T C WORKS TC VOICETOOLS 1.0 (MAC/WIN NT)--An affordable, all-in-one vocal-processing solution.

T C WORKS TC VOICETOOLS 1.0 (MAC/WIN NT)

An affordable, all-in-one vocal-processing solution.

By Chris Gill

One of the main advantages big studios always have over home and project studios is that they are better equipped for recording vocals. The right equipment for recording professional-quality vocals—microphones, mic preamps, compressors, equalizers, gates, de-essers, and reverbs—usually requires a hefty five-figure investment. Even then, you still need a decent-sounding room to record in. However, thanks to the virtual-studio revolution and vocal-processing plug-ins such as TC VoiceTools, the playing field is getting more level every day.

The TC VoiceTools TDM bundle provides a variety of processors commonly used for vocal-recording applications in a single package. Actually, the software consists of two separate plug-ins. One plug-in is TC VoiceStrip, an all-in-one channel-strip processor offering a compressor, EQ, de-esser, gate, and low-frequency cut; the second is TC Intonator, a pitch-correction device. TC VoiceTools is compatible with any Power Mac approved for use with a Digidesign Pro Tools 24/Mix system running Pro Tools 4.x or 5.x software. I tested the package with a Power Mac 9600/350 with 320 MB of RAM, a Pro Tools 24/MixPlus system, and Pro Tools 5.0 software.

FIG. 1: TC VoiceStrip has a vintage-style interface and provides five individual effects modules, including a low-frequency cut, gate, de-esser, EQ with soft saturation, and compressor (click for large image).

Cruising the Strip
Replacing a whole rack’s worth of processors, TC VoiceStrip is the bundle’s true workhorse. TC adopted a vintage design concept, providing the look and sound of classic processors with relatively limited controls that are optimized for vocal applications (see Fig. 1). Although the plug-in eats up 50 percent of a DSP chip on a Mix card, its channel-strip design provides efficient use of resources because it supplies six different effects on a single insert and doesn’t require any RAM. Should you decide that you prefer a certain equalizer or compressor, for example, you can bypass those effects individually.

TC VoiceStrip’s 3-band EQ section is tuned especially to the frequencies within the normal vocalist’s range, which lets you make reasonable, but not overly drastic, tonal changes. Each band features controls to boost or cut gain up to 18 dB. The low band features a shelving filter with adjustable frequency from 100 to 350 Hz. The mid band’s filter is bell shaped, and the frequency range spans 700 Hz to 7 kHz. The high band consists of a shelving filter with a fixed 2.5 kHz frequency. This section also includes a SoftSat switch that provides a subtle, analog-like, soft-clipping harmonic distortion effect. Even at extreme settings the effect prevents hard clipping, offering smooth tones with none of the harsh overtones encountered with digital distortion.

Like the EQ section, the compressor is designed with vocal applications in mind. The feedback-type compressor’s processor gets its sidechain input from the output. Controls include Input Drive (24 dB boost or cut—the compressor’s threshold is fixed at –24 dB, so the harder you drive the input, the more compression you get), Output Gain, a Pre EQ switch that lets you change the routing order of the compressor and EQ sections, a Ratio control with a 1:1 to 64:1 range, Attack (0.1 to 50 ms), and Release (50 ms to 2 seconds). The compressor maintains a smooth, natural sound no matter where the controls are set, which avoids the unnatural breathing effects often encountered with overcompressed signals.

The de-esser’s controls consist of a Threshold knob with a 0 to –30 dB range, a Frequency knob with a 1 kHz to 10 kHz range, and a Monitor switch for listening to the sidechain signal to help you determine the desired cutoff frequency. The de-esser’s operation is level independent, so sibilance is always removed—even when the recorded material’s level changes.

A standalone gate section offers Threshold (0 to –70 dB) and Intensity (0 to 100 percent) knobs. An independent low-cut filter lets you adjust the cutoff frequency in 5 Hz increments from 60 to 120 Hz. You can also select a DC removal setting optimized for eliminating DC noise.

Reprinted with permission from

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