TC Helicon Play Acoustic Vocal and Electro-Acoustic Processor TC Helicon Demo Review

[@sproutkill316]

I have been using this product for 3 months now. And I absolutely love it! My strong point as a singer/songwriter is my vocal ability. And the vocal settings on this are amazing. Easy to control and adjust. The guitar sounds are killer as well. The looper is now a regular part of my songwriting. If you are looking to have some fun singing and playing acoustic guitar, this is here is for you!

[@diharmony5532]

Can you use it just for vocals? Without connecting any instrument to it?

[@curtiskeller4924]

I use my TCHPA for delay and reverb on my electric guitar at church even when I'm not scheduled to be a singer because those effects sound so great! I use a Switch 3 to turn them on/off. This little box does everything!

[@scottbecker3485]

Thanks for the very authentic way you presented your product! I wish more companies would do it that way instead of making fancy marketing videos in which one can‘t even properly hear the product, itself.

[@wildbillhackett]

One of the best demos I've ever seen.

[@lowellirish]

Very nice tutorial...one of the better ones showing how to use it!

[@kmickp1166]

For just guitar & vocals, using the unit direct into a line array system is perfect and all you need. I use it in stereo into 2 JBL Eon One systems. I only use a mixer if I am using backing tracks or there are more channels required for other instruments.etc.

[@jeremyjamesmusic]

Ha ha! "You're not gonna want to use that..." Awesome

[@scottslater7704]

Yep, made me giggle that!

[@ghendric]

I just bought this the other day.. all I can say is wow!

[@delphinoaleon6436]

This review was super super entertaining and I'm really digging this pedal

[@jasonthefates7311]

Man tc helicon is on a roll thanks for review

[@kmickp1166]

Great product, though a couple of niggles, the guitar input has not output/through so you can’t hook up other effects or separate mix so you are restricted to the onboard effects/mix which are good but not great (body rez apart which is great)and difficult to change on the fly! When you use through headphones, vocal effects “bleed” into the guitar sound rendering the facility almost useless on some of the “heavier” effects eg when chorus,/2 harmonies /doubling is used.This is an issue for practice/monitoring. Maybe they will address these issues in the next incarnation of the pedal, on the positive side I couldn’t think of playing an acoustic gig without this product now, it is a must have for the price so take my earlier observations as constructive criticism! 👍👍👍

[@joec8727]

Do you use a mixer? I would think it’s not needed for just guitar and vocals. I’m trying to figure out the simplest solo acoustic rig possible and thought this right into a line array system would be perfect right? Thanks.

[@klassicjammer7322]

Thank you for this video,I think I’m going to get this

[@paulsummerside]

Body Rez’s.... ? the guitar sounded better without. Good review. Loved the vocal effects Tempting pedal

[@philipt54]

I would love this product

[@papathao4035]

need a video on how to lay down anloop and overdub and how to put it all together.

[@paulbalogh7064]

Loving this review. How much different is this product than using a Fishman Spectrum Aura & the TC Harmony pedal? I could also run my Mandolin thru Spectrum pedal. I also have 3 voice correct pedals for each member of the bunch. Do I have enough crap or do I really need this as well. Come on .... be serious...., and nice...

[@darrinnorris2690]

I use two mics and leave the harmony on and just turn my head to the mic connected to the harmony singer by tc Helicon and go back to the mic not running through the harmonizer

[@tsfurlan]

Darrin Norris why not just hit the switch ?

[@DanielGennaro]

thats interesting man, thanks for the tip... have u ever used this to record in a studio? Im havin trouble figuring out how to record with this in a home studio setup, because the TC Helicon Acoustic requires you to connect your guitar via the line in to get the harmony/matching/pitch correct stuff that it does, and the best way to record an acoustic guitar is probably a condenser microphone or something pointed at the 12th fret area. And whenever I'm using my line in to record on my DAW, the acoustic quality isnt that great with the line in,.. could be partially my pick up. Havent found any demos on home recording with this expensive tool...

[@TheSeanpatrickobrien]

That's gay

[@zbigniewsekulski6280]

It is not a cool way. Get an xlr splitter cable, or Y cable if you will from your single favourite microphone. Run one Y leg to Helicon and the other dry to your mix console or whatever . You will have one dry signal in one channel and the harmonized in the other or other two panneled hard left and right in stereo set up. I have hard time to understand helicon STEREO effect if only single voice line out is used. I have to check if taking a headphone out as a line out would give me pure stereo span. Hope it helps.

[@zbigniewsekulski6280]

Follow up. I know it is difficult to find XLR Y splitter. I got mine in LA, I would not recommend soldering one by yourself. As to guitar I do the same . I use my PADI preamp in front of guitar input. Padi has two lines out (or three with special cable from insert jack). You run one to Helicon and the other to the console , an amp or whatever. I have the original vintage analog pedals made by TC and it is cleaner to use Helicone for vocal harmonizer and the guitar can be processed by my classic pedals including fantastic chorus , pitch mod and flanger. I am too old to controll everything digital in one unit. As to body rez old TC made fantastic phasers regular and for bass. You may turn down phasing and use 3 filters with notch and pik. You get all colours one can imagine

[@monsitosgomez9580]

Hola.Una pregunta para que sirve la pestaña "genre".Gracias por el video.Saludos..

[@rodgertripp7854]

Great Video. I've learned a lot from your videos. Question. Yesterday I was learning how to use the looper. It was awesome. The loop played back at the right volume and I could jam with it. I started messing around with all the functions after watching your video and now I can't get the looper to play back at a descent volume. I appreciate any help with this.

[@jarrettdean6able]

Dude you are hilarious. Love my (3) TC Helicon pedals though. They are worth their weight in gold.

[@saxvilleavenue]

Please help somehow I hit a button that say showcase, it appears in the window number 1 High Harmony. This seems to stop the full range of the programs i can only go to 1, 5, 10, 13, 49 that all. How can I get rid of that showcase and get back to all of the programs? 10-18-22

[@vidsby9]

Hi there, I certainly hope you can help me with this issue. I have TC Helicon Play Acoustic for a year or more. It was a great device! Just recently, the unit acts strange. It turn on OK, but suddenly it just HANG/ FREEZE. Display is ON, but all buttons and knobs not working. Unit can not detect input sound, no output either. I tried to RESET, also updated the unit with latest firmware via VoiceSupport. The problem still happens.

[@mymusic8018]

hello Does It have a preamp ? so there will be no need to plug it into a amp. so i can just plug it directly into the mixer

[@dnbravo1]

Is it possible to output voice and guitar together? I mean using just one XLR cabel? Just like in harmony G xt model?

[@casey17w]

Hi. Nice work on the vid. Hey what amp r u using with this pedal? Thanks

[@rickymolina7390]

I just had a question about the PlayAcoustic if I may - say I would like to record harmonies in a DAW (and most of the tracks are already recorded) - can I use the aux in to playback the recorded parts in order to generate the chord-specific harmonies, or does that feature only work with a live guitar input? If this requires a techie from TC-Helicon is there a good contact you could direct me to? Thanks again for your music. Richard (Ricky) from Hartford CT

[@DanielGennaro]

Kinda have the same question man,.. Im havin trouble figuring out how to record with this in a home studio setup, because the TC Helicon Acoustic requires you to connect your guitar via the line in to get the harmony/matching/pitch correct stuff that it does, and the best way to record an acoustic guitar is probably a condenser microphone or something pointed at the 12th fret area. And whenever I'm using my line in to record on my DAW, the acoustic quality isnt that great with the line in,.. could be partially my pick up. Havent found any demos on home recording with this expensive tool... as to your point about the AUX, I was thinking I would have to go back and forth between putting my recorded track on an aux device and singing then going back to edit

[@arlenemac16]

I'm just starting out learning how to use the TC Helicon Acoustic and would like to use a wireless headset mic set up rather then the regular mic. How do I connect that? Thanks,

[@mikeclark7016]

an xlr or mic cable from youre wireless reciever into the unit

[@SharkyBG]

GTX is the best because of the guitar effects! I am so sad they don't produce it anymore! I have never found an effect with so many guitar options. Help me please! I want my GTX or something similar. And also guys please don't do too much of those voice effects because it's very annoying and the "effect" is opposite. ;)

[@Leogunner2]

Major problems running it through Fender Acoustasonic 150 amp. vocal channel feeds back even at lowest volume when using XLR. When using jack it worked but now has started to feed back just the same making it unusable. I am not technically minded so I am stuck.

[@flavianilie5065]

Can i use it to add a voice an octave bellow my voice? What harmony settings should i do to achieve this?

[@DillonPink]

good review. Thanks

[@ryancohenmusic]

Is there a way to make the megaphone or radio sound effect under the vocal transducer to NOT cut in and out. I love the effect but want to sing with it without it cutting out so quickly breaking up my words. Thanks! Love your product!

[@bassdale17]

I am finding difficult to ge good balance between vocals and harmony as well as setting the out put to the mixer a real bummer. should I do a factory reset?

[@koolkat808hawaii]

Hello again, this is Jim McLemore again with one more comment about your great product, "Play Acoustic" Like I brought up before, there is no 1/4" out so I can't plug it into the DITTO LOOPER 2 that I own (yes I know the play acoustic has a looper , but I finally have mine, the DITTO 2 down and I want to continue to use it in my shows) Nor are you able to plug it into any other outboard effects pedals say trimolo. etc. I did make a "Y" cord so I can split the single and go to my amp on stage but there is a small hum using it. Remember I don't sing and I only use the Play Acoustic for the Body REZ and built in effects. I bought the small Body REZ version your offering now just to A/B the difference and it was quite a lot. Because of the wide range of options you have on the Play Acoustic it is far superior to the small unit even at 3 times the price. Like I said, I am a huge supporter of the Body Rez. It's amazing!!!!! Please think about making a D.I. box for acoustic guitars like the Fishman AURA or L.R. Baggs Venue that unlike them make yours so you can store some user patches with both xlr & 1/4" in/out. If there wasn't a market for them ten Baggs & Fishman & A.E.R. just to name a few wouldn't be making them. Your unit with the BODY REZ effect would blow them away. In closing, you are so close in making the best unit that would be on the market for acoustic players it would be a shame not to make something that would be every acoustic guitar players dream.

[@mrmajestika]

+Jimmy mac Yeh I was thinking the same thing it has no phone jack out..weird.I want to use extra fx and the Fishman 16 Aura which is a better modelling/imaging unit has more variety and makes the guitar very warm ,I also use a LR Baggs DI which is the go to for Pros.I also have the Zoom A3 which has great FX and excellent compression settings and a very handy boost footswitch ,I think I'll just get the TC Harmony singer(little blue pedal)for my harmonies.I think the Play Acoustic is very overkill for vocals I mean who uses robot vocal etc.If you have some spare cash try the ZoomA3 for great FX in conjuction with Aura 16 for great variety of classic guitar and mic modelling.The Zoom A3 has modelling as well

[@MartinRivers26]

Yes I was surprised at this but I got round it by using an adapter cable without any audible degradation,

[@josebenites]

Hi, what if you want to connect your TC play acoustic and a boss rc30. Is that possible? If so how do you do it?

[@DanielGennaro]

Im havin trouble figuring out how to record with this in a home studio setup, because the TC Helicon Acoustic requires you to connect your guitar via the line in to get the harmony/matching/pitch correct stuff that it does, and the best way to record an acoustic guitar is probably a condenser microphone or something pointed at the 12th fret area. And whenever I'm using my line in to record on my DAW, the acoustic quality isnt that great with the line in,.. could be partially my pick up. Havent found any demos on home recording with this expensive tool...

[@leecartercook8417]

If you have your guitar plugged in to the pedal, you could probably just run an XLR Microphone cable from the pedal into the input of your interface, right?

[@kennethbeavers6903]

@Lee Carter I have my guitar running through a Bose speaker when I'm busking and there are tracks I sing to via Bluetooth when I'm not playing guitar. Can the TC Helicon Room Sense pick up the sound of the track and formulate harmonies? I tried to sing a lead vocal to a track and it didn't seem to go well. But when I click the hit button the harmonies seemed to match

[@rafaelunplugged]

Is there an option for plugging in in ear monitoring to the unit?

[@gychoi335]

Hi Thanks for this Video! I tried to connect play acoustic to my pc using USB cable but my DAW can't find TC helicon. Can you help me how to connect to DAW? Thanks:)

[@angelcastellanosmartinez2412]

Hello Tom, i' ve been playing today at home with my Aer amp and Taylor guitar and i realised that i need more than the TC Helicon Voicelive Play for my voice i have in mind. I need a delay pedal for the guitar that can do ping pong delay, stereo output to fullfil my songs once i have the PA System. Each song has its own tempo, so i need to be able to change from one setting to another pre configured, with my foot. From bank to bank. I am talking about delay only. I want to Leave voice set Up apart from guitar set up. My guitar will always have same reverb from amp, but different delays from a pedal i cant find. Can you please Tell me of any pedal that i can use with foot with at least 10 User banks set ups ? With stereo output, with tap delay, ping pong, 1/8 note Is there anything in TC Helicon? Thank you very much in avance, Best wishes, Angel.

[@johnbrown8740]

Can you adjust the volume of the harmonies and vocal effects against your vocal level and the same with the guitar volume ???

[@Brendanbassman]

Is there anyway you can add more loop time?

[@Calvarydima]

What is the difference to voice play live

[@JasonWelchMusic]

I need a pedal that will: 1. Loop a mic for egg shakers. 2. Several acoustic tones/effects. 3. Several vocal reverbs. 4. Fuzz for mic'ing harmonica 5. Delay for mic'ing harmonica 6. Allow more than one microphone so I can duet.

[@mrmajestika]

can you save presets for guitar settings?and can you scroll through them as you can with vocal settings .....which seems to have conveniently left out in all tutorials

[@tah19731973]

Will this also act as an audio interface, replacing something like a scarlet solo?

[@trevormoody2142]

I already have been using my Boss RC30 and have been considering getting the TC Helicon Mic Mechnic and other guitar pedals to enhance my sound. I just recently discovers the Play Acoustic. Is this pedal something I could use with my RC30 when perform/am looping?

[@struglingbear5215]

Did you end up getting this pedal, does it work well with the RC30?

[@ADAMnotJASON]

No delay for the Guitar?

[@darrinnorris2690]

I like the looper in this too. it was my next purchase. I ant a ditto looper

[@ErwinLeader]

can you leave reverb on the whole time and use the HIT button?

[@fleadoggreen9062]

I like that little song ya made up there

[@abrievdwesthuysen6107]

How can I get longer loop time, much shorter than any standard loop pedal? Or am I doing something wrong.?

[@VladPustai]

You actually can undo the last loop. At least so says the manual. Many of your questions are answered in the manual. So... dig in. downloads.music-group.com/documents/tchelicon/tc-helicon_play_acoustic_manual_english.pdf

[@metalcikiz2779]

Hello TC Helicon, I hope you can help me out. I recently got a playacoustic and a brand new sennheiser e835 mic. I use the playacoustic with my headphones (marshall). When i listen closely I hear weird sounds. I can’t discribe it but weird cracking and flanger type of sound. You can hear this the best on preset 40 (Believe). This preset is totally useless because the weird sound is really loud. I tried to pit down the mic gain you can still hear it even when unplugged. When i change from preset 40 to 41 it goed a little bit away. But when i press 40 again en talk in the mic it starts again. I really want the product what can i do about this?

[@sdrummato]

Is it possible to take the acoustic guitar xlr out, and plug it to other guitar pedals using an xlr-jack adaptator? I mean, i know it is phisically possible, but i am afraid of things like noise, level or generic signal issues (balancing for example). Hope someone will help me!

[@kavourastube1]

is it possible to use this pedal with an electric guitar?

[@shellydianenovascotia3914]

How would this sound with a ukulele? Can you save the loops?

[@saxvilleavenue]

Is there a factory reset on this unit?

[@allensale4809]

Are there separate mixer channels for guitar and vocals

[@thetoykeet]

Can I plug this unit into my Tascam DP-03 portostudio?

[@Jon010468]

It's good but can it do Alvin?

[@gugaporta26]

How do I set up the tap tempo? Like he did it here I tried and it just changes my presets :(

[@dianecozza1249]

does the voice harmony have more than 2 voices? In other words can I record three part harmony in the background?

[@kiskadar69]

TC-Helicon Play Acoustic has 2 harmony voices only,

[@jhaycybandprince7009]

Can series this to keyboard piano?

[@nepalguitarocta7771]

Can u please tell me its just power supply to plug in and out for turning it on and off or is there any bottons

[@kiskadar69]

There aren't any power on/off buttons.

[@diharmony5532]

Can you use it just for vocals? Without connecting any instrument to it?

[@TheSeanpatrickobrien]

Ya

[@waynedeaton]

can you make the hit button momentary?

[@tk91174]

Does this unit have a boosting feature for playing lead solo on acoustic guitar?

[@klausmogensen8691]

Yes, but you may need the additional switch-3 pedal to make it easy to do - that's what I do a least

[@josecuervorok]

Do you need a mixer if you use this pedal?

[@tah19731973]

Not if you go right into an acoustic amp which I do gigging

[@BrettPenza]

How do you get one of these? Everyone is Out!!! 8/11/2024

[@samuelgajicki8604]

As soon as I hold the "hit" button in order to bypass the preset I'm currently using, this high pitch horrible feedback lingers in the background in every word I say. Has anyone else had this problem?

[@tsfurlan]

Samuel Gajicki adjust the gain

[@micktmusic]

Is there a low harmony on this pedal ?

[@behindthehandofdoom]

Yeah

[@bassplayer60]

Does this thing have a looper?

[@6Tares6]

Yes, but a very simple one.

[@thejosher33]

Pretty good job, but . . . You Failed to show us HOW we can 'Save' 4-5 Diff sounds to use AT ONCE in our song we are Recording for the Radio ! You switch Between them, using them one-at-a-time; but HOW do we engage 5 Diff sounds (harmonies, Delay, doubling, Echo on guitar) AT THE SAME TIME ?

[@bassplayer60]

Hard to see your LCD screen on the unit.

[@PaulAntonescu]

Indeed, but it's most likely because of the angle the camera is. Probably if you look perpendicular toward the screen it is readable

[@feliperodriguez1685]

Can you plug this product on to a regular amplifier?

[@DavidConleyMusic]

yes, but it needs to have an XLR input.

[@feliperodriguez1685]

Thanks so much!

[@feliperodriguez1685]

The amplifier must have 2 xlr inputs?

[@feliperodriguez1685]

I connected my electric guitar w XLR to the pedal w the 1/4 to the amp and XLR Voice from pedal to the amplifier and I get no harmonies

[@evenseb7574]

@@DavidConleyMusic Why?

[@TonyZ492]

Cab I USE an electric guitar with this too

[@mrchikas011]

Can i use my acoustic guitar on voicelive play electric ?

[@joe4me]

Sure, just buy an $12 Acustic Guitar pick up (www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_sc_7_15?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=acoustic+guitar+pickup&sprefix=acustic+guitar+%2Caps%2C148).

[@FPChris]

Doubling sounded like terrible

[@grahamwilson2164]

Cos he left the harmonies on by accident

[@ecklectic3126]

not gonna wanna use it for pitch correct? bruh thats why I'm buying this lol

[@BiancaOnYoutube]

Very entertaining

[@eekamoose]

It requires a 12 volt PSU so won’t be finding its way onto my pedalboard.

[@shizamza]

You tellin me they couldn't get this guy a puff guard or pop filter

[@Foxuniverso]

can i connect my electric instead of an acoustic?

[@donk918]

They make an electric version

[@Foxuniverso]

+Jesse Lang i know, i just dont know if it has the same vocal effects xD thanks thou! :D

[@donk918]

I haven't got my hands on it yet, just ordered it saturday. every thing I read they seem the same except for the guitar side. plus all these different tones are suppose to be manageable through your pc, so you can ad what ever presets you want from their website. then again like you I'm in the dark till I can get my hands on it.

[@Foxuniverso]

Jesse Lang nice, im right now getting informed on it to see what to buy for this christmas! when you get it, could you tell me how good it is xD? If you dont mind of course

[@donk918]

yeah. I took the leap since I saw a black Friday deal on it. Been on the fence for a while now. Hoping this helps to keep me from wrecking my voice every show lol.

[@jarrettdean6able]

May want to rethink your tutorials "view of the screen and pedal itself." Hard to see what you're doing.

[@olivermirez6667]

guys the lenght of the loop is ridiculous... you cannot do progresions with more than two chords.

[@boeandthelizards]

This sounds absolutely terrible I mean this guy works for TC Helicon and he has no common sense to dial the harmonies back a little bit it sounds very robotic and absurd. Also I would be curious to know are there harmonies that are not just the octave above and below as in how people actually sing in a group octaves are typically not added until a third Harmony is present.

[@pikin2]

Harmonies are so robotic:(

[@jarrettdean6able]

I know: EVERYBODY'S a CRITIC

[@brianhendrix8330]

WARNING! YOU WILL GET NO SUPPORT FROM TC-HELICON NOR MUSIC TRIBE. THEY DO NOT ANSWER THEIR PHONES AND ONLY CORRESPOND VIA VERY SLOW E-MAILS, SENDING YOU TO A COMMUNITY HELP FORUM. NO HELP. FIND ANOTHER PRODUCT!!!!

[@charlesco689]

Bad record... everything exploding

[@chriscaro546]

Terrible.