Harmonizer

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 16 Aug 2002 9:32 pm

Our harmonica player wants one. The ones I have used in the past do not always give you the right harmony note. What does he need or is there such an animal?

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 17 Aug 2002 4:55 am

I played with a fiddle player once that had an old rack unit that did this, but I don't remember the brand, maybe Roland. It had a footswitch that he could tap to get it into the right key for the right harmonies.

My Boss GX-700 has a programmable harmonizer but I haven't taken the time to set up more than two keys.

Buddy Emmons used a DigiTech IPS-33B Super Smart Shift - effects processor on "Triple Play". I programmed my GX for those harmonies in the key of C. You can see his settings here: http://www.buddyemmons.com/IPS33B.htm

Rob Parker · Post by **Rob Parker** » 19 Aug 2002 4:57 pm

Jim,
I worked with a fiddle player from Louisana,name of Dobber Johnson...He played through a Digitech IPS33 I think..Had it mounted in a railroad Conductors travel case,that looked similar to a salesmans case,except it was long enough to accept the rack mounted unit...he put two wooden rails across the ends and used them to mount the unit...He had a foot pedal to change the unit,and could select ,one,two,or three part harmony.But i don't know how he programed it to do the correct harmony. But it worked great...and he had enough room to put his cords and footswitch and extras in the case...
Sadly,Dobber is gone...good picker and a good friend...
RP..'come on in'..[This message was edited by ROB PARKER on 19 August 2002 at 06:00 PM.]

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 19 Aug 2002 5:51 pm

There is another use for a harmonizer besides adding a "harmony".

I know it's rock and roll, but I read years ago where Eddie Van Halen used one not as a harmonizer but as a chorus/flanger type effect. I'd never tried it, but I recently got a Tascam 788 digital studio. It has a special guitar type processor, and among the combinations are several with a harmonizer/pitch shifter. Set just right it will do the chorus/flange thing, but it's a tad different. I definitely see the connection; now if I could just play like that!!!!!!

Leon Roberts · Post by **Leon Roberts** » 20 Aug 2002 4:12 am

Reggie, My wife uses the DigiTech Vocalist VR. You must dial in the proper "KEY" and also the proper "Scale". These two settings are required for each song. There is a three button foot switch. One allows the contol of the bypass and the other two buttons allow the rasing and lowering of the key by half steps. Modulation, if you please. Perhaps someone with vast musical knowledge would determine the proper scale off the top of their head. We had to arrive at the proper scale through trial and error. I might add that this unit has an awesome reverb for vocals. The only down side we have found is having to take the time between tunes to set the unit up for the new song. I hope this helps. Leon

Reggie Duncan · Post by **Reggie Duncan** » 20 Aug 2002 4:18 am

Thanks guys! BIG help!

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 20 Aug 2002 7:28 pm

If you can afford them, Eventide makes good harmonizers.
http://www.eventide.com/ [This message was edited by chas smith on 20 August 2002 at 08:31 PM.]