VoiceTone D1 : Very easy to use and no gimicky sounds

I have used other more complicated TC Helicon products in the past but found they offered too much choice and very odd gimicky effects that I wouldnt use in a million years. I am a drummer and have expanded my role in my band to do backing vocals. This unit asisits greatly by adding extra depth and tone to my own vocals The doubling features are useful in making the backing sound like more than one person.. And depending oon the amount of effect I dial in, I can add a 'female' sounding backing which can be useful in some numbers to add an extra high note dimension. To use i during performances I have a clip-on accessories tray attached to the mic stand and I put this on the tray. It's then within easy reach for me to change setting and switch it off and on between numbers. The tempation is to turn the effect knob up high, and then it can sound artificial for the music we do. So Ive found just adding a small amount of effect works best for me. One big word of warning...because there is a volume gain control on the side - if you turn this too high it can give a really hot signal to the PA desk and feedback . It's caught out quite a few sound engineers - where the backing vocals are twice as loud as the lead vocals (who doesnt use one) . ..so now I always warn them in advance.