TC-Helicon Play Acoustic

I've been using this unit for about two years now as a one man band. I used it in different venues, form big and small, and different systems.

I would definitely say the pros of the product are that it has a lot of options in general in a relatively small unit and it seems very well built.

But, even though there are a lot of options for a unit small like this, there are also some essential features that should be there but aren't, as for example, vocal compression and limiter.

I found the LOOPER totally useless, it has a problem with keeping being in the rhythm, you have to be very very precise to get something usable out of it, and I've been using RC-3 looper for years and now I'm using EHX 22500, so I'm not a beginner in looping.

I'm disappointed in the VOCAL EFFECTS, especially the reverb. I couldn't get a nice direct normal reverb like you have on every basic available DAW, it is like it's always "somewhere in the background", whatever I do with the parameters.

The BODY REZ function doesn't necessarily improve the sound to make it sound more like a natural acoustic guitar, definitely not as it is marketed. It is ok to add compression to the guitar, but you have to really play with it, or it can even make the sound worse.

I think that since this is a digital unit, TC should maybe consider updating some of the effects, especially vocal reverb, add compression to the vocal because this should be a must on a VOCAL processor unit.
I use the unit as a travelling musician and would much prefer that TC offers a unit as this is in an even smaller size, maybe without the looper option (since it is useless).

In general, it is still the best thing in my knowledge that comes in this compact size. I need to have something as a travelling musician when I end up on different gear without any reverb or compression, etc. I was considering just buying my own mixer, but the problem then is switching the effects and playing at the same time.

So I could recommend the unit if you really need it, but in general, I think it could utilise more useful functions.

Having wanted as combined solution for acoustic and voice I thought this was it. Overall the sound is good if you can put up with the channels on the back not actually being separate. No matter what I tried, either using Stereo , Mono , Supposedly Seperate channels the Vox and Guitar elements seems to be somehow overlapping, and coming out of One channel or the other. Neither were ever totally separate!. Annoying. Interface isnt great for live adjustment, although good for general processing, Vocal effects are great and easily useable out of the box. Guitar Sounds leave something to be desired and need adjustment. Settings in general hard to trim to a Desk / Monitoring process easily, and not that easy to do if something is wrong levels wise. Found it a pain in general but usable , have gone to a Headrush Prime in the end as much better adjustability and separate Channels!