Rocktron VooDu Valve

Like all CPU assisted units, there is a learning curve. This is a professional unit. Not your old MXR Distortion Plus. Parameters are straight forward and make sense. Just take the time to scroll the menus and don't be afraid to twist the data entry pots. You'll be rewarded with some of the most killer tones you have ever heard. You

need not be a MIT graduate to improve your sound.

My main guitars are Charvel Model 6 (loaded with EMG 81 and 2 EMG single coils. All circuit board options installed), and Ibanez Prestige (loaded with Dimarzio Evolution, HS-3 and PAF Pro). Guitars run straight into VooDu Valve into Carver power amp.

Bullett proof!! My unit was bought brand new in the box, at Guitar center in Boston in 1996 and still has the same Audio Glass 12AX7 even though I push the gain settings really hard. As for backup, it is just practical sense to cover your butt. Not because of the Rocktron, just because you never know. I always have a couple floor pedals in my bag just in case. But that's because I own them and why not have them there as insurance to prevent catastrophe. You never know. If I did not have extra pedals, then I would gig without a back up. Just have a spare 12AX7. Not because of the VooDu, it is bullett proof. But because tubes are unreliable. They can become microphonic or just breakdown.

I had one dealing with Rocktron. I bought some shirts and a 7 Pin MIDI cable for my ADA MIDI foot controller. My only question during that phone call dealt with Phantom Power. I needed to know which of the 7 Pins was hot so I could power my ADA. By the way, the hot pins are 6 and 7.

For the overall rating, I give it a 10. But that is considering the price/performance ratio. Let's face it, an Eventide GTR is the S Class Mercedes of Guitar processing. But how many of us own a Mercedes. As for music styles, I play in a blues/hardrock cover band (SRV, Aerosmith, Boston, AC/DC, KISS,etc.). It covers all the tones. I have been playing piano for 22 years. Guitar for 14 years. In regards to a replacement, of course I would get a VooDu Valve. What is my alternative, an unreliable, cold sounding (by todays standards), ART SGX 2000. I already owned an SGX 2000. The SGX 2000 was mailed back to ART in Rochester, NY, so many times, I was begging some one to buy that lemon. My friends had similiar troubles with their ART components. So it was not just "a" bad unit. Ironically, my ART DRX 2100 has never given me any trouble. My guess is, that their guitar processors shave problems. I then bought the 2112 Digitech. It was very nice. A year later I went to Guitar Center and AB'd the 2112 vs. the VooDu. The VooDu had it hands down. So i bought a VooDu. The newest Digitech, the 2120, comes the closest. I've AB'd it against the VooDu and it is close. But it is more money. Add in that expensive foot controller and your well over a grand. Another plus for Rocktron is the HUSH System. The Digitech employs a similiar algorithm, but it is inferior. To give the 2120 a fair shot, you should fool with the presets to really "hear" them. Typical Digitech factory programming has the 2120's presets too wet. Ultimately, Rocktron verse Digitech is Mercedes verse Ford. Go to a professional studio and ask what the engineer thinks about the two companies. As for the "what more could it have" question. Only improvement could be altering the effect sequence. You are stuck with the chains Rocktron gives you. For most of us, those chains are sufficient. For the money, you can't complain. If you want, and think you need, virtual pedal boards, spend $3000.00 for an Eventide GTR. I would suggest pocketing the $2300 and getting the VooDu. It will do everything you could ever ask or need.

Fairly clear layout in the beginning, but as you learn to work this thing you WILL SPEND mucho time tweaking on this piece of gear. The manual is adequate and fairly straitforward. I A/B'd the Voodu against every preamp in three different music stores in Atlanta (which took 2 days) and the Voodu was clearly the winner in terms of musicallity and cool features. There were only factory presets in them at the time and yes, most of them were not great, but Eruption, Sighs, and the SRV programs were quite incredible! The potential of this rig was easy to see. I have to give this a 7, because of the amount of time and patience it takes to TRULY dial in YOUR sound.

My idea in buying the Voodu was simple. Build a very "organic" sounding rack rig. All I use is the Voodu, a Marshall 9100 pwr. amp, my trusty Hamer Sunburst Archtop, & a Peavey Wolfgang special. The Voodu and Marshall work great together. I was sick of not getting the sounds I wanted from regular amplifiers and acres of stomp boxes--it was definently time for a drastic change!!! Glad I bit the bullet. Sounds of favorite guitarist are very easily attained and if your wondering----no this thing does not SOUND "digital". It's very natural sounding and has wonderful(!!) effects. My only gripe is that cleaner sounds are harder to get at a decent volume (some patches are much louder than others). I have never noticed any unpleasant noise--in fact, it's the quietest rig I've ever owned. With this many presets, you never run out of sounds to tinker with ( I NAILED Audley Freed's sound from the "Cry of Love" CD the other day--just goofing around--I'm too PLEXI for this Marshall.) Recording direct live or on a home studio is a blast--the speaker emulator really shows it's worth!!

I was skeptical at first, rack gear being new to me. I've performed live with this setup and played a few million hours in the bed room. It is the most "consistent" sounding rig I could ever hope to play through. Lots of compliments from other guitarists and sound guys on the Voodu after walking off stage!! Not a problem-----ever!!

I've only spoken on a few occasions to ask general questions and they have always been friendly and accomodating. Haven't done the upgrade thing via the website, but might later.

I've played for 14 years and am proud to own my Voodu. I play a variety of music--but stick closest with a wide palate of rock. If you are a patient and willing to experiment, you can get incredible sounds from this thing. It seems to fit a player like me perfectly, although if you play Jazz, Country, Blues, or slash your wrist Alternative, and Death Metal monger palm mute low EEEEEEEE until the cops arrest you--this thing does that as well too. If it was lost or stolen, first I would CRY because I've spent ALOT of time tweaking this thing out to my specs and there's no way to save that info. Lately, I've found myself wanting to tweak less and play more. I'm not going to sell the Voodu anytime in the near future--It has served me well for the past 3 years--but I have cut myself off from the development of new amplifier, effects, etc. in that time and I might get something "simpler" and more stripped down, a 180 degrees from the Voodu. I do not recommend this rig to beginners or people with very little playing experience. It's just too much for someone like that to learn. A beginner needs to worry less about effects and worry more about tone and how to "work" an amplifier. That is all hope its been a help!

In general the unit is easy to use. It has several buttons(recall, config, bypass(effects), compare, store) and 6 useful knobs. It doesn't have comfortable innovations, but it is not hard to program. I'd like it to have bigger display, though. A very helpful feature : I can load presets from Internet(www.rocktron.com Patch Bay )even to my non-Online version. The revision number is 1.03(the same as that of the Online version). The manual is easy to follow, but it doesn't have many useful features, for example some sort of FAQ. With bigger display and more helpful manual I'll give it 10.

I use Jackson KE1 guitar with Duncan TB-4 pickup -> into Voodu Valve ->into custom made all-tube amp's effects loop. At the moment when I took the first notes from my guitar this unit seemed absolutely noisy to me. But then I put GLOBAL HUSH parameter to 0 and locals HUSHes to 30-50, and the unit became extremely silent even on high(50-60) gain settings. All the effects are great - distortion, delay, chorus, reverb, pitch shifter, etc. Because the manual is not detailed enough I don't know if I can use wah effect using my footcontroller that doesn't have an expression pedal. BUT! I can't get the superheavy sound (a-la Megadeth, Slayer) from it as I get from my BOSS Metal Zone pedal! This unit "sings" and I'd like it to have more different sounds. But maybe it is because I can't properly equalize the sound and make the right preset. Maybe someone will send me a Slayer/Megadeth/Metallica/Death preset ? PS. But the sound in general is great - I'll give it 10.

It is an old unit. I've got it used with some presets modified. So I recalled factory presets(the guy who had it before didn't know about HUSH! All his presets were VERY noisy) and the sounds now are exactly the same quality as in Online version(some presets are different of course). This rack unit has a hard metal shell and I can put it in the rack and back out without thinking about its valve(12AX7) - the box is very hard to damage. I'll definitely use it on a gig without a backup.

I had too many questions because of the poor manual. I sent a lot of letters by e-mail to info@rocktron.com and EVERY letter was answered back to me by Jim Chowning(National Sales Director). His answers are always very helpful. He answered ALL of my different questions - about power supply, MIDI controllers, difference between regular and Online versions(there is no difference at all exept its face (front panel)) and MIDI cords from computer to Voodu. I'd like to inform you that you need the special cable from Creative soundcard(15 pin) to Voodu(standard MIDI 5 pin) which you can find in computer stores. It is the same cable as for the MIDI keyboard. I'd give 7-8 for the manual and 11 for Internet support. Rocktron is the best in Internet support of its customers. You can download manuals for all Rocktron units from the Rocktron Internet site and you can also download presets for ALL their units !

I play mostly metal - from Progressive to Thrash and Death. Voodu Valve is a very good choice of a tool for all styles of music, especially for lead playing. I couldn't get rythm(Mustaine's, Hetfield's, King's) sound from it(but I could not get this sound from my BOSS Metal Zone MT-2 pedal). I play for more than 6 years. I work in a small guitar shop and I've played hundreds(maybe thousands) of different guitars - a lot of Fenders, Gibsons, Ibanezes, ESPs, Jacksons and of other brands. Best of all I like the feel and the sound of USA-made Jackson guitars and ESP guitars (KH series, for example). I like the sound of Ibanez and I like their (Lo-Pro)Edge tremolo, but I don't like their necks(even Wizard and JEM). My favourite pickups are Seymour Duncan TB(SH)-4,5,6. I like EMG(little bit too sterile for me) and DiMarzio(Fred, Super Distortion), but Duncans are the best. I've played(and owned) a lot of processors/preamps - DigiTech 2101(2120) - both shit (my opinion) for the price they sell at; DigiTech RP-1,5,6,7,10,12 - I don't like the sound; different Zoom pedals(505, 707, 4040, 1010, 8080) - for beginners (I think); Boss ME-8,30 - ok, but not great. The first unit from Rocktron I've had was Piranha tube preamp - it is the best preamp I've ever heard. But I sold it wishing to buy something better. Musicians told me about Voodu Valve and said that Voodu was a better preamp than Piranha. It is wrong - Piranha's preamp is much better. It is a tube. And Voodu is a digital preamp. BUT! if you don't have a lot of money - Voodu is absolutely the best all-in-one preamp/essects processor on the market. Nothing compares to it. If I had a lot of money for my rack upgrade, 1. I'd compare Rocktron Piranha and Marshall JMP-1 preamp(I haven't heard it) and I'll buy a better one. 2. For effects I'll go for Lexicon or T.C.Electronics(both expensive) or Rocktron(Replifex, Intellifex, MultiValve - cheap if used). 3. I'd exactly buy BBE Sonic Maximaizer for my rack (great thing!) 4. I'd exactly buy all-tube amp 5. I'd exactly use Celestion Vintage 30 or G12-H speakers (as I do).
Please mail me if you have ANY questions.

This is loaded with good sounds out of the box and creating your own sounds is straightforward although long winded with such a small display. I bought this without a manual but downloaded the full manual from the Rocktron archives - this is comprehensive but not for technophobes. The rotary access knobs are great, so much more useful than a keypad

I have used this unit direct into my portastudio and live and it's speaker simulator is excellent, but like all guitar effects units and preamps you need to get some volume from an amp and speaker setup to really sound good. The digital effects (chorus, phaser, tremolo, pitch shift, flanger, delay etc.) are superb, the distortion stage is fantastic, the EQ is superlative IMHO but the HUSH does tend to muddy the sound up if you're not careful.

no problems at all

I have contacted the company via Email to ask about some glitches in the version 1.03 software and received a reply from the product manager within 12 hours. Also the manual library is excellent and Rocktron seem to be the only company to support their users with a patch library and forum online (with access software supplied free)

I play rock and blues styles mainly but like to dabble (jazz, funk, reggae etc.), I have been able to produce any type of sound I want from it so far. I would not hesitate to hunt out another if something happened to this one - I searched for 6 months through the available stuff from digitech, peavey etc. & upgraded to this from an ART multiverb alpha 2.0 and Hafler T2 and haven't looked back once. I do find that I seem to spend long hours creating sounds with it and this has eaten into my playing time a little. The only thing I would like to see on it would be a larger display. I would love to be able to see an overview of my patches while programming but have been unable to find a PC based editor so hope to program one (any help gratefully received)

You can't select a preset number directly; you have to turn the dial. Hence, the preset is not switched until you press the Recall button. This two-stage procedure makes it a little inconvenient to audition all the presets one after another. Turn Preset dial, press Recall button, play, turn Preset dial, press Recall button, play, etc.
The Bypass button only bypasses the digital effects; not the preamp. Hence, you cannot hear the unmodified signal.
The selection of effects, parameters, etc, is done via three dials, rather than buttons. Fine, except they are placed in a counter-intuitive order. That is, the right one is used first to select the function, the middle one is used next to select the parameter, and the left one is used last to adjust the parameter. This can be a pain.
The one-line display is fairly limiting, but at least, being LEDs, it is more visible than LCDs.
Quite easy to learn. There's really not much to it. The manual is poor. There are a few misprints, incorrect diagrams and no index.

I am using this with a Novation BassStation (analogue monosynth) directly into a desk.
Yes, the preamp does use a tube, and I'm sure guitar purists can barf on all day about how "warm" and "natural" the sound from a genuine tube amp is, while stroking their beards, drinking their real ale and trading Satriani licks, but I'm afraid this is just not what I wanted. The fact that each configuration has pre-EQ and post-EQ is good, but why does the highest band only go up to 8000Hz? I can hear frequencies twice that, goddamnit!!!
The built-in Hush noise reduction is good! Most presets are very quiet, but even Hush can't hide the noise on some of the high gain presets. Try playing a pure harmonic on preset 60 or 66, and you'll hear buzzing as the note decays. Take Hush off those presets and you'll hear a fearsome crackling even with no input connected!
My unit had a fault with its chorus. Despite having set the delay for chorus voice 1 to its minimum of 2ms, the delay periodically extended, creating a noticeably discrete shadow. Unacceptable.
And there is only one type of reverb!!! No halls, no rooms, no plates. Just one reverb with two parameters; Decay and HF Damping. How rather inadequate.

I don't intend to keep it long enough to tell.

Ditto.

I play 'aving it acid techno, and I use distortion/overdrive to give a dirty edge to my 303 sounds. The Voodu Valve is just not suitable for me, so I don't think I'll be using it. I'm sure it's more appropriate to guitarists.
I actually prefer the sound of my Alesis Quadraverb GT, but that's quite old, and it's started to put out a faint hiss when it warms up. Think I'll try the Roland GP-100 next.

It is very easy to use for someone who is very into sophisticated digital effects gear, a lot more comp. for someone not so well informed. the manual is very well done, and the user interface is fantastic. I gave it an 8 only because I could see lesser informed players getting lost real fast in the basic routing..this would be true of any efx processor with this amount of flexability....

I was one of the first owners of the ADA MP-1, and a die hard user of it, I have owned several lexicon, alesis, yamaha and roland efx and processing equip. through a stereo tube amp into two Bag End ev 12s for 14 years, it took a twelve space rack and a mixer to make all this work, the tone was to die for studio player quality..I now have a two space rack with the Yamaha g-50 synth controller and the Voodu Valve, and I go direct!! This rig kills anything I have ever tried in the past..it sounds awesome..the key thing is to get rid of the presets( I have never ever played a unit with good presets)..and use the cab simulator it is amazing..nothing out there can touch this..the only thing I would add to it maybe a more sophisticated pitch trans. efx box awesome!!! I gave it a nine because I wished it had two tubes for pushing and pulling rather than 1, but it still sounds great...

SO far so good

Never had to contact them

I play experimental to traditional Jazz, but primarily play slick studio type pop, ala Lukather, Huff, Thompson etc, love the heavy yet slick sound. I have a Jackson Soloist #303 ordered straight from the factory over 15 years ago with Alnico 2 Singles in every position, sweet and way bass heavy...(hate those thin Humbuckers) I have been playing for 20 years now, If it werwe lost or stolen I would either buy another one or check out the new Prophecy model by Rocktron..remeber to tweak those sound, there are a tremendous amount of paramaters to deal with, but the rewards are unfathomable

The panel & controls were designed w/a logic that is simple to follow allowing edits to be made by users w/out a high degree of a learning curve. Where edits are not so easy are in that the functions and parameters have such a depth of programmability that players more inclined to simplistic layouts (I just think they're too lazy or impatient to work and learn) may have frustrating experiences. However, such depth and control is what I require to obtain the truly authentic sonic characteristics that I pursue. If I merely wanted to sound like one playing a Marshall or Boogie, I would have purchased those providing I had money. The VooduValve shines in its user interface for it is the product's virtue that I can use it w/out having to refer to the manual.

There has been a consistent sound even under different acoustical settings which I shall name. I love the power & bottom end I am able to produce w/the high gain configuration which I believe parallels the best of any grunges I've ever heard live or recorded thanks to the reactance control and fully parametric low freqs eq pre & post distortion. Smooth glassy tones are also attainable rendering my blues playing w/3-dimensional quality. The clean tones are wonderful as my jazz had never been the same. The 24-bit DSP produces no Lexicon reverbs nor Eventide pitch transposes but such comparisons are quite unfair given the different nature & purposes of the different machines. However I find that, and not only on its own reich, the delays and modulation effects are lush, thick & versatile can rival other high end systems from TC Electronics. The reverb is wonderful for its intended use as a guitar reverb. The HUSH makes even my first guitar, the noisy poorly crafted Squire Strat, more than usable. My only gripe is the severly limited compressor lacking controls & parameters for Attack, Sustain & Ratio (I am quite surprised) forcing the need for external compression before the input as this built in compressor is rather weak. Set Ups- Direct-to-disk: 20-bit 64xoversampling A/D dithered to 16-bits@44.1KHz Headphones: AKG K240M Live Rig: Rocktron Velocity 250, Fender RocPro GE412 Mixing Boards: Soundcraft Ghost 32, Mackie SR24.8

The two years I've had it I have not even changed the 12AX7 just yet. Financial abundance dictates my ability to acquire a back up...no mula just yet therefore no back up. But I have not been disappointed yet. The VooduValve keeps me rocking or strolling, whichever the gig requires.

This is an area I still need to venture into.

For a player at home to a variety of different musical journeys, the VooduValve really complements & helps to inspire both my writing & playing as well are recording & gigging. It is a powerful tool for me w/so many options for tonal control. The dawning of modeling technology has caused me to question the life span of MIDI controllable rack gear w/built in effects. I suspect that the Amp Farm makes recording guitar a freightening venture for purists trapped in a world of traditional tube amps & speakers miced. I too am hooked by the AX2 212 and VG-8. But that future I cannot foretell and it is a dark path. For now, I am still ecstatic about the VooduValve. It is a purchase I have not regretted and shall never say "It was good in its time" about. I love it. It's a different instrument for me and the value makes it all worth it.

simple. the expert functions aren't hard to use like i thought, in fact they are the best part of this unit IMHO

sounds good through a clipping tube amp, direct sounds are ok for demos(good cab. emulator)

The expert eq's really help to detail your sound. processors aren't my thing really, i prefer my amp, as processors all sound sorta phony no matter how good. But, this box does sound killer through tubes.

I love this thing, but it wasn't as easy to program as my ART SGX2000, its the only bad thing about it. Don't get me wrong, its not hard to program, just not as easy as my ART. I don't like turning so many different knobs, but the sound is INCREDIBLE!

This thing is AWESOME! No other words can describe it. I know, everyone has a different opinion on sound, but mine (which is most important when I'm playing) says this is the greatest thing I have heard..EVER! I've owned several processors, none even came close. You must check this out. WOW! Great job ROCKTRON! They even got the Wah right (on the SGX wah comes AFTER distortion, its completely unusable).

I just got it, so I can't answer this yet. But it does have a 3 year transferrable warranty. That is real good!

Went to their web page, it had a lot of useful info, including patches, so I guess there alright in this department.

Nothing comes close, but it DOES have a big sound, if your not into the BIG sound, you may not like it. I LOVE IT! I've been looking for THE sound (you know the one that you know is out there, but you just can't get it) for years. I FINALLY found it! I played this at the store and went home, thought about it and went right back. I'm usually not impulsive..but the sound grabbed me. For a digital efx box, this is REAL stuff. Worth every dime.

I was in the studio and we were listening to our tape. I was so unhappy with the sound I got. I just got my Voodu Valve that day. It was still in the box, but I brought it anyway. My drummer told me to give it a try. (This was at 4:00am) I opened it, plugged it in, ran it direct to the board and set it to a preset called "I'm Broken" and I re-recorded all of my guitar parts right then! Beautiful! The manual is very easy to follow. Editing patches is much easier than Digitech-style editing.

This puppy is quit as a mouse! Thanks to the built in HUSH noise reduction. The effects sound as though they cost $500 a piece!! I am most impressed with the delays. Very controllable.

I have recorded, gigged, and rehearsed with this for over 3 years. I have yet to see ONE problem. I know I should have a backup, but I don't (Yet!) Good thing this is so dependable!!!

The regional sales manager is JOE MORDARSKI. He is the best! He answers all of my questions in detail, he's very down-to-Earth,and just so COOL!!! He gave me a factory tour, bought me lunch, gave me T-shirts & bumper stickers, he even put my name on the back of their brochure! A+++

I would definitly buy a Rocktron product. I do regularly. I love the features, reliability, and design of all Rocktron products. I was shopping for a preamp and I tried ART's SGX2000, I owned Digitech's GSP21 Pro, and also owned ADA's MP-1. None of them compare!