Voice processor with that 'crunch' setting

[Moosevoice]

I can't afford (yet) the Yamaha SPX 2000 vocal processor but all I really need from it is the 'crunch' setting. For those not familiar, it's a setting that gives the voiceover artist that 'ballsy', gritty, crunchy effect that you would hear on a rock station vo guy.
Does anyone know of a similar rack mount piece of gear (or plugin?) that has that same type of 'crunch' effect?
I will continue to tweak the VST effects in my main DAW (Reaper) but wanted to know what other options are out there?
Does the TC-Helicon Vocalworks Plus do this?

Thanks!

[Dale]

Moose,

What OS are you using to run Reaper? I have a Windows VST (in my Reaper) that has some heavy compression presets that may get you close.
Dale

PS- just read your other post and find that you are a Mac user. Sorry, I thought I had something to share with you. :-(

[Greg Antoniw]

Hi Moose,
I don't have a specific suggestion for that, but I have been on a plugin downloading binge lately. I can recommend a couple that might get you close. First, try the PTEq-1a from ignite amps. Its a free plugin which emulates a simple tube EQ like a Pultec. I find it gives a bit of bite to a vocal with some warmth as well. Add a compressor and you're probably getting closer.
Another free one which might get you what you're after (with some tweaking) is the popular Camel Crusher from Camel Audio. Its a compression / distortion plug with a wide range of sonic options.
Another Pultec emulation plug is the PTC-2A from Overtone (I think its about $25 to buy), but I find that it adds harmonics in a way that creates unpleasant distortion if you're not careful with levels.
Hope this helps,
Greg

[Scott Pollak]

Let me also just toss this into the discussion as a side note. I understand wanting to get that certain sound for things like radio imaging, and the balls-in-yer-face crunch voice and so on. Just remember for 'normal' v/o work, however, cleaner is always better. The only - and I mean ONLY - processing I do to my audio that I send to clients is a tiny, tiny bit of noise reduction, and it ain't much. It's to reduce my noisefloor from about -54db down to about -80 or so. Then again, I'm also not doing any radio imaging or in-yer-face commercial v/o.

[Moosevoice]

The only - and I mean ONLY - processing I do to my audio that I send to clients is a tiny, tiny bit of noise reduction, and it ain't much. v/o.

Agreed Scott but it's been my experience in radio (almost 20 years) that with radio imaging (at least with rock and to a certain extent MOST formats) programmers like to hear a little crunch as it helps the voice (message) stand out from all the sizzle, music and swooshes that are used in radio imaging.
To your point, most sessions I've done for commercial work they make a point to tell me to turn the processing off.
Thanks for chiming in sir!