How does the vocal harmonizer on the KN7000 compare to my Digitech VHM 1 vocalizer I now use with the KN2000 midi out connection?

Eww...... the folks at Technics have a lot of nerve even to assume that anyone would want to sing through that mic input. I'm sorry, but for such a good keyboard ..... that's THE WORST mic input out there. Your Digitech is much better, and the newer models are better still.

Idont agree that the mic input is poor ,it is fine and balances well for live performance in a medium sized venue, provided that only reverb and effects are used, the harmonizer itself is poor ,if you can sing reasonably well the mic is reasonable, not the best, the keyboard is superb and and together they are a good standalone gigging machine for a keyboard player and a singer.
jan

Dave, Dave, Dave. As an authority on THE WORST, you must have studied them all in depth in order to have come to such a definitive assessment. In the process, you certainly must have arrived at an evaluation of which was the best. Therefore in your study of keyboard mic inputs, which keyboard has the best input? As far as vocalizers go, I would assume a company whose focus is on stand-alone dedicated equipment would far surpass in performance a manufacture who’s focus is not so directed. However it is comforting to know that the folks at technics have a lot of nerve. At least they got something going for them. I remember Mr. Yee bitching about the vocalizer, I don’t believe it was the mic input, however you told him to quit moaning and get a digitech. Good advice. Get the right tool for the job. The best is always the most rewarding in the end. Anyway I guess Kozykeys is happy. And now that you got that out of your craw, Dave, I hope you can be happy again.

Grandpa Doug

I agree totally with the comments about the harmoniser or vocaliser - call it what you will. In my opinion, they should either include one which works as well as the Digitech or just leave it out. As it is, it's a total waste of space

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Willum

HEY ORB,
I didn't know my KN had a vocal simonizer. I guess I probably tried it once way back when I first bought it and then took your advise and just left it out.
Why does everyone have a problem with this?
If you don't like it then just leave it out. I bet you didn't even know it was there when you bought your KN6 so what is the big deal. Just enjoy the best keyboard in the marketplace at this pricepoint today.
Best to all, Happy to be back in the fold again.
Bebop

Willum, Is there any other keyboard manufacture who has a built in harmonizer that works as good as or better than the Digitech? I have not. Using your kind of reasoning, then all keyboard makers should leave it out. Why do you hold only one company’s feet to the fire? I know, but that is not the subject here. If all of the others have one as good as or better than, what would be the result? Bye, bye Digitech. A total waste of space? I know some who think churches are a total waste of space. I wonder why so many are attracted to them. Could it be for the main attraction or the pot luck dinners that stink? Kind of a strange analogy to keyboards but I like it. I like my church but Ruthie and me go to a good restaurant for a good meal. I think focusing on the crappie potlucks would be a total waste of time and recommending they drop them would serve no real purpose. And that’s how I view this whole discussion on vocalizers or harmonizers or what ever you want to call them when they are linked to the main purpose of the keyboard. Making music! Of course if venting makes you feel better then let’s vent. If pursing the best is your goal than let’s choose the best tools to help us get there. Now you know how I think. Ruthie at times looks at me with her eyes crossed but in the end we always sleep in the same bed.

Grandpa Doug

P.S. Bebop, I didn’t know it had a 'Simonizer' either.

Well Grandpa Doug, you've got a special way of putting it---I think it's great. Enjoy what you have and get off what you do not have---NICE
John C.

If your looking at a keyboard to improve your singing voice, then your looking in the wrong place. Keyboards are not for singing, although I do admit that some keyboards do a better job at disguising an otherwise normal voice.

A "Natural" great singer needs only a mic and an amp, and is not looking for help from the keyboard player

Larry Hawk

I just want to back up Jan and say we are only talking about the "harmony". The mic output is very adequate and better than any stand alone KB I have heard. I use it regularly in playing small and medium venues.

Bernie

Bernie and Jan you guys are so right. The mic input and output is just fine. I think poor Uncle Dave must have stayed out a bit too late last night. Seems a bit fuzzy on the difference between a mic input and a harmonizer feature. Thanks guys for seeing through the fog. As in many things, misstatements lead to who knows what? In response to Santa 1’s simple question I think a simple answer would cover it. ‘IT DON’T’, as well as any other keyboard’s. However pet peeves are no fun if they cannot be petted. So, bringing a peeve out in the open lends it’s self to be petted and some others will like to pet it also. This seems to pacify those feelings in those who have a need to pet their pet peeves. Better quit while I’m still ahead. Come to think about it maybe I’m not ahead. I think I better stop thinking before my thinking gets me into a fix that I can’t think of a way out of. I think that last word is not a good word to end a sentence with. Right now I can’t think of another way to end it without using ‘of’. I’ll shut up and ask, what do you guys think? I can’t anymore.

Grandpa Doug

Granpa Doug
You're a funny but wise man. God bless you.

Bernie

I wasn't going to respond, but since (I assume) you were obviously referring to me specifically by name:

Mr Dean: You don't have your facts straight. I don't know why, but I've always felt you had an axe to grind with me, but not sure why. I've owned a Digitech brand: 'Vocalist Workstation EX' and used it with my Technics KN5000, long 'before' Technics added a built in vocalizer to their keyboards. I also don't remember Uncle Dave ever telling me to quit moaning about the Technics built in vocalizer, as it was he who bitched loudly about it as well.



YES ! I find the built in vocalizer included in the Yamaha Tyros to be of comparable sound quality to my stand alone Digitech Vocalist Workstation EX unit. In fact, when playing the Yamaha Tyros, I no longer take the Vocalist Workstation EX.

An IMPORTANT (not mentioned before) advantage to a 'built in to the keyboard' type vocalizer is that vocalizer settings can be stored & called up along with a specific song in 'panel (reg) memory'. A song may consist of 4-5 different vocal harmony changes, so it's a lot more convenient to have these settings stored along with all the other panel reg settings (style selection, instrument voice setups, etc) than having to store, call up, and trigger them separately via a 3rd party unit (Digitech) and trigger the changes via another footswitch pedal as well. It's much better to store/call up EVERYTHING in one place: Panel (reg) Memory and via a single foot pedal. If Technics would have just included a built in vocalizer of comparable sound quality to the the one included in the Yamaha Tyros, I may still be playing a Technics keyboard. oh well... perhaps the KN8000.

btw: Many thanks to Bebop for letting me know about what transpired on this thread, and encouraging me to respond in kind.

Scott

Hi Scott old Buddy, Good to see you posting on the Technics forum again. I've just bought a Tyros as well and I agree wholeheartedly with your comments about the Vocaliser. In my opinion, it is just so much better than the Technics version. I seem to remember that this was one of the prime reasons why you chose the Tyros rather than the KN7000, way back in 2002. The inclusion of a vocaliser does not influence my choice of keyboard, since I never use it, mainly because I just don't have a voice good enough to inflict on others. Just out of interest, last weekend I asked a fellow musician, who does sing well, to have a listen to the new Tyros and the subject of vocal harmony arose - he normally uses a Digitech. We tried out the vocalisers on the KN7000 and the Tyros and they were like chalk and cheese. His opinion was that the Tyros vocaliser was as good as his Digitech but he did not like the KN7000 version at all. Looking a little further into the Tyros version, there are also many different harmony effects available.
So in answer to Grandpa Doug's question
"Willum, Is there any other keyboard manufacture who has a built in harmonizer that works as good as or better than the Digitech?"
Yes! the Tyros seems to come up trumps

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Willum

Yamaha, Ketron, Korg, Farfisa(yes, FARFISA) all have mic inputs that put the kn series to shame. I have no allegience to any of these companies. I only want them to serve ME as a performer. I use what works best. The mic input in the kn series is adequate at best. It's not up to par with any of the brands I mentioned. As for the harmonies - Ketron and Yamaha seem to work the best for a built in unit, with the Korg following, and the Farfisa in the "horrible" column. Funny, how such a good mic input can be paired up with such a sub-standard harmonizer.
If you like the sound in the kn, then by all means ...... enjoy it, but you asked for opinions on this matter, and you got 'em.
I'm sure most singers will aggree with me when I say that the on board unit in the kn series is nothing to brag about.
The keyboard has lots of things to shout about, but the vocal section is not one of them.
I got plenty of sleep last night, BTW Doug.

I purchased the kn6 purely on 'word of mouth' ... the ONLY time I've ever done anything like that ... My only disappointment in the board? ... The so-called vocal harmonizer ... IMHO it is UNUSABLE .. I've used the mic input a couple of times, but the harmonizer??? no way ...
t.

Hi Bill, thanks for the warm welcome. I still check in occasionally, but rarely post (for obvious reasons).

Congratulations on owning what I consider to be the 2 BEST arranger keyboards out there now. I'm admittedly a bit envious that you have BOTH the KN7000 & Yamaha Tyros.

Happy music making to all my Technics friends,

Scott