Two Notes Audio Engineering Torpedo VM-202

The ultra-making simulator dedicated to the guitar sounds, though without a Synth Bass.. Everything is there... So after all, should we still call it a simulator?... Because very quickly you get amazing results!

Watch the VB-101 demos by Tristan Klein on YouTube, and you'll understand all the benefits of owning that kind of product. For my part, with only a tube preamp my choice automatically turned to the VM-202 -- to get great sound without a recording cabin in which an amp will scream beyond what your ears can take: this is a luxury.

Think like a sound-taker (Power Amp, Speakers, Mics, colors) and you get what you want.

This is a rack equipped with all needed professional connectors. Midi, AES/EBU, S/PDIF, Balanced and Unbalanced.

Dual channel mono mix or stereo.

The owner's manual is very clear, although on my first time I did mess up the settings of my input/output levels.

The plus: Editing sounds on a PC is also very nice... I still encounter a little bug with some value that my PC will not capture, but since I can do it with the machine's hardware buttons I do not even consider it as a negative point, considering the resulting sound I get.

So this is the standard reference, the high-end -- very high, even. Finally I can feel the real nuances of real microphone positioning and the living dimension of the sounds. Perform a test with palm mutes over rhythmics in saturated sounds, then with clear sounds alternating finger-picking and pick-strokes. Do this with some other hardware claiming to be a competitor. You will already find some answers concerning the respect of the interactive sound of your playing style. Oops -- it does let you hear the fails and crashes, just like a real amp after all.

I also own the PC version of the WOS plug-in (you need a good sound card), and to play on stage again and enjoy myself with a rack worth the name I fell for the hardware version. 

This material is not to be associated with mid-range material. It's up to you, really, but it deserves everything that goes with it, let's be logical...

One week, 4 hours a day.
Everything that exists in modeling, I find so cold now. This does not even compare -- well, except for a Fractal 2 as it ultimately offers more effects but you have to double up your budget. So this is a choice of steps, and I will add the effects as I go along.

How beautiful it is -- I love and I'm making some people jealous...

So initially I found the price quite high, but with only a week hindsight I think that this material is worth every penny. Yes, don't be cheap if what you want to reach with this material is the professional level. Good value for your money.

For smaller budgets but with less functionalities, you also have the choice of the Torpedo C.A.B. coming out soon, for pedals boards. (But I would have needed two of those in certain cases.) But what I wanted was set the whole up as a rack and control the it all via MIDI.
I will make that choice again without hesitation.

What are the effects, or types of effects available?
This is a speaker simulator + 2 Microphones and more channels with EQ, Compressor, Exciter. A power amp simulator is also present.

Can they be edited? Via an editor for Mac / PC?
The parameters can be modified either directly on the machine or via the Torpedo Remote software on Mac or PC. The latter has an interface similar to the PI-101 WoS plug-in. 

Is it a rack or rack-mount model?
It is a 2U rack of average depth. 

What technology is used? (Analog, digital, tube ...)
The Torpedo is digital and operates on the principle of convolution. 

What is the connection? (Audio / MIDI)
The Two-Notes website gives clear information.
Analog I / O
Digital I / O
Midi I / O

Is the overall configuration simple?
Even if the device is very complete, the implementation is very simple for a regular multi-effects rack. The remote for PC / Mac helps to understand things well.

Is the manual clear and sufficient?
The manual is very well done with many examples of configurations. The advantage is that Two-Notes is a French company and therefore there is no faulty translation in French.

Is it easy to edit sounds and effects?
It is very easy from the moment you have notions of sound recording and you know what you are looking for.

Are the effects effective, responsive and realistic enough?
By far the best simulation of HP + Mic I have tried! Far above the competitors in Hardware and a notch above the RedWirez impulses (which can also be used with the Torpedo). You really feel you are recording with an actual studio cabinet (beware, this is not the direct sound from the amp but the sound of an amp picked up by a microphone). Flawless on that side. The choice of speakers is broad enough so everybody will find what they need, plus the new speakers are free.
I have not tried the power amp simulations as I do not need those in my setup.

Which instruments do you use?
Gibson Les Paul - Metropoulos 45/100 Limited - Alex's Attenuator.

Which ones do you prefer, which ones do you hate?
The speakers included are interesting and true to life but obviously, I prefer mine... I took it all into a studio, therefore, to capture the sound of my speaker cab with a SM57 and an R-121 and my Chandler preamps. The  sound thus reproduced is exactly the one I had in the studio and that's pretty brilliant, and priceless!

How long have you used it?
For about a month but nearly every day.

Had you tried many other models before you bought it?
Many IR (RedWirez) of other simulators (Palmer, Faustina), but the Torpedo is by far the most realistic.

What is the feature that you love the most, and the least?
I love the two channels that make it possible to mix two microphones and the locations for your own IRs that enable you to add your own cabinet.
A small reservation concerning the Torpedo Remote that sometimes does strange things with the mix of channels but that's nothing too serious.

How would you rate its value for money?
It's not cheap but it's professional equipment, solid and well finished. The sound quality leaves it without competition. For me it was worth every penny and is consistent with the rest of my gear.

With experience, would you make this choice again?
Without hesitation. This is exactly what I wanted with the opportunity to choose your loadbox (compared to the VB-101). Just one thing, M. Pille at Two-Notes -- Could we get some vintage 4X12 with Greenbacks Pre-Rola? And then everything would be perfect!