TC-Helicon, Sennheiser Launch VoiceLive Play + Microphone Bundles
When complementary gear gangs up, that’s a beautiful thing.
The vocal effects creators at TC-Helicon and microphone innovators Sennheiser have matched up, announcing two new bundles designed specifically for singers and singer/guitarists, with live performance applications in mind.
Both packages have Sennheiser’s new e 835 fx at their core — the e 835 fx is a special version of Sennheiser’s evolution e 835 microphone with an effects control button. The bundle is built up by pairing it with an option of either TC-Helicon’s VoiceLive Play vocal effects unit for singers, or the VoiceLive Play GTX for singer/guitarists.
Musically logical: The TC-Helicon + Sennheiser bundles put the pieces together for vocalists.
Availability kicks in this March, with prices TBA. Here’s more information on these creative bundles, from TC-Helicon and Sennheiser:
“The microphone
A special version of Sennheiser’s most popular vocal microphone, the evolution e 835 fx, is the heart of both new bundles. The microphone features an effects control button that allows the singer to perform multiple actions, like switching presets or toggling HIT, LOOP, and TALK functions – inconspicuously and conveniently, without having to reach for the effects unit.
The e 835 fx features powerful sound with a presence boost for improved projection on stage. Its neodymium transducer magnet pushes output levels very high, making it possible to balance signals against higher levels of on-stage amplification. The transducer can handle extremely high sound pressure levels in excess of 150 dB.
The mic’s shock-mount capsule has a cardioid pick-up pattern with good ambient noise and feedback rejection to enable greater signal levels to be delivered before feedback. The typical proximity effect of a cardioid is optimised for close vocal work, while the rugged mic construction with a die-cast zinc casing provides an optimum handling and weight profile.
The vocal effects units
TC-Helicon makes the bundle available with either of its popular vocal processors, VoiceLive Play or VoiceLive Play GTX.
‘With these processors, you do not have to worry about your sound at varying live performance locations,” says Kevin Alexander, CEO of TC-Helicon. ‘The VoiceLive Play units will heighten your performance with effects such as backing harmonies, reverb and vocal double tracking, independent of the venue’s console.’
At home, the effects units can be used to work on songs and explore new styles, or to practise using their built-in pitch display and singing stats.
VoiceLive Play has ‘ears’: via its built-in RoomSense microphones, it will detect the key of outside musical sources to create perfect vocal harmonies – or to provide a live stage mix for vocalists using wireless monitors. It features adaptive EQ, compression, de-essing, and pitch correction. Effects also include the TC-Helicon VLOOPTM performance looper, and there are over 200 genre presets to select from, with hundreds more to download for free, allowing singers to easily find the style and sound they are looking for.
For practicing, vocalists can connect their MP3 player and record themselves – the unit is even able to cancel existing vocals in music. Further in/outputs include stereo XLR outputs, a headphone socket and USB connector for audio streaming and recording.
VoiceLive Play GTX for singer/guitarists adds award-winning guitar effects to the ample vocal effects that VoiceLive Play offers.
A wide choice of artist and song-inspired presets offers signature vocal and guitar sounds, with a full editing ability allowing users to define their own unique style.”
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