Rocktron VooDu Valve On-Line

Easy to use & edit once you get familiar with its many configurations. The manual is informative, especially its effects descriptions. The firmware revision is 1.03

I initially bought this guitar preamp for direct recording to my PC. It is exceptional for that. Currently, I use it for live gigs too. I run the stereo XLR outputs direct to the mixing console. When I need my own stage monitor I run the 1/4" outs into a small keyboard amp. The unit is very quiet and has a very broad range of clean, overdrive, and distortion sounds. Its built in effects are also very nice. The phaser, flanger, and chorus are very thick and intense, like good old analog pedals. The delay and reverb are easy to adjust, and also sound very nice. The tremolo is warm and covers a broad range of speed and intensity.

I received free schematics via fax from Rocktron.

This is a great studio preamp. It is also an excellent live performer. I've receive many compliments about my sound through it. Definitely check one out.

If you consider its abundant features it's easy to use. But it will take some time to get familiar with. IT IS NOT A STAND ALONE EFFECTS PROCESSOR. It is a guitar preamp with effects. I don't know why Harmony Central classifies it as an effect.

If you are an old school player into blues & classic rock then go buy a small tube combo, because this thing is over your head. If you are into hard rock, modern rock, metal, alternative, pop, ... or just need versatility then the Voodu is a god send. You can dial in any tone imagineable. It has many ways to shape the sound: tube gain, pre eq, gain, post eq, speaker sim, excellent effects... It even sounds great direct.

It's damn expensive if you buy it new. Try to find a used one and save a lot of dough. I've wanted one of these ever since a friend of mine bought one of the originals, over 5 years ago. I just could never afford to pay $900 for a new one. I finally found a used one, and believe me it's a steel at $450. Now I gig with it exclusively. Sometimes I even plug it straight into the board. For those gigs I don't even need to bring a speaker cabinet. Best off all I love my sound. For $450 it is a fantastic value.

The Voodu Valve On-Line is loaded with complex features. You may need to spend some time with the unit, to get familiar with its capabilities. I found many useful factory presets, which are a great start. From there you can tweak to perfection. The layout is logical, and relatively easy to use.

I use it live, and to record direct to hard disk. Its tone, versatility, and vibe are outstanding. It remains noiseless, even at high gain settings. I have some tips for other VV owners:
1. Always use the speaker simulator, even with guitar cabs (just set the speaker to full range, and the mic position to zero). USE THE REACTANCE CONTROL! It adds massive low end chunk. I like it set between +6 and +12.
2. Get used to the Pre & Post EQs. The Pre EQ affects the character of the sound. Adding pre-bass will give you a loose, vintage sound, because it boosts the bass before the gain stages. I like a tight sound, so I keep the pre-bass between 0 and -5. I like to give a slight, wide, boost to the upper pre-mids, for added sustain & harmonics. Be careful, too much pre-mid may make your sound too compressed. The Post EQ has the greatest effect on the tone. It is also the best place to boost bass, cut mids, and add high end sparkle.
3. The effects sound great, but make sure you don't over do it. The factory presets tend to over emphasise the effects, to demonstrate their abilities. Trust me, less is more.
4. The factory presets were tweaked to sound good through Rocktron cabinets. Their speakers are quite dark. So be prepared to back down the mids and/or highs a bit.

No glitches for almost 4 years now.

I cover a variety of music genres, including: pop, rock, metal, and modern rock. I've been an active guitarist for over 10 years. Consequently, I've used many different guitar rigs. The Voodu Valve is the most impressive of all. It has great tone and a plethora of great effects, all in a single rack space. It inspires me to play, due to its seemingly unlimited tonal capabilities. Rocktron could improve it by adding a built in tuner, and a quick access hatch for the tube. Regardless, it is an excellent piece that I highly recommend.

It has 254 presets, many of which get you real close. Once you get familiar with it you can tweek them to perfection. It can be complicated because you get tube gain, digital gain, two bands of tunable pre-EQ, and four bands of tunable post-EQ. So you can really get unlimited tones and feel out of this thing. On top of that, you have several awsome sounding effects to play with. I don't think the unit itself is difficult to use, It just gives you more control over parameters than any other preamp.

Make sure you don't cut corners on the power amp or speakers. I use a Mesa 20/20 tube power amp and a Rivera 2x12 cab with Celestion V30's. This combination is incredible. It sounds much better than the store demo setup, which used a solid state amp and emminence speakers. This is truly a great sounding preamp, so give it a good amp & cab to play through. I get amazing clean sounds, both modern & vintage. I can get a great crunch and unbelievable high gain sounds. Make sure you use the speaker reactance control. It can add incredible chunk to your sound. Just be sure to set the speaker to full range and the mic position to zero, when you use a guitar cabinet.

9 months of abuse - no problems so far. I let you know how it's holding up after the 3 year warranty expires.

I didn't quite get the online thing, so I emailed customer support. I got a reply the next day. BTW, in order to download presets to the Voodu Valve, you have to first download some free MIDI software from Rocktron's website. If you use your MIDI/joystick port on your sound card, then you may need to buy an adaptor. Stores that sell keyboards or MIDI software usually carry joystick port to MIDI adaptors, for around $20. Although it seems like Rocktron should provide these.

I think this is the best all-in-one preamp. You get tube warmth, top notch effects, unlimited tone control, and the ultimate versatility in this one rack space beauty. If you can get by on a simple set up, then buy an old deluxe reverb or a JCM800. However, if you need a great sounding, flexible rig then go for a Voodu Valve driven rack.

I think this preamp has diverse enough presets, that anyone can find something suitable for them. Editing, as with most rocktron products, can be a pain. Just pay attention to what kbob yo turn and everything will be okay!

I have a Mesa Boogie Triaxis, a Mesa 2:90 power amp, Marshall 1960 4x12's and I use Washbun PS500 guitars mainly. I've had the Chameleon, but thought it lacked slightly in real tube sound, I got a Piranha, and though it was great, it had no effects. I needed an all in one preamp/effects for a back up unit to the triaxis and my other effects unit, which happens to be an Intellifex Online. I tried the VooDu and it was the best of both preamps. Though I wish the tube was high voltage instead of low.

It's my backup, so I'm hoping I never have to use it! But if I did, I know it'd be there for me, and it's sound really good too! Seems more solidly built then the Chameleon, but not as sturdy as the Piranha.

I email Rocktron frequently and always get quick responses, though they are brief and lacking in detail sometime. I wouldn't send anything to any company for repair though.

Greta over all preamp, effects are good, you just need alot of time to tweak it. Very quite thanks to HUSH. Pain in the ass to change the tube. You basically have to tear the who thing apart, which can be scary! They could of made the tube more easily accessable...I guess thats probably a ploy to get us to send them in for a simple tube job.

This piece has a very intuitive user interface. You can tweek for days or settle with some of the many cool factory presets.

Ibanez RG570 -> Voodu -> Mesa 50/50 (fat mod) -> Marshall JCM900 1960B
This is a very versatile rig. I get a wide range of sounds from ultra clean to blistering death and everything in between. The tube gives the sound a warm & responsive character. The effects are first class. I'm extremely satisfied with this rig. It makes playing fun.

No problems after 2.5 years.

Never dealt with them.

I like to play blues, rock, & metal. I've been at it for over 12 years. I've been through many different stacks & combos that all sounded nice but had limited tonal ranges. This preamp gives me unlimited tonal possibilities in a compact rack setup. When you consider all the quality built in effects & features it's a bargain. It even has a great speaker simulator for direct use. It's easy and fun to use, a definite keeper.

The factory presets are very diverse, so you should be able to find some good sounds out of the box. Once you get familiar with its features and layout it's easy to edit patches. The manual is well organized.

I use an Ibanez USA Custom straight into the Voodu Valve On-Line. I run the unit's stereo outs to a Mesa Boogie 20/20 power amp, which drives a sealed 2x12 (stereo) cabinet with Vintage 30s. The Voodu Valve is dead quiet, even with extremely high gain settings. The built in hush is amazing. It doesn't seem to effect the natural decay of the notes either. The Voodu Valve has no problem doing any type of clean or dirty sound. Also, it can dial in the most brutal high gain sound that I've ever heard. The reverb, chorus, flange, delay, phaser, and vibrato are excellent. I don't use the pitch shift or wah. This preamp sounds amazing direct to hardisk. The speaker simulator does an excellent job, and is highly adjustable. I really like the way the unit reacts to subtle changes in pick pressure, like a vintage tube amp.

I've used it for about two years without a glitch. It does however contain a tube, which may eventually need replacing. Also, I should buy a MIDI cable for my PC soundcard, so I can back up my presets on a computer.

They have users manuals, MIDI related stuff, and presets on their web site. I emailed them once and received a quick, but mediocre reply.

Overall, the Voodu Valve On-Line is a great sounding guitar preamp with excellent quality effects built in. Its speaker simulator is so good that you could easily use it direct to PA. It is also an excellent tool for any guitarists' home studio. I tried the POD and the J-Station, but the Voodu Valve just blew them away. The VV is much more versatile, and has an organic sound & feel to it. My rhythm player prefers my clean sound to his beloved blackface twin.

This box is loaded with many cool features that help shape your tone. So it takes quite a bit of tweeking to become familiar with how they all work. The most powerful features include tunable pre distortion eq, tunable post distortion eq, variac, tube class, tube gain, and speaker sim. Each of these parameters effects the tone & response of the preamp. So of course there is a learning curve, but you'll discover a ton of cool sounds along the way.

I use an ESP eclipse, and a Fender Strat Plus Deluxe. I originally used the Voodu Valve, into a Rocktron Velocity 120 amp, into a Mesa Recto 2x12 cab (with Celestion Vintage 30s). It sounded good, but lacked deep bass and top end presence. Then I switched to an old Marshall 1936 2x12 cab, which is loaded with Celestion G12T-75s. What an improvement! It's as if someone took the cotton out of my ears. I recently substituted a VHT Two/Fifty/Two tube power amp in place of the Velocity 120. Now the rig really shines. The power tubes just react with the speakers in a magical way. The Voodu Valve can produce a wide range of clean sounds, from ultra sparkling clean to Southern dirt. It also does a mean crunch, which improved dramatically with the Marshall cab - go figure. Bring the gain up from there and you get an amazing liquid gain sound. By playing with the eq tuning, you can get anything from violin sounds to wicked bone crushing metal. This is the most versatile box that I've ever heard! I've owned this baby for over 3 years, and have yet to hear a sound that this thing can't cover. The guy who claims he couldn't get a good clean or a good crunch must not have a clue how to use this box. Read your manual and try turning some knobs, because the sounds are in there. Best of all, you will discover your own unique sound. Last but not least, this thing is incredible direct to tape/hard-disk. In fact, it even sounds excellent through a home stereo. For these applications you need to use the wonderful built in speaker simulator. You can also use the speaker simulator with your standard guitar cab. Just set the speaker sim to full range, and take advantage of the reactance control, which really beefs up the bottom end. Enjoy!

Haven't had any problems at all, but it looks like you have to remove a lot of screws to change the tube.

I've received adequate answers to e-mail questions within 24 hours.

I've been playing for over 10 years. During the last few years I've been in several different bands. I cover all sorts of music ranging from jazz & blues to modern rock & metal. This preamp has been a swiss army knife to me, especially during recent recording projects. I highly recommend it.

Compared with other systems, like Digitech or Boss etc. it's fairly intuitive. With the pre- and post EQ you have to get prepared for a long learning curve, but then it's fine.

I bought the unit without testing it, because here in Spain there was no dealer around who had it on stock. So reading the features and some reviews, I thought that's it and ordered it. I am currently using a Mesa V-Twin pre-Amp with a Boss GX700 effects unit in the loop, switched by an ART X-15 foot controller. I was looking for an integrated tube-Preamp with effects, Midi controllable.
So here is my rating : If you are into Heavy Rock or trashy Sounds, this may be your thing. If you are into clean and smooth Tube distortion forget this thing. I like Robben Ford, Larry Carlton and Santana Sounds and there is no way to get them. Comparing ono to one the V-Twin and the Voodu is a shock. The Voodu is nowhere near the warmth and the richness of the V-Twin. The Overdrive is very digital, no slight overdrive between clean and distortion.
It is ok though for Metallica, Rammstein and modern Hardcore sounds.
If you are a tube fan and like a Mesa or Soldano sound forget it.
The effects section is versatile and powerful. I wish you could turn off the Preamp Section, but you can't.

Just had it for 2 weeks, no opinion.

Depending on your musical style you may like it. For modern, digitally achievable sounds it's a solid and powerful Pre-amp.
If you have never used a Mesa Boogie before you may not even notice what you are missing. My mistake, I made a 1 to 1 comparison.

Editing patches is easier than it seems at first. Rocktron's method is different, but once I knew how it worked, I was surprised by how quickly I could make edits. You _will_ have to read the manual, though. It's a good one.

Going direct is easy from either the 1/4-inch or XLR jacks.

The sounds can not be beat unless you buy a truckload of amps. I know I will never play through a rackmount preamp without tubes in it ever again. There is a headphone jack on this thing, so it is terrific as a practice amp. No matter how good a digital preamp sounds at first, I always suffer ear fatigue after playing for about 30 minutes. This never happens with the VooduValve.

I normally don't like Fenders as well as humbucking brands of guitars, but my Tele sounds fantastic through this unit! There is a patch called "Milkman" which is a sweet clean tone. My amp is a Fender HotRod Deluxe, which I thought had a perfect clean tone, until I heard how the Rocktron enhanced it. I go guitar to the Rocktron to the guitar input of the amp. I have a Marshall JCM2000 too, but I haven't tried the Rocktron with it yet, because the Fender sounds so good with it.

I am now inspired to try any other tube-based multi-effects I can find.

It's certainly sturdy, but it contains a vacuum tube, and tubes sometimes fail. The tube in this unit is operating at a low voltage relative to an amp head, so it ought to last a long time.

The VooduValve has never spontaneously rebooted itself, which happens with cheap gear sometimes. I did have difficulty getting it to work properly with a low-end MidiBuddy footpedal, but I switched to a Digital Music Corp. Ground Control device (highly recommended), and have had no problems.

It seems harder to obtain Rocktron gear than gear from other companies.

I sent several emails to Rocktron both before and after purchase, and I got prompt, informative answers each time.

I play a wide variety, including surf, blues, jazz, funk, and metal. This unit covers it all. There are multiple Van Halen patches, Metallica, AC/DC--but there are also hollow body and a dozen other types of clean. It inspires me to write music in styles I had not considered.

This unit has sounds I have been waiting for all my life, sounds I could sometimes get out of amps, but never from an effects unit. All the other considerations are secondary.