One of the most visionary products I saw at the NAMM musical-instrument show was DigiTech's Vocalist Live, a footpedal that listens to your guitar playing and automatically generates vocal harmonies. To me, it's a great example of using computer power to make things simpler. (Indeed, one of the most tedious demos I saw at the show was when a demonstrator sat down behind a keyboard, fired up PowerPoint, and marched through page after page of specs and functions.)
The Vocalist Live 2; click to enlarge.
I posted a quickie recording of a Vocalist Live demo in my NAMM report, but just found a video that gives you a better feel for the box. The first 80 percent of the video is a sales spiel, but then you get to hear Marc Cooper, the same cool demonstrator I recorded. As a keyboardist, I was especially excited to hear that DigiTech seems to be planning a keyboard version as well. Presumably it will derive notes via MIDI.
Incidentally, when the DigiTech salesman mentions MAP, he means Minimum Advertised Price, the lowest number manufacturers allow dealers to publish. Like cars, musical instruments and pro audio gear are sold on a haggle system, which means you can often negotiate a better price than MAP.
Update, 2007-07-26: You can hear the mighty Fat Man playing the Vocalist in our podcast “Digital Media Insider episode 15: The Fat Man Sings...Digitally.”
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Comments (9)
Read More Entries by David Battino.
@JoJo:
Can you use a keyboard . . . instead of the guitar?
I have read of people successfully using keyboard as an input source for the Vocalist Live series. You may need to experiment with the sound to get the best pitch detection. Or spring for the new Vocalist Live Pro, which has MIDI input.
Can you use a keyboard as an instrument guide for the vocalist live-4 instead of the guitar?
Have been using the voc2 and it rocks!!!.. just received the voc4, tried it out last night and it blows the 2 away...can't wait to gig
@Steve: A dedicated keyboard version may not be necessary after all. In his review for EQ magazine, Craig Anderton said, "Although all the literature about the VL2 refers to using guitar with it, that's apparently not an absolute. I fed in various synth sounds, from kalimba to bass played an octave higher, and the VL2 worked perfectly (even when I was really sloppy about levels)."
"....As a keyboardist, I was especially excited to hear that DigiTech seems to be planning a keyboard version as well. Presumably it will derive notes via MIDI...."
Well I just got an e-mail from Digitech telling me that it was considered.."maybe a rack unit..." what a waste.
I ordered a Vocalist Live 2 from B&H Photo when they first listed them at $249... $50 under the MAP! They eventually had to change the price and never returned to that low-ball figure. I have had shipping confirmation and a tracking number showing that I will receive my Vocalist 2 on 6/18/07.
It has been released and is shipping now. I assume most of the first production run will probably be used to fill pre-orders and general "off-the-shelf" availability should soon follow.
Sweetwater is saying June for the Live 2 and July for the Live 4, but Musician's Friend is 4/20/07 and 5/04/07 respectively. Both let you preorder, FYI....
Teddy: Supposedly soon; please check with DigiTech. By the way, there’s a new demo at the DigiTech site. (Click the “Full Length Demo” button.)
Does anyone know when this is going to be available?