Radial VocoLoco

Radial has long been known as one of the premier companies to turn to for managing and optimizing your signal, and the Voco-Loco is a perfect example of their excellence. With the ability to accept just about any kind of microphone, a two-band EQ for tone shaping, and the ability to adjust your level and tone at multiple places along the effects chain, the Voco-Loco is designed to be the most user friendly and versatile pre-amp possible.

External Control: None
Cost: $$$

HornFX Review

Interface:  4/5
The Voco-Loco is on of most versatile pre-amp pedals we have reviewed. This versatility does make the interface a little bit more complicated and less intuitive than other pre-amps. It is important to read the Voco-Loco’s manual to see what the SEND, RECEIVE, and TONE knobs are actually affecting, and more importantly, where in the chain they have their effect. It is quite handy to have a master MUTE button on the pedal, a feature most other pre-amps do not posses. Once you understand all of its intrcacies, the VocoLoco may become your favorite option for coverting your microphone’s signal. Although it is an exceptional tool, the Voco-Loco is not perfect. It is slightly larger and heavier than our other favorite pre-amps, which is something to take into consideration if you fly with your rig often. It also requires unconventionally rated power supplies which most power supplies like the Voodoo Labs and and the Strymon Zuma, cannot handle.

Versatility: 4.5/5
As much as we love the Eventide Mixing Link, we would argue that the Voco-Loco is actually a little bit more versatile overall. With the MUTE switch and tonal/gain stage adjustments you can make, the Voco-Loco is slightly more versatile in a live performance setting.

Tonal Reproduction: 4.5/5
Even with the two-band EQ (which the Mixing Link does not have), the VocoLoco still does not have perfect tonal reproduction. It can also be difficult to dial in perfectly due to its multiple gain stages and its EQ manipulation at multiple places in your signal chain. But, if you take the time to understand and calibrate this pedal in a variety of rooms and circumstances, you will be able to get quite an incredible fat tone, that is not compromised by any unwanted distortion.

Live application: 5/5
This is an incredible pedal when it comes to live use. Once you are intimately familiar with its controls, it can be extremely easy to calibrate in any room, even if you are dealing with a slightly sub-par sound engineer or system. The MUTE switch can be a major asset when you really need it on stage. Since the Voco-Loco has multiple gain stages, giving you the ability to adjust level before and after the signal enters the pedals, control over your signal-to-noise ratio and eliminating distortion is quite simple. After the sound has come through the effects loop, you can adjust the tone as well as the dry/wet mix on the way out to the speakers. The Voco-Loco is one of the very best tools available for taking the important step from your microphone to your pedals.

Product Information

The Radial Voco-Loco is in fact a studio quality preamp that has been carefully disguised as a foot pedal! One look at the linear frequency response, exceptional signal handling and low noise and you will recognize the studio quality that is built-in. This ensures that the dry microphone signal will be delivered to the PA system without distortion or artefact and faithfully reproduce the instrument or vocal without compromise. A carefully crafted 2-band EQ makes adjusting the tone effortless. Turning on the effects loop adds transformer isolation to reduce hum and buzz caused by ground loops, a common problem that plagues many pedal setups. Once the loop is brought back, a tone control lets you tame the effects signal and a dry-wet mix control lets you balance the signal to suit.

*48 Volt Phantom Power
Although 48 volts is often specified, truth is, it is not always present or needed. In fact most condenser microphones are designed to work from 12 volts to 52 volts, many of which will also work on a simple 1.5 volt battery. The reason high voltage is used to charge condenser mics in PA systems is that in enables the condenser microphone to be positioned 200 meters (600 feet) away from the mixing console. Considering the Voco-Loco will likely be used near the musician with a 3 or 6 meter (10′ or 20′) mic cable, the high voltage is simply not needed. The Voco-Loco actually generates 40 volts phantom, not 48 volts. We chose to do this in order to reduce a power stage which could add noise. We have tested a wide range of popular stage and studio microphones and in all cases, the results were excellent.

Audio circuit type: Integrated Op-Amp with Class A FET input circuit
Frequency response: 20Hz ~ 20kHz
Dynamic range: 100dB
Gain: 52dB
Clip Level:+15dBu
Total harmonic distortion: <0.005%
Intermodulation Distortion: <0.005%
Phase Deviation: 8° @50Hz
Input Impedance: 10K-Ohms, 100K (FX Loop)
Output Impedance: 300 Ohms, 3000 Ohms (FX Loop)
Common Mode Rejection Ratio: -73dB @55Hz
Equivalent Input Noise: -120dBu
Noise: -85dBu
Maximum Input: +10dB


Product info taken from the Radial website.