Death by Audio “Echo Master” vs Voco-Loco as vocal chain ?

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brunobruno
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Death by Audio “Echo Master” vs Voco-Loco as vocal chain ?

Post by brunobruno » Sat Jul 06, 2019 2:23 pm

I’m wondering what are the pros/cons of each. Any of you tried one of these? I want to add effects (slapback, reverb, overdrive) to my live vocal chain.

Echo Master:
Mic input (matched Bourns transformers) > send/return at instrument level (to grt pedals), the fx signal is mixed in at 100% > Main output at mic level > Board

Voco Loco:
Mic input > built-in preamp > phase rev/ground lift > send/return to grt pedals (the fx signal is mixed in with a wet/dry knob) > Line level output > Board

thx!

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Re: Death by Audio “Echo Master” vs Voco-Loco as vocal chain ?

Post by kslight » Sat Jul 06, 2019 7:50 pm

I get the impression that the Echo Master is based off a PT2399 chip, which if that is the case IMHO there are far cheaper ways to get that.

The voco loco seems more immediately useful and has more control for tone shaping, there are also other ways to run mics through pedals...pigtronix keymaster, eventide mixing link, some of the Line 6 pods allow this, or sometimes you can get away with just using inline transformers.

I do it for myself in the studio sometimes, but in a live scenario, intelligibility and avoiding feedback are usually high priorities, I’ve never seen vocal fx pulled off at the stage level that really worked flawlessly. You might decide to have a dedicated FX mic, I’ve seen this work out okay. As always you’re also at the mercy of the limits of the PA, room, and sound engineer...so I would err on the side of keeping it as simple as possible.

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Re: Death by Audio “Echo Master” vs Voco-Loco as vocal chain ?

Post by Snarl 12/8 » Sun Jul 07, 2019 5:42 pm

I was always under the impression that FOH guys hated it when talent shows up with those things, but I could be way off. I haven't done FOH for years. (Decades?!)
Carl Keil

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Re: Death by Audio “Echo Master” vs Voco-Loco as vocal chain ?

Post by kslight » Mon Jul 08, 2019 8:40 am

Snarl 12/8 wrote:
Sun Jul 07, 2019 5:42 pm
I was always under the impression that FOH guys hated it when talent shows up with those things, but I could be way off. I haven't done FOH for years. (Decades?!)
I believe Death By Audio suggests that as a selling point.

What could possibly go wrong? :mrgreen:

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Re: Death by Audio “Echo Master” vs Voco-Loco as vocal chain ?

Post by Recycled_Brains » Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:48 am

Snarl 12/8 wrote:
Sun Jul 07, 2019 5:42 pm
I was always under the impression that FOH guys hated it when talent shows up with those things, but I could be way off. I haven't done FOH for years. (Decades?!)
Most sound-guys are dicks.
Ryan Slowey
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http://maggotbrainny.bandcamp.com

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Re: Death by Audio “Echo Master” vs Voco-Loco as vocal chain ?

Post by Snarl 12/8 » Mon Jul 08, 2019 12:41 pm

Recycled_Brains wrote:
Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:48 am
Most sound-guys are dicks.
Not that I disagree, but you usually don't get better sound by pissing them off from the get go.
Carl Keil

Almost forgot: Please steal my drum tracks. and more.

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Re: Death by Audio “Echo Master” vs Voco-Loco as vocal chain ?

Post by Recycled_Brains » Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:07 pm

Snarl 12/8 wrote:
Mon Jul 08, 2019 12:41 pm
Recycled_Brains wrote:
Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:48 am
Most sound-guys are dicks.
Not that I disagree, but you usually don't get better sound by pissing them off from the get go.

You usually don't get better sound by letting them have all the control either (in my experience).

p.s. I used to do FOH, and never once gave a band a hard time for something like this. In fact, it made my life easier 100% of the time.
Ryan Slowey
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http://maggotbrainny.bandcamp.com

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Re: Death by Audio “Echo Master” vs Voco-Loco as vocal chain ?

Post by Recycled_Brains » Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:07 pm

Snarl 12/8 wrote:
Mon Jul 08, 2019 12:41 pm
Recycled_Brains wrote:
Mon Jul 08, 2019 11:48 am
Most sound-guys are dicks.
Not that I disagree, but you usually don't get better sound by pissing them off from the get go.

You usually don't get better sound by letting them have all the control either (in my experience).

p.s. I used to do FOH, and never once gave a band a hard time for something like this. In fact, it made my life easier 100% of the time.
Ryan Slowey
Albany, NY

http://maggotbrainny.bandcamp.com

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Re: Death by Audio “Echo Master” vs Voco-Loco as vocal chain ?

Post by Snarl 12/8 » Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:32 pm

I can't remember ever coming out on top when I had a disagreement with a FoH guy as talent.
Carl Keil

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Re: Death by Audio “Echo Master” vs Voco-Loco as vocal chain ?

Post by Recycled_Brains » Mon Jul 08, 2019 2:28 pm

Snarl 12/8 wrote:
Mon Jul 08, 2019 1:32 pm
I can't remember ever coming out on top when I had a disagreement with a FoH guy as talent.
I could go on and on about this stuff, but I won't bog this forum down with all my cursing.
Ryan Slowey
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Re: Death by Audio “Echo Master” vs Voco-Loco as vocal chain ?

Post by joninc » Mon Jul 08, 2019 4:11 pm

It always has surprised me that most bands or artists don't take 2 minute to talk with the sound guy and give him a heads up on their vibe and what they would like prominent or what fx they like/hate.... and then they are disappointed with the results... these sound guys are not psychics...
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