TC-Helicon HarmonyControl User manual

PRODUCT MANUAL
ENGLISH VERSION
|

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Quick Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Panel Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Using the Tuner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Compatibility Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Auto Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Table of Contents
TC Helicon Vocal Technologies Ltd.
Sindalsvej 34, DK-8240 Risskov – [email protected]
Manual revision 1.2
– Software – 1.0 Prod. No: E60507911
HarmonyControl US English Version
Using the Key Footswitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Manual Mode and the Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Performance Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Chord and Scale Explained . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Harmony Processor Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

44
Welcome to HarmonyControl | guitar
As a singer and guitarist, it’s likely you are using or have
used a harmony processor before, which means it’s
likely you’ve often wished your guitar could control
your harmony parts. That’s why we created
HarmonyControl, to add value to your investment in
vocal harmony. With HarmonyControl you can sing
with harmony on more songs than ever before while
spending less time stepping through and remembering
song arrangements.Thank you for purchasing this product!
Features:
o Specialized guitar-to-MIDI interface
o No special pickup required
o Compatible with a wide range of harmony
processors
o Set-and-forget
o Chromatic Tuner function
o Additional features with TC-Helicon products
o Includes dual MIDI cable
You will need:
o A vocal harmony processor with a MIDI input that
can be used to control “Chords” or “Chordal”
harmony. Products from TC-Helicon, Digitech®,
and Korg® fall into this category. Additionally, some
of these products offer “Scale” or “Scalic” harmony
with the ability to change key and scale from MIDI
input. Consult the Compatibility Chart in this
manual for more detail on supported harmony
processors.
o An electric guitar or acoustic guitar that is
electrified with a pickup. *
o A vocal microphone with a cardioid or super-
cardioid pickup pattern. This minimizes audio
interference that may interfere with the proper
tracking of the harmony processor.
o Audio and XLR mic cables, a PA system, mic stand
etc.
*Body resonances with acoustic guitar soundboard
pickups can negatively affect performance. Under-
saddle pickups are recommended.
Introduction

5
About TC-Helicon
At TC-Helicon we truly believe that the voice is the
world's most beautiful instrument. We don't mean to
degrade other beautiful instruments, but the singing
voice is the anthropological source for all things
melodic. In the words of the founders of TC-Helicon,
"Everything we do is dedicated to this instrument (the
singing voice). We envision a world where those who
work with the voice in live and recording situations can
bring out the very best from any performance, and
where the possibilities of vocal craft are endless."
Our mission was galvanized by a simple question:
"Isn't it time that someone finally provided dedicated
tools and solutions for voice?"
So what does this all mean to singers? It means that you
should know there is a dedicated group of engineers,
researchers and product specialists, based in Victoria,
BC, Canada, who spend every waking moment of their
working lives listening, talking, singing, and interacting
with singers and those who have passion for the singing
voice. All this knowledge and experience is used to
design products respecting and empowering the
modern vocalist. Our products focus on removing
barriers and inspiring creativity in performance. That's
why our products range from near-field personal vocal
monitors to floor-based vocal multi-effects pedals.
Enjoy.
The TC-Helicon Team
a TC Group company
Introduction

6

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Step 1:
Set up your harmony processor, microphone and PA
system as you would normally. If this is the first setup
with the harmony processor, consult its manual for
proper setup.
Harmony
Processor
Step 2:
Connect a cable from your guitar to the Guitar In jack
on HarmonyControl. Then connect a cable from the
Guitar Out jack on HarmonyControl to your amplifier
or a channel in your PA system. HarmonyControl
should be the first link in any effects chain. Any guitar
processing done before the guitar signal is fed to
HarmonyControl will reduce accuracy.
4
MIDI GUITAR
IN OUTIN OUT
To amp
or PA
Quick Start

8 8
Step 3:
Connect the included MIDI cable or any standard cable
from the MIDI Out jack on HarmonyControl to the
MIDI input on your harmony processor.
If your harmony processor is on the list of Auto- or
Detect-compatible units (see the Compatibility Chart
in this manual), connect the second set of jacks on the
included MIDI cable or any standard MIDI cable
between the MIDI output of your harmony processor
and HarmonyControl.
Harmony
Processor
4
MIDI GUITAR
IN OUTIN OUT
MIDI
Out MIDI In
Step 4:
Connect HarmonyControl’s power adapter to your
wall power socket and then to the Power input jack on
the product.When power is applied, one or more LEDs
on the unit will flash momentarily.
If your harmony processor is Auto-compatible and
you’ve connected the MIDI cables correctly, the Auto
LED will light a moment after power-up.
4
MIDI GUITAR
IN OUTIN OUT
Quick Start

999
Step 5:
Check that the LED light above the On footswitch is lit.
If it’s not, press the On footswitch.Turn up the volume
control on your guitar and play some chords. The 0
Cents LED on HarmonyControl should light with each
chord change but not every strum.
G
G
D
D
E
E
Step 6:Auto LED lit
You’re now ready to begin experimenting with guitar-
controlled harmony! Choose presets on your harmony
processor that are based on either Chord mode or
Scale mode harmony and sing while you play your
guitar. The display on HarmonyControl will show SC
(Scale) or CR (Chord) to confirm it recognizes the
preset’s harmony mode. If you see NA (Not
Applicable), this means that the preset you have loaded
is not based on Chords or Scale harmony mode and
HarmonyControl cannot control it.
Step 6: Manual LED lit
Set the MIDI input (or “receive”) channel on your
harmony processor to channel 1. This is the factory
default channel that HarmonyControl sends on. Play
your guitar and check to see that the MIDI input LED
lights on your harmony processor when you change
from one chord to the next.When set up correctly, this
LED will continue to flash while you have
HarmonyControl turned on .
Quick Start

10 10
Step 7: Manual LED lit
Load a Chord preset on your harmony processor. Play
your guitar and sing into the microphone.The harmony
voices should follow your singing and guitar playing in
chordal motion. If this is the case, correct hookup and
operation in HarmonyControl’s Manual mode is
confirmed.
If your Manual-only harmony processor has Scale
features e.g. Digitech® Access and MIDI Vocalist,
consult the section called Manual Mode and the Setup
Menu later on in this manual to learn how to use them.
You should now consult the rest of this manual to learn
how to get the most of your new combination.
Quick Start

111111
1.Auto/Manual LEDs
Displays the communication between HarmonyControl
and your harmony processor. On power up, the unit will
search for Auto-compatible units. If your unit is Auto-
compatible, the Auto LED will light after a moment.
2.Tuner Pitch Display
This is primarily used to show tuning when Tuner mode
is active. When Tuner mode is off, the two center LEDs
above the “0 Cents” legend indicate that a chord has
been recognized and sent from the MIDI Out.
3. Note/Scale Display
When theTuner is on, this shows the closest recognized
note. When the Key function is used, this displays your
current scale variation.
4. LED Bar
Displays active status of the Key,Tuner and On modes.
Front & Back Panel Descriptions
1
2
3
4
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