Vocalist VR

WARNING
FOR YOUR PROTECTION, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:
Water and Moisture: Appliance should not be used near water (e.g. near a bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, etc). Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the enclosure through openings. POWER SOURCES: The appliance should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the operating instructions or as marked on the appliance. GROUNDING OR POLARIZATION: Precautions should be taken so that the grounding or polarization means of an appliance is not defeated. POWER CORD PROTECTION: Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where they exit from the appliance. SERVICING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, the user should not attempt to service the appliance beyond that described in the operating instructions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel. CAUTION: To reduce the risk of fire replace only with same type fuse. ATTENTION: Utiliser un fusible de recharge de mme type. CAUTION: To reduce the risk of fire replace LAMP with manufacturers recommended part ( Refer to service literature)
The symbols shown above are internationally accepted symbols that warn of potential hazards with electrical products. The lightning flash with arrowpoint in an equilateral triangle means that there are dangerous voltages present within the unit. The exclamation point in an equilateral triangle indicates that it is necessary for the user to refer to the owners manual. These symbols warn that there are no user serviceable parts inside the unit. Do not open the unit. Do not attempt to service the unit yourself. Refer all servicing to qualified personnel. Opening the chassis for any reason will void the manufacturers warranty. Do not get the unit wet. If liquid is spilled on the unit, shut it off immediately and take it to a dealer for service. Disconnect the unit during storms to prevent damage.

U.K. MAINS PLUG WARNING

A moulded mains plug that has been cut off from the cord is unsafe. Discard the mains plug at a suitable disposal facility. NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU INSERT A DAMAGED OR CUT MAINS PLUG INTO A 13 AMP POWER SOCKET. Do not use the mains plug without the fuse cover in place. Replacement fuse covers can be obtained from your local retailer. Replacement fuses are 13 amps and MUST be ASTA approved to BS1362.
ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY
This unit conforms to the Product Specifications noted on the Declaration of Conformity. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: this device may not cause harmful interference, and this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Operation of this unit within significant electromagnetic fields should be avoided. use only shielded interconnecting cables.

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Notice For Customers If Your Unit Is Equipped With A Power Cord. WARNING: THIS APPLIANCE MUST BE EARTHED. The cores in the mains lead are coloured in accordance with the following code: GREEN and YELLOW - Earth BLUE - Neutral BROWN - Live As colours of the cores in the mains lead of this appliance may not correspond with the coloured markings identifying the terminals in your plug, proceed as follows: The core which is coloured green and yellow must be connected to the terminal in the plug marked with the letter E, or with the earth symbol, or coloured green, or green and yellow. The core which is coloured blue must be connected to the terminal marked N or coloured black. The core which is coloured brown must be connected to the terminal marked L or coloured red. This equipment may require the use of a different line cord, attachment plug, or both, depending on the available power source at installation. Connect this equipment only to the power source indicated on the equipment rear panel. If the attachment plug needs to be changed, refer servicing to qualified service personnel who should refer to the table below. The green/yellow wire shall be connected directly to the unit's chassis.

FCC COMPLIANCE

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver that may cause undesired operation. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
WARNING: If the ground is defeated, certain fault conditions in the unit or in the system to which it is connected can result in full line voltage between chassis and earth ground. Severe injury or death can then result if the chassis and earth ground are touched simultaneously.
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Manufacturers Name: Manufacturers Address: IVL Technologies Ltd. per DigiTech specifications 6710 Bertram Place Victoria, B.C. Canada V8M 1Z6 DigiTech Vocalist ACCESS Supplementary Information: The product herewith complies with the requirements of the EMC Directive 89/336/EEC (1989) and the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC as amended by the CE Marking Directive 93/68/EEC (1993). IVL Technologies Ltd. 6710 Bertram Place Victoria, B.C. Canada V8M 1Z6 July 31st, 1998 Brian Gibson, Vice President of Engineering European Contact: Your local DigiTech Sales and Service Office or International Sales Office 3 Overlook Drive Unit #4 Amherst, New Hampshire 03031, USA Tel (603) 672-4244 Fax (603) 672 4246

Plug in the external power supply and turn ACCESS on. VR on. Connect a microphone turn VOCALIST Connect a microphone to to VOCALIST VR via panel XLR jack.XLR jack. ACCESS via the front the front panel Connect the stereo outputs of ACCESS to inputs on your on yourintelligent keyboard or the stereo outputs of VOCALIST VR to inputs mixer, mixer, intelligent keyboard oranything with speakers at the end. anything with speakers at the end. Press the Bypass button so it lights. While singing into your mic raise the input level Press the Bypass button so it lights. While singing into your mic raise the input level until the Signal LED is lighting orange with some quick peaks of red on your loudest until the Signal LED is lighting orange with some quick peaks of red on your loudest notes. notes. Take VOCALIST VR Bypass. Use the knob closest closest LCD displaydisplay toaselect a Take ACCESS out of out of Bypass. Use the knob to the to the LCD to select prepreset. set. Enjoy and listen. Keep in mind that presets that say notes in the LCD display require Enjoy and listen. Keep in mind that presets that say notes in the LCD display require a keyboard to produce harmonies. Hook one up if youve got it. a keyboard to produce harmonies. Hook one up if youve got it. After you have got some sounds out of VOCALIST VR and impressed your friends,your After you have got some sounds out of ACCESS and impressed your friends, go to go to your favoritewith your favorite favorite chair and entertain yourself by reading this favorite room, room, with your chair and entertain yourself by reading this manual manual - just think how impressed your high school english teacher would be. just think how impressed your high school english teacher would be.

Program List

Programs 1 through 10 are Scale programs. Scale programs allow you to set the key and scale at the beginning of a song and they will follow your vocal melody automatically from then on. The factory programs have been set to E Major (programs 1-5) and E Minor (programs 6-10). You can change the key and scale by pressing the edit button and turning the parameter knob. Programs 11 through 20 are Chord programs. You will need a MIDI keyboard to control the harmonies. Play the chords of a song on the keyboard while you sing and the harmonies will change in order to stay musically in tune with you. Programs 21 through 25 are the Notes programs. This is another MIDI keyboard-controlled harmony mode. Whatever notes you play on the keyboard become the harmony notes when you sing. This is useful for creating moving harmony lines while you sing one long note for example. Programs 26 through 41 are Scale mode templates for you to build your own programs upon. They have been preset to the keys of G, A, D and C with the four Major and Minor scales. Programs 42 through 46 are the doubling and effects programs. Programs 47 through 50 are the ROM (Read Only Memory) programs. It is not possible to overwrite these programs. These are included to ensure that there is at least one program of each harmony mode type in case all others are overwritten.

Front Panel

Power Switch Harmony Voicing Buttons allow you to adjust the voicing of harmonies. The High and Higher buttons create harmonies above your voice. The Low, Lower and Bass buttons creates harmonies below your voice. The Double button creates detuned unison copies of your voice. See page 16 for more detail on Harmony Voicing. The LCD Display shows preset number and harmony mode information at the initial level. It is also used to show editing and level information. Note that the a after the preset number is only shown when the optional FS 300 footswitch is connected. See page 18 for more details. Data LEDs
Edit LED lights when ACCESS is in Edit in Edit mode VOCALIST VR is mode MIDI LED lights when ACCESS is receiving MIDI on any channel. LED lights when VOCALIST VR is receiving MIDI on any channel.
Data Entry Knob/Switch - is it a knob or a switch? Its both. Turn the knob to select presets. Push the knob to access the edit screen in the LCD display. This control is used for editing, and preset selection. For more details see page 8 or 13. The Store Button allows you to save any changes youve made to a preset into user memory. It also lights to show that youve made a change to a program. Level LEDs (see page 9 for more detail): Harmony LED lights when the Level Knob/Switch controls harmony level. Reverb LED lights when the Level Knob/Switch controls reverb level. Lead LED lights when the Level Knob/Switch controls lead level. Level Knob/Switch - just like the Data Entry control, the level control is both a knob and a switch. Use it as a switch to select which level you want to adjust (harmony, reverb, or lead). Use it as a knob to adjust the level. Visual feedback is provided by the LCD Display. Bypass Button mutes the Harmonies from the stereo mix output. If there is Lead Vocal and/or reverb in the mix they will be uneffected by the bypass button.
Input Level Knob adjusts the input level for the microphone and line inputs. input level the microphone and line inputs. Input Level The Signal LED guides you to an optimal level setting. The LED lights in three colors. optimal level LED lights in three colors. Green is is displayed when VOCALIST recognize the pitchthe your voice voice Green displayed when ACCESS can VR can recognize of pitch of your Orange is is displayed when VOCALIST VR is generating signal to signal to noise. Orange displayed when ACCESS is generating optimal optimal noise. Red is is displayed when VOCALIST VR is just below clipping-causing uglydistortion Red displayed when ACCESS is just below clipping-causing ugly digital digital distortion

Back Panel

Line Input accepts mono line level audio from an external source. This jack overrides Line Input accepts mono line level audio from an external source. This jack overrides the front panel MIC jack. the front panel MIC jack. AUX Input to Reverb bypasses the harmony processing and routes the AUX signal AUX Input to Reverb bypasses the harmony processing and routes the AUX signal directly to the reverb effect. This feature allows you toto borrow ACCESS reverb effect directly to the reverb effect. This feature allows you borrow VOCALIST VR reverb effectfor other instruments dontdont need harmonies. inputinput accepts monolevel level for other instruments that that need harmonies. The The accepts mono line line audio from an external source. audio from an external source. Left and Right Outputs are the main mix outputs. The outputs have a selectable output Left and Right Outputs are the main mix outputs. The outputs have a selectable output level using the level switch beside the outputs - - +4dBu or -10dBu.Use the switch to level using the level switch beside the outputs +4dBu or -10dBu. Use the switch to match the output of VOCALIST yourto your For mono output use the use the left on its match the output of ACCESS to VR mixer. mixer. For mono output left output output on its own. own. MIDI thru/out/in are used to control VOCALISTwith with an external MIDI device. MIDI MIDI thru/out/in are used to control ACCESS VR an external MIDI device. MIDI IN IN receives MIDI information.MIDI THRU transmits an exact copy of any MIDI informareceives MIDI information. MIDI THRU transmits an exact copy of any MIDI information received atat the MIDIIN. tion received the MIDI IN. Footswitch input is used to connect aa Digitech FS-300 footswitch to provide remote Footswitch input is used to connect Digitech FS-300 footswitch to provide remote control of Bypass, Reverb on/off, and ALTernate Key. See page18 forfor more informacontrol of Bypass, Reverb on/off, and ALTernate Key. See page18 more information). tion). Power input isis used only with a Harman Pro GroupPS750 9.75V AC, 820mA power Power input used only with a Harman Pro Group PS750 9.75V AC, 820mA power adapter supplied with the unit. adapter supplied with the unit.

Set-Up Examples

Live Performance The line-drawing below represents a typical live performance set-up. The keyboard is optional depending on how you want to control your harmony parts (see Harmony Control Modes for more information on page 10). Connect as follows:
audio from mic to VOCALIST VR MIDI from keybard to VOCALIST VR audio from VOCALST VR to mixer
connect microphone to front panel MIC input of ACCESS to front panel MIC input of VOCALIST VR connect stereo outputs of ACCESS to a VR to a stereo inputmono inputs on your mixer mixer VOCALIST stereo input or two or two mono inputs on your (headphones or amplifier and speakers are needed to monitor audio). speakers are needed to audio).

note: generally this can bebe set +4, butbutyour mixer is distorting, VOCALIST VR output level note: generally this can set at at +4, if if your mixer is distorting, ACCESS output level should be reduced toto -10dBu. should be reduced -10dBu.

Loading Presets

The VOCALIST VR contains 50 factory presets. To select a preset use Data Entry Knob to The Vocalist ACCESS contains 50 factory presets. To select a preset use Data Entry Knob to scroll through presets. The presets are loaded automatically as you scroll through them. Edited scroll can be presets. The presets are presets as user presets. you scroll through for further presetsthrough saved over top of factoryloaded automatically as See Storing Presetsthem. Edited presets can LCD display top of factory presets as in the following way: details. The be saved over shows preset informationuser presets. See Storing Presets for further details. The LCD display shows preset information in the following way:
The first two characters tell you the preset number This shows the harmony control mode as either; Double, Scale, Chord or Notes. See Harmony Control Modes for more information on page 10. Following the Harmony Control Mode, information particular to the Harmony Control Mode of the preset is shown.

Storing Presets

This is very simple. Anytime you make a change to a parameter which is stored by preset (levels, rev., scale, voicing, etc.) the Store Button will light. If you want to write these changes to memory follow these steps:

press the

button - the Store button will begin flashing.
If you wish to store your preset to a different preset number than you currently have selected, use the Data Entry Knob to select the preset number which you want to store your modified preset to. When you have selected your new preset, press that number. - the preset is then stored to
note: If you want to store the preset under the current preset number skip step 2. To exit flashing Store mode, make a parameter change then change programs.
Setting Harmony, Reverb, and Lead levels

Harmony Level

Press the level knob/switch until the harmony LED lights. The LCD display will show the current Harmony level from 0 to max. The LCD display will switch back to showing the current preset if the level control is not turned for a few seconds. You can turn the knob to change levels any time the LED is lit beside the level you want to control. Reverb Level
Press the level knob/switch until the Reverb LED lights. The LCD display will show the current Reverb level from 0 to max. The LCD display will switch back to showing the current preset if the level control is not turned for a few seconds. You can turn the knob to change levels any time the LED is lit beside the level you want to control. Lead Level

The lead level adjusts how loud your uneffected voice is when harmonies are on and when the unit is bypassed. If this is set to 0, your voice will not be heard in bypass. Press the level knob/switch until the Lead LED lights. The LCD display will show the current Lead level from 0 to max. The LCD display will switch back to showing the current preset if the level control is not turned for a few seconds. You can turn the knob to change levels any time the LED is lit beside the level you want to control.
The Harmony Control Modes
Each preset is based on one of the four harmony control modes: Scale, Chord, Notes and Double. The Scale, Chord and Notes programs require musical information just like another player in your band in order to produce musically effective harmony. The following details how each mode works and how it is controlled.
You can tell you have selected a Scale preset when the preset number is followed by the word Scale. Scale Harmony programs require that you enter the key and scale of your song. Once you have found the key and scale that you like, its not usually necessary to change it during the song unless your song changes key from one section to another. To set the key, press the data entry knob to enter edit mode and then turn the knob. Press the data entry knob again to change the scale type. Scale presets have a selection of 8 different scales to allow you to produce musically correct harmony over the chords in your particular song. The current scale being used is displayed on the right hand side of the LCD display when on a Scale preset. The Voicing buttons are active in Scale programs so that you can pick whether harmonies are above your voice, below your voice or a combination. Finding the right key and scale is largely done by trial and error at first. Whether the key and scale work properly depends on the chord changes and melody of your song. The best place to start is by setting the key (usually but not always the first chord in your song), then choosing the first major or minor scale and finally, singing your part. If this works the first time, great, if not try the other major or minor scales. Its important to note that selecting either the high or lower voicing buttons (3rds) works for more tunes. When you add the higher and low voicing buttons (5ths) it sounds bigger but the selection of songs you can use them in decreases. There is also a global setting called Scalesmooth that only pertains to Scale presets. This setting allows you to choose whether the harmony parts step to the nearest correct note, or follow the exact pitch of your voice - vibrato, scoops and all. For more detail on Scalesmooth see page 15. An alternate key, scale, or voicing setting is possible using the optional FS-300 footswitch. See page 18 for more detail.

VOCALIST VR has the easiest editing system* you are ever likely to see. Here are the guidelines to ACCESS for the easiest be aware of has editing: editing system* you are ever likely to see. Here are the guidelines to be aware of for editing:
How do you get in to EDIT mode? Press the Data Entry Knob/Switch to enter the edit mode. The EDIT LED will light and you will jump to the first editable parameter on the LCD display. How do you know what you are editing? The parameter which is editable will always be flashing on the LCD display. How do you select what you want to edit? To select another parameter continue pressing the Data Entry Knob/Switch. The parameters which you can EDIT vary slightly based on the Harmony Control Mode you are using. The EDIT Parameters are described below. How do you adjust the parameter you want to EDIT? To adjust a parameter turn the Data Entry Knob/Switch left or right. How do you exit EDIT mode? To exit EDIT mode press and hold the Data Entry Knob/Switch for a couple seconds. Another way to exit the EDIT mode is by stepping through all the edit parameters using the Data Entry switch. After the last edit parameter, the LCD display will cycle back to preset mode.

The EDIT Parameters

Each Harmony Control Mode has a unique EDIT Parameter which is saved per preset (Preset Specific Parameters). There are an additional six EDIT Parameters (Global Parameters) which are the same across all presets. Any editing on a preset is effective at the moment you adjust the parameter. However, you must store the preset if you want to preserve your editing changes the next time you come back to the preset.
Preset-Specific Parameters

Double: Voices 1 - 4:

This parameter is used on Double presets. The Voices parameter can be set from 1 to 4 Vox (Vox is short for voices). This represents the number of copies of you voice you want to produce. The more voices, the thicker and fatter your voice will sound.
* for you english majors out there, this is a oxymoron. Two words placed back to back that contradict themselves. But truly, Access does have the easiest editing system.

Scale: Key and Scale:

This parameter is used on Scale presets. There are two editable parameters here. The Key parameter is used to set the Key and Scale (if you dont know why you would set Key and Scale see Scale Harmony Control Modes on page 10). The Key can be set C through to B. The Scale choices are maj1 through maj4 and min1 through min4. Chord: Harmony Hold on/off:
This parameter is used on Chord presets. When Harmony Hold is set to off harmonies will only be produced only when you are holding notes on your keyboard. When Harmony Hold is set to ON harmonies will always be heard when you sing regardless of whether you have keyboard notes held or not.

Note: when Harmony Hold is set to ON, it is the same as all Digitech Vocalist products in Note: when Harmony Hold is set to ON, it is the same as all Digitech Vocalist products in Chordal mode. Harmony Hold off is new and unique to VOCALIST VR. Chordal mode. Harmony Hold off is new and unique to ACCESS.

Notes: Transpose:

This parameter is used on Notes presets. The transpose parameter shifts the octave in which This parameter is used on Notes presets. The transpose parameter shifts the octave in which harmonies are produced. It is useful when you want to play high harmonies from the lower part harmonies are produced. It is useful when you want to play high harmonies from the lower part of your keyboard. When Transpose is set to +0 Oct, the octave you play notes on your keyof your keyboard. When Transpose is set to +0 Oct, the octave you play notes on your keyboard board the be the same octave where harmony notes produced by the by ACCESS. When will be will same octave where harmony notes will be will be produced VOCALIST VR. When Transpose is set or 1 or 2 octaves, the harmonies octave will be shifted by that amount. Transpose is set ++or - -/ /1 or 2 octaves, the harmonies octave will be shifted by that amount. Reverb Type:
This parameter is used on all presets as long as Global Rev is off (see following section for Global Rev). The parameter allows you to select from 10 reverb types. When Rev is set to off, no reverb effect will be heard. For reverb type descriptions see Appendix 1 - Reverb Types.

Global Parameters

MIDI Channel Select:
This parameter allows you to select the MIDI channel which ACCESS will look will look at to This parameter allows you to select the MIDI channel which the VOCALIST VRat to generate harmony information on Chords Chords presets, presets, as well as Control Change informagenerate harmony information onor Notes or Notesas well as Control Change information. MIDI Channels 1 through 16 through 16 can tion. MIDI Channels 1 can be selected. be selected. MIDI Program Change on/off:
This parameter allows you to set the VOCALIST VR to ignore or accept MIDI Program Change This parameter allows you to set ACCESS to ignore or accept MIDI Program Change messages. messages. When set to ON the VOCALIST VR will accept program change information. When set to ON ACCESS will accept program change information. When set to off, When set to off , VOCALIST VR will ignore program change information. ACCESS will ignore program change information.

Keyboard Zone:

This parameter allows you to set where on your keyboard where you play to trigger harmonies on Chords or Notes presets. It is useful when you dont want your whole keyboard to trigger harmonies. There are two items you can edit for this parameter. With this parameter you specify a note on your keyboard and whether the notes above or below it will trigger harmonies. If Zone is set to Below, then notes below the selected note will trigger harmonies. If Zone is set to Above, then notes above the selected note will trigger harmonies. The zone note can be selected from C -1 to G 9. The letter represents the note, the number represents the octave. Note: If this is set outside a useful range e.g. below C1, keyboard control will not work. ScaleSmooth on/off:

This parameter switches harmony note pitch correction on and off when using Scale presets. When ScaleSmooth is set to off, the all harmony voicings except the Bass and Double will jump to exact pitches. When ScaleSmooth is set to ON harmony notes follow your exact pitch
so you can slide in and out of notes like the best Blues singers. Be careful though, if you cant hear yourself well and your pitch is sharp or flat, the harmonies will be too. Global Reverb on/off:
This parameter allows you to select whether or not the reverb type is different per preset, or globThis parameter allows you to select whether or not the reverb type is different per preset, or global al all all presets. Since ACCESS has the capability to associate a different reverb type with each for for presets. Since the VOCALIST VR has the capability to associate a different reverb type with each preset, you can have small room on one song and switch to large hall setting for the next. preset, you can have a a small room onone song and switch to aalarge hall setting for the next. However, you prefer to have the same reverb type for all presets, turn Global Rev ON. However, IfIfyou prefer to have the same reverb type for all presets, turn Global Rev ON. Global Mix on/off:
This parameter is much like Global Rev - it allows you to select whether level settings are per This parameter is much like Global Rev - it allows you to select whether level settings are per preset, or global for all presets. Since the VOCALIST VR allows you to have a different mix of lead, harmony preset, or global for all presets. Since ACCESS allows you to have a different mix of lead, harand reverb levels per preset, you can have completely different mixes per preset. However, mony and reverb levels per preset, you can have completely different mixes per preset. However, you may also prefer to have mix levels the same across all presets to keep levels consistent; in you may also prefer to have mix levels the same across all presets to keep levels consistent; in this case, turn Global Mix off. this case, turn Global Mix off.

Harmony Level The harmony, lead and reverb level CCs allow you to control your mix via MIDI.

Lead Level

Reverb Level

Reverb Type

Set Key on/off Enables chord recognition of key and scale in Scale programs via MIDI. This allows you to change key and scale from a sequencer. Chord recognition is normally turned off because Scale mode does not require the changing chords used to control harmonies in Notes and Chord programs. This CC message must be sent first and then a chord can be played on the keyboard that will call up the key and scale your require. See Appendix 4 on page 26 for the Scale Chart.
Voice Pan Setting 1-4 Allows you to set different stereo mixes by altering the pan position of each harmony voice. CCs 80 through 83 control voices 1 through 4. Voice allocation changes dynamically with the different harmony modes, keyboard control and voicing selection. Wide panning in Notes mode could result in harmony voices moving from side to side. Pan adjustment should be done with the program you intend to control currently loaded.
Damper Pedal Allows harmony notes in Chord and Notes mode to stay held after the notes have been released from the keyboard.
A well-crafted vocal harmony can do a great deal towards enhancing aamusical selection. The A well-crafted vocal harmony can do a great deal towards enhancing musical selection. The contrast between a lone singing voice and a group of voices signing together makes the music contrast between a lone singing voice and a group of voices signing together makes the music that much more interesting. that much more interesting. But harmonies can be somewhat difficult to understand, so in this chapter, we will try and But harmonies can be somewhat difficult to understand, so in this chapter, we will try and demystify this process. Discussed will be the concept of musically correct harmonies and the demystify this process. Discussed will be the concept of musically correct harmonies and the difference between the two essential harmony types utilized by the Vocalist VR: Scale and and difference between the two essential harmony types utilized by the Vocalist ACCESS: Scale Chord Harmony Control Modes. Chord Harmony Control Modes.
Musically Correct No, this isnt a variation of politically correct, but it still implies a certain level of responsibility. This responsibility is to produce a combination of notes that is pleasing to sensibilities accustomed to the western twelve tone scale. Harmonies that are correct are referred to as being Diatonic which is defined as: any melody or group of chords that conforms to a single scale or key. To illustrate this, see the C major scale below. Whether you studied music or not, youve no doubt heard it somewhere and could probably sing it from memory.

A diatonic, correct harmony could be shown by simply taking all the notes in this scale and moving them up one line on the staff. Notice in the example below of a 3rd above harmony that the harmony notes shown in grey belong to the scale.
If any of the harmony notes were sharped or flatted they would fall outside this particular scale and would not be diatonic. This theory holds for all of the different types of scales such as major, minor, diminished, augmented and wholetone.
The opposite of a diatonic harmony is chromatic. A chromatic scale is defined as: a scale type that uses all 12 semitones. Notice that the previous scale example had 8 notes. The chromatic scale uses all the sharp and flat notes in between as well. There are 12 of each of the major, minor, etc. scales; there is only one chromatic scale. To illustrate a chromatic harmony, see the following example of a chromatic 3rd above harmony on our C major scale.
The sharps show the non-scale notes. The reason for the difference is that the chromatic harmony notes stay exactly 4 semitones (a major 3rd ) above each scale note. In the diatonic example, the harmony notes varied between 3 and 4 semitones in order to stay true to the scale. The drawing below demonstrates this.
Scale and Chord Harmony; The Difference
Probably the toughest part of understanding harmony is pinpointing the difference between the Probably the toughest part Control Modes. harmony is pinpointing the in the VOCALIST VR Scale and Chord Harmony of understandingThere are many of each typedifference between the that, by trial Scale and Chord Harmony Control not fully understood why. Lets try to clear that up. and error, you have found useful yetModes. There are many of each type in ACCESS that, by trial and error, you have found useful yet not fully understood why. Lets try to clear that up.
The practical difference could be summed up in a couple of sentences: Scale Harmony usually requires you to enter the one key that works for a whole song. Scale harmonies will sound correct in many songs but not all and this is why you have a choice between the two. Scale harmonies are also more active in harmony motion. Chord Harmony requires you to input a different chord change for every chord in a song. They can be applied to almost any song you can play. This is only the practical difference between the two Harmony Control Modes, we now need to explore the theoretical differences.