Two Notes VB-101 - the ultimate speaker simulator????

[nmarevic]

During my browsing on Thomann page I've found this:
http://www.two-notes.com/en/Produits-Tw ... VB101.html

First of all this is French +2000€ device and it is "only" guitar and bass speaker simulator. Palmer is nice device but if I can buy 5 Palmers for this device, it must be superb.

Specifications:
Loadbox

* Fixed 8 ohms input
* Max permissible power : 150W RMS
* Controlled ventilation and thermal security : amp and musician are perfectly safe.
* Power input (Speaker output from amp)
* Power output to connect a cabinet
* DI output without AD/DA conversion (Pre Sim Out)



Digital Processing

* Loaded from factory with 16 speaker simulations (guitar and bass, 8+8), internal memory capable of containing more than 32 different speakers.
* 8 microphones amongst the most commonly used in major studios
* One free speaker available to download on the website each month
* Latency (normal mode) = 4,84ms
* Latency (low latency mode) = 2,84ms
* 24 bits, 192 kHz AD and DA converters
* 32 bits floating point, 96 kHz internal processing
* 100dB S/N ratio
* AES/EBU and S/PDIF input / output up to 96 kHz.
* Internal, AES/SPDIF or Wordclock sync
* Torpedo Remote software, PC and MAC compatible, driverless USB connection to the VB-101
* MIDI handling (real time Program Change and Control Change)
* Optional Ethernet communication



Input / Output

* Power Input
* Power Output
* Balanced / Unbalanced line input, switched by relay
* Balanced Pre-Sim line output
* Balanced line dual-mono / stereo outputs
* Stereo headphone output
* AES/EBU and S/PDIF digital inputs
* AES/EBU and S/PDIF digital outputs
* Wordclock Sync
* MIDI In, Out/Thru
* USB
* Optional Ethernet

It looks like fancy studio DSP processor but I'm not sure does it worth 2000€.

Any more opinions?

 

[ke2]

Loadbox and impulses?
Loadbox and Axe-fx?
Even Loadbox and Pod?


One of these days I`ll try to load down my amp, and run the line out into the line in of my Pod.
I just have to stop being an ignorant with Logic, or sumthin`.

It`s a LOT of cash, and if one already has an amp, I can`t see that getting an Axe-fx and slaving the amp into that shouldn`t yield similar results, with more possibilities?

 

[TTripp]

I have,on occasion, loaded down an amp with a Hot Plate, line out to POD or Axe-Fx cab sims. Similar set up to the Torpedo, and the concept does indeed "work". I know the Torpedo has gotten some good reviews, but if you have the other links in the chain already, there's really no need for it.

 

[metalsoup]

Echoing the above comments... Judging from the sound clips on the site, I don’t think it’s worth the money. The Two Notes unit still relies on IR (convolution) files to mimic the sound of a cab (same as Axe-Fx). You can get a boatload of great IRs for free from some internet sites (e.g., guitarampmodeling.com) or for a modest fee from Redwirez (these are really nice). For less money than the Two Notes unit, you can obtain similar or better results by (1) purchasing an Axe-Fx which would then also give you several different amp models to work with or (2) purchasing a high quality attenuator (e.g., Faustine, Aracom) having a line out for direct recording to a DAW where you can use any combination of IRs you like. The latter option is relatively inexpensive yet permits the use of the power section of your amp while silently recording. Using IRs in the DAW will give you far more options to tweak your tone and ultimately yield better results than the speaker emulations that are often built into amps and attenuators.