Vocals are the soul of your music; they can elevate and breathe life into your mix. Vocal Flow is a complete vocal processing solution that gives you 7 flexible effects to shape your vocal track to enhance the weight, timbre, and warmth of the vocals. Vocal Flow features Harrison’s exclusive ‘Character’ processing with a unique 2-band vocal EQ that adjusts according to the pitch of the vocal notes. This enhances the body and clarity of the sound, allowing you to craft a truly original and distinctive vocal sound. Vocal Flow also includes a recreation of the legendary 32C EQ used on many classic albums. The 32C EQ is known for its musicality with a smooth and warm character and can give your vocal tracks a vintage vibe. Plus, Vocal Flow has all the tools you need and is your ultimate vocal chain.
Six Features
- Vocal Character provides unique way to adjust the body and clarity of each note
- 32c Channel EQ Modeled after the famed Harrison 32C channel EQ
- De-Esser is a easy-to-use version of Harrison’s famous algorithm for reducing sibilance
- Leveler is a unique compressor derived from the Harrison Mixbus channel strip
- Chorus, Delay, and Reverb for livening up vocal recordings
- Master Section
Vocal Character
The Vocal Character is a one-of-a-kind vocal EQ that “follows” the pitch of the notes of a vocal track and shifts the EQ curve accordingly along the frequency spectrum. This allows you to alter the actual character of vocals by adjusting the body and clarity of each note.
32C Channel EQ
Modeled after the famed Harrison 32C channel EQ, the Equalizer element offers 4 bands with variable frequency and gain along with 2 versatile filters.
EQ Bands
The 4 EQ bands can be toggled in or out using the EQ IN button just above the LOW band controls.
Each of the 4 bands have variable gain and frequency parameters. Each gain control has a range of -12dB to +12dB. The band frequency ranges are as follows:
LOW | LO MID | HI MID | HIGH |
40Hz - 600Hz | 200Hz - 3.1kHz | 400Hz - 6kHz | 900Hz - 13kHz |
The HIGH and LOW bands are shelving filters for general tone sculpting, while the two MID bands are bell curves with a proportional Q design. Optionally, the HIGH and LOW bands can also be switched to bell mode by activating the BELL buttons below their frequency knobs.
NOTE: The proportional-Q design was used in the original Harrison consoles to allow an engineer to use the EQ as either a subtle tone shaping tool, or a steep filter problem-solver, with only 2 knobs. As the gain is progressively increased (or cut), the bandwidth becomes progressively narrower (the Q increases). A typical technique is to increase the gain to maximum, sweep the frequency to find an offending sound, and then turn the gain to minimum to “notch” out the unwanted frequencies.
EQ Filters
The High and Low Pass Filters can be toggled in and out using the Filters IN button in the top-left corner above the Filter controls.
Both filters have a 12dB/octave slope. The High-Pass Filter has a frequency range of 20Hz - 3.15kHz and the Low-Pass Filter has a frequency range of 160Hz - 18kHz.
NOTE: The filters have a generous frequency overlap. It is possible to adjust the frequency knobs on the filters such that there is NO signal coming through! This was also possible on the original 32C analog console, and was a favorite tactic of control room pranksters.
De-Esser
This module contains a simple and intuitive implementation of Harrison’s renowned De-Esser algorithm. It is primarily used to attenuate harsh frequencies caused by sibilance in speech and vocals.
Leveler
The Leveler is a unique compressor derived from the Harrison Mixbus channel strip. It includes controls for Threshold and Attack while the module’s Output Trim can be used to add make-up gain if needed. Input level and gain reduction meters are also provided to help visualize the operation of the Leveler.
Vocal Effects
Chorus
The Chorus module is based on the Harrison XT-MG Micro Glide plugin and can be a useful tool for adding width and depth to a vocal recording.
Delay
The Delay module is specifically designed for adding slapback delay to vocals.
The Reverb module is useful in altering the spatial characteristics of vocals.
Reverb
The Reverb module is useful in altering the spatial characteristics of vocals.
Like the Delay, the Reverb is processed in parallel with the main signal path. The position of the REVERB SEND routing item determines the point along the signal chain in which the signal is sent to the Reverb effect, which always returns at the end of the signal chain to be blended with the main signal path.
Master Controls (Input, Output & Routing)
The Master Controls give you the ability to unleash the full potential of Vocal Flow and craft your vocal sound with precision and creativity. The Master Controls give you the flexibility to explore all possible options.
Routing
The Routing section contains routing items for each of the 7 elements in Vocal Flow, plus a routing item for the EQ Filters so they can be routed separately from the EQ bands.
The order of signal flow between the elements can be rearranged by dragging an element’s routing item to its desired position along the signal chain, which flows from left to right. Dragging an item to another slot will swap the positions of the two items. Dragging an item to one of the arrow indicators in between each item will push all other items right (if moving an item from right to left) or left (if moving an item from left to right) and place the dragged item in the newly opened spot.
Note that the the Vocal Character’s routing item is fixed at the first routing position and cannot be re-routed elsewhere. The functionality of the Vocal Character relies on vocal pitch detection, and certain elements such as the Chorus effect have the potential to negatively affect the performance of the pitch detection if it is placed before for Vocal Character in the signal chain. To prevent such outcomes, Vocal Character is fixed at the first routing position so that it will always be processed before any of the other elements.
If a module is disabled, its corresponding element markers in the signal chain will become grayed-out.
Routing Listen
The ear icons directly below each routing divider arrow allow you to listen to all elements up to the selected position, bypassing all elements past it. This is useful for listening to various elements in the context of its position along the signal chain.
The Solo/Listen Clear button at the top left of the Routing section clears any active Routing Listen along with all active module solos.
Additional Features
At the top-right corner of the plugin window are the Momentary Bypass and Settings buttons.
Momentary Bypass
The Momentary Bypass button bypasses the plugin for as long as it's held. This is useful for auditioning A/B comparisons quickly.
Settings
The Settings button reveals a pop-up menu where the window size can be adjusted. It also contains a link to the plugin manual and version info at the bottom.
Control Behaviors & Shortcuts
Various mouse & keyboard shortcuts can be used to perform certain actions on the following controls:
Sliders/Knobs
Action | Shortcut |
Reset to default |
Double-click Alt-click |
Fine adjust |
Shift-click & drag Control-click & drag Command-click & drag (OSX only) |
Adjust value | Scroll mouse wheel |
Labels
Action | Shortcut |
Reset to default | Alt-click |
Fine adjust |
Shift-click & drag Control-click & drag (Windows only) Command-click & drag (OSX only) |
Adjust value | Scroll mouse wheel |
Close editor (discarding changes) | ESC |
Close editor (submitting changes) | Enter |
Combo Boxes (Drop-down menus)
Action | Shortcut |
Reset to default | Alt-click |
Scroll through menu items without opening menu | Scroll mouse wheel |
Select next/previous item (menu must already be open) | Keyboard arrows |
Close menu (if open) | ESC |
Band Controls
Action | Shortcut |
Reset Gain/Depth to default | Double-click |
Reset Frequency, Gain and Q to default | Alt-click |
Adjust Q |
Right-click & drag Shift-click & drag |
Temporarily set to Search mode (for EQ) or solo band (For Dynamics) | Control-click |
Fine adjust Frequency and Gain | Command-click & drag (OSX Only) |
Action varies per plugin | Scroll mouse wheel |
Graph Rulers
Action | Shortcut |
Reset Pan & Zoom or Trim |
Double-click Alt-click |
Fine adjust Pan or Trim |
Shift + Left-click & drag Control + Left-click & drag (Windows only) Command + Left-click & drag (OSX only) |
Fine adjust Zoom |
Shift + Right-click & drag Control + Right-click & drag (Windows only) Command + Right-click & drag (OSX only) |
Adjust Pan | Scroll mouse wheel |
Adjust Zoom | Shift + Scroll mouse wheel |
System Requirements
Your system must meet the following requirements in order to run Harrison plugins:
- Windows 7 or higher
- Mac OS 10.9 or higher
- Linux GCC 5 compatible systems
- OpenGL 3.2 or higher
- libcurl-gnutls on Linux
macOS M1/ARM Support: This plug-in is provided as a universal binary for macOS and features native M1 support.
Note for Pro Tools users: Pro Tools 11 or higher is required on Mac, 10.3.5 or higher is required on Windows.
Additional requirements on Windows
Harrison plugins require the “Windows C++ Universal Runtime” to be installed on your computer. Universal runtime is part of the system’s core libraries on Windows 10. On Windows versions Vista to 8.1, it will be automatically installed via Windows Update. It is also possible to install the runtime manually, but that is outside the scope of this manual.
Note for Linux Users
If you’re experiencing issues with the plugin’s graphics or the GUI isn’t showing up correctly on Linux, make sure your system’s graphics driver supports the minimum required OpenGL version of 3.2 or higher. To check this, run glxinfo | grep Max in a terminal window and make sure that the value listed for the OpenGL core profile version string is at least 3.2 or greater.
If your core profile version meets this requirement but you are still experiencing graphics issues like the ones mentioned above, it is likely that your system is reporting an OpenGL version lower than 3.2 to ensure backwards compatibility with deprecated OpenGL functions. To work around this, you can force the system to report an OpenGL version of 3.2 or higher by setting this environment variable: MESA_GL_VERSION_OVERRIDE=3.2
You can use this as a prefix when opening your DAW from a terminal command like so:
MESA_GL_VERSION_OVERRIDE=3.2 {command_to_launch_program}
This will set the environment variable for that particular terminal session only, so it will be reset once the session is ended. If you don’t want to run this command every time you launch your DAW, you can set the environment variable in your profile script so that it automatically gets set every time you login.
Installation & Licensing
Licensing on macOS & Windows
This plugin is licensed through iLok on macOS and Windows. Visit iLok, Licensing and Activation for guidance on activating your Harrison plug-in.
Licensing on Linux
This product includes software developed by the OpenSSL Project for use in the OpenSSL Toolkit (http://www.openssl.org/)
In DEMO mode, after using the plugin for a certain amount of time, it will display a message:
This message will come up periodically unless a license is provided. You can purchase a license directly from Harrison’s web store or from an authorized plugin reseller. Once you’ve purchased a license, install it by entering your license key into the designated field on this screen. Continue to the next section for detailed instructions on how to obtain your license key.
Obtaining your License Key
After you purchase a license, you will receive a license key that will look something like this:
{your name}*AVA-BF*DC-138971-151520-1|gGLbnvCZJe386ULohzfQN6cIsoZ71n7c+AUg==|
This license key is required to install your license and activate the full version of the plugin. The way to obtain your license key varies depending on where you purchased the license from.
If you purchased the license from Harrison’s web store, you will receive an email with a link to download a text file containing your license key. If you purchased the license from a reseller, you will receive an email containing the license key text.
Licensing your Plugin
When prompted by the plugin, copy and paste your license key into the designated text input field. This will automatically install your license and register it with the plugin.
Once installed, Harrison’s license files are simple text (.txt) files which are stored in the user’s HOME folder. The HOME folder is the folder that contains your Desktop, Downloads and other folders. The location of your HOME folder is different for each operating system:
- Linux: /home/{your username}
You may keep a copy of this file for your own use. The license is a per-user license and you may install the license file on all of your computers. To install the file on a new computer, simply save the file to a USB key or other transferable disk; then transfer the license file to the new computer’s HOME folder. The license file has your name encrypted in it, so you should not share it with other people. Your name will appear on the top of the plugin’s control panel to indicate that it is licensed to you.
The plugin will automatically detect your license key as long as the license file is stored in the HOME folder of the computer you are using. After transferring the license file to a new computer, it may be necessary to close and re-open your DAW in order for the plugin to detect the license.
If you don’t want to keep your license in your HOME folder for whatever reason, you may also store it in the following alternative location: ~/.config/harrisonconsoles
Finding the plugin in your DAW
DAW operations vary tremendously. Generally speaking, to use the plugin you must follow these steps:
- Install the plugins, using the provided plugin installer application.
- Follow your DAW’s instructions to “scan” for new plugins.
Please refer to your DAW manual to see which plugin formats (AAX, AU, VST, or VST3) are supported by your workstation.
Most plugin formats require that plugins are installed to a specific location on the system. In these cases, the installer will place the plugins in the default locations.
For VST format, on Windows, it is normally expected that the user defines the location of VST plugins, and tells the workstation where to find the plugins. The default location for VST plugins is C:\Program Files\Steinberg\VST. The plugin installer will save the VST (.dll) files to that location if a custom VST path is not provided by the OS. If you are having trouble, you should verify that the path is included in your DAW VST scan paths.
Thank you for purchasing this Harrison plugin!
Harrison has been making products for the audio engineering industry since 1975. We continue to make these products, with intense dedication, from our Nashville, Tennessee factory.
As the audio industry has changed through the decades, Harrison has too. Originally launched to provide mixing consoles for music recording studios, the Harrison brand has extended to provide products for live broadcast, live sound, theater installations, post-production, film dubbing stages, and bedroom studios. We’ve lived through the launch of the commercial music industry, the maturation of analog, the digital revolution, the establishment of the internet, and now the acceptance of computers as the de-facto platform for the audio industry. In our pursuit of audio excellence, we’ve developed our own analog circuits, digital I/O solutions, digital DSP engines, control surfaces, audio workstations, and nearly every aspect of pro-audio technology.
“If you asked a hundred engineers, mixers and producers to define the “perfect console” you would probably get a hundred answers. The answers, however, would all contain the same salient points.”
“The “perfect console” would have totally transparent sound, capturing the true musical quality of all performances. It would have unlimited features, facilities, and functions. It would perform all required tasks with a minimum of operator effort. It would be totally reliable and require no preventive or corrective maintenance…
You can spend the rest of your life looking for the “perfect console”. You’ll never find it. You will find, however, that we have what you need.”- quote attributed to Dave Harrison; Harrison MR20 brochure; circa 1982
True-er words were never spoken; indeed every year there are many products and technologies that seem tantalizingly necessary for audio excellence. Our lasting experience has proven that simple, straightforward, well-engineered, and great-sounding tools are the only necessity.
These plugins represent the pinnacle of Harrison’s engineering practices for digital audio sound & workflow. We sincerely hope that you enjoy using these tools as much as we enjoyed creating them. Your continued support is greatly appreciated!