VooDoo Lab Pedal Switcher vs Rocktron Patchmate Loop 8 Floor

  • Thread starter Thread starter TeleBlaster
  • Start date Start date
TeleBlaster

TeleBlaster

New member
VooDoo Lab Pedal Switcher vs Rocktron Patchmate Loop 8 Floor

Bad experience w/VooDoo Lab unit this week, big event, 5 nights, 1500 seats, last 2 nights SRO.
No response from customer service yet.
Considering rebuilding my pedal board around the Rocktron units, but I would like to know if anyone has had experience w/both units and can confirm I'm heading in the right direction.

Thanks
 
Rezamatix":1drgvf0d said:
I called voodoo labs once... :bash: :doh:
Click to expand...
I have had nothing but great customer service from Voodoo Lab. I did checkout the Rocktron Loop 8 Floor. The buttons were just too close together for me. :(
 
One recurring difficulty with the VooDoo lab unit has been the cheap-o jacks. It has been sent back once for this issue and one of the switching jacks was replaced with a much better quality component. The channel jacks are still original, and they require cleaning every couple months for reliable performance.
If you leave a patch cord plugged in, in a couple months it will lose reliable connectivity and become scratchy. Though I am using very good quality cable and hardware, it seems the jacks will oxidize on their own.

Problem number two, recently discovered and a deal breaker for me, is that the Pedal Switcher behaves as if it is not shielded. It picks up RF and EMF interference like an open single coil.
We went through every possible combination of changing cables, power supplies, power feeds, etc., I don't have the space to go through everything we did, but I can tell you with absolute certainty that this is so.
Very noisy stage, I'm not saying the Pedal Switcher is noisy or creating the noise, but I am saying it picks up all of the interference present and introduces unbearable noise into your signal path.
No response from customer service at VooDoo Lab yet.
 
This is not good news. I've got a Voodoo Labs Amp Switcher on my board. So far it's been reliable, and the build quality seems very good. Hope you get this worked out. That's not a cheap unit.
 
Can you describe what you need/want the unit to do? how many pedals? how many presets?

Kage
 
Keep in mind you could have a problem with any brand of equipment, VooDoo Labs are not known for producing junk.
 
Six pedals. Obviously I'm making a four channel switcher work now by stacking a couple together.

Has to be true bypass. I prefer the tone of a cable straight in to my amp, the pedals are a necessary evil so to speak.
75% of the time I have no effects on, hence the reason I like the idea of a switcher in the first place.

Optional buffer for long cable runs is a plus.

Ability to use channels as amp relay switches is a plus, I can then take the switch pedal off my board.

Above all, must be bullet proof. No kidding, I don't abuse my stuff but I do play out at least three times a week, and there are usually one to three practice nights each week.

The VooDoo Lab unit was great but for the two areas of shortcomings. I could go through and replace all the jacks, and I probably would. However, the shielding problem is another animal all together, so I feel I should probably upgrade to a better piece of gear.

Also looking at Moen GEC9 and a couple others.
 
Have you checked out the Musicom Lab MkIII Switcher or the Providence range? I owned the Musicom and it was awesome. 8 loops, preset capable and midi compatible. Has a cool buffer and is easy to use!
 
Just an FYI. You may already know this, Voodoo Lab will repair either your GCX or Ground Control or both free of charge. They will do this weather the item is under warranty or not.
 
Thanks for all the help, guys!! :thumbsup:
Still waiting to hear back from VooDoo Lab.
Looked at the Musicom, a little leery because the jacks used appear to be the lower grade plastic ones. I will check out the Providence, haven't heard of them until now.
The VooDoo Lab unit replaced an analog switcher. The problem with analog switchers is that every unit I saw uses a common ground to the chassis. The switching is done only on the tip or positive side, and the ground side is a fixed closed circuit. DPDT, one of the poles is used for the LED. Some pedals do not play nice with this arrangement and actually bleed some unwanted artifacts into the signal path, through the ground of the return side when their loop is supposed to be open. What you need then is a stacked switch, 2x TPDT to completely isolate both poles of both the send and return. I saw a switch like this once out of an old amp or something, but they do not use these very expensive mechanical switches in analog switchers. IF I could find these switches at a reasonable price, I'd make my own.
 
TeleBlaster":2fm3y9t2 said:
Six pedals. Obviously I'm making a four channel switcher work now by stacking a couple together.

Has to be true bypass. I prefer the tone of a cable straight in to my amp, the pedals are a necessary evil so to speak.
75% of the time I have no effects on, hence the reason I like the idea of a switcher in the first place.

Optional buffer for long cable runs is a plus.

Ability to use channels as amp relay switches is a plus, I can then take the switch pedal off my board.

Above all, must be bullet proof. No kidding, I don't abuse my stuff but I do play out at least three times a week, and there are usually one to three practice nights each week.

The VooDoo Lab unit was great but for the two areas of shortcomings. I could go through and replace all the jacks, and I probably would. However, the shielding problem is another animal all together, so I feel I should probably upgrade to a better piece of gear.

Also looking at Moen GEC9 and a couple others.
Click to expand...

What pedals are you using? how many through the loop and how many through the front of the amp?
 
All up front.
Pitchblack tuner
Krankshaft tube screamer
Distortus Maximus dirt box
Mindbender tremelo
AC-3 acoustic modeler
Arion delay

I only use the delay subtly on the clean channel so it's OK up front.
I sometimes "stack" the acoustic sim + delay, but mostly they're used independently,
also I sometimes "stack" the tube screamer + distortion, but mostly they're used independently.

So simplicity, durability, great straight-through tone are my priorities.
Don't need to overkill it with bells and whistles.
 
TeleBlaster":dxxbj7va said:
All up front.
Pitchblack tuner
Krankshaft tube screamer
Distortus Maximus dirt box
Mindbender tremelo
AC-3 acoustic modeler
Arion delay

I only use the delay subtly on the clean channel so it's OK up front.
I sometimes "stack" the acoustic sim + delay, but mostly they're used independently,
also I sometimes "stack" the tube screamer + distortion, but mostly they're used independently.

So simplicity, durability, great straight-through tone are my priorities.
Don't need to overkill it with bells and whistles.
Click to expand...
Im leaning towards the rocktron for now. Last question, what kind of amp and how does it switch channels(IE 1/4" jack)?
 
I rebuilt my board around the Rocktron, it's been fine. Occasionally, if you are plugged in to the active input and power it up, it goes into the programming mode. Not a big deal, just a weird glitch. Just have to switch it off and turn it on again.
Other than that it's functioning flawlessly. Very super heavy duty jacks, switches and chassis. Dependable, nice heavy solid clicks underfoot. You can know without looking that you hit the switch. Voodoo Lab unit uses soft touch momentary switches, so for example, once or twice I thought I hit the tuner to turn that loop off, but had no sound because I didn't depress the switch all the way and was still on the tuner loop, that's a little exciting for the wrong reason... :lol: :LOL:

Voodoo Lab repaired the Pedal Switcher. I then sold it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top