KVR Audio

Hovmod · Post by **Hovmod** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:26 pm

My local gear pusher offered me a Vox Tonelab SE at 40% discount today, and I'd like to hear what you guys think of it. Is it easy to set up, do they upgrade the firmware regularly, will I miss my PODxt if I make the switch (there's no 'keeping both' option) and so on.

I'll have to buy it today to get the good price, so if you have any opinions, please blurt them out asap.

pbthias · Post by **pbthias** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 12:54 pm

Can't talk directly about the SE as I own the original Tonelab (Desktop), but I believe I would get it without even thinking about it.
Doing quite some stuff in the studio (pop, rock, metal) I took the time to compare it with Ampfarm, Guitarrig 2/3, Sansamp and the Pod.
And what can I say: I always went back to the Tonelab. This is not the "load a preset and you're done"-unit though. It sounds (and REACTS!) much more like a real amp. This means you might need some time to get your sounds right. But especially when doubling guitar tracks in the studio it sounds much more real (especially with crunchy/overdriven/distorted) than the other hard-/software. Also only hitting the strings softly with a pick results in a sound much more like an amp where most of the other stuff simply fails.
And if it helps: I already sold two tracks (rock/metal remixes) for a major label artist using only the Tonelab for guitars.
Oh and it's very cool thing live, too. Combined with a guitar poweramp and a 4x12 I am using the Tonelab live for two years now and am extremly happy with the huge amount of possibilities it gives me soundwise...

Greetz from Germany,
Mathias

Hovmod · Post by **Hovmod** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:07 pm

Thanks.
Only thing I don't like so far from what I read: you can't run effects in series, you have to choose fuzz OR wah OR phaser etc. That's just stupid.
So I have doubts, but I'm GASsing something awful right now...

pbthias · Post by **pbthias** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:25 pm

Hovmod wrote:Thanks.
Only thing I don't like so far from what I read: you can't run effects in series, you have to choose fuzz OR wah OR phaser etc. That's just stupid.
So I have doubts, but I'm GASsing something awful right now...

Don't know for the SE but that is only partly for the desktop Tonelab.
Mine has (besides the cabinet and amp section of course) 4 effect parts: pedal, modulation, reverb and delay. You can use only one of each section at the same time, for example: WahWah-Phaser-TapeEcho-SpringReverb CAN be used at the same time whereas Fuzz and WahWah can't, as they are both effects from the Pedal-Section. After all I have to admit I don't use the effects (although sounding good, except for the reverbs, but that's maybe just me) that much but only the amp and cabinet emulations already are worth the price.

Greetz,
Mathias

Hovmod · Post by **Hovmod** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:44 pm

OK, cool.
I've decided.
I'm buying the Tonelab SE and selling the PODxt.

Hovmod · Post by **Hovmod** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 2:49 pm

Woot!
First impression is that me and the Tonelab will be able to coexist peacefully.

Gargoyle · Post by **Gargoyle** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:02 pm

Hovmod wrote:Woot!
First impression is that me and the Tonelab will be able to coexist peacefully.

peacefully?!

aMUSEd · Post by **aMUSEd** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:30 pm

I tried it once in a shop compared to a PODXT and a few other things and it was the best of the bunch - very smooth and lovely sounding for me.

simesf · Post by **simesf** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:00 pm

I must admit I'm very interested to see what the next incarnation of the Tonelab will be, especially with Line 6 starting to impinge on their turf with the new valve/modelling hybrid amps.

Hovmod · Post by **Hovmod** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:52 pm

simesf wrote:I must admit I'm very interested to see what the next incarnation of the Tonelab will be,

I know it won't be 40% off...

simesf · Post by **simesf** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 6:43 pm

Hovmod wrote:
simesf wrote:I must admit I'm very interested to see what the next incarnation of the Tonelab will be,
I know it won't be 40% off...

Oo! Do you know something we don't?

Shane Sanders · Post by **Shane Sanders** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:50 pm

Of all the sim stuff, the Vox gear is by far the most interesting, imo. I have the ValvetronixAD50VT, the original Tonelab, and just recently one of the little Vox headphone amps.

For what you spent with that discount, I can't imagine you'll be disappointed. The clean sounds are really pretty great.

Hovmod · Post by **Hovmod** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:56 pm

No signs of disappointment so far.

Except I'd love to be able to send NOTE values from the buttons and not only CC.
But that's the nerd and not the guitar player in me.

Bought the Vox Tonelab SE!