Cheap vocal processor

Discussion in 'Soundgear' started by nmkeraj, Jan 6, 2023.

  1. nmkeraj

    nmkeraj Platinum Record

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    Hi. What kind of gear is used for connecting a vocal mic? I need to add a delay fx to a live vocalist. Can I use a common pedal for guitarists? If yes, should a dynamic mic be used then, without phantom power? My setup is, a hifi amplifier and a little passive mixer with a keyboard and a mic connected. And of course, I mean a real budget solution eg. https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-a...mpVzIMz3z_vb1SwVC1O6tJRSG6nRAqXxoCG1EQAvD_BwE

     
    nmkeraj, Jan 6, 2023
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  3. DonCaballero

    DonCaballero Producer

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    Guitar pedals are line level vs. mic level so you might need a DI, but your best bet is likely running an FX in a DAW with any of the countless free reverbs/delays. Another advantage is your FX aren't baked into the recording so you can adjust/replace them later.

    If planning to record you should have a basic interface with low-latency, but worst case could use crappy unboard sound with something like ASIO4ALL. If you have an older computer Reaper will be the lightest on CPU, so you could use that for recording and transfer to the DAW of your choice for mixing when you don't need low-latency.
     
    DonCaballero, Jan 6, 2023
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  4. mk_96

    mk_96 Audiosexual

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    Best Answer
    Guitar pedals are not ment for that kind of signal. Can it be done? Yes, but connecting a mic (a dynamic/ribbon mic, because you won't be able to pass phantom though the pedal) is probably not a good idea because of noise (guitar pedals are not ment for weak ballanced signals such as mic signals, so you loose the benefits, if it works at all). If you really want to use a guitar pedal, the best way to do that would be to connect the mic to the preamp of that console of yours and route that signal (though insert, aux, whatever your console has) to the pedal afterwards, but you'd still be using something that is not ment for that use and it may not work as intended.

    Now, the "right" way of adding FX to a live vocalist depends on what you have, some mixers have integrated FX. Also, if your mixer doubles as an audio interface you might be able to get the signal to a computer, add effects there (which you could get for free), and send it back to your console. If not you'll have to use the insert/aux sends like before, but with gear designed for that. You want an FX processor ment for ballanced, line level signal. You can find such things starting around 200$ or so.

    Alternatively, there are vocal processors that look and operate like guitar pedals that you can connect your mic directly into it. Not cheap though.

    There are other ways that involve weird gear combinations, but that's experimental territory.
     
    mk_96, Jan 6, 2023
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  5. nmkeraj

    nmkeraj Platinum Record

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    One of the cheapest multi fx are Alesis Microverb’s iterations. They have two mono jacks input. Would it be suitable for a dynamic mic in any way? How about using it with a mixer as send/return fx?
     
    nmkeraj, Apr 1, 2024
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  6. Sinus Well

    Sinus Well Audiosexual

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    Yes, you can send vocals to a pedal. Bring the vocals to line level first, then send the vocals into a reamp box to adjust the impedance. From there you can send the sigal into the pedal.
    Or buy a Behringer FX 2000, cheap and 'okay' for live.
     
    Last edited: Apr 1, 2024
    Sinus Well, Apr 1, 2024
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