Vocal Harmonizer – Pitchproof

Pitchproof – vocal harmonizer

From the Pitchproof web site:

Pitchproof is a free audio plug-in that can shift the pitch of the input. The effect is meant to combine old styles of pitch shifting with the quality you expect from modern plug-ins. The result is this pitch “pedal” simulation that has most of what is great about guitar harmonizer pedals, and still preserves the signal’s integrity.

I use it as a vocal harmonizer. With a few added tricks, the effect is sufficiently convincing in a mix. In isolation it can sound like chipmunks but use the tricks below and blend it appropriately with the lead vocal and you have instant harmony. As outlined in the video below, do the following to improve the quality of the harmony.

1. Create a new harmony track in your DAW
2. Create a send from the main vocal track to the harmony track
3. To the harmony track, add the following plugins:
   • Pitchproof (set to 100% wet, 3rd harmony, key of your song)
   • a pitch shifter, (to shift the formants by about -54 cents – helps reduce the chipmunk effect)
   • an autotuner, (set to autmomatic pitch correction in the key of your song)
   • an EQ. (use high and low pass filters to include only the bulk of the harmony wave form)
   • reverb (to place the harmony track behind the lead vocal)
4. Pan the harmony track to put the singer to the side of the lead vocal.
5. Adjust the volume of the harmony track to blend with the lead vocals

The following video by MusicTechHelpGuy demonstrates the above tips.

Create Vocal Harmonies with Pitchproof – by MusicTechHelpGuy