VoiceLive 3 & VoiceLive 3 Extreme

Firmware Update 2.1.00 Build 344

As many of you know, weve been working internally for some time on a new release for VoiceLive 3 and

VoiceLive 3 Extreme. (Ill just say VL3(X) for brevity going forward)

The process has been longer than we anticipated, but has also given us the chance to add some long

awaited features to both units.

Bug Fixes Looper BUSY message now only appears when the looper is truly busy (typically when loading

loop triggers, if they exist)

Fixed MIDI Sync tempo averaging for improved accuracy

Equal Temper tuning mode forced in Harmony NOTES mode

USB Thumb Drive recording should be more reliable

Dual Mono mode with guitar output connected no longer sends guitar signals to XLR as well

o This allows MET to be isolated from guitar and vocals on an output

Fixed issue that could cause Loop B or Loop C to shift after saving in SMART mode

Fixed startup issue where current loop slot was cached incorrectly

Fixed issue where entering Loop Layer would show several backlogged messages in a row

Fixed issue where MIDI CC 115 (STEP) would not behave consistently when changing presets

Phase inverted Thumb Drive (and USB) audio to align with XLR and Guitar output phase

Rhythmic Tremolo should no longer follow MIDI Clock when set to independent

Track import display progress didnt always show (VL3X)

Lockout main mix guitar level in unity gain mode

o This prevents inadvertently recording guitar loops at a lower volume than the live

level

MAIN OUT renamed XLR OUT for clarity with new VL3X Output modes

Features

USB Audio The USB audio nut has finally been cracked, specifically with respect to iOS and OSX. We had it working

on Windows a while back, but couldnt get Mac sorted, so we chose to withhold it from public builds. Its

now fully implemented on both platforms.

USB audio remains Stereo 16bit 48k in both directions.

SETUP INPUT USB MODE

Stereo Acts like an Aux giving you stereo input and output of USB audio. This is the setting youd use

if you have an external audio device playing music and youd like that music to come out of VL3(X) mixed

with the vocal/guitar/loop.

*USB audio and BACKING TRACKS are mutually exclusive on VL3X

DAW Tracking Removes incoming USB audio signals from the outputs, allowing you to monitor

incoming tracks via headphones but only send vocal/guitar/loop back via USB. This is perfect when you

want to record processed sounds from VL3(X) but not have your DAW tracks mixed in.

Youd use this while singing/playing along with the track in real time. Its not intended for post-

processing, since the USB audio is still like an Aux as it relates to the effects.

DAW Insert This is post processing mode, where incoming USB audio is directed into the vocal and

guitar paths for processing by the effects. USB Left is sent to the Vocal path and USB R is sent to the

Guitar path.

This mode, in a nutshell, is used when you have a pre-existing track in your DAW that youd like to add

effects to. A typical use case would be a vocal that youve edited, timed and tuned being sent through

VL3(X) to add harmony or Transducer etc.

SETUP OUTPUT USB OUTPUT MODE

In DAW TRACKING mode ONLY, you may change this setting from SAME AS XLR to Dry Vox L/Guitar R,

sending your dry vocal out the Left USB out and processed guitar out the Right USB out.

Attempting to change this parameter in other USB INPUT modes will result in a message.

USB LEVEL controls have been added to both Main Mix and Headphone Mix pages.

Synth Improvements We tweaked the synth sound a lot to improve the output. You should find that there are far fewer

unwanted spikes of sound.

MIDI (Mono and Poly) are now options for Note Source. This allows new, more precise and synthetic

sounds.

Weve also added an ESS parameter to allow control over the sibilance in the signal.

Synth output levels were tweaked to be more consistent with other effects blocks.

USB MIDI Transfer Speed Improvement On most computers, after youve applied the update, you should notice GREATLY increased speed when

updating firmware and/or performing a Get Data (presets) within VoiceSupport.

If you notice any transmission errors (because your computer uses punch cards), weve included a new

parameter to slow the speed back down. You can find it in SETUP MIDI MIDI TX DELAY

It defaults to OFF, but you can choose Low, Med, or High if youre having trouble. Keep in mind that

Low means a low amount of delay, so its the next fastest compared to OFF. High would mean the

most delay, so its the slowest.

Backing Track & Guitar Routings (VL3X ONLY) Weve heard loud and clear that youd like to send backing tracks out of separate outputs. The obvious

choice in this case is for us to use the guitar outs to give you more options.

SETUP OUTPUT GUITAR JACKS MODE

You may select from 3 modes to direct your backing track and guitar.

GUITAR Acts as current normal or default mode, sending guitar signals from the outputs in

mono or stereo depending on whether you have one or both jacks connected.

TRACK L / GUITAR R Backing tracks (summed mono) are sent out the Left Guitar Out and guitar

(summed mono) from the Right Guitar out.

BACKING TRACK Backing tracks are routed to the guitar outs. If both outputs are connected, the signal

is in stereo. If one is connected, the signal is summed to mono.

The above mode should satisfy the request to have the click from a 2 sided mono backing track come

out one output and the track come from the other. Those outputs can then be independently

routed to wherever you wish; likely FOH for the the track and a monitor mix (or the drummer) for the

track.

If youre listening to Backing Tracks in the headphone mix, youll hear the split track. We werent able to

put in any accommodation for balance or mono in the headphones.

Known Issues disappearing/reappearing loop track

o Affects a few users

o Only appears with MIDI Clock

o Track will record, then show a waveform, but no audio

o Audio will reappear after several seconds

o We have seen this manifest once, and only once, during all our testing

o If you can reproduce it reliably, well give you a present seriously

Switch 3/6 Loop Controls

o Recording the first loop on Track A then pressing Stop on S3/S6 causes strange behavior

o It is not processing SET+STOP, just STOP, so things get weird

This will be fixed before public release