Vox JamVox Monitor

I use a 2 inch Imac Intel CoreII Duo with 4GB RAM version 10.6.8
I downloaded the update JamVox does it work anymore on version 10.6.6
Three Guitars: Fender Mexican Classic 50, 1989 Epiphone Les Paul Japan, Hondo H77.
The result is more consistent with single coils, more rough with humbuckers
My Fender Classic 50 is mounted with simple Lindy Fralin Real 54, the record is superb with
these pickups or those of Hondo, very flat with humbucker Epiphone
quality microphones seems to be very important to render simulations.

UTILIZATION

The interface of the new version is less intuitive.
Wide range of sounds saturated clean sounds but disappeared.
Crunches and more background noise present on the old version
GTX very average efficiency

GETTING STARTED

Easy installation but very poor service online and paying for "The Black Box of the Musician"

OVERALL OPINION

I use since January 2012, the value for money is ok but I do not redeem this model if I could try it before.

Very good for the home, not to wake all the way with the big cabinet marshall!

UTILIZATION

I preferred the original version more intuitive for my taste.
Now I got to the last update.

GETTING STARTED

Installation could not be simpler, you just connect the USB plug and the guitar!

OVERALL OPINION

Very good complement for fun at home.
I personally would not go up the plug on my amp but apparently they are people who have tried and it makes not too bad.
Info for this interface also works with pod farm line 6 of which is much more complete.

This is the test that I had JamVOX posted on a forum for guitar 2 years ago.

Amp simulator / effects software:
19 amps
54 effects
12 baffles
100 presets
2 CDs containing 28 pieces of legends backtracks
Metronome
Tuner
Noise-gate
Simulator guitar pickup (single / humbucker)
Function GXT (Guitar Extractor) to isolate the guitar track

Sound card / speaker USB2:
2 hp 3 "
Power 2 x 0.75 w
ASIO / CoreAudio
Guitar Input
Mic
Stereo line input
A footswitch jack for VOX VFS-2 (Optional € 30)
An expression pedal jack KORG EXP-2 (Optional € 70)
Stereo headphone
Stereo line outputs

UTILIZATION

The interface is clear in the upper part with the string sound processing (effects, amps, speaker). The modules of the chain can be moved by simple drag / drop (Drag n 'Drop).
A click on an object in the chain allows it to select and to see appear in the middle of the interface. This part can edit the effects and amp settings with ease, in fact, simply pass the mouse pointer over a button (without clicking) and turn the mouse wheel button to see the change position and immediately hear the new sound.
I'm not well versed on the material to tell whether the models are compelling compared to the original amps and effects, but using the presets already set by other sounds associated with my Pacifica suit me well.
I just have a problems with my guitar electro-acoustic APPLAUSE why I can not find the sound that suits me. I still have a very loud and banging, regardless of the amp and effects used.

The lower part of the interface is dedicated to the library. It is in this part that we import audio files (original, backtracks, records) and that it manages the guitars and GXT files. Note that you can import one click an entire iTunes library.
Audio files can be played normally or by changing the tempo and / or pitch.
To register simply adjust the levels with the sliders on the right and click the Record button.
The output file type is WAV, AIFF, WMA or AAC according to what has been defined in the preferences program. So, not MP3 because of licensing. It will go through another program to re-encode the file if you really want to have the MP3.

Also in the software preferences can adjust the speed of audio signal processing. More treatment is faster and less lag there will be but the signal will be subject to cracking and noise generated by other software. In this case, simply change the setting to find a compromise between latency and signal fidelity. This parameter is largely dependent on the machine where the software is installed. For me it is a desktop PC with a processor at 1.86 Ghz Core2Duo and 1GB of RAM and I think with a processor a little more swift I would not have a problem with clicks.

Finally, the function that allows GXT to isolate a guitar track from an audio file is more or less effective depending on the original mix. Indeed, it filters the audio file based on the parameters of panoramic stereo audio input frequency. The result will be more convincing if the guitar comes off well in the original. However, in a file where the guitar is "drowned" in the mix will require a compromise between the removal of the guitar and the distortion of the audio frequency of the song, the bass. However, even if the guitar is slightly present in listen-only, once the guitar replayed over the result is often unsatisfactory. Do not forget that this is a working tool and not a function to a professional recording studio.

Material side speaker design VOX is massive and contains 2 hp 3-inch spitting 0.75 watts each.
It may sound small on paper but it's more than enough apartment to see some neighboring land.
It is well aware that HP give better sound in the second half of the race of the knob and, given the size of HP, you have to position themselves in front of the speaker for faithful sound reproduction.
The speaker is self-powered USB2 port which avoids carry around an extra power while traveling.
The bottom of the forum is dedicated to the sound card module and thus to the inputs and outputs.
In front was the guitar input jack format, an XLR input for a microphone with potentiometers at the input / output, a stereo headphone and master volume.
At the back there is the USB2 connection, of course, an entry for the footswitch, an entry for the expression pedal, 2 line inputs (L / R) and 2 line outputs (L / R). The line outputs for connecting the speaker to a power amp to earn a few tens of watts if you have understanding neighbors or to use live.
I personally invested in the footswitch (30 €), which allows you to change the preset, enable / disable an effect and can serve as tap-tempo to settle the modulation effects for example.

GETTING STARTED

The software installation takes place without any problems. Everything is automatic and the entire software is (good) French. There is no license number to grasp because the software can be used with the associated sound card.
At the end of the installation a user name and password are required in order to register with the site JamVOX-Online which allows then to download new presets automatically from the GUI and to upload their own presets to make them dispositon other users.

OVERALL OPINION

This is not boiboite revolutionary in itself, since through a good sound card ASIO any other audio editing software (audacity?) Can change the pitch and tempo of a backtrack and generate a metronome and other manufacturers already on the market for software modeling amps and effects good but this product has the advantage of gathering all the necessary components in a single interface. So there is no need to be a sound engineer to register over the backtracks with a good sound.

I personally use most functions JamVOX to work a passage in particular thanks to the metronome and functions to slow down, loop A / B and registration and I confess to have found a simple and effective tool.

Most:
- Ease of installation and use
- Self-powered speaker
- Quality of the effects and amps simulated
- Drag n 'Drop
- The "tools" to work (Metronome, Picth shifter, beat ....)
- Connect to JamVOX-Online to download presets
- Importing iTunes library


The -:
- Need a workhorse
- Some unpleasant plays when another program starts (antivirus, Windows update ...)
- Function GXT very rough
- No recording in MP3 (license)
- Library Management