Split Harmonizer effect with sonar tools.

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Tom Riggs
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2013/01/16 08:11:01 (permalink)

Split Harmonizer effect with sonar tools.

I decided to try my hand at using the Split  Harmonizor effect on my current project.  I wanted to keep everything 64 bit to eliminate bridging and the associated problems.  I was not able to find a free Split Harmonizer that was 64 bit so I tried to emulate one with the tools in sonar.
 
I created 3 stereo buses 1 is the primary S.H. bus its output is set to none and it has 2 sends 1 each going to the other 2 buses (Split Harmonizer left and right) that I created, they are set to post fader, the output of those 2 is sent to the main bus.  then the pan of each is set hard right or left accordingly.
 
then I added the built in sonar pitch shifter plug on the left and right buses. I set the pitch shift to -.9 and delay to 18ms on the left and +.9 and delay of 22ms on the right.
 
These settings were the suggested starting point. I also added a send for each of the left and right split harmonizer buses to the room eq I am using on this project. I dialed back the output on the main Split harmonizer bus to taste.
 
So far I am liking the effect on the vocals and thought I would share the setup.
 
I posted a link to the song in the songs forum its called Funky Boulivard if you want to check it out.
 

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    Guitarhacker
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    Re:Split Harmonizer effect with sonar tools. 2013/01/16 11:06:16 (permalink)
    On the computer, I really could not hear the vocal effect harmonizer. Perhaps that is best. 

    I generally don't think vocal FX are beneficial to most vocal tracks.....especially where you can hear the FX clearly. 

    I use simple multi-tracking of a vocal by recording it several times. I do my best to get the phrasing, pitch,  and nuances as close to exact as possible. Then I choose one of those tracks....usually the one I think sounds the best and make it the official lead vocal track... it goes down the center of the stereo field. The other 2 vocal takes get turned way down... -18db or so as a starting point and panned 50% or more right and left. Depending on the song, the instruments and the vocals needed... I might need to go up or down from that point. 

    This gives a fattening effect to the vocals...I guess it's similar to the harmonizer you are speaking about. Since no 2 takes will ever be perfect copies of each other, this often works well to add that "something" to the track that, when done properly is nearly "invisible" to the average listener. 

    If I understand correctly.....You are basically taking one vocal take, splitting it to several tracks, and running it through a plug to alter it. There are problems that you might encounter doing that. Since all the resultant tracks are identical and from the same source, you may encounter comb filtering of the track. 

    It's the lazy way..... and trust me, I have done that very thing myself. The latest example is on the song Come & Go..(not the version on my sound click that's the old one). Due to time and convenience circumstances, we did not go back to the studio to record the vocals and harmony tracks a second time.... I used a pitch plug to create several new harmony tracks from cloned versions of the original. I altered the pitch and timing of the harmony tracks  to accomplish it. 

    It works, but it's not the best way to get it done. 

    The song in question does sound pretty good  on this computer
    post edited by Guitarhacker - 2013/01/16 11:07:52

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    Tom Riggs
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    Re:Split Harmonizer effect with sonar tools. 2013/01/17 05:48:13 (permalink)
    GuitarHacker I unerstand where you are comming from. As I was researching the process to try and recreate it I found lots of poeple posting similar opinions on the subject.


    For my case the effect is pretty subtle even if I solo the vocal track. There is more of the vocal send from each of the Splitharmonizer busses than "dry" signal returning to the main.

    I wanted to experiment with  it a bit since I saw it in the Charles Dye video.

    I may try adding additional vocal tracks at some point but probably not on this song.

    i7-3770k OC at 4.5Ghz, asus p8z77-m, 16g g.skill aries 1600 c9 ram, Noctua d-14 cooler, RME HDSPe Raydat, Motu FastLane, Nvidea GTX 980 ti 6G, windows 7 and 8.1 pro x64. Sonar Platinum and x3e currently installed

    My Music 
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    Guitarhacker
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    Re:Split Harmonizer effect with sonar tools. 2013/01/17 08:27:17 (permalink)
    Experimenting is ALWAYS good. Even when the results are not what you wanted, or expected.  I have tried all sorts of things to see what worked and what didn't. 

    Some of my more memorable things learned were "happy accidents" .....  

    I now make it a habit to record 3 vocal takes and almost always with guitars...acoustic and electric rhythm.... there are 2 tracks as close to exact as possible.... panned.... 

    My website & music: www.herbhartley.com

    MC4/5/6/X1e.c, on a Custom DAW   
    Focusrite Firewire Saffire Interface


    BMI/NSAI

    "Just as the blade chooses the warrior, so too, the song chooses the writer 
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