The Tribute Audio Designs Effect Integrator is a device that allows regular stompboxes to be used as vocal effects, without needing to worry about DI boxes, impedance matching or level conversion. A microphone plugs in, the signal is converted so guitar pedals can process it, and the treated vocal comes back out. For a singer who wants the sound of guitar pedals on their voice, it sits between the mic and the pedals and handles the conversion work.1
It belongs in the same conversation as dedicated vocal pedals like the TC Helicon VoiceTone series or the Radial Engineering Radial Voco-Loco Mk2, but its approach is different: rather than offering built-in vocal effects, it is a gateway that puts whatever pedals you already own into the vocal chain.1
How it works
The device is built in sections. There is a preamp in the first section of the Integrator that converts the impedance of the microphone signal to instrument level, capable of running guitar pedals. That is the step that makes the whole idea work: a mic signal is at the wrong level and impedance for a stompbox, and the preamp turns it into something a guitar pedal expects to see.1
A Mix knob is a dry/wet control that allows perfect tailoring of the blend level of the signals, so a singer can set how much of the dry voice sits against the processed signal coming back from the pedals.1
Power and connections
Power comes from a standard 2.1mm DC power jack, the same center-negative connector used by most compact pedals, and the unit also supports 9v battery operation. The jacks are Neutrik, and the whole unit is housed in an all-metal enclosure, which Delicious Audio's reviewer described as extremely solid construction.1
Using it live
A footswitch activates the effects loop, so that vocalists can turn on and off the effects when needed in a live situation. That means the pedals only need to be engaged for the sections of a song where the effect is wanted, and the dry vocal passes the rest of the time.1
What reviewers said
A review of the Effect Integrator on Delicious Audio came away impressed with how cleanly it does its job, noting that while there are many products designed to adapt guitar pedals into the vocal chain, few do it as seamlessly as the Effect Integrator1.
"While there are many products designed to adapt guitar pedals into the vocal chain, few do it as seamlessly as the Effect Integrator."
Questions
Can I use guitar pedals on vocals with the Tribute Audio Effect Integrator?
Yes, that is the whole point of the device. A preamp in its first section converts the impedance of the microphone signal to instrument level, so regular stompboxes can be used as vocal effects without needing to worry about DI boxes or impedance matching. Delicious Audio's reviewer wrote that while there are many products designed to adapt guitar pedals into the vocal chain, few do it as seamlessly as the Effect Integrator.
Does the Effect Integrator run on a battery?
Yes. Along with a standard 2.1mm DC power jack, the Effect Integrator supports 9v battery operation, so it can be powered either way depending on how your pedalboard or setup is arranged.
What power jack does the Effect Integrator use?
It uses a standard 2.1mm DC power jack, the same connector found on most compact guitar pedals, and it can also run on a 9v battery.
What does the dry/wet control do on the Effect Integrator?
The Mix knob is a dry/wet control that allows perfect tailoring of the blend level of the signals, meaning you can set how much of the unprocessed vocal sits against the signal coming back from the pedals in the effects loop.
Can the effects be switched on and off during a live show?
Yes. A footswitch activates the effects loop, so that vocalists can turn the effects on and off when needed in a live situation, engaging the pedals only for the parts of a song where they want them.
Sources (1)
- Tribute Audio's Effect Integrator, Delicious Audio, 2015-07-17
