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Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea?

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 12:57 am
by neonblack
My bandmate has a vocal harmonizer pedal, I cant remember what kind, but we play in a noise rock band and I'm considering using it in some way. Is there any way to do it that isn't cheesy? Or is it always going to sound like dumb garbage?

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 1:43 am
by BoatRich
I’ve definitely gotten some really creepy sounds running vocals through octave pedals/a pitchfactor. You could always run some reverb after it?

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 2:05 am
by neonblack
Yeah, I've definitely thought about getting a vocal reverb or maybe one of those DBA echo masters but every time I have money for toys I end up buying a guitar pedal.

I think the one he has is a TC electronic. I'm sure they make a cheap enough vocal reverb

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 8:17 am
by ognoy
Listen to the first Battles record.

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 8:55 am
by odontophobia
ognoy wrote:Listen to the first Battles record.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpGp-22t0lU[/youtube]

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 11:45 am
by VREEEEVROOOOOW
I'm not a fan of 100% wet pitch shifting, but reverse reverb or delay with increasingly brighter/darker repeats is pretty cool. And I think that holds for any instrument, including vocals.

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 12:02 pm
by lordgalvar
G.I.S.M. M.A.N.

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 12:16 pm
by crochambeau
Does it have multiple outputs that you can assign different harmony parts to?

I think with enough erosion in your signal path you can make anything sound wonderful.

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 12:41 pm
by Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.
yea just abuse it and it should be great. throw some fx before so it tracks wild or after so it sounds different
dont just use it to "make harmonies" basically. get creative

i have the boss vocal dude and its got the whole range of fx in one. pitch, harmony, preamp, eq, delay, distortion, reverb. its a lot of fun to muck around w.

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 2:32 pm
by BoatRich
neonblack wrote:Yeah, I've definitely thought about getting a vocal reverb or maybe one of those DBA echo masters but every time I have money for toys I end up buying a guitar pedal.

I think the one he has is a TC electronic. I'm sure they make a cheap enough vocal reverb
The sickest thing about the Echo Master is honestly the effects loop. Being able to put a bunch Of Pedals on your board in the feedback path is so sweet. I really want one.

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 7:15 pm
by resincum
I actually recorded vocals yesterday and the engineer slapped an octaver on all the vox and it made everything sound hella fat. trick was to dial the mix back or else it was super cheesy for sure..but into some reverb and I sounded like a monster

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 7:19 pm
by neonblack
I know they use an octave down on some of the vocals on the new Daughters, and St Vincent has used it on some things to pretty good effect.

I just need to save it for the extra noisy parts probably. We haven't gone super noisy yet, it's mostly just weird riffs so I don't wanna get too wacky with the vocals over fairly tame music

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 7:32 pm
by Jwar
It depends on the song and it depends on how much you are using. It can be used well for sure and has been. I used some very light octave recently in a song I did a cover of as well and it's all about the mix as stated above. I think the same applies to any effect with vocals.

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 7:50 pm
by Chankgeez
Maybe trying singin' through a Green Ringer? :D :idk:

Re: Pitch shifting/harmonizer for vocals - always a bad idea

Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2018 8:58 pm
by neonblack
That actually sounds like a great idea Chank!