Variax and pitch fix

[johnhampt]

These are two of my latest production tools in my tiny arsenal. I just picked up a variax and I use it in conjunction with the POD XT Live. Any of you have opinions of this regarding tones for guitars and if you think it does a good job at modeling the classic guitars? It has alleviated my need to mic guitars now and just record direct and I feel it is doing a pretty good job.I use pitch fix sometimes now on my songs, which right now I am recording country songs. I do it not necessarily to fix my vocal pitch ( enough takes and I can get it right) but more for an effect. Most of the top country cats are doing it (Rascal flatts, Montgomery Gentry to name a couple). So I use it to give it a modern feel. I am not a traditionalist when it comes to recording and in my opinion, I will use whatever technology exists to achieve the sound I am looking for, or to cop the modern sound that AR people are looking for. I guess I just want feedback from anyone else who encorporates either of these or any other technological tools to help in the production of your songs...

[gitarrero]

I think it's best if you post some mp3s so we can listen to your song. then you'll get recommendations/feedbacks.cheers,martin

[johnhampt]

I wasn't necessarily asking people to comment on my recording with the Variax or use of pitch correction. I was asking if any other people use either of these. I am just wondering if these are used by others. Especially the Variax. If someone uses pitch correction it is obvious, to me, to hear. You can hear 2 of my songs that use pitch correction at www.taxi.com/jwhampton. You Had Your Chance and Forgive You Not. I did not pitch correct You Had Your Chance and it was done in excess, and not real well in my opinion. It is too obvious. I did the pitch correction on Forgive You Not. Also, both these songs are using the Variax for guitars (electric and acoustic) as well as the banjo in You Had Your Chance...

[sgs4u]

I use Melodyne Cre8 software. Liberally on any kind of music, except country. With that I try to make sure you never know which notes are getting tuned, even if I hear it on Tim McGraw's voice.

[liamkelly]

Sorry for going off thread but, Martin.............. you've had a haircut

[michael11]

Quote:I use Melodyne Cre8 software. Liberally on any kind of music, except country. With that I try to make sure you never know which notes are getting tuned, even if I hear it on Tim McGraw's voice.Funny you should mention Tim McGraw. I was switching channel's and a lady called Ellen(never seen her before) said Tim McGraw was on the show so of course I hung around for a while.When he came on the band appeared to be playing live,but who can tell nowadays but the one thing that gave the game away was the chorus vox seemed to be heavily pitch corrected.Here are two questions..1 Does Pitch Correct work live.2 He played a song called Last Dollar,I think it was anyway,it was a great Country Pop song but the lyric made no sense whatsoever and I have seen people here disect Contry lyrics almost down to the last syllable!Can anybody tell me what the song is about?

[sgs4u]

Quote:Funny you should mention Tim McGraw. I was switching channel's and a lady called Ellen(never seen her before) said Tim McGraw was on the show so of course I hung around for a while.When he came on the band appeared to be playing live,but who can tell nowadays but the one thing that gave the game away was the chorus vox seemed to be heavily pitch corrected.Here are two questions..1 Does Pitch Correct work live.I've seen the rack mount Antares unit used live, very well. But not if a singer sings more than a 1/4 note off pitch. Then it's disastrous. When there are a lot of dollars at stake, in a big show, the labels would be foolish not to eliminate (less than perfect) variables. More often than not, vocals, especially BG's that sound perfect beyond belief, are on tape. Lead vocals as well. That reminds me of Britanny's MTV show the other nite. Her vocals were perfect in many places, and many of those moments in time, she looked like she was on a dangerous planet, full of ankle biting critics. Too bad there's no pitch correction for out of synch dance moves... Quote:2 He played a song called Last Dollar,I think it was anyway,it was a great Country Pop song but the lyric made no sense whatsoever and I have seen people here disect Contry lyrics almost down to the last syllable!Can anybody tell me what the song is about?Don't know the tune. King Tim can pretty much record anything he wants, and does. He's earned the right not not bother hitting home runs with every single, as far as I'm concerned. I'm a big fan. I've seen great Couchgrouch lyrics discussed ad nauseum on other forums, where he has to put up with people slagging him, just because he's so good, and prolific.Everyone's a critic, me included.

[dhodgson]

I bought a red Variax 300 right after the price drop and love it. Fave patches are the Strat, Les Paul, Explorer and Corel Sitar. It's been years since I've had a real Les Paul, so I can't say how close it comes but it certainly seems to do the trick - the Strat patch comes quite close indeed. Make sure you get the USB Workbench interface ($99) if you want to get the most out of the axe - it's worth it.My biggest beefs are the short battery life (6 AA's are a lot - stick with the external power supply) and the quality of the pitch shifter, which is particularly crufty sounding in the 12-string emulations. String-tension and neck wise, I like it a lot; it's actually one of my favorite guitars to play, particularly after replacing the so-so tuners with some Planet Waves locking ones.-djh

[michael11]

Quote:Quote:Funny you should mention Tim McGraw. I was switching channel's and a lady called Ellen(never seen her before) said Tim McGraw was on the show so of course I hung around for a while.When he came on the band appeared to be playing live,but who can tell nowadays but the one thing that gave the game away was the chorus vox seemed to be heavily pitch corrected.Here are two questions..1 Does Pitch Correct work live.I've seen the rack mount Antares unit used live, very well. But not if a singer sings more than a 1/4 note off pitch. Then it's disastrous. When there are a lot of dollars at stake, in a big show, the labels would be foolish not to eliminate (less than perfect) variables. More often than not, vocals, especially BG's that sound perfect beyond belief, are on tape. Lead vocals as well. That reminds me of Britanny's MTV show the other nite. Her vocals were perfect in many places, and many of those moments in time, she looked like she was on a dangerous planet, full of ankle biting critics. Too bad there's no pitch correction for out of synch dance moves... Quote:2 He played a song called Last Dollar,I think it was anyway,it was a great Country Pop song but the lyric made no sense whatsoever and I have seen people here disect Contry lyrics almost down to the last syllable!Can anybody tell me what the song is about?Don't know the tune. King Tim can pretty much record anything he wants, and does. He's earned the right not not bother hitting home runs with every single, as far as I'm concerned. I'm a big fan. I've seen great Couchgrouch lyrics discussed ad nauseum on other forums, where he has to put up with people slagging him, just because he's so good, and prolific.Everyone's a critic, me included. Thanks Steve,I was just wondering how live is live nowadays.I saw a band (live) recently and the sound and muscianship was superb.Then I heard the sound of Fiddle.No Fiddle player on stage!!!!Re Tim, A few years ago I was driving through London to a gig and Please Remember Me came on the radio.I was mesmerised,it remains one of my all time favs.I was just commenting on wether that particular show was live.When Randy Travis was riding high I saw him in Nottingham and his band and the sound were live,fantastic sound.I saw the Eagles a couple of years back,they were undoubtedly playing live,fabulous sound,Bonnie Rait,etc etc.As for CG,the best undiscovered(as yet) lyricist on the planet. Hope this clears up any misunderstanding. BTW are you getting L8?

[gitarrero]

Quote:Sorry for going off thread but, Martin.............. you've had a haircut YES I've cut my hear .... I used to have long hairs (I'm a rocker), than shortened it for a couple of years (half-long) - and now I'm getting older and need to do something to look a little younger...