TC-Helicon VoiceTone Create.XT User manual

PRODUCT MANUAL
ENGLISH VERSION
Create.XT

WARNING
To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this appliance
to rain or moisture.
CAUTION
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for
a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of FCC Rules. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause
harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
The lightning symbol within a triangle means “Electrical
caution!” It indicates the presence of information about
operating voltage and potential risks of electrical shock.
The exclamation point within a triangle means “Caution!”
Please read the information next to all caution signs.

Table of Contents
3
EN
TC Helicon Vocal Technologies Ltd.
www.tc-helicon.com
MMaannuuaallrreevviissiioonn::11..11
Multilingial version
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
QuickStart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Front Panel Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Back Panel Descriptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Setup Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Mono or Stereo Setup? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
What Is The Pedal Input For? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Do I Tap Or Hold The Footswitches? . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Getting To Know Create XT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Auditioning Create XT's Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
What Is A Preset? What Is A Style? . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Selecting Sounds In Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Using The Tone Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
The Effect Blocks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Using HardTune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Modifying The Preset Effects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Tweaking Styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Storing Your Edits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Browsing Styles By Category And Genre . . . . . . . .22
Using Tap Tempo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
For Advanced Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
The Alternate Tone Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Restoring to Factory State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
External Mixing with Mono and Dry Outputs . . . . . .24
Changing the Number of Presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Using the VoiceSupport Application . . . . . . . . . .26
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
First Impressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
The Download Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
The Backup Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
FAQ and Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Style List and Tweak Assignments . . . . . . . . . . .30

Introduction
4
Welcome to VoiceTone Create XT
VoiceTone Create XT was built for the performance-
minded singer desiring studio quality effects on stage. In
essence, Create XT can be thought of as a professional
producer and all of his/her tools, boiled down into one
easy-to-use, portable pedal. The effects in VoiceTone
Create XT are produced by the very same algorithms
used in high-end studio hardware processors and
software plug-ins. In terms of audio quality (noise floor,
harmonic distortion, and frequency response), Create XT
surpasses anything that has come before it, and arguably
exceeds even the most stringent "audiophile" standards.
To make your life as easy as possible, Create XT
presents a wide pallet of professionally authored sounds,
offering singers instant portholes into the secrets behind
producing great sounds for many music genres. Where
out-of-the-box sounds aren't enough, Create XT
provides a powerful tweak control and effect on/off
buttons, designed to give you exactly what you need to
find the sound you want.
Your audience, band members and sound engineers may
be surprised to see a singer taking control over their
sound. We think it's about time!
Features:
o 10 presets each with A and B settings
o 100 factory effects styles
o Highest quality reverb with lots of variations
o Multiple effects blocks to create complex sounds
o HardTune effect allows auto-tuned sound live
o Quick and easy tweaking of presets
o Convenient operation while performing
o Easy connection between mic and mixer
o Clean, high quality mic preamp with phantom power
for use with condenser mics

Introduction
5
EN
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.
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

Quick Start
6
Step 1:
Connect your microphone to a mic cable
Step 2:
Connect the mic cable to the Mic Input on Create XT.
PEDAL

Quick Start
7
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Step 3:
While you’re connecting and setting up, lower the fader
on your mixer channel to off. Connect a mic cable from
the Left/(mono) Out to a mic input on your sound
system.
Step 4:
Set the Input control fully left then set Mix to the
12 o’clock detent position. The Style and Tweak knob
positions are not important yet.
Pedal
3
Pan
Pedal
3
Hold for TapHold for Preset
12 O’Clock

Quick Start
8
Step 5:
Connect Create XT’s power adapter to main power
and to the Power Input on Create XT.
Step 6:
While singing through your microphone, raise the Input
control until its LED turns green, sometimes orange on
louder parts, but never red.
PEDAL
Pedal
3

Quick Start
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Step 7:
Carefully raise the gain and/or volume on your sound
system mic input channel and master volume until you
hear a good level from your vocals.
Step 8:
Initial setup and operation is shown below. After setting,
sing to hear Create XT’s factory effects.
Pedal
3
Hold for TapHold for Preset
Press until
LED lights up
Tap to light
On LED and
hear effects
a) Tap to switch A and B
settings in each preset
Tap to advance
through factory
presets 0-9
Stereo LED
should be off

Pedal
3
Front Panel Descriptions
10
sound of your singing even when the main effect is off.
4. Mix Control
Controls the overall balance between your lead voice
(including Tone, HardTune and Transducer if active) and
the Mod, Reverb and Delay effects. This is a global
control meaning that it will affect the sound of all
presets. Setting fully clockwise with no effects blocks
active will produce no sound.
5. Style Selector Control
Selects and loads a preset from one of the 10 style
banks. Each bank has 10 style variations available by
pressing and holding the Tweak button then tapping to
cycle forward through the styles in each bank. Press and
hold to exit..
6.Tweak Control
Edits the value of the parameter chosen with the Tweak
button. Editing will light the Preset button LED indicating
the preset has been edited.
1 2 3 4 5 6
1. Input Control
Controls microphone pre-amplifier (input) gain. To set,
sing normally and watch the Input Light.
2. Input Light
Indicates input level. Flashing green, sometimes orange is
good. Flashing red shows a distorted peak has occurred
and input level should be reduced.
3.Tone Button
Engages the Live Engineer Effects which smooth the

Front Panel Descriptions
11
EN
7. Preset Button
Tap to advance and cycle through the 10 presets. Hold
to store an edited preset.
8. Preset Numeric Display
Shows the current preset number in normal operation.
Shows the style variation number when the Tweak
button is held. Temporarily shows HardTune key and
scale when HardTune key set mode is active.
9. Style Bank Display
Shows which factory style bank the current preset is
based upon.
10.Tweak Parameter List
Shows the parameter editable by the Tweak knob.
11. 48V Phantom Power Indicator
Indicates phantom power on or off. Hold the FX and
Mod buttons for a moment to activate.
12. Stereo Indicator
Shows stereo output. Hold Reverb and Tweak for a
moment to switch between stereo or mono.
13. Effect On/Off Buttons
Press to turn effect blocks on and off in the preset.
14.Tweak Button
Tap to cycle through tweak parameters for adjustment.
3
87 9
11 12
10
13 14

12
Front Panel Descriptions
15. LED Indicator Bar
A single LED lit above the A or B legend indicates the
respective effect selection is loaded in a preset. When
both A
and B are lit, this indicates Preset Select mode
(described below). The LED above the On footswitch
indicates on or off status of the main effect in Create XT.
16. Preset A and B Select Footswitch
This footswitch allows access to up to 20 different
effects. When either the A or B light is lit, tap the A/B
footswitch to toggle between two effect settings quickly.
To access more presets, hold this footswitch to enter
Preset Select mode. Both the A and B LEDs will be lit.
Now, pressing the A/B button cycles forward through
the “A” preset settings or “B” preset settings, depending
on whether an A or B was loaded when you held the
footswitch.
17. On Footswitch
Tapping this footswitch engages or disengages the effects
in the current preset. Holding this footswitch for a
moment will enter Tap Tempo mode where you can
then tap it to synchronize the tempo of the Delay block
effects with your music.To exit Tap mode, hold again.
3
Hold for TapHold for Preset
16 17
15

Back Panel Descriptions
13
EN
18. Power Input
Connect the supplied DC power adaptor here.
Connecting power to Create XT turns it on
immediately as there is no on/off switch on the product.
19. USB Connector
Allows Create XT to communicate with a computer for
backup and updates. See “Using the VoiceSupport
Application” section for details.
20. Outputs
These XLR jacks supply the left and right outputs of
Create XT in stereo (default) or mono using only the
Left output. When configured for mono, the Right
output produces the pre-amplified dry signal for
external mixing.
21. Pedal Input
This input for aTC-Helicon Switch 3 footswitch provides
convenient, individual effect on/off capability for the FX,
Mod and Delay effects.
22. Mic Input Jack
Balanced, low impedance XLR input for your
microphone.
PEDAL
22
21
20
18 19

Setup Considerations
14
Mono or Stereo Setup?
Most effects have a wider spatial effect in stereo, so if
you have a stereo PA/sound system or you are
recording, this will produce the best sound. This is
especially true for presets based on reverb styles and
ping pong delay styles.
To connect Create XT in
stereo connect a pair of
cables from the L/Mono
and R/Dry outputs to two
mixer channels in a stereo
PA system. Make sure
your mixer channels are
panned hard left and right
and the left/right levels are
in balance.
If you do not have a stereo PA, then configuring Create
XT for mono output is perfectly acceptable while
reducing cabling and mixer channel usage.
What Is The Pedal Input For?
This is an option that makes Create XT more like its big
brother,VoiceLive 2. Part of the appeal of that product is
that you are able to turn effect blocks on and off within
the preset while standing. The sound of a Create XT
preset is generally made up of several effect blocks
Is my PA truly stereo?
Just having two speakers
connected to a sound
system doesn’t mean it is
truly stereo. To test that
your sound system is
stereo, connect your mic
directly to a mixer
channel and move the
pan control on the
channel left and right; if
the sound moves from
one speaker to the other,
your PA is stereo. Optional
Switch 3 pedal
FX on/off
Mod on/off Delay on/off

Setup Considerations
15
EN
hooked together and, with the Switch 3 footswitch, you
can turn each on and off when you want. As well, you
can activate an effect that is currently off in the preset
which expands the range of sound possible without
switching to another preset.
There are four effect blocks in Create XT and the
optional footswitch gives you control of the FFXX,,
μ MMoodd
aannddDDeellaayybblloocckkss..Generally, reverb effects are left
activated throughout a performance and there is no
external footswitch control of this effect. To turn off a
reverb effect when you’d like to talk to your audience,
simply engage bypass by tapping the On button.
Do I Tap Or Hold The Footswitches?
The footswitches on Create XT have different actions
depending on whether they are tapped briefly or held
to give you a full range of performance options from a
standing position. The hold time to change modes on
both the AB and On footswitches is approximately 1
second. To avoid accidental mode changes in
performance, make sure your foot briefly taps the AB or
On footswitches when required and that you do not
hold them.
What Is Remembered Over Power Cycles?
All features that you can set on Create XT except knob
positions are recalled on power up.This includes current
preset, 48V, mono/stereo, AB and On button status etc.

A “style” is a collection of factory settings that creates a
single composite effect.You can create a new sound by
selecting a style bank using the Style knob.You can get
further variations on that style by press and holding the
Tweak button. The style number will flash. Pressing the
tweak button will cycle through the style variations for
that bank. Press and hold tweak to go back to normal
operation.
Selecting Sounds In Performance;The Right
Method For You
Create XT has several ways of selecting effects from a
standing position using the footswitches. The difference
lies in how much you want to interact with the product
in performance:
11..OOnneeggrreeaattssoouunndd::
Use the factory default sound of preset #1 in the A
position of the AB footswitch.With the Tone button
engaged, this would make a useful, high quality effect
you could use for an entire performance. Toggling
Getting To Know Create XT
16
Auditioning Create XT’s Presets
Press the Preset button to
advance to the next preset
number which will be
shown in the main display.
While on that preset, you
can tap the AB footswitch
to toggle between the two sound options in that preset.
The LED above the respective A or B legends shows
which is currently active.
Once you’ve tested each preset’s A and B setting, you’ve
heard the entire factory range of vocal effect presets.
What Is A Preset? What Is A Style?
A “preset” is a conveniently-accessed holding place for
one of the factory styles and any edited “Tweak” settings
that modify it. Each preset has two different settings, A
and B which can be toggled back and forth quickly in
performance. The A and B part are stored separately by
press and holding the Preset button.
3

Getting To Know Create XT
17
EN
this effect on and off with the On button will allow
you to alternate between singing with the effects on
and talking to your audience with the effects off.
22..MMaaiinnaannddaalltteerrnnaatteessoouunnddss::
The method described above could serve most of
your needs but when it’s time for sonic contrast
every now and then, you can use the AB footswitch
to change to (and from) the B setting of your preset.
33..CCyycclliinnggtthhrroouugghhtthheeffaaccttoorryypprreesseettssoouunnddss
This method allows you to cover a wide range of
vocal effects in many styles.Tap the AB footswitch so
the A LED lights. Hold the AB footswitch to enter
Preset mode (both A and B LEDs will light) and then
tap the AB switch to advance to the next preset and
so on. After the five presets, you will cycle back to
the first. Create XT will remain in Preset mode each
time it is powered up. When you are familiar with
the sound of each numbered preset, you will find places
to use them in particular songs or sections of songs.
44..TTwweennttyyssoouunnddsswwiitthhAAaannddBB
This method allows you to access the maximum
number of vocal effects in Create XT from a
standing position. It involves jumping in and out of
Preset mode discussed in the previous paragraph
and then switching between the A and B settings
when you arrive at each preset.Typically, you would
enter Preset mode in between songs, find the preset
with the sound or sounds you want and then switch
out of Preset mode to switch between the A or B
settings during a song.
55..UUllttiimmaatteeccuussttoommiizzaattiioonn
For those who prefer to determine the exact sound
and number of presets they use, Create XT offers
this too. By adjusting the Tweak parameters and the
Effect On/Off buttons described later in this manual,
you can create effects that more closely fit your
specific sonic goals.Additionally, if you require access
to more than two but less than ten presets, there is
a setup configuration that allows you to define the
number of presets you prefer to cycle through (see
For Advanced Users section).

Compression gently reduces the dynamic peaks of your
singing so that when your voice is amplified, it sounds
smoother.
De-essing is a process that reduces the level of
“S” sounds, also known as sibilance and this also
contributes to a smoother vocal sound.
The channel you connect Create XT into should have its
tone controls set to the middle or off so they have no
effect. Create XT’s Tone is all the shaping you’ll need.
Also, the graphic EQ on the main output of your PA, if
it has one, should be set to flat or used only to cut
feedback frequencies.
Because the Tone feature adds brightness which can
contribute to feedback, you should make sure your
monitors are pointed to the dead area of your mic and
your PA is in front of you facing your audience.
Getting To Know Create XT
18
Using The Tone Feature
This deceptively simple button engages a complex signal
chain that gives your vocals more professional polish. In
most cases, all you need to do is turn the feature on and
leave it on.
There are three effects in Tone that are commonly used
in recordings to smooth and brighten vocals:
Adaptive Shape EQ
Compression
De-essing
Adaptive Shape EQ offers tone shaping that adapts to
the sound of your individual voice by reducing the extra
low frequencies that come from singing very close to a
microphone and by boosting high frequencies that help
the voice cut through a mix.

DDeellaayy
The Delay block produces echo effects such as Slap,
Ping Pong, and Tap Tempo. Slap echo is the shortest
of these and recreates the first echo effects used in
the 1950’s. Ping Pong is longer and will bounce from
side to side in stereo. Tap Tempo echo has echo
repeats that follow the beats of your song. For more
information on Tap Tempo see “Using Tap Tempo”
later in this chapter.
RReevveerrbb
This effect simulates the effect of being in an
acoustic space. Factory reverb effects include rooms,
halls and styles that simulate electromechanical
devices used in the past to imitate “real” acoustic
space such as plates and springs.
Factory styles have predefined settings for each block.
For example, one may have the Reverb block configured
as a small, reflective room and another may have a large
dark-sounding hall.
Getting To Know Create XT
19
EN
The Effect Blocks
Each Style in Create XT is made up of some
combination of four “blocks” which can be thought of as
separate effect processors. These are organized as
follows on the front panel:
FFXX
The FX block incorporates the Transducer and
HardTune blocks. The Transducer creates filtered
and distorted effects such as megaphones and
telephones. The HardTune effect is similar to the
extreme pitch correction sound of artists such as T-
pain, Kanye West and Cher.
μ MMoodd
This is the “micromod” block that creates sounds
that modulate such as chorus and flange.The Mod
effects can also use detuning to add thickness or
create wild special effects.

The display will show the key as follows:
A major A minor ... A#
Modifying The Preset Effects
In Create XT, you have the ability to modify all of the
presets and store edited copies of them at the preset
location number they started on.You can then call them
up when required using one of the methods described
previously.
There are several methods for editing:
1. Load a different style from the style bank by turning
the Style knob.The location of the style is shown by
its bank and the number shown briefly in the main
display as you turn the Style knob.
2. Turn effect blocks on or off within the style by
pressing the FX, Mod, Delay or Reverb buttons.
3. Press the Tweak button to select a parameter from
A
A
A
Getting To Know Create XT
20
Using HardTune
This effect sounds best when a key, e.g. A minor, has
been set. There is a convenient way to enter a key for
each song you plan on using it in. If you’re unsure of the
key of your song, often it is the same as the first or last
chord of the song.
To enter or confirm the HardTune key:
1. Find a preset or style with the HardTune effect
active.
2. Hold the AB and On footswitches for a moment.All
3 LEDs will flash and the main LED display will show
the key.
3. Within 2 seconds tap the AB footswitch to enter
key: A, B, C etc. Tap the On footswitch to switch
between major and minor. After 2 seconds of no
footswitch input, the displays will return to normal
automatically.