Tascam TA-1VP Owner's Manual

TASCAM TA-1VP 9intonation correction to be performed on all vocals andalmost all instruments.Of course, the TA-1VP will not detect pitch when the inputwaveform is not periodic. As demonstrated above, theTA-1VP will fail to tune up even a unison violin section.But this can also occasionally be a problem with solovoice and solo instruments as well. Consider, for example,an exceptionally breathy voice, or a voice recorded in anunavoidably noisy environment. The added signal is non-periodic, and the TA-1VP will have difficulty determiningthe pitch of the composite (voice + noise) sound. Luckily,there is a control (the Sensitivity control, discussed inChapter 5) that will let the TA-1VP be a bit more casualabout what it considers “periodic.” Experimenting withthis setting will often allow the TA-1VP to track even noisysignals.How Auto-Tune corrects pitchAuto-Tune works by continuously tracking the pitchof an input sound and comparing it to a user-definedscale. The scale tone closest to the input is continuouslyidentified. If the input pitch exactly matches the scaletone, no correction is applied. If the input pitch variesfrom the desired scale pitch, an output pitch is generatedwhich is closer to the scale tone than the input pitch. (Theexact amount of correction is controlled by the Speedparameter, described below and in Chapter 5.)ScalesThe heart of Auto-Tune pitch correction is the Scale. TheTA-1VP comes with 25 preprogrammed scales. For eachScale you can define which notes will sound and whichwon’t. And for each note that will sound, you can decidewhether the TA-1VP will apply pitch correction to inputpitches near that note or leave those pitches uncorrected.You can also edit any of the preprogrammed scales andsave your custom scale as part of a Preset.SpeedYou also have control over how rapidly, in time, the pitchadjustment is made toward the scale tone. This is set withthe Speed control (see Chapter 5 for more details).Fast Speed• settings are more appropriate for shortduration notes and for mechanical instruments, like anoboe or clarinet, whose pitch typically changes almostinstantly. A fast enough setting will also minimize orcompletely remove a vibrato. At the fastest setting, youwill produce the now-infamous “Cher effect.”Slow Speed• settings, on the other hand, areappropriate for longer notes where you wantexpressive pitch gestures (like vibrato) to come throughat the output and for vocal and instrumental styles thatare typified by gradual slides (portamento) betweenpitches. An appropriately selected slow setting canleave a vibrato unmodified while the average pitch isaccurately adjusted to be in tune.An exampleAs an example, consider this before-and-after graphicrepresentation of the pitch of a vocal phrase that containsboth vibrato and expressive gestures.10.0 10.5 11.0D3B2C # 3ORIGINALPERFORMANCECORRECTEDBY TA-1VPIn the original performance, we can see that althoughthe final note should be centered around D, the vocalistallowed the tail of the note to fall nearly three semitonesflat. The “after” plot is the result of passing this phrasethrough the TA-1VP set to a D Major Scale (with C# andB set to ”Blank”) and a Speed setting of 10. That Speedcauses the pitch center to be moved to D, while stillretaining the vibrato and expressive gestures. (SettingC# and B to ”Blank” is necessary to keep the TA-1VP fromtrying to correct the seriously flat tail of the last note tothose pitches. See Chapter 5 for more details.)Antares Microphone ModelingIf you’ve spent any time flipping through the pages of proaudio magazines, you have almost certainly noticed theintense focus on microphones. From the proliferation ofexotic new mics to the almost cult-like following of certainhistorical classics, never has the choice been greater. Butamassing a substantial collection of high-end mics isfinancially prohibitive for all but the most well-off studios.Now, using Antare's patented Spectral Shaping Tool™technology, we’ve created digital models of a varietyof microphones. Simply tell the TA-1VP what type ofmicrophone you are actually using and what type ofmicrophone you’d like it to sound like. It’s as simple asthat.With the TA-1VP, you can record each track through amodel of the type of mic that will best produce that idealsound you’re looking for. Or use it in live performanceto get the sound of mics you’d never consider using onstage. You can even use it during mixdown to effectivelychange the mic on an already recorded track. And for thatfinal touch of perfection, you can even add some tastytube saturation.2 – Introducing the TASCAM TA-1VP Vocal Producer