"This is a nifty gadget that's really intended to induce budding musicians to further research and purchase Vox amp and pedal pro" submitted March 3, 2010
By a customer from cox.net
Overall
Sound
Features
Ease of Use
Quality
Value
Manufacturer Support
The Wow Factor
Musical Background: Re-starting guitar, given today's better values
Music Style: Classic Rock, Country, Dark Ambient, Experimental
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Sound:
This is useful for one to get a sampling of Vox amps in order to make a purchase decision (or not) by sampling models of Vox amps based upon tone. It's also useful to induce new players to practice, given the variety of nifty tones. As usual with modeling software and amp circuitry, it has far too many poor distorted tones (most purchasers are interested in metal tones, so Vox obliges). It also has many pedal models, and, a tuner, etc. I was able to get a "poor man's" Chris Issak" type tone out of it--JamVox offers nifty settings galore!
I'm using an Onkyo 5.1, pre-HDMI 100WX5 receiver a pair of 15" Cerwin-Vega speakers in front in a fair sized living room. Cerwin-Vega home "stereo" speakers are pretty good with this. I'm looking at guitar speaker cabs to run a home theater receiver through, etc. Ideally, one needs a "clean" amp such as a home theater tube amp, a PA, or a keyboard amp, etc.--guitar amps generally are too distorted and/or lack sufficient clean channel power, so, they won't work well with this. Better guitar amp cabs are great for this, however....
Feature:
This is totally dependent upon Windows and Mac; no Linux facility, of which I'm aware, works for the JamVox--unlike for Native Instruments (Guitar Rig, etc.). I dislike Windows--it's insecure.
Ease of Use:
Unfortunately, the JamVox I/O Box simply won't work with other modeling software's ASIO driver. Once the JamVox software is installed, it dominates (driver-wise). I can't use the proprietary driver for a Behringer usb guitar or the Behringer usb interface (which allows other guitars to use usb). Instead, one must use the generic ASIO4ALL driver which bumps up latency (ASIO4ALL will coexist with the JamVox, however). One can't get at the JamVox ASIO software directly to modify its settings directly, either. If latency is bad enough, PC modeling won't work: It's best to have use of at least a dual-core system with great memory and better PCI-EX, etc. These issues won't show up if the JamVox is the only modeling software installed or, perhaps, with a Mac. It's a good idea to disable unnecessary Windows tasks that, by default (with Windows install or otherwise), automatically start at boot--this frees cpu cycles. Instead of spending more on PCs now, I may overclock (speed up my system)--this shortens the life of a sys, and, it helps heat one's home, also! Really, I should sacrifice the old Windows sys to the Gods of Speed!
Quality:
A lot of carping about this product relates to the old driver. The guy who was very negative here had an older driver in January of 2009. The new driver from late last year (or newer) helps the user to get the product to perform much better--it's like night and day!
It's likely that new purchasers will have the disk with the old driver--ideally, these purchasers should download and install the newest driver. This is a "free" download: After all, the JamVox software doesn't work with other modeling software (NI, Peavey, or Amplitude (Fender)).
The I/O box has a very good finish. Every jack, except the XLR one for a Mike, is a 1/4" standard jack that fits electric guitar equipment. I did order a cable (online) that converts two 1/4" jacks to two RCA jacks for input into a stereo receiver. The XLR mike jack works well.
As for road-worthiness: NO! PCs aren't totally solid state (hard drive, screen, optical drives). I'd be horrified at having to re-config such software/hardware "on the fly" during a gig--this would probably be far worse than replacing a broken guitar string! A good modeling amp is a better choice for gear if one can't swing the cost of a versatile professional tube amp.
Value:
Typical of low-end modeling software.
Manufacturer Support:
The Vox forum for this product is very helpful....
The Wow Factor:
It has its own speaker. It looks somewhat like a black version of the pricey small tube chrome head from Vox. Looks fine--sounds better!
Overall:
I like having Vox's spin on amp modeling! Maybe the same's true of Peavey's and Fender's versions. I'd like to have but likely won't get around to investing money for the latter....
4 of 4 people
(100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Sound:
Solid product. Get a good pair of headphones so you don't annou anyone with your playing. Can be plugged to anything, studio, amp, home stereo.
Feature:
Play with amps and effects and learn. Load backing tracks and play along. Great tuner, metronome and beat box. A lot of fun for the money.
Ease of Use:
Too easy, if you are computer literate. If not go back to school. Best on Mac, but is there any other computer????
Quality:
Well made hardware and software. Made by Korg, it says a lot.
Value:
Well priced, well made in particular compared to competition.
Manufacturer Support:
Never used, and hope never will.......
The Wow Factor:
No sex appeal, its just a black box with a cd rom.......
Overall:
I'm planning to keep it for a long time and hopefully Vox will update software with more amps and effects.
6 of 6 people
(100%) found this review helpful. Did you?
Sound:
Amp modeling and effects are decent but not the greatest heavy tone ever and the Gxt sound STINKS!!!!
Feature:
1.The demo's on youtube for this lie and when you remove the guitar or vocals it doesn't sound like the demo.
2.If you think you can get a good lead sound, forget it!!
Ease of Use:
Easy to use but doesn't work.
Quality:
The interface is pretty well built. But it worked worked without too much trouble.
Value:
NO!!!
Manufacturer Support:
Don't know.Returned item next day.
The Wow Factor:
No.
Overall:
Just Don't Buy It!!!
10 of 19 people
(52.63%) found this review helpful. Did you?
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