VOX DELAY LAB

[dave robinson]

I have just returned from giving the Vox Delay Lab a try down at Richtone Music in Sheffield.
It works for some Shads numbers and sounds good with the wow & flutter built in to some of the patches. Good Apache / ManOf Mystery / Frightened City echoes are easily achievable as well as a reasonable Wonderful Land / Savage etc and you can set and store them in banks. When I say a 'reasonable' Wonderful land echo it's because there are only three virtual heads, a bit like a Space echo or Copicat, but it does a good job. It will do all the Pink Floyd noises without a hitch and all the surf sounds. All in all a good, sturdy piece of kit in a tidy sized box - unlike the Tonelab that I currently use. Would I recommend it - yes if space is a concern, but I will be sticking to my Tonelabs.

[Martyn]

I have just returned from giving the Vox Delay Lab a try down at Richtone Music in Sheffield.
It works for some Shads numbers and sounds good with the wow & flutter built in to some of the patches. Good Apache / ManOf Mystery / Frightened City echoes are easily achievable as well as a reasonable Wonderful Land / Savage etc and you can set and store them in banks. When I say a 'reasonable' Wonderful land echo it's because there are only three virtual heads, a bit like a Space echo or Copicat, but it does a good job. It will do all the Pink Floyd noises without a hitch and all the surf sounds. All in all a good, sturdy piece of kit in a tidy sized box - unlike the Tonelab that I currently use. Would I recommend it - yes if space is a concern, but I will be sticking to my Tonelabs.

Hi Dave,
Thanks for the update. My question is: if you didn't already have your Tonelab and were given the choice of buying it or the Vox, after comparing each side by side in a shop, which would you then most likely choose and why?

Thanks.
Martyn

[dave robinson]

Well I already own a couple of Vox Tonelabs - the LE & SE models, each of which I can programme as near as damn it the echoes that I need for all the Shads / Duane Eddy stuff and more, as it's a versatile piece of kit. It has all the amp modelling / modulation programmes / distortion / compression / reverb, everything and can run straight through the PA system and simulate any amp you want - or if you wish it can just be the echo unit should you be going through a guitar amp.

The Vox Delay Lab on the other hand is a dedicated echo machine that can do modulation / reverb as well. Ideal if you want an echo to go through your amp - and it's much smaller and lighter than my Tonelabs.
Sound-wise I would say it's on a par with the Boss R-20 (Roland 201 pedal) which is very good, but the Vox has more to offer.

If I was just using a guitar amp all the time I would buy the Vox Delay Lab and get the echoes from that - but I'm not, which is why I use the Tonelab.

[Martyn]

That sums it up nicely.
In the time you were able to experiment with the Vox, would you say there were any specific Shads tune echoes it wouldn't be able to do that would become frustrating or can you get close enough as makes little difference? Interestingly I tend to use only one or two specific echoes on my Magicstomp even for home recording, and for live playing I doubt most folk would immediately spot anything 'incorrect' due to the less critical nature of live work and the acoustics of the venue. My quest is more for a subtle modulated echo sound with slight wow & flutter to add vintage character and from what you've already said, this unit can achieve that. Not looking for crinkly tape or worn out tape effects as I imagine the Shads would have used fresh tapes when recording anyway, but would appreciate a less clinical or characterless echo than some modern units tend to create.

Cheers,
Martyn

[dave robinson]

Like I said, I could do a job with it all day and doubt anyone would notice if it wasn't spot on. By the way, Hank wouldn't have had the old/new tape problem, his echo machine was a drum type until he went onto the Roland much later.

[Martyn]

Like I said, I could do a job with it all day and doubt anyone would notice if it wasn't spot on. By the way, Hank wouldn't have had the old/new tape problem, his echo machine was a drum type until he went onto the Roland much later.

Ah - I'd forgotten that.

I've ordered one on a trial basis (distance selling regulations etc) and will report back with any views I have after playing around with it, if that's OK.

Regards,
Martyn

[dave robinson]

Like I said, I could do a job with it all day and doubt anyone would notice if it wasn't spot on. By the way, Hank wouldn't have had the old/new tape problem, his echo machine was a drum type until he went onto the Roland much later.

Ah - I'd forgotten that.

I've ordered one on a trial basis (distance selling regulations etc) and will report back with any views I have after playing around with it, if that's OK.

Regards,
Martyn

Good move, then you can make the comparison with what you already have.

[Martyn]

Well it duly arrived and I spent hours experimenting with its various echoes, some of which were quite different to those we normally associate with Shads tunes. I became fascinated with reverse delays as it reminded me of a few Beatles songs that incorporated these effects.

However when it came to replicating specific Shads echoes, it and I struggled a bit. There are many echoes and variations of said echoes that can be set up and saved, some with quite an authentic vintage texture but somehow none quite sounded as I'd hoped. I could create 'nearly' versions of specific echoes similar to my M/stomp and I guess I might get away with a number of these at a push but I'd always know it wasn't quite right.

I liked the ability to alter the tone of progressing repeats, which would emulate tape wear I suppose and a certain amount of wow & flutter could be simulated to a degree but after much experimentation and fiddling I decided it just wasn't for me and it's going back to the store shortly.

I was going to post some samples in the sound files section but decided none would really sound close enough to the echoes we seek so I'll leave it un-auditioned. Shame, as I was hoping it might make a good alternative to the current crop of units out there but even though it had several echoes that were interesting in themselves - particularly some stereo ones that were entirely suitable for non-shads specific tunes, I figured it would always fall short of the sounds I'd like, which would rankle and annoy after a while and £198 would be wasted really.

The search continues . . .

[dave robinson]

Well it duly arrived and I spent hours experimenting with its various echoes, some of which were quite different to those we normally associate with Shads tunes. I became fascinated with reverse delays as it reminded me of a few Beatles songs that incorporated these effects.

However when it came to replicating specific Shads echoes, it and I struggled a bit. There are many echoes and variations of said echoes that can be set up and saved, some with quite an authentic vintage texture but somehow none quite sounded as I'd hoped. I could create 'nearly' versions of specific echoes similar to my M/stomp and I guess I might get away with a number of these at a push but I'd always know it wasn't quite right.

I liked the ability to alter the tone of progressing repeats, which would emulate tape wear I suppose and a certain amount of wow & flutter could be simulated to a degree but after much experimentation and fiddling I decided it just wasn't for me and it's going back to the store shortly.

I was going to post some samples in the sound files section but decided none would really sound close enough to the echoes we seek so I'll leave it un-auditioned. Shame, as I was hoping it might make a good alternative to the current crop of units out there but even though it had several echoes that were interesting in themselves - particularly some stereo ones that were entirely suitable for non-shads specific tunes, I figured it would always fall short of the sounds I'd like, which would rankle and annoy after a while and £198 would be wasted really.

The search continues . . .

Which is precisely what I thought could happen, some will understand it and make it work for them and others won't. I suggest that folks who don't have the patience or understanding would be better sticking to the EFTP options - There's no fast-track with units such as the Meazzi, ESE, Tonelab, Delay Lab , they all need talent and input from the user and sadly most folks fall short in this area. That's why Charlie Hall's stuff is invaluable to some.

[ecca]

" reminded me of a few Beatles songs that incorporated these effects."

Like what ?