Fender Tone Master Pro: Episode IV - A New Hope

[jellodog]

Do they only model real physical pedals? If so im not aware of any real peq pedals.

Boss PQ-4
Ibanez PTEQ
Wampler Equator
Empress ParaEQ MKII
Fairfield Circuitry The Long Life

 

[laxu]

Just curious - if Fender had released the TMP first day with the firmware as it is now, i.e. v 1.4 would some of you have rated it differently?

To put it another way: was it released a little too early and would it have been worth them waiting a year? Or is it always better just to jump into the market regardless and improve or fix issues on the fly?

I'd say it was released early, and the sound issues did them no favors.

For me, it's been largely about the user interface. I think it's aimed too much for people new to modeling and that makes it somewhat slow and wastes a lot of space on the screen. I like the more abstract Helix-ish touchscreen UI of the QC and Ampero 2 a lot more.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Just curious - if Fender had released the TMP first day with the firmware as it is now, i.e. v 1.4 would some of you have rated it differently?

It’s a big if because I think many of the issues only really got flagged and resolved by it being in the hands of the public. So in that regard, getting it out early and getting things resolved was better than sitting on it and missing obvious stuff (which is bound to happen).

If hypothetically it got released as it currently is, I probably would have a slightly higher opinion of it. Some of the straightforward questions I asked about power amp modelling, impedances and IR’s yielded gaslighty responses that weren’t really necessary. Some of the early tones were miles off, and I’m not 100% convinced they’re all there yet.

During the hype, I assumed that a plugin version would be an instant buy. Even at its current state, I don’t think it’s sonically bringing anything to the table. It’s fine, in a “does the job” sort of way but i’m not sure it sounds any better than some middle of the road plugins. The benefit of a better GUI is wasted on me because I don’t want to use a floorboard modeller at all.

I think for a lot of people it can be a perfectly adequate solution, lots of the shortcomings are overblown on forums by users specific needs which won’t apply to most people. But I also feel like it’s not THAT good still.

There’s so many new products launched these days, especially by smaller independent devs. I think there’s some value in choosing an option by a larger brand that can afford to support their product. I do believe Fender are in it for the long haul and are committed to the platform, and that’s a very genuine reason to go for this over something like an Amperium, which may well sound better and is much cheaper.

 

[adam]

Released the day after helix 3.8? I swear all of these companies have their update ready to go and just wait for the competition to announce their updates so they can steal their thunder the next day.

 

[laxu]

The launch price of the TMP was high enough that I feel like it needed something to separate it from the pack. Now it's priced the same as the QC and I still feel like it could use something like that.

QC had the form factor, touchscreen UI and captures + modeling going for it when it released so it felt fresh at the time.

The TMP wasn't even "the best modeler for Fender lovers" when it didn't come with less common Fender models for example.

I don't mind "me too" features in a lower price range like the Ampero 2 range, it comes down to what you get as an overall package. Even those still had "HX Stomp-ish capabilities/pricing with a modern touchscreen UI" as a differentiator.

 

[metropolis_4]

The TMP has some things going for it, they’re just a little more niche.

I still dream about that spring reverb and I miss it a lot. It is, without question, the best of any modeler out there. This is the new standard.

I like some of the Fender models on it better than Fractal, Helix, or QC.

I loved being able to just select a Deluxe Reverb and have the full amp right there in front of me ready to play. No need to add a cab block, then add a reverb block, then add a tremolo block… as far as quick plug-and-play it was great. Just like plugging into a real amp.


I think ultimately I’ll probably get another one to use as my Fender amp modeler and use Fractal as my Marshall/Mesa modeler

 

[Sedaxel]

TMP, great look and hardware.

Well... actually, that´s in the3 eye of the beholder, I guess. Leo Gibson himself described it as an ugly unit in his video comparison against the QC.

6 ms latency isn´t noticeable unless you´re Steve Vai... But yeah, it´s not ideal, and of course it´s far from the best units.

I wouldn´t buy a TMP at all. At least not till they catch-up the top tiers (because pricewise it´s among them).

 

[ian_dissonance]

Line6 is very likely to release their next generation (and while I'm no fan of the Helix), it will probably have a similar interface to the TMP and more models of everything.

If line 6 does anything like that interface (aside from touch) it would e monumental back step IMO. They already did that interface. 15 years ago. In POD Farm. Here’s hoping the era of expressionless “flagship” floor pedals is over.

 

[Jarick]

The TMP has some things going for it, they’re just a little more niche.

I still dream about that spring reverb and I miss it a lot. It is, without question, the best of any modeler out there. This is the new standard.

I like some of the Fender models on it better than Fractal, Helix, or QC.

I loved being able to just select a Deluxe Reverb and have the full amp right there in front of me ready to play. No need to add a cab block, then add a reverb block, then add a tremolo block… as far as quick plug-and-play it was great. Just like plugging into a real amp.


I think ultimately I’ll probably get another one to use as my Fender amp modeler and use Fractal as my Marshall/Mesa modeler

What are you using now?

 

[metropolis_4]

What are you using now?

A Fractal fm3. Which I like better for Marshall and Mesa amps, but I miss the TMP for some of its Fender amps

 

[JCW308]

Anyone know if the TMP has expression pedal heel down for tuner like on Kemper, BOSS GT-1000 and Fractal?

 

[Sedaxel]

If you do any recording with your DAW, you play with the buffer size and know that 6ms rtl can be felt. I'm shredding most of the time, so even if we aren't Steve Vai, we still find it annoying.

Well, I use DAW, dedicated hardware and real amps. I can't notice 6 ms at all... That said, I'm really bad at shredding. Better said, I'm not able to shred.

I suppose not, but just in case... You're aware that the latency shown by DAWS is less than the real RTL, aren't you? When reaper states 6 ms (for instance), actual RTL can perfectly be 8 ms or more. Unless you measure it, your can't have a true value.

But anyway, you may notice that latency, of course. It's not impossible.

 

[sashimi]

I use Oblique audio RTL tool to measure. What DAWs report is seldom correct.

I can live with 4-5ms. I can feel it, but its ok.

6ms rtl + another digital effect brings it to 8ms. That is really junky feeling.

I need a hardware modeler to have lower latency than my DAW, otherwise I would just play software sims.

Fractal is in the same boat, the RTL of their FM floorbaords isn't very good either. So its not picking on a brand, just saying what my requirements are.

The TMP has two analog loops so that is better than the Fractal and probably what I would use for analog gear.

Now that people are used to the latency because of modelers and plugins, isn’t that going to factor into the click algorithm? Aren’t modelers already modeling latency now?

Sorry ok i’m done i’m done

 

[Stone]

A Fractal fm3. Which I like better for Marshall and Mesa amps, but I miss the TMP for some of its Fender amps

Why not all 3 ( Fractal, Temp, QC) and use the best of what the 3 offer and use as needed

 

[metropolis_4]

Anyone know if the TMP has expression pedal heel down for tuner like on Kemper, BOSS GT-1000 and Fractal?

I don’t believe it does, no.

Why not all 3 ( Fractal, Temp, QC) and use the best of what the 3 offer and use as needed

I’m not opposed to it If they all offer something I need. I’m not sure what QC is bringing to the table for me that the other two don’t have though

 

[Mongillo19]

I’m not opposed to it If they all offer something I need. I’m not sure what QC is bringing to the table for me that the other two don’t have though

Timbuck awakens.

Speaking of which, where is that degenerate?

 

[Foxmeister]

I’m not sure what QC is bringing to the table for me that the other two don’t have though

The obvious thing that springs to mind is captures of course, but I guess these don't interest you?

Then there is form factor too, but you have to weigh that one up with the use of a power brick - although if you're going to use the QC as part of a pedalboard, there are plenty of pedalboard power suppliers that can power the QC - although they should have really made it work with 9V rather than 12.

 

[metropolis_4]

The obvious thing that springs to mind is captures of course, but I guess these don't interest you?

Then there is form factor too, but you have to weigh that one up with the use of a power brick - although if you're going to use the QC as part of a pedalboard, there are plenty of pedalboard power suppliers that can power the QC - although they should have really made it work with 9V rather than 12.

Yeah right now those don’t interest me very much. I don’t have anything to Capture and form factor difference isn’t important to me.

 

[Whizzinby]

Cool to see them aggressively developing it.

I’m impressed how forward thinking Fender has been in regards to digital in general. This is going to serve them well moving forward.

Also cool given they arent being entirely complacent on the analog front either. The PanoVerb is one of the coolest amps released this year imo.

 

[LordByron]

Anyone know if the TMP has expression pedal heel down for tuner like on Kemper, BOSS GT-1000 and Fractal?

Yes, you can enable this. (I have it set up.) I would have to go back and check my settings to see exactly where/how, as I don't recall off the top of my head.