Audio Software To Help With Vocal Harmonies

[BillF]

Hello, all. Would really appreciate if someone could recommend some audio software to help with vocal harmonies -- probably MIDI.

I'm in a 60s / 70s rock band and we are trying to do a lot of vocal harmonies. We want to be able to record (or perhaps even "key in") two or three harmony parts and then sing with the result. To rehearse, I would "shut off" my part and try to sing with the remaining parts.

The recording certainly doesn't have to be live voices. It could be a MIDI version of all the parts done on the piano, for example. Or it might be keyed in using a computer keyboard.

I'm not familiar with ProTools, but would that be overkill for what we want to do?

Recommendations appreciated!

PC or MAC recommendations would be equally welcome.

[Pretense]

Hi Bill,

I use Noteworthy Composer. It's pretty basic, but the GUI is standard notation, it has full MIDI input/output functionality (though importing *.mid files is a bit troublesome) and you can sequence stuff using just the (computer) keyboard which I personally find very comfortable. Plus it's cheap ($50).

Throw in another $10 and you can get Guitar Pro, which does all of the above and a bunch more (it's a big ugly mess of buttons though). If all you're looking for is a simple sequencer then ProTools would be a definite overkill.

NWC is PC-only as far as I know. GP is cross-platform (I think there's even an iPad version).

[JamTimeMusic]

Hey buddy,

Well you hit a point. Yeah Pro Tools can do what you want but so can any program like that. But sounds are not usually included so you'd need to get a sound module or plugin so that you can use MIDI instruments.

A way to do it using vocals is with a program called Melodyne. It's a vocal program that allows you to move each note therefore allowing you to create a harmony. If what We've suggested is too much work then perhaps get yourself a 4 track recorder so you can use a guitar or similar to play the harmony line.

Hope that helps

JD

[BillF]

Many thanks, Pretense. I have used GuitarPro as you suggest. It does work, but makes it a bit difficult to communicate to a Keyboard player.

I will look into Noteworthy Composer.

[BillF]

Hey buddy,

Well you hit a point. Yeah Pro Tools can do what you want but so can any program like that. But sounds are not usually included so you'd need to get a sound module or plugin so that you can use MIDI instruments.

A way to do it using vocals is with a program called Melodyne. It's a vocal program that allows you to move each note therefore allowing you to create a harmony. If what We've suggested is too much work then perhaps get yourself a 4 track recorder so you can use a guitar or similar to play the harmony line.

Hope that helps

JD

Thank you fr the recommendation, JamTimeMusic. I checked out the Melodyne website offerings. Do you mean the Melodyne Editor (as opposed to Studio or Essentials)? The Editor the one that has DNA (Direct Note Access) which is probably what you're getting at when you say "allows you to move each note"

[JamTimeMusic]

I would think that it is the editor. Studio sounds like a new product that I haven't tried.

I Melodyne all our vocals before we put it out. Just corrects and flat notes etc because it actually identifies the actual notes. You have to use just a plain vocal on it's own though, no music.

JD