Finally something different than my normal "not liking piano sounds" posts!!! haha...

I have a Vocalist Live 2, which is connected via : Sure Beta58a -xlr to- VL2 -xlr to- Tone Match channel 1 with the acoustic guitar through. It seems to get a good bit of white noise which I don't get with any other instrument, including the acoustic guitar... It doesn't seem to be like that with just the Sure mic plugged directly in.

Any ideas?

Hi Michael,

When using the Vocalist 2, are you hearing that white noise from the channel with the microphone or the guitar or both.

It looks like the Vocalist 2 has a separate channel for that guitar-through so I am wondering if you are hear the white noise on the guitar output or the vocal output.

I'm just trying to get a handle one where the noise is being picked-up or generated.

Typically, if a device is not known to be noisy I look at the gain staging. I try to get the output signal from the device relatively high and the trim on the input (L1® or T1® trim) relatively low. The idea is to avoid amplifying noise.

Do you have a link to the Vocalist 2 manual. I'll take a look with you.

Hi Michael. I don't have an answer for you, but I also use a VL2 and a Beta 58 with different guitars. I have not experienced the white noise you describe.
I might suggest that you check the mic/line input level knob and be sure that you are getting the vocal level light on top in the green only. When I go past the green, I only get overdriving and distortion, not white noise.
At some venues I have picked up a white noise from dimmers being used, but not lately. Come to think of it, maybe not since I have been using the Bose system.
The only effect that I use on the VL2 is harmony,(and the tuner). Any thing else I use comes from the T1.

Respect

Well, there is a gain on the VL2. It is down ALL THE WAY. I don't really need to turn it up. The white noise is from the vocal line only, not the guitar. The guitar has very little. My keyboard has none, and same with an iPod (no noise).

I will have to test the mic without the VL2 again, just to be sure. But I don't believe there was no noise. Thanks!

Hi Michael,

I looked at the Manual for the Digitech Vocalist®Live 2 (thanks Col. Andy for the link).

Which output are you using for the vocal line?

Looking at page 7 in the manual
Line Out (8)
Mono Out (9)

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You said that you were plugging this into Channel 1 on your T1®. I guess I'm wondering if you are using the XLR connection or ¼ inch phone jack.

Interesting - but I didn't see any way that you can control the *output* level of the Vocalist® Live 2. Did I miss it?

It looks to be pretty hot though

quote:

Maximum Output: +14dBu Unbalanced, +20dBu Balanced

from page 24 of the manual.

Well, I am sorry... I meant input level. I turn that all the way down. It seems I don't need any lift there.

I take the XLR in, and then XLR out. Guitar goes to Guitar in, and out through the Guitar Thru.

I might try to post in the vocal group because I saw some people talking about the VL2 and VL4. Maybe those guys have some experience with it.

Thanks for pointing out the output db's. I never really knew to look at that. I guess that's the learning process. Thanks!!!

Try turning up the volume on the VL2 and gain staging on your L1. You are likely under driving the input on the L1 and getting too much noise to signal. If you turn up the volume on the VL2 the signal will be much stronger and the noise, in comparison will be less. Then lower the volume on the L1, and you will get a nice sound. I had to do this with my VL4 as well.

Also, check to see what the setting is on the ground lift. I have accidentally bumped that as well. Try changing the ground lift setting and see what it does to the noise.

Good Luck

quote:

Originally posted by Michael C. Gates:
...

I might try to post in the vocal group because I saw some people talking about the VL2 and VL4. Maybe those guys have some experience with it.

This discussion has been moved from Keyboards to Vocals.

Hello Michael C. Gates,

Your other discussion on this subject now redirects to here.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael C. Gates:
Hi everyone!

I have a Vocalist Live 2, which is connected via : Sure Beta58a -xlr to- VL2 -xlr to- Tone Match channel 1 with the acoustic guitar through. It seems to get a good bit of white noise which I don't get with any other instrument, including the acoustic guitar... It doesn't seem to be like that with just the Sure mic plugged directly in.

Also, I see a lot of poeple talking about the VL4. I only do acoustic guitar, little effects from a MagicStomp. So are there features that make it more of a good resource for acoustic guitar/vocals? Or is it more geared toward the guitar effects, etc.?

Thanks!

I turned down the trim to just about nothing on the L1, and turned up the gain on the VL2 to about 10 or 11 o'clock.

I didn't think about turning that up and the gain down. I will have to keep that in mind when I am playing with the band and the EV PA as well. That will help. I can't believe I never thought of that, but what can ya do?

Is it bad to turn the trim down all the way on the T1 and turn the VL2 up more? I am just guessing that would even get rid of what little white noise I have already. Just not sure if that the trim should be down all the way...

Thanks!

Hi Michael,

It sounds like you are getting that noise issue tamed.

quote:

Is it bad to turn the trim down all the way on the T1 and turn the VL2 up more? I am just guessing that would even get rid of what little white noise I have already. Just not sure if that the trim should be down all the way...

I think at all possible settings on the trim are fine as long as the signal light stays in the green with occasional flicker in the yellow.

Awesome! Thanks for the help. Getting this stuff down.

Hey Michael,

When I started using the VL2, I'm not sure it was white noise, but there was sure SOMETHING I didn't like - it seemed like it "altered" my guitar sound, and my Neumann KMS 105 sounded awful - distorted at any level setting.

So. I was NOT going to let this dumb machine wreck the tone I work so hard for, but I wasn't going to give up either. I thought, "OK machine, you can not CONTROL my guitar or mic - you can LISTEN to them, but that's all".

I went back to plugging my guitar through my pre-amp into T1#2 and my mic straight into T1#1. I ran the mic LINE-OUT into the VL2 mic input instead. Similarly, I use a 1/4 out from my pre-amp into the VL2 guitar input. Then I run the L & R Lines Out from the VL2 into T1#4&5, with the output set to harmonies only. Works perfectly, for me anyway, and I feel like I have much more control, both of my instrument, vocal, and the harmonies.

Best luck - it's a cool little tool, when used sparingly and tastefully.

Mike O'

Mike O':

Thanks for the post. I have not noticed any mods to the vocals or guitar at all. Even my guitarist in the rock band doesn't notice anything, and he plugs into it, even though I sing and play drums. Hmmm.

Glad you posted how you set up your rig. I might try it just to compare. Where do you set it for harmonies only? I don't see anywhere on there that I can do it, expect now that I think of it, just turn the mix to harmony. Is that what you did?

Thanks for the feedback!

Yep - mix dial all the way to the right for harmony only - I LIKE having my mic & the harmony in separate Bose channels...

Yeah, I guess that makes sense, then you can apply different effects and more/less reverb to the harmony and have more control over it. I like the harmony being kind of plain because it sounds like 2 people who actually harmonize well instead of chorus, but for some songs, that would really help out.

im getting a problem with TC harmony M, when my volume is too high and i kick the harmonies on... my keyboard gets aliasing.. like a wonky flanger.. it helped a lot with the noise gate on the mics... but sometimes i have to put the threshold too high... and it gates my whispers.. I like to do saliva sounds sometimes when i sing.. the gate opens when singing louder... but I guess the L1 being hehind you.. everything is feeding back on itself... creating this flanging sound on my keyboard. Cant really tell when im harmonizing... but its still a pain.
what can ya do eh.

This question is for Michael in Texas.

You said "then I run the L & R Lines Out from the VL2 into T1#4&5".

Is there any reason why I could not run from the "mono" out of the VL2 to the effects return of the Bose? I'm not using a T1.

Thank you!

Hi 7777,

I have not tried that. I wish I knew more about send & return inputs, but I just don't. Maybe someone with that knowledge will join in...

Wish I was more help.

Best luck,
Mike

Hi guys. I use guitar in/guitar thru mic in/mono out. I have no problem with any added noise with this chain. I don't use any of the effects other than harmony from the Digitech, so if there is any noise in them I would not have heard it.

I wish the digitech was on a mic clamp (like the T1) with seperate foot switches.
That way you wouldn't have to stand on your head (and adjust bi-focals in my case) to change harmonies etc. As it is now, I set one high harmony and forget it, hitting the footswitch as necessary.

Respect,
Col. Andy