Vox Tolelab SE

[rowdy322]

Are these worth looking at? I am looking at one of these and a Mesa V-Twin.I know they are different, but I am looking at getting both.

[H-Rezz]

Originally Posted by rowdy322

Are these worth looking at? I am looking at one of these and a Mesa V-Twin.I know they are different, but I am looking at getting both.

Absolutely , The Vox Tonelab Se is fantastic , beside amps i've owned the Vox is fantastic , i actually switched from the Pod Pro for it , the pod has crappy clean sounds, the vox seems to cover both with grace ........

Once you learn it(All of 1 hr) and programme your own presets you can have some serious fun with some serious results , thoroughly recommend it ......

[Kyle Ashley]

I think it's probably the best of the modelers but I couldn't make it work for me. Its usefulness may depend on how you want to use it. I wanted to replace my Bogners for live gigging, and drive up to gigs in a Vette with a guitar and the tonelab in the front seat. It didn't work in that capacity and I'm still lugging the big stuff. Probably unrealistic expectations on my part.

I tweaked it for days and replaced the toob with a nice Mullard, but it never really had the juice or clean headroom I needed. However, I was trying to run it direct through a PA and cheat on the roadie work. Pat Travers was using one and it sounded pretty cool, but he was running it into a tube pwr amp and 4x12 cab. If I was going to go that route, I may as well set up my Bogners.

Again, it depends on your needs and expectations. If you are looking to gig and travel light, it may fall short. If you are looking for a cool recording DI, or a preamp, it may be just what you want. Best advice is to to make sure you have a return policy from the dealer you buy from. I'm glad I did.

Best of Luck!

[rowdy322]

Yea, I am wanting to use it exclusively for studio work. I have my gig rig complete.Just wanting to know if it was worth the money to get.I heard some demo clips and it sounded great.

[pilahaka]

To all tonelab owners:

Does the tonelab have enough juice to actually power the tube. Is that red glow for real or do they have a red LED behind it?

I have a PODxt, a VOX AC30 and I'm wondering if this might also be a good tool to have.

Thanks.

[effectsnut]

Originally Posted by pilahaka

To all tonelab owners:

Does the tonelab have enough juice to actually power the tube. Is that red glow for real or do they have a red LED behind it?

I have a PODxt, a VOX AC30 and I'm wondering if this might also be a good tool to have.

Thanks.

No the tube does not glow.. I used to have a pod pro and a vox tone lab and the vox was way better. Not just sound either your guitar strings just react so much better..

[pilahaka]

Thanks. In all the marketing pics they make it look like the tube is glowing. I guess that's why they call it marketing.

[Night Stalker]

After researching and taking a punt on the tonelab se, I found it to be the best bit of guitar gear I have owned for the studio d-i recording process. Take note, it does need tweaking. I am not a fan of the suggested recording out mode for dist guitar and prefer the amp out mode but may need a hint of highs and back off on the lows from an external pre/eg as the final recording chain. I use it for gigs and it has transformed my playing and sound. Again, I needed to tweak it over a period of time eventhough its as easy as abc to get descent sounds right away.

Once you know the best suited amp settings and cabinets, its auto pilot for me these days. I was expecting to be blown away as soon as I got it but, it was just ok until I spent time on it . Just buy it and take time to create your custom settings that will put a on your face.

[Branislav]

What's the difference (in sound/possibilities) between Tolelab and Tolelab SE? I'm not a guitarist, just wonder which one is better to have in a studio?

Branislav

[espasonico]

Originally Posted by Night Stalker

I am not a fan of the suggested recording out mode for dist guitar and prefer the amp out mode but may need a hint of highs and back off on the lows from an external pre/eg as the final recording chain.
O

I also prefer that for clean and crunchies tones.

[H-Rezz]

Originally Posted by Branislav

What's the difference (in sound/possibilities) between Tolelab and Tolelab SE? I'm not a guitarist, just wonder which one is better to have in a studio?

Branislav

The Tonelab is a desktop unit which means you miss out on the on the pedals for volume and wah/talky effects etc that is on the SE version , i think the differences in capabilties are very little , i would suggest the SE version purely for the pedals .....

[H-Rezz]

Originally Posted by Night Stalker

After researching and taking a punt on the tonelab se, I found it to be the best bit of guitar gear I have owned for the studio d-i recording process. Take note, it does need tweaking. I am not a fan of the suggested recording out mode for dist guitar and prefer the amp out mode but may need a hint of highs and back off on the lows from an external pre/eg as the final recording chain. I use it for gigs and it has transformed my playing and sound. Again, I needed to tweak it over a period of time eventhough its as easy as abc to get descent sounds right away.

Once you know the best suited amp settings and cabinets, its auto pilot for me these days. I was expecting to be blown away as soon as I got it but, it was just ok until I spent time on it . Just buy it and take time to create your custom settings that will put a on your face.

Couldn't have said it bette Night Stalker , i was not blown away with it out of the box also , until i started playing with it , now i cann't do without it ! Amp out is definately better no matter which situation you find yourself in....

[Branislav]

Originally Posted by H-Rezz

i would suggest the SE version purely for the pedals .....

So, SE has the advantage of pedals, but is there any other difference, or advantage of the table top model?

Branislav

[Kiwiburger]

Vox is just a brandname that's being milked for all it's worth. That fake tube is a laugh.

The real DSP stuff is done by Korg. If you want a Tonelab without that silly tube, get a Korg AX3000. It's a little smaller and cheaper, and for my money money sounds about the same. I A/B'd the Korg and the Vox, and I would have bought whichever one took my fancy, and I bought the Korg.

I was however delusional at the time. I'm much better now, thanks. I've discovered that no digital guital amp modeler with ever compete with good analog stuff. Tubes, transistors or IC's - it's doesn't seem to matter. They all sound better than digital. There are some nice preamps, with nothing digital in the chain to fek it up.

[GTR]

For cheesy emulation boxes, I have a POD 2.0 and had a Vox Tonelab. The ability to emulate power amp distortion and preamp distortion makes the Vox stand out far over my POD.

I would use in the studio, but I gave it to my brother for his studio because he liked it so much. He uses it all the time. It is a great little box. I think it is the best of it's breed.

[H-Rezz]

Originally Posted by Branislav

So, SE has the advantage of pedals, but is there any other difference, or advantage of the table top model?

Branislav

As i said they have subtle differences....

Desktop...

At a Glance:

VOX Valve Reactor (using a 12AX7/ECC83 dual triode as a power amp tube) circuit delivers the sound and feel of actual tube power amps
16 amp models ranging from vintage classics to modern "boutique" standards
10 cabinet models add even more variety and authenticity
22 modeled effects with quality that rivals stand-alone units
Heavy-duty construction
Familiar knob-based interface for ease of use
96 programs
headphone output
Optical digital out (S/P DIF) for digital recording (Tonelab Only)
Dedicated editor software for even more detailed editing
MIDI I/O
Optional Valvetronix series foot controller for even more performance possibilities
Backlit LCD with easily viewed LED-like display

The SE.....

At a Glance:

VOX Valve Reactor (using a 12AX7/ECC83 dual triode as a power amp tube) circuit delivers the sound and feel of actual tube power amps
Numerous built-in amp/cabinet/effect models from the Valvetronix series.
A wide range of realistic effect models, with routable spatial-type effects.
Knob-based interface for quick and intuitive editing.
Heavy-duty construction
Assignable control pedals for setting tap tempo and switching effects on/off.
Two assignable expression pedals for controlling wah, volume, and more.
A/B channel switch lets you change between two amps/cabinets within a single program.
Program area can store 96 different sounds (including 32 preset programs).
Convenient send/return jacks for connecting external effects such as distortion/overdrive.
Dedicated editing software lets you edit and save sounds using your computer.
Auto Chromatic Tuner allows you to tune while your instrument is muted.
Convenient carry bag is included.

[id-rejected]

In case anyone's looking for a Tonelab (not the SE) I got one to spare. I'm in Montreal, Canada. Just PM me.

I'm playing mostly live these days so I got the SE for the pedalboard alone. However the S/P DIF is missing from the SE. Can't have both!

[rowdy322]

I bought the Tonelab SE.I will update once I put it through the paces.Thanks everyone for their help.

[jeff4h]

I play a tele and use basically clean tones and it blew my pod xt away really bad I bought it and sold the pod the next day I actually felt like I was playing through a amp

[pilahaka]

Just got an SE. So far I don't like what I'm hearing. The VOX (AC30 and AC15) models seem bass heavy and muffled. I'm sending the left/mono output directly into a Great River pre. It also feels like there might be some latency. Weird.

So far I'm liking the POD better for my purposes.

I only played with it for 20 minutes or so, but I couldn't get anything good in that time. I'll try some other models and tweaks later.

It also looks like there's a cheesy red LED under the tube to make it "glow."

Any advice on getting VOX tones?

[espasonico]

Originally Posted by pilahaka

Any advice on getting VOX tones?

I prefer to switch to "amp" instead of "line" as I have said before. I also prefer the Tweed&Black amps & cabinets.

I also have to say that I have noticed a nasty kind of digital distorsion sometimes. I have tried lowering the output ( level knob at the back, ch volume, vr gain, gain,, etc ).I have also tried the digital output and lowering the digital output in the menu but it looks like i´m cliping the AD stage. It makes no sense because I´m using a Telecaster Deluxe and no active pick-ups ( just noiseless ). Of course I can bring down the volume on the guitar but...

Has anybody notice something like this ?

[InfidelSix]

The AC-15/30 tones are probably the best ones on the unit AFAIC. One key is to let the tube burn-in. I really like the "dynamic-ness" of the Tonelab, but after at the end of my first night was noticing noise & fizziness more and more. I left the unit on overnight and it sounded much better the next day. Some people are rplacing the stock tube with a JJ tube, but I have no complaints w/ the stocker.

I have an original pod and have to say that the Tonelab is in a class by itself. The tube does make a huge difference. If you have any question about how good it sounds vs. the Pod XT /Pro, just go to their websites and listen to the mp3 demos. It's not even close! The Tonelab is that much better. I went with the non-SE model b/c I'm going to use it for recording and I really don't want to spend all that time on the floor tweaking sounds. VERY IMPORTANT - You have to make you own patches of course, but realize that the knobs are pretty darn sensitive - they will totally change your sound, so plan on spending a good while experimenting. And make patch banks specifically for each guitar you use.

Great piece of gear. Highest recommendation.

[espasonico]

I´ve got the desktop unit. The software is cool. If you got the floor version maybe you can use the midi and tweak the sounds with the mouse.

[Kyle Ashley]

Originally Posted by espasonico

I also have to say that I have noticed a nasty kind of digital distorsion sometimes. Has anybody notice something like this ?

This was the real dealbreaker for me but I didn't mention it in my above post. While trying to set up some clean sounds, I kept getting this nasty fizz around the notes. It was terrible. I returned the unit, tried 3 more in the store, and found they all exhibited the same behavior.

My salesman got the vox rep on the phone and I emailed him a wav file of the problem with me just plucking an open G string on my strat. He said it was unusual and he'd look into it. I never heard from them again.

I'll attach the file.

[espasonico]

Originally Posted by Kyle Ashley

This was the real dealbreaker for me but I didn't mention it in my above post. While trying to set up some clean sounds, I kept getting this nasty fizz around the notes. It was terrible. I returned the unit, tried 3 more in the store, and found they all exhibited the same behavior.

My salesman got the vox rep on the phone and I emailed him a wav file of the problem with me just plucking an open G string on my strat. He said it was unusual and he'd look into it. I never heard from them again.

I'll attach the file.

Uf, that´s really ugly. The distortion I get it´s not that easy to hear.

[pilahaka]

Originally Posted by Kyle Ashley

This was the real dealbreaker for me but I didn't mention it in my above post. While trying to set up some clean sounds, I kept getting this nasty fizz around the notes. It was terrible. I returned the unit, tried 3 more in the store, and found they all exhibited the same behavior.

My salesman got the vox rep on the phone and I emailed him a wav file of the problem with me just plucking an open G string on my strat. He said it was unusual and he'd look into it. I never heard from them again.

I'll attach the file.

That sounds like it could be the Noise Gate gone awry. That's an ugly sound. I had a similar problem with a GT-8 I tried out. Try turning the NR knob all the way down and see what happens.

[Kyle Ashley]

Originally Posted by pilahaka

That sounds like it could be the Noise Gate gone awry. That's an ugly sound. I had a similar problem with a GT-8 I tried out. Try turning the NR knob all the way down and see what happens.

I no longer have the Tonelab. We tweaked it everyway possible for hours. 3 different units...all the same. Maybe I was just in a batch of bad ones, but needless to say, the GC sales manager gave me a full refund without any trouble.

[PhilE]

Better than a Pod- wooo... I think that says it all!
You may as well get the Behringer IMO they all sound like modelling things and at least that one is cheap. Vox is just a guitar badge for Korg products- forget the name.

[InfidelSix]

Originally Posted by Kyle Ashley

I no longer have the Tonelab. We tweaked it everyway possible for hours. 3 different units...all the same. Maybe I was just in a batch of bad ones, but needless to say, the GC sales manager gave me a full refund without any trouble.

I had a problem like that until I switched headphones. The Grado SR-80's don't have a hint of buzz. I haven't recorded with it yet though, so that'll be the final word.

[Night Stalker]

gosh yuck, how on earth did u get that tone? I tried to get that sound and I couldnt at all. I will post some examples of guitar sounds soon. 1- recorded with the tonelab direct ( no miking ) 2- recorded with an amp ( no tonelab ) and 3- recorded with an amp and tonelab. I would be interested to know if anyone would like to guess on all three:)