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This stompbox can create dreamy harmonies for you, thanks to its real-time processing.

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Think of stompbox multi-effects units and you're bound to conjure up an image of a guitarist, slamming down on distortion or fuzz pedals to enhance performance throughout a track.

For some reason, a vocal-targeted equivalent has taken longer to catch on but with artists including Imogen Heap and Björk now reliant on guitar-like real-time processing, it's perhaps no surprise that at least one company has been paying attention.

It's no surprise that that company is TC-Helicon, if you consider its history in vocal processing. VoiceLive 2 could just revolutionise vocal performances coming soon to a stage near you.

"VoiceLive 2 works intelligently through tracking and mixing to provide a rich, unique flavour."

Featuring multi-effects, intelligent on-board algorithms and huge flexibility, this is a processor designed to inspire and delight.

Going live

At the heart of VoiceLive 2 is a collection of real-time effects processors which can be 'stomped' on and off, guitar-style. Each preset or user-created program features up to six of these modules simultaneously and there is real sophistication here, with effects including auto-tune style pitch correction, voice doubling and intelligent Harmonization, of which more shortly.

Additionally, Delay and Reverb modules provide a range of spatial effects to enhance these more obviously 'vocal' algorithms.

The design of VoiceLive 2 is superb - as well as the stomp switches for each effect, foot-controlled preset navigation is offered, as is a Shortcut foot-switch which activates a user-defined parameter for each preset, to allow you to interact with an additional sound control in real-time.

A bright, backlit LCD display at the top keeps you in touch with preset parameters and if you want in-depth editing, this is offered via four rotaries below the screen that correspond to the parameters shown.

The rear panel offers remarkable flexibility, with microphone, line level, guitar and 3.5mm input sources, balanced stereo XLR, line and S/PDIF outputs and MIDI I/O, too.

This means that a range of sound sources can benefit from VoiceLive 2's processors via multiple input types, but there's also a hidden benefit. As the processor auto-detects pitch information from incoming audio signals, if you're a lead singer/guitarist or singer/keyboard player, you can use the output signal from your guitar or MIDI out port to feed VoiceLive 2 the note information it will use to generate harmonies. A performer's dream.

Intelligent harmonies

VoiceLive 2 shows its colours as an inspiring tool the moment you switch it on, as it's extremely simple to use. This is best exemplified by its intelligent Harmonizing engine, which either allows you to select the root scale of your track or to auto-detect it as you perform, offering up to eight Harmonized notes in support of your performance.