lv
Follow me on Facebook: / evilenaprotektore
Follow me on Instagram: / evilena.protektore
Background music: "Giving Up" by Jazzatomy (Music/Lyrics E.Protektore), listen to the song here: • Jazzatomy - Giving Up
Buy Jazzatomy album here: jazzatomy.bandcamp.com/releases
Table of Contents:
0:15 - body & connections
1:46 - effect section, overview
2:40 - editing the sound and harmony balance
7:05 - octaves
9:39 - unison+whistle
10:23 - vocoder
13:17 - low harmony
14:25 - high harmony
14:44 - low+high
15:14 - multi harmony
15:59 - problems
18:29 - conclusion
Finally! A vocal processor using human voice showing how it sounds and works. Great and thanks!
S Hills thank you!
I KNOW RIGHT! what is this sick trend!!!!
I like annoying piano background music so this video is smashing it in that department 😅
High as hell watching this 😂😂
Same 😆
So... you're the reason the J never made it to me.
Facts
Same lmao
Lemme ketchup 😎
Great review. It gave me enough info to make an educated choice to "Buy" or "Not". Your knowledge of Music Theory helps lot's in this type of review. Rock On Evilena!
Thank you!
I appreciate your time and full comprehensive review of this unit and you have definitely broaden my thinking on what to buy
Thank you
Thank you! I'm glad the video helped to understand the pedal better!
THIS is the video review that this pedal needed! And what a coincidence that it was uploaded today, when I need it the most. Thanks you so much, Evilena.
Wow, thank you! Good luck with the pedal!
@@evilenaprotektore5044 thanks, I just ordered it. I also use a lot of jazz-based harmony, so I will also struggle with the problem you mentioned (maybe omitting some notes will do the trick?). A question: does bypassing the pedal affect the volume of the microphone (and the keyboard)? Because I will normally want to use my regular signal and then only sometimes engage the pedal, but I don't know if it will be better to just roll off the Blend knob.
José María Altúzar the pedal doesn’t affect the instrument at all, it’s just a thru signal. As to bypass - I... don’t know 😃
Peter Gabriel!!!
Finally someone gives a good review on this! Can’t wait to pick up mine soon. Thank you for this :-)
Josh Zorrill thank you!
A good and complete review. Excellent. I'm getting my VoiceBox soon. How's it worked for you over the past 10 months? Tx
Exactly 💯
❤❤❤love your energy, looking forward to receiving the device next week. Thanks for the fun instructional demo 😊
This was a well done and very thorough review, thank you for taking the time to share this with us! I got one of these EH voice boxes right when they came out....I love mine, and I've used it many times for many different applications. The tracking/following and formant response of the EH voice box sounds like it should cost much more than it does -but it doesn't cost more!!! I've used my lil' casio SK1 through this box and it made some dynamite sounds, as well as using the ol' SK1 to control the EH voice box's onboard vocoder...I was impressed by all of the effects and features, and all of the different combinations of parameters you can dial up so easily, and amazed at how high quality it sounds and tracks with your voice and/or instruments. There's a couple of examples of it being used on my songs "right now" where I used it to make it sound like I had a room full of male and female backup singers...but it was just me and my EH voice box. Heck, coulda fooled me! I'm also using it on my song called "feel the feeling" -where I'm exploiting the EH voice box's vocoder feature. Again, the quality of it's sound and tracking surpassed my expectations and since it was the first time I'd ever used a vocoder OR recorded with one, I'd have to say the EH voice box is pretty user friendly too, because I'm not very tech savvy...and I must say it wasn't difficult at all to set it up, dial up the sounds I wanted, and start recording. EH has really made a good quality, affordable box here that is full of genuinely usable features. I still think it's worth every dime I paid for it new. I can't say that about alot of the pedals and effects I've bought and owned. This one is very usable and I have a feeling it will remain usable. From my bass to my guitar to my voice to my keyboards, whether it be harmonies or vocoder or any combination of it's features...it's done a great sounding job for me for low cost, easy set up, and minimum hassles and space. All said, I give three "thumbs up" to the folks at EH for hitting another one out of the sonic park, and I hope they keep it up! -I'd recommend this pedal to anyone performing or home recording :)
Thanks!
Thanks for this, I really enjoy your to the point and practical style
Thank You!
Finally a really good video with no marketing blabla. Thank you for this very detailed explanation of this FX-Unit. Also mentioning that sus'es, add's and intervals might not work as i wish them to, is a great advice and good to know before you buy one. Big Ups for your honesty and dedication. Keep it up! :-*
Very thorough review that told me everything I wanted to know! Thank you!
Thank you!
You are great, I'm glad you did this video. You are good at describing things.
Paul Silva thank you so much!
THANKS Evilena this is a nice troughwalk!
Thank you for that demonstation. I'm a rock-singer and guitar player always looking for good pedals. Like you!
Thank you!
I agree with José Maria. I just received the pedal and was lost in the manual. Your video has made the functions clear. Liked and subscribed!
Thank you so much!
Thank you so much, I've been looking for a harmonizing machine.
Thanks!
Thank you for reviewing. It helps to understand the reality of this tool.
Thank you!
Very well explained and a very good team to work with when you're alone. Thanks a lot!!!!! Subscribed!!!!!
That Voice Box is priceless!!! Changed the game from the moment I plugged it in.
Great demo. I just bought the v256 vocoder which I really like. Now after watching this video I have just ordered this pedal. Thank you!
I just got the voice box and was wondering if I might prefer the v256 (or both) - what are your thoughts in comparison, esp for vocoder functioning?
I hope things went well with your new purchase! :)))
Thorough, entertaining, cool. 💜💯
Thank you!
Excellent review! Thanks and congratulations 😉👍🏼
Thank you!
Thankyou so much, ive been trying to get the vocoder to work without an input sound!!
Wow, you’re a really great reviewer! Thanks 😂
And a great musician too. I listened on bandcamp
I loved! Thanks for this!!
Thank you!
I appreciate your determination to convey TRUTH to your audience. By that I mean you didn’t try to make anything sound better than it is really capable of producing.
Thank you. This was very helpful!
Youdr english is very good and thanks for all the overviews of this pedal.😊
THAT is a brilliant review Evilena! I came across the VoiceBox some years ago and watched the "Nataly" ElectroHarmonix video, but it left a lot of questions unanswered . . . . . My own music tends to contain many more complicated chords (Slash (/) chords for instance) so your explanation clears THAT up a lot. Outside of that, I am reassured that this little box is VERY capable of enhancing your creative arsenal if used thoughtfully. For the problem areas you mention - perhaps switch to or kill the "Harmonies" momentarily. I think that "processed" harmonies are normally just fine if toned-down slightly behind the lead vocal - and the processing becomes more or less unnoticeable . . Your SONG - shows WELL how capable the VoiceBox IS - when used thoughtfully . . . . .
Thank you!
Excellent video! I have mine for about 4 years, and still have some things that never been clearer on how to use this little box. Thanks for your video!
alanizmarcos videoblog Oh, Wow, Thanks! I hope my video helped to resolve the issues you had :)
@@evilenaprotektore5044 yeah. The number of voices was something that got me puzzled for a while. I play and sing, and never had used both together. Now with the vocoder... Still a mystery to me. :)
alanizmarcos videoblog the vocoder needs some getting used to, yeah... :) but to be fair, it’s not the pedals fault, but rather the whole concept of the vocoder, it’s a totally different view on music
Evilena Protektore couldn’t agree more. I see Bon Jovi and Foo Fighters using and I thought it was easy. But I guess there’s a long path. Liked the song linked too
@@alanizmarcos either I haven't seen/heard something, or it's not the vocoder you're talking about, I think it's the TalkBox - sounds similar to vocoder in a sense that it "sings" what you're playing, but it works a bit differently - you have to put a tube in your mouth :))) But it's an interesting thing for sure :)
this is a great review. Thank you!
Thank you so much!
Great review, thank you!!
Thank you for this review señorita. I really apreciate it!!
Thank you! Hope it's helpful!
@@evilenaprotektore5044 It's. I just bought one of those..... so thank you so much again ;-)
Javier JanAid oh, congrats! And good luck! :)))
Thanks. I've had mine a couple of days now and I'm every pleased. I used to own the Boss VE20 which was an absolute nightmare. It was loads of menus and sub menus and sounded like a drunken Dalek. Straight out of the box this unit was plug and play. Analogue dials make it foolproof. The tiny switches are a bit of a afterthought they were poking through the cardboard during transit. In all I was pretty impressed.
I had the VE20, it was ok once you learn how to use it, but it’s not my first choice of pedal, that’s for sure
VE-20 is an absolute blast!
Cool review. Thanks
I think your "pitch shifter" pronunciation was good at the first attempt 😉 Cool demo. Interesting machine. Thank you!
Extraordinary tutorial, thanks.
Thank you!
The aesthetic of your mic is intensely pleasing.
Thank you! It’s Edwina by Ear Trumpet Labs, it not only looks awesome, but also sounds amazing! 😃
That was great and fun!
Thank you for this.
It helped me.
Thank you! I’m glad my review was helpful!
WOW love your energy. super talented too. checked your other videos. Thank you
very well explained. I ve came with so many questions and now I dont have any :D
VERY WELL DONE!!! BRAVO!!!!!!
Great vid! Thanks
Thank you!
This is the best video!! very much perfect!! I was looking from a long time but this one very very good!! Thank you so much !! Subscribed!! I will ask some questions also..
Thank you!
Perfect review!
Thank you so much!
Yes! It really is.
Nice vocoder sounds.
Excellent thanks 😃🎸🎸
Nice helpful video Evilena. Thanks. I play guitar and write my own stuff and use some less usual chords. I was thinking of trying one of these but I think I will re-think my plans.
I doubt there is a pedal yet that knows unusual chords, sorry
Thank you for the voice box review - with a TC helicon harmony g-xt, you can use "manual mode" and program in your key and it will play more friendly
Thanks! Yes, I have a demo of the G-xt as well! )))
Thanks You were, awesomely helpful, I am a Singer Songwriter, a d have LOVED every minute of the Decades I've Written/Toured/Recorded . .I'd LOVE to >Share< OUR "Original Songs" with you . .Singers are a rare breed
Thank you! I'm glad I was able to help! That's why I make those vids!
¡Gracias! Muy útil explicación.
That pixie setting at 9:26 is perfect for doing Chipmunks. Lots of fun to sing Christmas songs on that setting while trying not to laugh. Then when you laugh it makes you laugh again.
haha, yeah, then you might get stuck :))))
Nice job. Patient and complete. I REALLY appreciate that! When you get your own TV Show, I hope I can get 3 minutes as a Guest Artist. Meanwhile, I'm waiting for the delivery of my Voice Box. Now I can be excited about actually using it! My pedal-phobia is cured! [How much do I owe you for this intervention?? Be Kind. hahaha]
Wow, thank you! And congratulations, unboxing a new device is always exciting 😃 If I ever get a TV show, I’ll be in touch 😉
Fantastic demo, thank you so much. I have always had issues with the harmonizers as soon as you introduce, say, a Csus2, C6, or C major 7. It suddenly gives you really odd, unharmonious results. I was hoping this one would be different.
I became your 1000th subscriber! 🎉😅
this is an amazing video! so detailed. Id rather watch this than read the manual! :D
she looks so real.
That's so awesome. It sounds like a female and male talking at the same time.
21:15 twenty three minute review summed up in three words
😂😂😂
Good demo, but, oh dear. Who needs this?
very good and informative video.
i think, i now have a very good idea about what kind of use i could get out of this.
could you do a video about the EHX V256 as well ?
i've seen people often ask on forums if they should get a voice box or a V256
Kenji Umino Hi! Thank you so much! I’d love to do a video about V256, but unfortunately I don’t have one. Maybe sometimes in the future!
Me too lol
Because it sounds natural on the voice Jenner side of things
The main thing you have to consider about these boxes that play harmonies based on instrument inputs is that the note must be sustained. You can't hit a 1/4 note and expect it to harmonize a whole or half note. These are primarily for guitar inputs, which should have a sustained note/chord.
As for the harmonic dissonance, pianos allow for chords built from 10 notes (10 fingers), so which octave do you want it to harmonize with?
If you don't want the unit to harmonize with the chord, you can split the mic signal to the line input with a line transformer, and the harmony will follow the incoming vocal. However, you won't get the Minor/Major tweaks as you would with an instrument input playing Major/Minor chords.
It would be much easier to just invite some back vocals instead of doing these dances around one simple box. You have to know when and how to use it and only then consider buying one, otherwise it’s just a waste of money 🤷🏼♀️
@@evilenaprotektore5044 I agree it would sound better to hire trained backup singers, but it's not always easier, or affordable, for smaller acts in a live situation. I've been using the TC Helicon Harmony Singer 2 pedal in my 4-piece, and it works very well for large choruses. It's a smaller unit with fewer functions and no programmability, but you can use multiple units set to different intervals and cover a wide range of material (Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls", or Styx's "Renegade", for example). You can also run one of them through the TC-Helicon Duplicator set to Octaves to get truly massive choral backing.
As an added bonus, they also improve clap segments in a song, where one person clapping can sound like several.
Cool and very descriptive video Evilena. Thanks for doing it.
Would you know if they (Electro-Harmonix) makes this unit in a rack mount version? I am currently rebuilding my recording studio and thought this might be a fun edition to my setup with my vintage rack gear. Thanks and super well done video...Be well.
Philip
NYC Area
Thank you (again :))) No, I don't think there's a rack version of this one, but you can surely contact the makers, they are pretty active online (as far as I've noticed)
@@evilenaprotektore5044 Thanks for the info. I just saw the alert you replied mixed in with a few hundred other emails. Not sure how it slipped by! Thanks.
Philip
NYC Area
So I just purchased an electro harmonix Machine and vocoder voice box pedal. However, while using it, I noticed that the Harmony was set to something like G sharp maj. is there a possible way to change the key on the machine?
Nice review! I have a question. When u use the mic bypass will the dry reverb work? I mean use the pedal only as a reverb for vocals and then if u press it back u can have the harmonies too. Thanks 🤗
hi! Thanks! No, if you activate the bypass, absolutely all effects are turned off and you'll have only the clean signal
@@evilenaprotektore5044 Correct answer. Great job.
Hmmmm they told me not to sing, but maybe I can fool them with this box. Thanks love your skills.
Haha! Thank you!
Super Great! 👍🏼
There's sometimes a bit of feedback and clipping. Why is that?
wonder if you have checked the TCHelicon or Korg/Boss stuff?
Assuming that I have set the blend up, will I still get reverb for the voice even in bypass mode if I have have the dry knob reverb turned clockwise?
you'll get nothing with the bypass mode, not even the reverb, sorry :)
Nice demo. Can I plug a guitar instead of a keyboard ?
Wow that was the cutest pedal review ever. Loved it. Can I ask did you use a compressor between the mic and the pedal.
Thank you!!! No, I didn’t use a compressor, just straight into the pedal :)
@@evilenaprotektore5044 thank you. I think I’ll be getting one.
@@darkrust2174 Welcome! Tell me how it goes with the pedal when you do! Maybe you’ll find something interesting and new about it :)
@@evilenaprotektore5044 I will. But I’m also considering the Electro-Harmonix V256 Vocoder Pedal. Can’t decide which will be best for me.
I love you ❤😩
I had one. It sounded too robotic for me.
I went with a tc helicon voicelive 2 for live performance with a band and boss ve-8 for busking. I got both used n have had zero problems with either unit. Had them both for years now.
Remember that id u are in America you can take it home n try it for a month before you decide.
what is better to harmonies? boss, helicon, or electro hamonix?
Had an earlier version a few years back. It worked fine and was impressive for about an hour. It was a waste of money because it didn’t last beyond first rehearsal.
Hello, thank you for that presentation, with demo film together they are priceless. I just have one additional question: the microphone you use in this very film, what is it? Rgds Marek Tomczak
Thank you! The microphone is Edwina by Ear Trumpet Labs
@@evilenaprotektore5044 great thanx
very good...kissis from brazil
your eye color is lovely )
Thank you :))))
This makes me wish I took music theory in high school.
Good job sister
Thank you!
Thank you . Can you buy a box that just harmonises what the lead-singer is singing and is just linked into her microphone . She has a Shure one . I’m interested as I’m in a band.
Hey! Well, you might want to check out some simples pedals then, like the H1 from TC-Helicon, you can choose the key of your tune and you don't need any additional inputs, just plug whatever mike you have and you're good to go!
What Mic are you using to narrate??
How do you scroll though the presets live?
CIRCLE OF 5TH BEATS THE VOICE BOX!
😅🤣
Awesome review, thanks. Can you add a recorded vocal signal as an input? Or you have to sing directly into it?
Subhy Samra thank you! And as to your question - I don’t see why not, although it would require some voodoo with the connections, because in order to process the prerecorded signal, it should be plugged into the mic input slot through an xlr cable
I've just bought a behringer di20 which is an active dual di box. I'm planning to take a hard-panned stereo feed (vocal v chords) from ableton, and use the voice box to add harmonies and then feed the output into a new track.
Davepriceuk that sounds interesting!
@@evilenaprotektore5044 Thank you! The amateur musicologist in me is interested to try just using a chord once to set the key as opposed to every chord change.. Your review/tutorial is incredible and evidently EHX think so too as it's now linked to from their product page. That's how I arrived here.
Davepriceuk I didn’t even notice they did that! Thank you for bringing me some amazing news!
super test
I've noticed that the dry signal is much louder than the processed signal, is this normal?
Yes, it's just the way it works - it blends the dry signal with the processed one with the help of volume. Balance or something. That was the exact thing that turned me away from this pedal initially when I bought it, but then I discovered other functions it has and it stopped bothering me :)
Hahahaha love this !!!!
thank you!
@@evilenaprotektore5044 love your content
Will this help an absolutely horrible nasal voice like mine sound any better or am I cursed until I die? Ty
How do you set this up? I have it set up exactly like the manual says and it still doesn’t work.
Actually I had no problems with setting everything up, and I even did it without the manual 😂
can i hook this up to my tascam 8 track and record the vocals?
Yes
🌸👍 enzo
What vocal processor had the best harmonizer and keeping on tune?
S Hills I’ve used boss VE-5, sounds really nice and way better than the previous model I reviewed several years ago (VE-20) and also TC-Helicon Voice Touch 2, which I haven’t reviewed yet but I like it very much :)
@@evilenaprotektore5044 ok, but I think in these you have to be a guitar player(?) what about only singers or keyboard player and singer?
@@subodhgodbole7266 there’s an instrument slot in each of those pedals (don’t remember exactly about the BOSS, but TC and EHX do) and it doesn’t really matter, what that instrument is, a guitar or a piano. I personally don’t play the guitar, so I used the piano, that works. The difference between EHX and TC is the the second one can be used without and instrument, you can choose the key of the tune in the settings, but EHX doesn’t allow that. Hope that answers your question:)
i
Hahaha, great video ... I'm a robot..., signing out, error, errrrorrr ...
I have this unit..love it but I don’t use the harmony functionality. I use strictly for the octave setting.
Well, to each his own :) I like the whistle function very much
Nice review, you are funny, I had to laugh with you from 7:50, thanks! :)
Haha, thanks :))))
I don't plug it to the boards. I prefer the octave effect. I can harmonize anyway. The texture is what makes the difference/secret sauce for my production.
Will it work with a bass guitar?
the device need a chord to work
I like to sing Acapella with Chorus.