The Antares Vocal Producer provides all functions required to mould and sculpt an audio signal. It combines dynamic control and EQ with Auto-Tune and Mic Modeller. Primarily focussed towards voice or solo instruments, it is a versatile unit with a seemingly endless supply of tone and timbre through a very simple interface.
Background :
Antares made the Auto-Tune work, and then followed up with microphone modelling (recreating the particular tonal colouration of particular mics). Cher's "believe" is example of auto-tune on the limit, with the warbling unnatural vocals. An example of mic modelling could be hiding just round the next track, next to the tube emulation.
What :
The AVP-1 is a "best of Antares" hardware box which incorporates algorithms for mic modelling, auto-tune, tube modelling, compressor/ gate, de-esser, ADT (double-tracking) and EQ in a more consumer-oriented price bracket than some other releases by the same company.
Who :
The ideal home for the AVP-1 would realistically be a project studio incorporating a small mixer with a digital audio workstation (or DAW). The AVP-1 is far more than strictly a vocal processor - it can equally work on anything from a drum loop to a di'd bass or a mic'd brass instrument. However, there is no preamp so a mic or guitar can't be plugged directly into the unit - given how cheap small mixers are now, no self-respecting DAW should be without at least a 6-channel and therefore would have the preamps and routing to be able to really get the best out of the Vocal Producer.
But the main reason for needing the AVP-1 is for the subtlety of its processing on critical instruments and vocals.
How :
The best way to use the AVP-1 is as an insert on a mixer channel - that is, the unit treats the entire signal.
As there is some latency on the auto-tune, it would also be best to strap it across an existing track, rather than track through it - this also gives more freedom to return to the untreated signal if necessary.
· Select the type of input signal (soprano, alto/tenor. Low male or instrumental)
· Select the source microphone. Now that it knows what it is receiving
· Dial in a preset - this comes with tube warmth, mic modelling - large diaphragm condenser or small dynamic, all of that.
There aren't a huge amount of presets, but there don't need to be - that's the beauty of this box.
Now - get into some button pushing. There are zillions of combinations which are not only easy to dial up, but also fairly representative.
· Control the dynamics - play squash the bass, or tempo-gate the synth, and it works just as sweetly as a nice vocal. Or a nasty out-of-tune vocal. Or a 'retuned' trumpet.
· Switch in the double-track and get some wide stereo, carve across the final sound with the 2band EQ, and then . . . sweep the filter and resonance through a midi controller in real-time (oh ok, maybe it's only me)
· You can bypass any component simply by squidging the button on or off, and also you can of course bypass all processing
The final-stage 2band EQ polishes off the sound-sculpting capabilities of the AVP-1. And midi in/out allows for the sequencing of control changes so you can open the vocal out chorus to verse, or even adjust the auto-tune correction speed (to conceal the processing, or not)
While neither mic modelling or auto-tune provide the full control set of the individually available Antares products, they appear to be Lite versions in the user-controlled parameters only - the sound quality is not compromised in the least.
So whats it sound like?
Don't mistake autotune for pitchshifting - at the extreme, the closest FX would be the vocoder or talkbox. But the sometimes you want it to not SOUND, if you know what I mean. And this is where its at - you can hide any artefacts and still turn an almost right take into perfect.
The mic modelling can really change the texture of the source, through enhanced harmonics and seemingly a more finely detailed sound.
And tube emulation - hasn't this area of modelling been a great relief after all that ultra crisp digital reverb and distortion!
What else required?
As mentioned, this unit is not a voice channel - that is, it doesn't incorporate pre-amp or an XLR socket so you can't drive a mic straight in. For that type of functionality, maybe try another Antares product - there's plenty of good stuff!
Without teaching you to suck eggs, you'll need low-latency drivers for the DAW of your choice, if you wish to monitor the unit whilst tracking. Otherwise, just direct an auxiliary send from your mixer/DAW and return to a spare channel, or strap it up as an insert.
From subtle to mild, the Antares AVP-1 is a very handy box, showing off the best of modern digital interfaces (it's so simple it's almost analogue).
Conclusion :
Price : $1495 Distributor : Major Music (www.majormusic.com.au)
Its price bracket definitely puts it in the sweet spot for finely carving and sculpting your sound. If you have some basic rig to patch it into and you have troubles "chasing the flame" of perfect sound, then it'd be worth taking an AVP-1 for a walk in the park before making any decisions.
Other Digital Musician Instruments in the same league :
Focusrite Platinum Voicemaster
TLA Ivory2 5050
DBx 376 voice channel
Also
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