A vocal harmonizer might not be the first item that you think to buy for your home studio, but it actually plays an important role in music production. Whether you are a professional guitarist and vocalist or are part of a high school garage band, a vocal harmonizer might be just what you need. A harmonizer records your voice (or guitar chords) live and harmonizes you as you are singing (and or playing). It picks up incoming audio and generates various harmonies at different pitches.
The harmonizer allows you to hear the original melody and produces several harmonies at the same time. Vocal harmonizers can also add effects to many different instruments, create new sound effects, and add to your overall sound. If you are considering buying a harmonizer, you’ve come to the right place for advice. Read about our favorite harmonizer picks below, as well as the pros and cons for each product.
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Best Vocal Harmonizers |
Rating |
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Boss VE-2 (Editor’s Choice) |
1. TC-Helicon Harmony Singer
The TC-Helicon Harmony Singer is one of the best harmonizers on the market for the price and adds one to two voices in harmony to your song with deep and rich sound quality. It is the perfect device for beginners due to its simple and straightforward controls, which allow even the novice to quickly understand how to use this device. The TC-Helicon Harmony Singer is precise and accurate in its output and is perfect for EQ, compression, de-essing, and gating. This lightweight gadget weighs only 1.1 pounds and measures 5.2×3.2×2.2 inches.
The TC-Helicon Harmony Singer, however, does not have pitch correction. It will harmonize your vocal as is sang or played. It is also not the best option if you are playing or singing a single note sequence. It does, however, have a significant amount of power considering its size, and is well-loved by customers. With this device, you will have the ability to harmonize below, above, or both above and below the root note that you are creating. With 4.5 out of 5 stars and over 100 reviews on Amazon.com the TC-Helicon Harmony Singer is definitely a solid option for a harmonizer, and is perfect for harmonizing the solo singer for approximately $200!
2. TC-Helicon VoiceTone Harmony-G XT
The TC Helicon Voice Tone Harmony G-XT is an equally high-quality harmonizer, in competition with the TC-Helicon Harmony Singer. With 10 presets and 6 reverbs/delay combinations for both vocals and guitar, this device brings you a variety of options in the production of your music. The TC Helicon Voice Tone Harmony G-XT effectively listens to both guitar and vocals to create new two or more additional harmonies, and also works with a keyboard too. Furthermore, there is an optional foot pedal that you can use to change settings.
Some customers report that the box is too small and that if you have big feet you can bump the other controls, but otherwise is a very well-made device that highly serves their needs. It is great for practicing at home, live performance, and recording alike. The TC Helicon Voice Tone Harmony G-XT, weighing 2 pounds and measuring 5x5x1.5 inches, is an excellent option in comparison to the TC-Helicon Harmony Singer.
Pros
- Adds 2 or more harmonies
- Features 10 presets
- 6 reverbs/delay combinations
- Great for live performance and recording
Cons
- Customers report the box as small
- LEDs are small
Looking for a slightly larger and easier to use unit? Try the Digitech VLHM Vocal Effects Processor.
3. Digitech VLHM Vocal Effects Processor
The Digitech VLHM Vocal Effects Producer is a high-quality vocal harmonizer that adds one or two voices to your song using the most advanced technology in music production. This 3.9-pound device measures 11.5×11.4×2.4 inches making it a slightly larger and heavier device than the previous two harmonizers. It features double effect technology, a built-in guitar tuner, and feedback suppression with 12 filters.
The Digitech VLHM produces tremendous sound for lead vocal and has studio quality that will leave you thoroughly impressed! This device also features an A/B switch, presets, and up to 70-second vocal looper. With the variety of features that this harmonizer has, the Digitech VLHM is very popular amongst its customers, received highly positive reviews, and is easy to program. This device will certainly not disappoint you!
Pros
- Ability to make 4 set lists with up to 20 presets each
- Studio quality sound
- Easy to program
- Reverb and doubling effects are superb
Cons
- Looping function isn’t ideal for live performance
- Could use a software update
- Distortion effects may reduce volume
Want an affordable beginner harmonizer? You may want to consider the Behringer Ultra Shifter.
4. Behringer Ultra Shifter
The Behringer Ultra Shifter is a well-designed harmonizer from Germany that utilizes state-of-the-art technology to bend single notes up to two octaves below or above your original note. At just the touch of a footswitch, the Behringer Ultra Shifter features five different sounding modes. The Behringer Ultra Shifter can shift the pitch, harmonize, add a detuned signal, detect input signal, and can detune the input signal.
This fancy device weighs only 14.1 ounces, measures 6.8×3.9×2.3 inches and requires a 9-volt battery. Features include blue status LED, delay time/speed controls, balance controls, mode detection, pitch, and HR key. Harmonies can also be adjusted to track 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, 6ths, octaves or double octaves. In our opinion, the Behringer Ultra Shifter is perfect for the new or amateur guitarist on a budget looking to learn how to use a vocalizer and experiment with new sounds!
Pros
- Crisp controls
- Amazing price
- Good pitch shifter
- Harmonies sound natural
Cons
- Not designed for low frequencies
- Housing is made of plastic
Looking for a high-quality vocal harmonizer that functions perfectly with a guitar? The Boss VE-2 might be for you!
5. Boss VE-2
The Boss VE-2 is easy to use, has multiple modes, and creates beautiful melodies! The auto harmony function was specifically designed to detect guitar chords and produce harmonies. Perfect for use with solo singers, the VE-2 can generate new harmonies simply through utilizing panel knobs with various settings. This device offers you 24 harmony styles and even a hybrid mode which allows you to create harmonies from both guitar input and the manual setting.
It weighs under 2 pounds, measures 12x12x8 inches, requires lithium-ion batteries, and can be shipped only within the US. The Boss VE-2 is well liked for its quality sounds but has been criticized for poor layout, such as small print, dark writing, and too closely placed together front dials. However, once you get used to the slightly strange layout of this device, you will be pleased with the quality harmonies it produces. Overall, we find this high-tech harmonizer to be thoroughly enjoyed by its customers and produce harmonies that we believe you will love!
Pros
- High-quality sound
- Multiple modes
- 24 harmony styles
- Studio-style processing
- Excellent vocal tracking
Cons
- Device can be slightly confusing due to the layout
- May give a little feedback in a large room
