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Don’t get fooled by the front panel: The Torpedo VB-101
is an easy-to-program device for recording your amp
without using a speaker cabinet. |
IT’S TRIVIAL TO RECORD ELECTRIC
guitar these days: simply plug your ax
into the computer or iPad and call up an
amp modeler, right? However, some of
us don’t want to give up the sound and
playability of our favorite amp for the
sake of convenience. Although there are
a number of speaker simulators and load
boxes that can safely pass the signal from
an amp’s speaker output to a DAW, these
products don’t offer the features that dedicated
amp modelers have, such as simulated
cabinets and microphones. That’s
the niche that French manufacturer Two
Notes Audio Engineering wants to fill with
the Torpedo VB-101.
The Torpedo accepts the speaker output
from your favorite amplifier, provides the
proper impedance load, and then sends
the signal through high-quality mic
and speaker simulations that can be fed
directly into a mixer or DAW interface.
The device employs convolution processing,
commonly used in reverb plug-ins,
which offers an exceptional degree of realism.
However, convolution is a computerintensive
process, so it makes sense to
use a dedicated device rather than your
host CPU. Despite the technology, you
won’t notice any latency or delay when
playing through the Torpedo.
The Torpedo’s price and I/O confirm
that it’s intended for pros. The three
analog outputs—two with processing and
one dry—are on XLR connectors, as is
the analog input, for running prerecorded
tracks through the unit. The rear-panel
1/4" input accepts 8Ω, 150W max signals
from your amp, and the Thru jack can
be used to send a parallel, dry signal to a
speaker cabinet. The digital I/O includes
AES/EBU and S/PDIF connectors with
24-bit/96kHz resolution, a word-clock
input for external synchronization, standard
MIDI I/O for pedalboard control, a
USB port for computer connectivity, and
an optional Ethernet port. A headphone
jack with a volume control is on the front.
The Torpedo’s sturdy 2U chassis feels
roadworthy and includes a fan, though it
never started in normal studio use. Two
Notes also suggests using the Torpedo
onstage when you want to patch your amp
into a P.A. system; the unit’s build quality
suggests that it would survive the road
much better than your computer would.
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With Torpedo Remote, you can reposition the virtual
mic in front of the speaker cabinet and hear the results
instantly. |
Despite its wealth of features, the Torpedo
is surprisingly simple to use. The Quick
Start Guide outlines the basic connections,
warning you to use a speaker cable to connect
your amp to the Torpedo rather than an
instrument cable, and to make sure you use
the amp’s 8Ω output. The device defaults
to the Safe Gain Adjustment mode, which
automatically sets the input and output
levels. I had the Torpedo up and running
in a mere five minutes, auditioning speaker
and mic pairings through my headphones.
Editing the Torpedo from the front panel
is intuitive. It comes with a single default
preset, so I jumped in and created my own.
There are three modes to work in—Program,
Spkr/Mic, and Post-FX. To audition
the speakers and mics, I pressed Spkr/Mic
and scrolled through my options. There are
33 cabinets, based on common models for
guitar and bass, from 1x10 to 4x12 and 8x10.
The eight mic simulations include popular
dynamic, ribbon, and condenser types
that obliquely refer to the Shure SM57,
the Electo-Voice RE20, the Royer R-121,
and so on. You hear every selection in real
time, so you can quickly locate the sound
you want. (Worth noting is that third party
IRs and the user’s own cabinet/mic combinations
can also be added using the free
Torpedo Capture software.)
From there, you can set the virtual mic’s
distance and position (on- or off-axis, front
or back of the cabinet). A unique feature on
the Torpedo is the Variphi parameter, which
simulates the phase relationship between
two mics placed in front of an amp. As you
turn the dial, you’ll hear a timbral change
as if you were moving one of the mics. This
was one of my favorite effects, because it
modifi es the frequency spectrum in a natural-
sounding way.
The Post-FX section includes a variablefrequency
low-cut filter, a 5-band graphic
EQ, an exciter, a compressor, and a spatializer,
each of which can be individually
or globally bypassed. The spatializer creates
a pseudo-stereo sound, but it doesn’t
include any parameters: It’s either off or
on. The global Wet/Dry control sets the
mix of unprocessed (dry) guitar and processed
(wet) signal, while the Overload
feature allows you to dial in any degree
of speaker saturation. Together, the Spkr/
Mic and Post-FX sections give you a wide
tonal range, with the ability to make very
subtle changes. The Torpedo has 100 slots
for saving presets, so you have plenty of
space to store your work. Your presets can
also include input and output levels, as the
Safe Gain Adjustment is defeatable.
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Designed for pro applications, the VB-101 uses XLR
connectors for much of the I/O interface. |
Although it’s easy to edit from the front
panel, it’s more fun to do it from your computer
using Torpedo Remote (Mac/Win),
a free patch editor available from the Two
Notes website. Once you’ve downloaded the
app, simply connect your computer to the
Torpedo with a USB cable and you’re ready
to edit, load, save, and retrieve presets. I
also used it to update the device with the
latest firmware and additional presets from
Two Notes. Everything worked flawlessly
from the computer.
Of course, the sound you get from a preset
is defined by the amp you’re using ahead of
the Torpedo. So, unlike sharing presets in
other modelers, your Torpedo preset will
react differently if you share it with a friend
who is using a different amp than you. But
at least it’s a place to start.
I ran my Hagstrom Viking and Fender Stratocaster
and Mustang guitars through Orange
and Marshall amps ahead of the Torpedo,
and I was consistently pleased with its exceptional
sound quality and vast range of colors.
Although it doesn’t offer stompbox effects like
the more common modeling products, it does
provide a solid foundation for tracking guitar,
while retaining the interaction you’re used to
getting from your amp. If you’ve spent a lot of
time and money getting just the right amplifier, the Torpedo will help retain that sound
when you have to record direct or run a direct
feed from your amp in a live performance.
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTACT Two Notes Audio, dist.
by Diffusion-Audio.com;
diffusion-audio.com/torpedo
TORPEDO VB-101
PRICE $2,650 street
CABINETS 33
MICS 8
MEMORY SLOTS 100
EXTRAS Variable-frequency lowcut
filter, 5-band graphic
EQ, exciter, compressor,
spatializer.
KUDOS Retains the sound and feel
of your amp while direct
recording. Third party IRs
and user’s own cabinet/mic
combinations can be added
using the free Torpedo Capture
software.
CONCERNS Pricey.