Vox Delaylab- very mini review

[andy butler <akbutler@tiscali.co.uk>]

I got a email from Vox yesterday:

"Try out a Delaylab and we'll give you a free tuner".

too good an opportunity to miss, so went down to the local Vox dealer 
to confound the shop staff and do exactly that.


So, the delaylab as a looper:-

Given that this was done in a noisy music shop with no manual,
a random amp and a new guitar (without strap) which hadn't been set up.



1) It *doesn't* have a feedback control as implied in the manual, just one 
loop
  algorithm where the loop does fade slightly on overdub at a preset rate. 
- - -


2) Selecting any algorithm calls up a factory preset, particularly annoying
 when you select the one "loop with fade" algorithm which is paired with 
  an awful sounding delay with cheap reverb. - - -
  
3) There are two other algorithms with looping, but both have 100% feedback. Possibly
  one of those has a usable delay...but when you switch to the "fading 
loop" you call up
  that dreadful reverby setting ( and have to turn a knob to get rid of it 
every time) - - -

4) Each delay mode, including the one with looper has 3 algorithms.
  The only way to see which algorithm you're in in to press a select button...which changes 
  it and calls up factory presets. -

5) Loop functions are Rec/Dub, PLay/Stop/(hold to Clear), Reverse, Re-trigger. 

6) You can Re-trigger while overdubbing, but you can't reverse.

7) Procedure to replace a loop with a newly recorded one is Stop, 
longpressStop, Rec

8) Tap tempo delays aren't possible while looping. -

9) I think there's some kind of metronome type sync mode that I didn't try.
 

As a looper compared to DL4
1) Re-trigger doesn't force you into one-shot mode. +
2) No Half Speed - -
3) With the DL4 I could straight away work arrangements that combined the 
onboard delay
  with the looper. This *may* be possible with the delaylab, but I didn't 
manage it. - -

As a delay
1) Tap time possible. +
2) When changing delay time some algorithms do pitch bend like the DL4 
(not like changing tape speed!) +
3) Some algorithms allowed you to start with a short delay and tap in a 
multiply ( up to 4S ) + +
4) Real fun was had with a delay with pitch shift in the feedback loop. 
but note that while
  a shift of a 4th up worked quite well  the 5th up sounded a bit rough and the octave up 
  was unusable. (i.e. that's like those cheap pitch shifters from over a decade ago).   + 

and overall:

It's much bigger than you'd think. About 50% larger than DL4 in all 
dimensions.

The Delaylab does have savable presets, so it's possible that with a bit 
of effort it would get more user friendly.

I couldn't really assess the sound quality, but didn't notice anything 
bad, and didn't notice analog type impressiveness either.

> From the manual, there are ways to make the sound continuous when 
> switching preset,
with the 4 secs of delay available there might be some very neat tricks 
workable
to anyone with a bit of persistence. (e.g. switching briefly to a much 
shorter delay
for stutter action)... but this isn't confirmed.


Summary:
It's a very poor DL4 clone, for the price of a TC Flashback *plus* a 
TC-Ditto.
It doesn't have the immediate ease of use that made the DL4 so popular.
The large footprint is the final nail in the coffin.

I really didn't want to write such a negative review, and 
would welcome it if someone could make this device work for them.

Right...now lets see if they send the free Tuner.

andy butler