Quality, possibilities and tones in this guitar preamp. In the simulation-versus-tradition debate, the VooDu Valve offers a solution. Although we have reviewed it before, for the studio guitarist the ability to send a pristine signal out through the line output has undeniable advantages: no need for mics and the complications of miking, a variety and flexibility of options, and the ability to work on headphones, avoiding mic bleed, as well as the freedom to play at any volume without bothering anyone.
As you all know, it is sometimes hard to get the full meat out of a tube amp without punishing your ears (in decibels), while with a preamp or a good modeler we get that warm feel at practically any output level. Power-reduction amps and various other solutions that saturate the tubes fully without having to play at full volume have been around for a while to combat this. With that said, let's get started.
What Is It, You Ask?
This time we won't follow the popular saying, because not only do we have no objections, we gladly welcome working with the VooDu. Picking up from what we said in the introduction, it is worth stressing (big time) that this little guy lets us perform with either modeling (which we'll talk about shortly, since it is very powerful) or as a simple (or not so simple) preamp unit, to “strafe—in the good sense of the word—with a hefty crunch” our favorite amp.
In short, for the less experienced, with Rocktron's VooDu Valve you get a preamp for your traditional amplifier, a perfect modeler if you don't have or don't want an amp, and a first-rate multi-effects unit specializing in gain, overdrive and saturation that run from mild to wild.
Getting Started
Here is a quick rundown of what we can do with the preamp.
Front Panel
Once you plug a standard ¼" jack (the classic kind) into the unit, the guitar starts sounding (naturally, if we plug it into a guitar amp, powered monitors, etc.). From left to right we have:
a) Power switch
b) Preset lock button (recall)
c) Preset selector
d) Config button, with LED
e) Digital display showing preset information and edit parameters
f) Bypass
g) Compare
h) Parameter value selection
i) Store (saves settings)
j) Selection of the parameter to modify in each effect
k) Function selector (for editing)
l) Speaker simulation LED (on or off)
m) Output level knob
n) Signal indicator LED bar
o) Input level knob
So What Do We Do With All This?
As you might guess, operation is simple. If we choose to select one of the factory presets, we just pick which one, out of 254, by turning the wheel and press the recall button to confirm the selection.
Many of the sounds will suit you “to a T” just as they come, but if that isn't the case, the other rotary wheels come into play so you can shape the sound however you like. You can vary practically every parameter of the effect with incredible flexibility. That means in practically every case you will be able to dial in exactly the sound you want for each song or piece.
I won't describe every parameter, as many of them are obvious. What struck me most was the ability to turn on the speaker simulator and, best of all, to control how it simulates. Getting to the point: first, we select the speaker sim in the parameter menu and turn it on, on one channel or both. Now we can choose the speaker size: 8, 10, 12 or 15". It doesn't end there: next we decide the mic position (in the simulation, of course), moving it closer or farther away and so getting a powerful palette of tonal colors. Finally we set the “Reactance” parameter, with values from -15 to +15, giving the sound more meat, punch and thickness. This setting is truly over the top (pardon the colloquialism); we start with a soft, thin sound and, as we crank up the reactance value, the guitar starts to “take on” body, so that with the value at maximum, just by pressing your hand against the strings, the pickups start to “growl” as if asking for a fight. I love it.
Rear Panel
Just a note on the available outputs: two (left and right) ¼" jack outputs, as well as two (left and right) balanced XLR outputs. There is a knob that regulates the level of the balanced output signal and, of course, the corresponding MIDI in and out, remote, power and footswitch connections (access to the pedalboard, not included).
A Wide Range of Possibilities
In the previous paragraph, I dwelt especially on saturation, overdrive, distortion and speaker simulation parameters. The reason is that this is the most complex and difficult area in which to get good results, to my taste. After giving it top marks there, let's go through the rest of its many strengths.
This isn't simply a “workhorse.” The processor includes dozens of combinations among its many tools: compression, reverb, delay, chorus, vibrato, pre- and post-EQ, flanger, phaser, wah... etc., in other words, absolutely nothing is missing.
Now add the MIDI functions, thanks to its IN and OUT/THRU connections, as well as MIDI editing parameters and remote control of the preamp, and you get a machine ready for any situation you may run into as a guitarist.
Updates over the Internet
To give you an idea, the presets come with names that clearly identify the type of sound they produce, with references such as Metallica, Dire Straits, Yngwie, AC/DC, Stevie Ray, Pumpkins and so on, up to 254, making up an excellent list of preprogrammed sounds, ready to go without doing anything.
Now comes the fun part. As you know, after a few years or months (depending on your impatience and how much you use it) it's common to get fed up with the sounds on your processor. Well, thanks to remote access over the Internet, you can download new presets to freshen up the sound your VooDu Valve puts out. Although you can do it yourself, configuring your own sounds and saving them as you see fit, downloading the refreshed programming directly saves you hours of experimenting. Either way, you decide what you want to do and how.
Conclusions
I recommend you stop by your usual music store and check it out, because I'm almost convinced few guitarists could dislike it. Once there, try for yourself everything this little beast can do.
What We Liked Most
Practically everything. The versatility, amp or modeling, and the power of the tools for adjusting the sound exactly the way we want. The ease of use: the display is compact and comfortable. The unit is easy to operate, and thanks to the large rotary wheels our selections are made quickly and precisely. The sound quality, little more to add on this virtue. The professionalism of having balanced XLR outputs as well as the traditional ¼" jack outputs. The way the presets are built: with hardly any tweaking, it's easy to find a perfect sound. We single out the reactance parameter, the speaker size setting and the mic distance, and strongly highlight the effectiveness of the noise gate.
What We Liked Least
The price. Nobody sells dollars for dimes (as the saying goes), but this Rocktron is out of reach for a good share of guitarists, especially amateurs, or rather amateurs and professionals who are short on cash.
