Manual version 1.
Harmony4 User’s Manual Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Main Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Support Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Chapter 1: Introduction Thank you for purchasing the Harmony4 plug in from TC-Helicon. This product is a landmark plug-in. It is the first time our harmony technology has been made available as a software plug-in. The arrival of faster, more capable computer platforms, and secure hardware such as TC Electronic’s PowerCore has allowed us to offer you our harmony capabilities previously available only in our dedicated hardware products.
Support Information The TC Support Interactive website www.tcsupport.tc is designed as an online support, and information center. At the site you can find answers to specific questions regarding TC-Helicon software, and hardware. All known issues are stored in a database searchable by product, category, keywords, or phrases. Under the section "My Stuff" you can login to check the status of your questions, download materials such as product manuals, software updates, and new presets.
System Requirements WINDOWS • PowerCore running version 2.0.2 or higher • Desktop or laptop computer that meets Powercore system requirements • VST compatible host application • System must meet requirements of the host application MAC OS X • Macintosh system OS X 10.4 • PowerCore running version 2.0.
Chapter 2: Descriptions The Main Interface Here we discuss getting around the GUI. More detail on parameters follows later in the manual. 1 5 8 2 6 7 3 4 1. Host Area - This will be displayed differently for each host program. In this case, the host area of Cubase SX is shown. 2. Visualization Area - Here you can see at a glance information about the current preset. Each head represents an enabled voice.
The Main Interface (cont.) 1 5 8 2 6 7 3 4 4. Preset Area - This drop down menu displays the included factory presets. This menu is provided in case the host application does not have a preset menu of its own. 5. Wet/Dry Mix, and Pan - There is an optional dry path through the plug in for times when you use Harmony4 as a channel insert. Note that when used as a stereo insert plugin, only the left channel of the audio track will be as input to Harmony4. 6.
The Voices Tab The Voices Tab allows editing of settings you need most for each harmony voice. The number of parameters differs depending on the harmony mode. Level Here you can mix the relative levels of each of the four voices. There is also an "Off" value which will disable any voice. Note that turning all four voices on at 0dB (full) may produce overload. If this occurs, you can either reduce the input level with the IN slider, or reduce the level of each voice.
When Note Source is set to "Manual", you can select the Input Note with your mouse. When Note Source is set to "Sung", the Input Note is determined by the pitch of the singer. Output Note Each of the 4 harmony voices can produce a different harmony note for every given input (sung note). Use these parameters to set the desired output note for each enabled voice. The Humanize Tab TC-Helicon’s Humanize settings make the harmony voices sound more natural, or even wildly effected if you prefer.
Vibrato Style & Amount A unique modeled vibrato based on the analysis of human singers can be added to each harmony voice using a combination of these two parameters. When Style, and Amount are chosen, vibrato occurs when the pitch of the lead voice has settled momentarily. This more closely simulates human singing. Vibrato may not occur if the lead voice melody is changing quickly. The styles are randomized so that they sound slightly different on each voice even when the same style is chosen for all.
To take full advantage of this mode, you will need to have 4 tracks of MIDI data on separate channels driving Harmony4. Key & Scale (available only in Scale Mode) Use these parameters to set the key, and scale type. The scale defines the map for how the harmony voices will react to the input pitch. Available scales are Major/Minor 1,2, and 3. Custom scales can be created for situations where the predefined scales don’t produce the desire results.
Root, and Chord (available only in Chord Mode) Use these parameters to set the chord root (e.g. C), and chord type (e.g. major 7). The chord defines the allowable notes for the harmony voices. The Setup Tab When using the two modes that require MIDI input, Notes, and Chords, it is essential to match the MIDI settings of Harmony4 to those of your DAW’s MIDI track for controlling harmony.
Chapter 3 - Producing Harmony Harmony Modes Background A quick description of why the harmony modes are required is that they help Harmony4 “sing the right notes”. Each harmony mode requires different input from you and is capable of producing different harmony sounds. We will use a little allegory to explain. When you and a fellow musician get together to play and sing, typically some musical information is passed from one to the other before commencing the song.
dictate to Harmony4 what harmony notes you’d like to hear. Once a harmony note, or notes are held down on your MIDI keyboard, or MIDI track, this is where they will stay regardless of your changing vocal melody. Shift mode shifts the pitch of the lead melody by a fixed interval. This is most useful for doubling, special effects, or Gothic-sounding 5ths. A Comparison of the Harmony Modes The following table gives an overview of the plusses and minuses of each harmony mode. Getting Set Up 1.
Any equalization of the send to Harmony4 should be removed. You can add EQ after the plug-in, if required. While Harmony4 has excellent pitch detection, it may have trouble finding a pitch in growled, or extremely raspy voices. 4. Create a send bus from the audio track to Harmony4. This will be handled differently in the various DAW programs so consult the manual that came with your DAW if you haven’t done this before.
You may want to record a scratch MIDI chord track in your host sequencer in the song sections where harmony is required so you can try the different Chords presets without having to play at the same time. 3. You can now listen to how the different Chord presets sound as the song plays. At this point you can also start learning about editing. A good place to start is with parameters in the Voices Tab. Here you can move the Voicing up and down and hear the effect of different Gender settings on each voice. 4.
If you’ve stayed with this text up to this point, you’ve received a good overview of what Harmony4 has to offer. From this point onwards you can work with presets in the harmony modes that suit your workflow best.
Chapter 4: Appendix Troubleshooting For the more extensive and up to date troubleshooting information please visit www.tcsupport.tc I don’t hear any harmony voices, but the input meter to Harmony4 shows input level - nothing on the output? There are several common reasons harmonies are not being produced when the plug-in shows input level: 1. Harmony Mute is enabled: disable it to hear harmonies 2.
nc nc nc nc nc nc D F D F D F nc nc D F nc nc D F nc nc D F C E D F C E C Eb B D +2 Octaves ++7 ++6 ++5 ++4 ++3 ++2 +1 +7 +6 +5 +4 +3 +2 nc nc nc nc G Bb G Bb Ab C nc nc C Eb Bb D nc nc G Bb A C nc nc C Eb Bb D G Bb nc nc Ab C nc nc nc nc Bb D nc nc G C nc nc A C C E G B A C nc nc nc nc B Bb D F G B D E nc nc A C nc nc nc nc A C E The symbol “nc” means no change, in that the harmony voice will simply stay on the previous note until the lead voice changes to a non
Chord Types and Voicings Table The following gives additional detail on Chords mode. It shows the range of chords recognized by Harmony4 based on a chord root of C in the left column. To the right in the table is the combination of notes that are required to be played in order for Harmony4 to recognize each chord type.
