TC Helicon Play Acoustic - GETTING STARTED

A short 'how to' video that I wished I'd had when I first bought my TC Helicon Play Acoustic. There are PLENTY of vids on what it DOES, but very few on HOW TO DO IT. I'm hoping this will help some who just purchased a unit and need to know how to get started.
I'm no expert, but I've had this unit now for over a year and I use it regularly for actual live performances and gigs with my band.

[@B2Bass]

Hey @P Palm this is one of the best tutorials on this device, just straightforward how to use it!! NOT someone trying to sing and show how cool they are! Thanks man, great job!

[@ppalm951]

EXACTLY why I made this vid. Plenty of vids showing what it can DO, but none really on HOW TO do it and set it up. I hope it helped you. I'm disappointed in TC Helicon for not have a professional vid doing what I just did

[@casualslacksband]

Many thanks for this. No nonsense, no gimmicks. Just clear and concise information. It would be easy to be overwhelmed by the bells and whistles on the box, so your tutorial is invaluable!

[@ppalm951]

Glad it helped you. ROCK ON!

[@Nancyplee]

I purchased mine 3 years ago. Stopped using it because I found it too confusing. This was incredibly helpful. I find manuals boring and difficult to understand. Thank you for taking the time to figure it out and demonstrate some basics... Show and tell!!! Works for me. Now I can actually use this thing!

[@ppalm951]

So glad it helped. And you are right. In spite of all of the features on this unit, and all of the things it can do, TC Helicon only provides a single sheet of instructions which really doesn't tell much at all. ROCK ON!

[@ppalm951]

So, if you are a guitarist/vocalist and want to do both guitar and vocals through this unit, you will need 1 - 1/4" instrument cable and 3 - XLR (mic-type cables);

[@terryfitzpatrick5602]

Very helpful. Been looking everywhere for a tutorial for the Play Acoustic model which basically is the same setup.

[@ppalm951]

Glad it helped you. I'm still shocked that TC Helicon hasn't done any formal vid training on this unit. There is a lot to take in and the manual just isn't the same as watching someone go through it. Best of luck. ROCK ON

[@terryfitzpatrick5602]

@ppalm951 I have a question. When I step on both the middle and left footswitch to put into loop mode it flashes for several seconds then stops. Do I need to immediately have to start my loop or does it automatically revert back to normal operation status? Hope I'm clear on this.

[@ppalm951]

I wish I could help you but I don't even use the looper feature. Couldn't tell you what's going on there. Sorry

[@kennethbeavers6903]

@P Palm there is an indepth tutorial on KZbin also the built-in mics on the side detects whatever key the band is playing in and it will set up the harmonies

[@ppalm951]

Good to know!

[@rodgertripp7854]

Wow!! I just asked a Question (below) and I rewatched your video and at the 5:30 mark you answered my question. Thanks again for a great video.

[@the0v0man]

I’m getting one!

[@rosshorne4769]

I’ve just bought one and clueless, but better after watching your video, thank you

[@ppalm951]

Awesome. Rock on Ross!

[@glynnholland4257]

The guitar fx settings can be changed to electric guitar on this pedal with adjustable level and decay.

[@freddyg.4143]

Great Info!.... I'm gonna set mine up today!

[@ppalm951]

Glad it helped. I made another vid on Navigating and Customizing. May also be helpful to dial in the sound you want

[@raycarloni4925]

What a great tutorial. Thanks.

[@ppalm951]

Glad it helped you Ray. I didn't make it to be a KZbin influencer. I made it on a whim one evening because I knew that there wasn't much out there to help people learn this thing. Would have made it a little more interesting if I had it to do over again. But it has enough info to get you started. I made another vid on "Navigating and Customizing" to help get you to the next level. Rock on! - Phil

[@RV-Rus]

Thanks for the instruction. Many thanks for the subtitles! Having studied English for 6 years at school and 5 years at the university, I understand that listening to speech I do not understand anything. All health and good music!

[@blue6633]

Thankyou for your reviews. Very helpful

[@roneilken6668]

This is helpful. I wish the companies would come up with better instructions for there products.

[@connorlung7949]

Quick question. Will the vocal effects function without a guitar plugged in?

[@ppalm951]

The answer is YES. You may still talk or sing through the unit and activate effects without guitar. Just run your Mic into the input on the back of the unit and then run Mic OUT into your Amp or Mixer. However, the BIG function of having the guitar is to help your harmonies hit the correct notes and key you are singing in. Very difficult to keep harmonies smooth without it reading guitar, unless your voice is pitch perfect. Otherwise your harmonies may be off and also vary in pitch. I play solo and I input my guitar. Works great. But I'm also vocalist for a band. So our guitarist bought a 'Y' cable. One lead goes into TC Helicon and the other lead goes to mixer/PA so we get the best of both worlds. I highly suggest having some instrument to help the harmonies stay on pitch

[@SimplicityForGood]

what if you do not play guitar but you sing, play drums, flute and piano.. what voice processor might be the best one? I like the idea of this one, the TC acoustic for actually handling the room you are in, like being inside a church or outside a field... but maybe there are better ones today for singers and those that do not play guitars? What do you guys suggest? thanks

[@ppalm951]

I perform both solo and with a band (trio). When I play solo I of course also play acoustic guitar and run my guitar into the input. However, I am vocalist for the band (not playing guitar). What we do is, our rhythm guitarist bought a 1/4" Y jack. It splits his signal so he runs his guitar straight to the mixer/PA but also provides a line to my TC Helicon so it can read the chords, in effect 'borrowing' signal from another instrument. You may be able to do something similar with piano (electronic keyboard?). Something that is playing background chords (even keys) would be recommended. Flute would only be occasionally played. So, guitar, keyboard (bass?) would be preferred. But I'm not sure how well it would read keyboard but I bet it would. It's listening for the pitch and chords. Would just have to experiment.

[@SimplicityForGood]

@@ppalm951 i see… maybe is still a viable choice.. how does it change automatically to read your acustic environment to tell if you are inside lije a church with echo or put in a field with flat sound? It reads this in some way and adjust delay, reverb etc automatically for you in a really good way?

[@ppalm951]

@@SimplicityForGood I don't rely on 'ambient' sound to read the key and chords. That's why I make sure to have an input from an instrument. Wouldn't trust it as much using ambient sound. Unless you are pitch perfect, the instrument input really helps keep the harmonies on pitch too. I can sing pretty well, but I notice that if I'm not getting a signal from the guitar, the harmonies tend to stray much easier and don't sound right. As far as adding the effects you mentioned (reverb, delay, etc. . ) Those have to be added in the customization settings that my vid describes. The unit does not add it on the fly or automatically. You have to setup and tweak how you want the vocal to sound and also set what you want the harmonies to do (1 higher, 1 lower? 2 higher? Only 1 lower? Only 1 higher? Male backup singers? Female backup?). You have all those options. I use several of these different options depending on the song. I don't think there is any unit that is automatically going to be able to read your sound and automatically add reverb and delay. You program the sound you want and then select that file for your particular song. I use the '2 harmonies above' for a lot of songs. I also have reverb set to how I like it.

[@SimplicityForGood]

@@ppalm951 aha! Thanks for clarifying this! Have you tried the Boss rc 505 looping station as well!? Do you happen to know what the reverb, delay and other functions for ones voice is like in quality to the TC Acoustic that you show here? I like the idea of having several channels for looping, like drums on one, melody voice on another, harmony and flute at others… buy is just my creative ideas right now… I have not worked with these devides yet, but seen a lot only artists and how they do it, so got inspired but not sure which device to get started with right now… so looking forward to any advice of how to best get started to perform

[@ppalm951]

​@@SimplicityForGood You can adjust/tweak the reverb and effects to your liking. the TCH does a pretty good job. Our band just uses a basic mixer but my vocals already have just the right amount of reverb for my liking (from the TC Helicon). Last night at a gig we did Dancing with Myself by Billy Idol. Has reverb and delay. Works great. Not sure about separate channels for each of your instruments. Sounds like you need a small mixer. That's what I use even for solo. The Helicon as a built in looper but I never use it. So you could technically do vocals and looper (guitar) through the unit

[@StephenBattler]

Hey! The AUX input can be used for a MP3 Player with headphones sounds great.

[@ppalm951]

That's awesome. Didn't know that. Thanks!

[@StephenBattler]

You can also use it for backing tracks and set to play live!

[@paulpotter9867]

Do you know why there is a LOT of static going from this unit to a Tascam recorder? I'm using a Shure 58 and XLR cable... thanks

[@ppalm951]

Not sure unless your effects are way jacked up or input gain is too high?. I recorded with mine just last week and didn't have any static.

[@paulpotter9867]

@@ppalm951 nope, nothing too high...can almost hear a sound like the wind...too

[@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.

[@ricksparkes3639]

This is great! Thank you

[@ppalm951]

Glad it helped. I was lost when I first bought mine and didn't find many resources to explain anything. My learning was mainly by trial and error. I'm just surprised TC Helicon hasn't done a 'how to' vid similar to this. They only show 'what' it can do, but not how. Best of luck. ROCK ON!

[@ICBOY10]

Awesome video! Thank you!!

[@ppalm951]

So glad it helped you. ROCK ON!

[@maryannkarlvalois7597]

Hi: Thank you for this video! You are right-- there's nothing on KZbin to show HOW to use the various functions! I have ONE question, please. I own the TC Helicon VoiceLive 2-- with which I merely step on the pedal while playing guitar to start the harmonies. Looking at this one, however, it does NOT look like you can step on the "HIT" switch with your foot!!! Do you stop playing guitar to use your hands???

[@ppalm951]

Not sure how you got that impression. The Play Acoustic unit is designed to sit on the floor. I merely had it sitting up on a stand so I could film it and access it easier for vid purposes. When sitting in the floor, you activate the silver stomp buttons with your foot. One of which is the HIT button. The left 2 buttons scroll UP/DOWN through your preset effects to select the one you want for the song you are doing. I hope that makes more sense?

[@maryannkarlvalois7597]

@@ppalm951 Thanks. I guess I was looking at it wrong! I wasn't sure that you could operate it with your foot! Thanks! GREAT videos!!!

[@cokde77]

Haii.. i was used it with mic cable there is no problem but last time i try to used this pedal for my wireless mic but i have prolem becouse this pedal always automaticly hit on and off without i hit the pedal, do you know how to set up my wireless mic to my TC helicon accoustic play? Thankz 😊🙏

[@ppalm951]

Sorry, I have no real experience using wireless mic with Play Acoustic. I have a wireless config for my Shure mic. Transmitter plugs into mic and receiver plugs into input on Acoustic Play. It works fine and doesn't randomly activate effects. I have to use foot pedal to activate the HIT button. But I rarely use it and don't gig with it. Sounds like you have a different setup for wireless. May be causing interference that's activating effects?

[@jayyleonOfficial]

This helped me out so much!!!! Thankyou

[@ppalm951]

Glad it helped.. I also made a vid called 'Navigating and Customizing' to help you tweak the presets to your liking. ROCK ON

[@mina_ise6893]

Have you tried playing this electric guitar with this unit? Could you comment on your experience?

[@ppalm951]

I have not. I've only run acoustic through it. Sorry

[@vidsby9]

Hi @P Palm, 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 after a couple of minutes.

[@ppalm951]

Sorry to hear about your plight. I won't be much help as I have never dealt with that situation and would have no idea how to solve it. If it were ME, and if I'm performing with it, I wouldn't want an unreliable device to perform with. You can backup the unit and all of the settings. I would buy a new unit and then load all of my settings back on. At least you wouldn't have to try and redo all of your past settings and tweaks. I know that's not the outcome you were looking for, but I'm afraid I'm not much help here. Best of luck

[@vidsby9]

@@ppalm951 thanks for the prompt reply. I am still looking for a way out, just in case still possible, as it is not within my budget to buy a new unit for now. All the best. Cheers...

[@ppalm951]

@@vidsby9 I totally get that. But I just don't know of an easy fix. And having a unit that could fail during a gig makes it pretty much useless unfortunately. Best of luck

[@saxvilleavenue]

Is there a factory reset button on this unit?

[@clint8u]

Wow Ty …. Extremely helpful …I have just a guitar connected and for some reason I still can’t get an output I’m not sure what’s going on but I really appreciate this tutorial

[@ppalm951]

Have to run a 1/4" cable from guitar to 'Guitar in' and then you have to run XLR 'guitar out' to an amp or mixer. Have you done that?

[@clint8u]

@@ppalm951 yes ..

[@clint8u]

@@ppalm951 I don’t understand. I’m going to test my cables and hook up to a different system today and see if I can get my vocals come through … I was using my home equip last night .. today I’m connecting in my jam room

[@ppalm951]

@@clint8u As a quick check, there IS a gain knob on the left hand side of the unit. Make sure it's not turned all the way counterclockwise (also don't want it all the way UP). I think mine stays in about 10 o'clock position. That affects how much soundnis coming IN. If it's all the way DOWN, could be that you are getting nothing into the unit

[@clint8u]

@@ppalm951 yep got mine a 6 o’clock ..

[@DIGIHENDRIX300]

why is it that everyone seems to be using live mics and never a studio microphone? is there something wrong with using this for studio recording or is it only made for live performances?

[@ppalm951]

I believe the unit actually has a setting for phantom power if you chose to use it with big condenser mic. Could certainly use it for recording. But for live performance this thing provides harmonies, reverb, guitar enhancement etc... so I believe most people use it for live performance

[@metalcikiz2779]

Nice

[@rubenhernandez7957]

Hello! Have you messed around with the advanced parameters in the Play Acoustic? I can't get my Taylor to sound decent

[@ppalm951]

Sorry, no I haven't. I mostly play my Taylor through it and play it straight through. Maybe you have effects activated and need to de-activate? Not sure. I've only tinkered with harmonies and vocal settings. Sorry. I hope you get it figured out. Mine sounds fine though.

[@burkeingraffia]

I am finding that I cannot hear the headphones unless I fully boost the guitar DBs and the mic gain. Does the Play Acoustic need an external headphone amp?

[@ppalm951]

Unfortunately I've never used the headphone feature, but I do know that if your input level is too low you're not going to be getting anywhere. When I play solo I have to make sure my input setting is up to 16-18db for any real sound to come out. I have the gain dial on the left side at about 10 o'clock position. My guitar has eq and vol knobs. Gtr vol about 1/2. If I don't have input vol set high enough I don't hear any guitar through PA. Likely same for headphones but shouldn't have to jack up everything to MAX I wouldn't think

[@burkeingraffia]

@@ppalm951 Thanks. Apparently an additional headphone amp is needed.

[@ppalm951]

@@burkeingraffia Never heard of needing headphone amp for any type of equipment

[@pinnykay]

Can I just plug the wires directly into a speaker

[@ppalm951]

For best quality sound you are going to need to run them into a mixer and then from the mixer into speakers or Amp. There IS a headphone jack (micro jack) on the backside, but I've never tried it. I prefer to adjust separate levels for guitar and vocal. The headphone jack is going to give you just whatever mix comes out. Likely not high quality. If using headphone jack, if your guitar has volume adjustment you could adjust your guitar volume that way vs your vocal and sort of mix it like that I suppose. That's supposing your 'speaker' has a micro input.

[@pinnykay]

@@ppalm951 gotcha

[@dnbravo1]

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

[@ppalm951]

I don't believe you can have voc and guitar on the same output. They have separate outputs on the back of the unit and also separate settings and adjustments. Sorry

[@kiskadar69]

Yes, it is possible. Set SETUP / OUTPUT parameter to MONO. In MONO mode all effected Vocal and Guitar sounds are sent via the left XLR output and Dry vocals (with Tone and Pitch Correction) are sent via the right XLR output.

[@stu1002]

This pedal should be amazing and yet frustrations in the user interface make it unusable. For some reason, when I change a setting and hit the "store" button, ALL the patches have the same setting and switching between them using the up down stop pedals makes no difference to any settings. the patch numbers change in the main display, but the settings are the same. Also, why can't you map a "hit" effect for the guitar? Only vocal effects allow you to select "hit" as an option. Wwwhhhy?

[@ppalm951]

Likely because this is mostly a vocal processor. It's not really made to be a guitar effects unit. The guitar settings are 'universal' and apply across the board

[@awesometownmatt9349]

You may have to buy the switch3 or switch 6 pedal. Not sure if that will do what you want but it seems to be able to turn guitar fx on and off

[@kiskadar69]

@@ppalm951 For Play Acoustic, "v1.2.00 Build 38" (January 2016) and newer firmware versions allow you to set your own guitar effect per preset.

[@deannapino3382]

does this need to be plugged into a monitor or PA System in order to get sound? or does the sound play through Play Acoustic ?

[@ppalm951]

It does NOT have a speaker to generate sound. You must run it through a PA or some sort of amplifier/speaker

[@deannapino3382]

@@ppalm951 Excellent thank you! Great job in explaining this product. Thank you for putting this video out. Cheers!

[@SHG-im9bk]

or listen with hedphone

[@HerbAndriMusic]

Is it possible to use it with a condenser mic? Phantom power?

[@ppalm951]

I believe the answer is YES (but I don't have a condenser mic to test it); Here's how to set for condenser mic. 1) Power on unit 2) Press the SETUP button (bottom right next to display screen) 3) the display should show 6 boxes, the very top of the display should show INPUT 1/10. This means Page 1 of 10 4) The top left box should say INPUT; this is where you can designate what type of mic is being input into the system; PRESS the VOCAL FX button next to that box and it should light up the INPUT box. You have now selected that field for changes. 5) Now turn the black selector knob in the middle of the unit. This will allow you to scroll through the different types of inputs (mics). One of the settings is "Condensor Mic". Leave it on that and back out by using your "BACK' button (bottom left below display screen). NOW try your condenser mic. I'm willing to bet that it provides phantom power and works. Best of luck

[@HerbAndriMusic]

@@ppalm951 thank you so much for that detailed answer! I'll try it out once I get the device. I just ordered it! Thanks for the awesome review

[@johndanis1700]

Yes. You can use a condenser mic. In the setup section for microphone, it will offer you a choice of mics. If you scroll through the list of choices, there will be a choice for, "Condenser Mic". When you select that choice, the unit will automatically switch on Phantom power, internally.

[@break-a-way7685]

Anyone know how this unit works with an electric guitar? Half of my sets are acoustic and the other electric. Hoping to find some results from someone who has used it in this way

[@ppalm951]

Strictly acoustic here. Sorry

[@tbmsussex]

I don't do live gigs only home use but I have electric and acoustic guitars that I play through it. I tend to use the delay and reverb that is built in and I can get a nice tone through electric. I have recently added a separate "blues" pedal which gives me the option of overdrive. There is a version that caters for electric guitars but you lose out on the body res that TC Helicon are famous for in the Play Acoustic. My guess is that if you want to do both the play acoustic would be the best option. It probably depends on the type of gigs you are doing and what you are hoping to do extra with the Play Acoustic.

[@kennethbeavers6903]

There's a youtube video on this whole unit. Also it has a built-in mic on both sides it can detect the key of the music being played and it will set up the harmonies. I used in a live band setting and every song the band played it set up the vocals and I sang backup harmonies for every song

[@gonzaloviana95]

You can’t use a shure sm 58 without an adaptor?

[@ppalm951]

Incorrect. You absolutely can use your Sure SM58 (that's what I use) with standard XLR cable going into 'Vocal IN". I hope I didn't confuse you somehow?

[@gonzaloviana95]

@@ppalm951 Thanks for the clarification, maybe my English is still very bad and I did not understand correctly 🙌🏾😅

[@ppalm951]

@@gonzaloviana95 I'm sure your English is much better than my Spanish! LOL

[@ppalm951]

I don't typically care to support Amazon, but I found a terrific little case that works amazingly well to protect your TC Helicon unit. If you are going to depend on this unit for gigging and carrying it around, I would suggest you protect it and take care of it. Only about $40 and well worth the investment. I gig with mine often and transport it, set it up and take it down. Tossing it around loose in a bag of gear is a sure way to end up with potential problems. I've had my case for a couple of years now. It stays in the case until I need it, and goes back in when not in use. Fits perfectly in here. Also has a divider. I also transport my drum machine in here with it. Then I toss the case into my gear bag. Just a suggestion www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BB62MHD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1