TC Helicon Mic Mechanic 2 Vocal Effects Pedal | My Thoughts and Issues

In this video I go over my experience, thoughts and critiques of the TC Helicon Mic Mechanic 2 Vocal Effects Pedal.
If you want to read more reviews or check out the details of this product click this link: amzn.to/35ayAjB
GetUpside is an app that gives you cash back when you get gas. Promo code BRIAN393563 gets us both a 15¢/gal bonus. upside.app.link/BRIAN393563

[@23thkr]

I've used the mic mechanic 2 for a long time, and i never had any kind of problems you described in this review.

[@lennymac123]

I really enjoyed this review - welcome change to the usual!

[@danielgribble1113]

I also have used one a couple years and it works GREAT! None of your issues!

[@anastheambience6237]

Im a busker.. and I'm used it almost everyday. For me it's good enough

[@littlewarcovers]

I only saw good reviews of this pedal, but just tried it out and definitely notice the auto-gain issue, the volume keeps going down... I can work with that as it's a recording, but imagine live is a big issue. and I also have a bit of noise/hissing sound, not sure if that's also from it or the interface because I just got a new audio interface as my old one broke

[@MrColourful]

I had to look this up because noone else was talking about it, mine has the same issues as yours, it locks up after a while, alot of the times sooner than later making it useless like you said, i bought it brand new unopened on amazon. I got the same sticky pads btw. Sounds great when it works

[@cbaten2]

And I would guess that the second peel off is for pedal board mount.. I just used 4 sperate ones and have one with a serial number which works just fine, no indication of version 2 though.

[@GtrMan863]

Its 2 years since you made this video, i'm looking to buy one but still shopping. Did you find something that you can recomend ?

[@Petru-EmilSahin-rq1bn]

Does this work directly with audio interface or only with a mixer?

[@JTroskaTV]

I have the Duplicator, which is the same thing but with doubling instead of delay. I just checked the rubber feet and they’re shiny but no adhesive on the outside. It has crashed on me when powered by rechargeable batteries but works fine with a power supply or alkaline batteries. The auto-gain on mine doesn’t have the problem yours does. Interestingly, when the Tone button is deactivated, the output is constantly about 4dB above unity gain. But the Tone button must work on subtractive EQing because it brings the signal back down to about unity gain. I sing backup in a duo and I only sing on certain parts. So there’s plenty of time for the auto-gain to gain up my silent mic. But it doesn’t happen.

[@billycockrell2470]

Mine has a sticker for the serial number with a bar code that fits the box where yours says serial number.

[@MrNeisonpromise]

If not TC Helicon....then what's the best vocal effect device for live singing....

[@richardkay2000]

Company is TC Helicon, but a lot of their pedals are designed by IVL Technologies near Victoria on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. IVL also design and make stuff for Digitech.

[@ManudeCarvalhoMdC]

Hi, I did buy it new... and I also had a lot of trouble... until I just sent it back to the reseller... I am very much hesitating about ordering it again... I got other stuff (pedals) by TC-Helicon that are great!

[@Joseph124269]

Is there a good one you can recommend as a music tech? I would love to know your opinion, not asking you to promote anything.

[@lesviray8702]

I have no issue with mine. I don't know your signal chain, but somethings canceling it out. I would try and calibrate it. Look it up on their channel how to. It's easy

[@arisoeroso6322]

are someone knew how to reset mic mechanic 2, critical mass, harmonic singer 2 ?

[@miguelangelvacaheredia8230]

great video mate!... just one question please... I just bought a new Mic mechanic 2, take out the box plug...and there is an AWFUL BUZZING NOISE, i have tried many cables, I tried 4 baterries,etc,etc...nothing the buzz is there.... looks like this piece of garbage is broke.... if you know a solution..or tip please let me know...thanks for you time preparing this usefull videos!

[@littlewarcovers]

also have this issue

[@miguelangelvacaheredia8230]

@@littlewarcovers I found that using a cble XLR in both ends fix de buzzing... But when using a cable with XLR and TRS the buzzing returned...

[@littlewarcovers]

@@miguelangelvacaheredia8230 I'll try that coz the cable I have is TRS connecting to the interface, I was thinking maybe I should buy a new cable coz I only have one XLR in 2 ends, many thanks for the tip

[@wilddogs2001]

I bought mine at Guitar Center and it has the same problems. It's not even a paper weight. Learned my lesson - no longer a GC/TC customer.👀period

[@karstenpe]

Music Group bought TC group in 2015 (I think it was). I was working at TC in Denmark at the time. So Uli Behringer took over Lab Gruppen, TC Helicon, TC Electronic and Tannoy. Since then - most of the stuff that used to be high quality has since been "behringer-fied". If it hasn't been yet - belive me, its coming.

[@nxwxpxr6251]

The serial number is on a little sticker, maybe the last owner just peeled it off?

[@zooropa33]

Sorry, lost the will to live after 5 mins, could have built my own in the time it took you to actually review it. Yeah stolen, the guy that stole it, removed the serial number and then laser etched in "serial number" before moving it on, I imagine the cost of that exercise would equal the cost of the pedal. Update - you didn't even demo it - complete waste of time.

[@spindrift2009]

Hahhhh. All so true. He likes hearing himself talk, maybe because he can’t stand hearing himself sing?

[@jamessmith9278]

Lots of comments on here dogging the review as invalid because it's a used product that has some people wondering if it's a knock off, stolen, etc. I bought a brand new MM2 unit from Sweetwater awhile back. The rubber feet that came with mine look exactly like what mine came with this one. I never installed them on mine as I intended to velcro it to my pedal board. Unfortunately as TAST mentions in his review.... the autogain feature makes this unit unusable for my needs. I sing backups so there are times I may not use it for several songs. When it sits unused but there is enough stage noise, the MM2 thinks it needs to adjust the gain depending on what has happened between times of using it. The constant shifting of gain is noticeable and ridiculous. Makes the pedal (which is otherwise pretty nice) useless IMO. I've not experienced any lockups.... but the auto gain feature is a poor decision in the design.

[@davidhind-smith3778]

Hurry up and review it.

[@bobkosturko812]

Demo it!

[@mimoochodom2684]

I was about to buy this. Thanks for the heads up. That autogain is a big no no. Tc H should've known that.

[@TheAngrySoundTech]

Yeah it's definitely a bummer. Mine is just sitting on a shelf now collecting dust.

[@mimoochodom2684]

@@TheAngrySoundTech Dude I've relayed your cause to another Reviewer on Utube and he said he's had none of those issues. I thought something was amiss. Why the hell would a company make a product that implodes halfway during a live performance? The guy also had no problem with autogain. He demonstrated that. Anyway I reckon you're right. You got dudded on Reverb. No serial number, open box. There's one born every minute....and I should now. LOL. Buy a new one.

[@TheAngrySoundTech]

If you pick one up you'll have to let me know what you think.

[@raymondameel321]

Dude, what are you even talking about ? Your issues might be in your voice because this pedal works great!

[@riseup4473]

Voicetone are the series.

[@justincheney2925]

Junk mine just stopped working for no reason 😩

[@ManudeCarvalhoMdC]

I tried everything with mine (new batteries, rechargeable batterie, plugged)... and it also never really worked...

[@adorationdestroyed8123]

Please watch tutorials on how to do a proper review. This feels like you just wanted to hear yourself ramble. Maybe doing a podcast would be more your speed. Cheers

[@TheAngrySoundTech]

I'm not a big fan of scripted review videos. So with me you get honest unscripted thoughts about products. With just a hint of occasional rambling 😂🤣

[@ppsayl1235]

Do a firmware update. Works much better.

[@unodeldim3610]

This review has me all confused. It's not a good review if the product was bought off-market. Perhaps the lack of serial number means you didn't even get the real thing. you mentioned your friend's feels like better build quality! Could you ask your friend if he has similar issues? Does his Helicon have an actual serial number? I appreciate the effort, but if you plan to review products, you either get the real product new.... otherwise your opinion is of this specific thing you bought. not of the the actual product

[@TheAngrySoundTech]

I bought it off reverb. Lots of people buy gear on reverb, Amazon, ebay that is open boxed. I don't think that completely disqualifies me from making a review. I also don't think it's a counterfeit product. These things are cheap why would someone counterfeit a cheap piece of gear. My guess is it was messed up when the original buyer purchased it and he flipped it because he could no longer return it.

[@TheAngrySoundTech]

Well if I was getting into the counterfeiting business I sure wouldn't pick a $129 vocal effects pedal. I think I'd pick something a little more expensive so it was worth my time.

[@saintsfc101]

@@USAJ31 Your experience of pedals is different to mine. Bought a HOF x4 brand new and it's full of glitches, drops presets, switches sometimes work, andvit is not counterfeit. I don't doubt this pedal has lock problems. At least it's good someone is pointing them out. Shouldn't happen on a product.

[@TheBrucenz]

Mic mechanic 1 works fine.. better design

[@IamMagPie]

What makes number 1 better than number 2?

[@TheBrucenz]

@@IamMagPie simpler

[@danlindquist5222]

Your review of a stolen product invalidates your comments.

[@TheAngrySoundTech]

I bought it used off Reverb.com. Whether it was stolen and then sold on there is unknown.

[@Tyler-qw8kn]

That doesn't invalidate shit. Criticisms of the product are valid regardless of where it came from.

[@codforlife]

98 down votes. Congratulations.

[@levipatrick608]

Your critique is not valuable since we do not know if any function, such as auto-gain, works properly since you have a definite issue already.

[@TheAngrySoundTech]

Good luck with the product if you decide to buy it. Hopefully you'll have better luck than I did. But at the end of the day it is a Behringer owned company so I wouldn't expect too much out of it.

[@brianxcunningham]

Review is invalid. I've had one for years. Not a lot of use but no problems AND it has a serial number. You bought something bogus.

[@joserodriguez8751]

No serial number. End of video. Your video should be about getting taken for a fake or stolen item.

[@rayfrumalorra6241]

So i bought this unit after watching a few you tube "reviews" which unfirtunately are usually not much more than "schills" for whatever company shoots them free gear. Anyways, this pedal is NOT what they say it is or they didnt give it a good use over a period of time. I started to notice a significant loss in gain at various times. About 3 bars on my mixer input. Sometimes its like that at the beginning of a song then boosts in the middle and other times it stars high and cuts. Ive tried everything, spent hrs online - cant reach tc hellicon as they choose to hide behind an online wall of a 3rd party "customer service forum" that requires you to register. So my advice, buy it from a physical dealer that allows you to use it for 30 days before returning it. Very, very dissapointed with everything about this product and the non existant customer service...hell, even their own you tube video doesnt allow u to leave comments...wonder why?

[@dickgitaar2012]

Pff too much talking too less real info..Thumbs down...Product is OK

[@dadudezpr]

Hahahaha you are funny buddy ! So sorry

[@CrossoverClassic]

So this guy buys a used piece of gear WITH NO SERIAL NUMBER and is bashing the product and by extension the company

[@tonystonecoldcountry7064]

Buyer Beware.

[@jde1780]

All talk and now play.

[@ent.profoundsound]

Bro if u wanna give a proper review buy a proper product, cheap buy cheap review!

[@palladen1933]

Obviously got nothing to do ??

[@dadudezpr]

Hahaha again

[@dnglbry1]

i'd buy your pedal if your interested. regards

[@dnglbry1]

@@SurrendertheEctypeofficial will i said it kinda tongue and cheek hoping to get it on the cheap since he was going to chunk the bad one in the trash anyway, but if you sell yours for a good price i might be interested. whats the price as is to take it off your hands? thx

[@ninjalightning2631]

This pedal sucks