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Probably the best talkbox unit on the market - value for the money, and built like a tank. It is well packed and protected for shipping and travels well.I have a video demo here, all sounds are going through ONE AMP! (you may need to copy paste the entire link below into your browser's address bar)https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10152812589761327My advice is to spend a little more to get this unit and avoid having to upgrade later from any other talkbox unit.Also a tip for anybody who's interested: in general talk boxes need a second amplifier or PA system to run the vocal Mic.I am using an impedance transformer on the end of my mic cable to get the low gain Signal (from the mic) stepped up to a high gain signal, which allows me to run the microphone back through my pedal/effects board. While employing a simple A-B switch box, I am running my talk box at the beginning of my guitar effects chain, without the need for second amp or PA. Although the banshee 2 talk box has an effects loop that you can send and return in order to run other effects pedals, I chose not to use it for my extra effects and now I don't have to mess with pulling pedals off my effects board, they can stay put.There are a couple cool features to this unit whereby you can use the unit itself as a power amp to run a cabinet. I could not get a clean tone out of the unit - no matter how low you turn down the gain. But that's no biggie.If you are further interested in how and why I set up my banshee 2, back into my pedal effects board, (eliminating the need for second amplifier or PA) as opposed to using the effects loop option, Drop me an email and I will explain further, but some more on that below.I can be reached at Don(AT)ahhnl.ca, or you can post a reply to this review, I will receive it.So the next question is why did I give it four stars out of five? This has nothing to do with my dislike of the unit because I am very happy with it. I knocked off one star because I think Rocktron could have easily added one more, super smart feature...If you're using the effects loop your effects are in line with the banshee 2 guitar output, and they say these effects are combined with the talk box effect. Logically speaking, any phase effects or delay effects will be coming through the microphone and you would potentially lose any delay tails while using your mouth during vocal expression. This is why I chose to route the talk box before all of my effects and back into my effects pedal board, so my delay unit would work correctly and not get the tails cut off. I'm not 100% sure of how that affects loop works with regards to the effects you loop through it, but I think it works as I just described it - somebody can correct me if I'm wrong. If Rocktron would have wired in a microphone input back into the banshee and included an impedance transformer inside, with another (hi-z) mic output to your effects board, it would eliminate the need for second amplifier or PA system, and provide a much needed convenience factor to the unit. I found my own solution as detailed above ( with an external impedance transformer and and A-B switch box) but I think Rocktron should have incorporated this concept. Maybe they will do it in a banshee 3 version. I wouldn't let this issue deter you from purchasing this talk box, as I had said before I am very pleased with its durability it's operability and quality!So I have been on the fence about getting a talk box for years. My cover band does a couple songs that has the effect on the original recordings and I have always played in a way that simulates the sound, but I have really wanted the real thing. It was between this and the MXR and I chose this because of the versatility and the control layout. It's kind of big, but I have the space in my set up. I have to say, there really isn't much of a learning curve here. It was a lot easier to get a good sound than some have described. You will need more than one attachment point to your mic stand as many have noted, but other than that, this has a well thought out I/O scheme to allow you to put effects INTO a loop of the unit itself. Really a great idea if you have an extra delay pedal (or anything else you might want to try) and want to add that effect to talk box tone. I'm using the gigging downtime during the current pandemic to really get comfortable with the unit, but it honestly doesn't take much. If you have desiring the talk box effect, pay the extra money and buy this unit. You will suddenly find yourself learning all those great songs that used this unique effect.1. I would like to commend Bestsellers for their prompt shipping. I got the unit in less than 4 days!2. Previously owned a Dunlop talkbox prior to the Banshee 2. The Dunlop was a high maintenence unit. The Banshee 2 not only is a whole lot easier to use, but it also acts like a stomp box in that I don't need to have it set up as a separate rig. It works in line with my floor stomps. AND, it bypasses when deselected just like any other stomp box. With the Dunlop, I needed to set up a rig with its own overdrive, guitar, and amp dedicated just for the talkbox. With Banshee 2, I no longer need to do that! That is about the best feature.3. The unit comes with a pre-amp that already has a Gain control as well as Volume & Tone! It is powerful in that I can hear it in my mouth louder than the Dunlop! Because of the volume and gain sending a strong signal through the tube, I don't have to work very hard either picking or mouthing to get the desired sounds.4. Rocktron really nailed the technology of the Talkbox better than anything out there. I hope they will continue to produce them although it is no longer displayed on their web site.I am absolutely pleased and excited about this unit. If you are on the hunt for a talkbox, and do not have the budget for the extra resources, or the hassle to build a second rig for the talkbox, I highly recommend the Banshee 2. It is an excellent product.I love this thing, I bought it a few days ago, arrived sooner than expected, works great! it's extremely convenient for a bedroom player like me to have the built in amp to play with. If you have never used a talk box before, here's some info that I would've found useful:yes, it comes with a power supply and tubingIt comes with everything you need besides 1 instrument cable and 1 guitar that you need to plug and playyou don't need an amp, unless some of the song you will be playing is going to be non-talkboxyou DO NOT need a mic, unless you are going to need it REALLY loudyou will need some way to have the tubing by your mouth, people usually use a mic stand but I taped a dowel rod diagonally to the side of my amp because I'm too cheap to buy a real mic stand: it works fine.DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS TALK BOXWell, while I did say "east to use" it does require a little practice to get the hang of having to move your mouth around the tube. And also to get the the words to sound intelligible. But to a large degree that also depends on the effect you use. I use my microKORG with my Banshee so its very easy to tweak the settings as I go to get the sound I'm looking for. Also as a little side note I will say this, if you turn the gain up on the Banshee you will get a very prominant hissing that leaks out of the tube. But if you play with the volume knobs on both the talkbox and the input device its really not a problem that can't be tamed.
