Vox Tonelab EX

A multi-purpose, thus we find ... effects! But also emulations of amps and cabs.
Digital technology + lamp
Full connectivity, jack, SPDIF and USB port. So not bad (just a reproach, not double output jack, so a little more complicated for stereo live ...)
Well presented, rather simple way ...

UTILIZATION

The manual is clear ... Fortunately! For as long as we play with the factory sounds (fortunately damn well) everything is fine ... But when one wants to create his sound ... Ouch!
An exception to the preamp section well stocked and very clear (it was the dashboard of an amp). But main problem in my opinion, the effect setting ... We can only control two parameters, some directly from the button selection effect (like 20% of the race there is a spring reverb, this portion also serving to adjust the effect level) ... Short impractical for a penny. In addition, the display is a pair of figures, if not the manual does not really know what we're doing. Must sometimes keep your finger on a button in order to change a parameter, you have both hands full and can not play a note to hear direct rendering. Annoying ... And that's a shame because ...

SOUND QUALITY

Sounds ... are excellent!
We recover the characteristics of each amp or pedal, the distos are warm and convincing (thank you lamp), the effects sound good too, it is short fun. Honors the talk box that has a real personality and makes you want to experiment!
So cool sounds.

OVERALL OPINION

Service in the past few months, I have had some previous multi fx and is located at the top level sounds.
So I love the sound, connectivity and the lamp of course!
I do not like the control system effects and the fact that there is not a screen worthy of the name.
Too bad, it ruins the experience.
Is what I would do the same choice?
I do not know, for her, yes, the configuration ... No.

What are the effects, or types of effects available?
- A bit of everything. There is an amp simulator, the wah, octaver, distortion / overdrive, flanger and reverb tap delay

Is it a rack or rack-mount model?
Non-rackable to ask the same ground

What technology is used? (Analog, digital, tube ...)
Digital, though qu'apparaisse a lamp, if it is, is there only for decoration

UTILIZATION

The general configuration is simple?
- No, it is necessary to pallucher the manual to understand how to use the pedalboard. handling is not easy and it is often necessary to return to the manual to its settings

The manual is clear and sufficient? ...
- Yes, if one is speaking, it is sufficient

Editing sounds and effects is easy?
- No, we must constantly return to the manual. A print of the PDF (not supplied) is required

SOUND QUALITY

Which instruments do you use?
- I use it with a guitar and a bass part for octaver

Which ones do you prefer, you hate?
- I am not comfortable with the Vox wah, because I use a Dunlop Crybaby from toujour

OVERALL OPINION

How long you use it?
- I use it for a few months

Did you tried many other models before buying it?
Not

What is so special that you like best
- The ability to have on hand a number of effects available and does not carrying around a foutras pedal and son
- The possibility of pressing a button, a number of preset sounds live

What is so special that you like best
- The difficulty of learning the craft for its own preset
- Lack of Phaser (well it is not soooo serious too)
- The absence of a spring reverb fender type 63 (one is good at Vox, do not dream

How would you rate the quality / price?
- Honest

With experience, you do again this choice? ...
oh, yes!

This is an amp simulator that incorporates the effects of good quality (better than most multi-effects).

UTILIZATION

Easy and intuitive, not need the manual for basic functions. The manual can be useful for advanced features (setting and assigning the expression pedal or PC use).

SOUND QUALITY

Better than the pod and V-amp that I find too cold and synthetic. The simulations are quite good and the effects are correct.

OVERALL OPINION

I tried the Tonelab DE (Desktop, the first in blue), the ToneLab SE, LE ToneLab and ToneLab EX.

All have their qualities and defects.

I prefer the factory presets of DE and SE. In addition, there are plenty of presets for download on the net format of these two there. Many qualities and few faults.

LE incorporates a single pedal, the format has changed the presets, factory presets me less convinced, congestion was reduced and there have been new simulations.

The EX disappointed me. For qualities even smaller footprint, tuner display is huge and well, new simus and new effects can be used simply to chain effects (without the simulation of preamp) and also can earn 2 effects (not possible for earlier). Cons: no software for editing sounds, factory presets are average, the buttons settings are changed, as the ST (that is less intuitive and visual than before), no display names of the presets (only number), the buttons are cheap, ...

Finally I still prefer the first 2, even if the DE does not have a pedal and the SE has two and it is immense.

However these boxes are super versatile for those who want to have a nice range of different sounds in one pedal. I'm not too simulators or multi-effects, but in the whole string of what I tried, it is what is done less cold and less synthetic.

digital multi-effects pedal with a "lamp" (for decoration?) in preamp:
fairly complete, with USB port, headphone jack, switch on the back for selecting an output line type, vox, fender, marshall ...
expression pedal and wha-wha

UTILIZATION

frankly, not too need the user manual is pretty clear and intuitive, sounds pretty easy to program.

SOUND QUALITY

good fishing is where it ... yet I like VOX, good products too expensive, I have a VOX Nightrain few pedals, I also like the Vox AC30, and even Valvetronix are good modeling amp ...

short, recently I got tired of me walking around with a string of pedals, so I decided to move to multi-effects, and this time the fate in store ... TONELAB EX compulsive buying, I I stupidly bought without thinking, having confidence in the brand VOX.
Once back home, late at night, I decided to hook up my Stratocaster JEFF BECK (I'm a big fan!), Using headphones to avoid disturbing the neighbors, and my time, it sounded ... not too bad ...
But the next day, I decided to plug in the small head with a box Nightrain 2X12 vintage in 30, then after plugging it into a head tube B52 ST60A ... after much tinkering and connections of all kinds, I realize the obvious:
This multi-effects do not ring! (My first big disappointment at VOX):
screaming sounds, lack of safe, it sounds digital (I wonder if the lamp of the pedal a little too emphasized, is not there any more for decoration than anything else ?)... only the wha-wha is not too bad ... I try again the next day, then repeated at high volume, and the result is the same:
it sounds not ... well ... no wonder if instead, but in the negative sense, 3 weeks after purchase and a concert, the INPUT of the pedal broke!
So back to the store, and this is where the miracle happens ... I try another multi-effects pedal and there is love at first sight, the sounds are sublime, grand, powerful, warm, beautiful .... in a word, multi-effects of my dreams ... I'm on the buttocks, this is the TC ELECTRONICS NOVA SYSTEM.

At least that the VOX failure allowed me one thing, meet the perfect companion to sublimate the sound of my guitars and my amps.

OVERALL OPINION

maybe this pedal is nice for the home studio, but plugged into an amp or loop facade .... and well, it sure did not.
In all cases the discomforts with this pedal VOX get me license to make the acquaintance of NOVA SYSTEM (is not that I want to advertise for the baby TC ELECTRONICS but it is really a killer sound mixing analog and digital) and see the glaring differences between a mediocre multi-effects and a very good multi-effects!