Hotone Ampero II Stomp - Review

[laxu]

How many blocks are left?
Also I've read that the A2S switches Presets extremely quickly. I might be able to work around that this way.

I can't remember at the moment but it was severely limited to the point that I would not want to work with its captures. I much preferred using its own amp models anyway.

My Problem with the HX Stomp is mainly, that you can only load one Amp channel and switching Presets takes quite some time. I cannot switch the Amp model in a snapshot/scene and so I have to figure a way to get a clean and a distorted Amp sim into one Preset. This limits my options extremely as it doesn't support 2 full models in one preset (only very light ones).
If the preset switching is fast, I might be able to switch from clean to distorted wihtout anyone noticing if I include an FX return with trails on. The reverb is analog in my case and will not be interrupted by the switch.

You could just pick up e.g a Tonex One and slap that in the HX Stomp fx loop. More latency, but would solve your amp issue and give you more fx slots to play with on the HX Stomp.

At least don't sell your HX Stomp before evaluating it against the Hotone.

 

[FrankyFire]

I can't remember at the moment but it was severely limited to the point that I would not want to work with its captures. I much preferred using its own amp models anyway.


You could just pick up e.g a Tonex One and slap that in the HX Stomp fx loop. More latency, but would solve your amp issue and give you more fx slots to play with on the HX Stomp.

At least don't sell your HX Stomp before evaluating it against the Hotone.

I won't sell it before evaluating it.

Latency might be an issue, we're using wireless IEM and Guitar as well as a digital Mixer. It adds up. It's already perceivable if you pay attention.

ToneX One is no option, as I'm unable to use their software as I'm a Linux only user. NAM can be created using any DAW and Tone3000. Also I do not have the space for another device on my pedalboard.

For me it would be fine if I could use the capture along an IR, max 2 EQ, a Comp an Overdrive and FXSend/Return.

 

[laxu]

For me it would be fine if I could use the capture along an IR, max 2 EQ, a Comp an Overdrive and FXSend/Return.

Yeah that should fit. Fx send/return will add some latency though, so unless you absolutely need it I'd just run things before/after the pedal.

I'd still explore the amp models on the unit because the captures were IMO a bit disappointing compared to Tonex or NAM plugin.

 

[FrankyFire]

Yeah that should fit. Fx send/return will add some latency though, so unless you absolutely need it I'd just run things before/after the pedal.

I'd still explore the amp models on the unit because the captures were IMO a bit disappointing compared to Tonex or NAM plugin.

Yeah sure, but I'm using the FX Loop of the HX Stomp already, so should not be worse than the current situation.

I did some thinking and re-checked my HX Stomp patches. If I'm honest, I mainly use it to turn on and off basic Effects (OD, EQ, Comp for Clean), have some Amp sound with IR and route MIDI. There's no need for me to touch the device even and I usually don't, because the interface is so small.
So maybe I'll check out the Sonulab Stompstation. It will still work with what I have in my mind if I create NAMs for all situations (Clean, Clean with OD, Rhythm, Lead). That reduces the need for Pedals in front of the device, so there's no switching required into the device and the post loop will be controlled by the Hydra as planned. It also supports switching patches and it does so fast. Having Reverb controlled by the Hydra (including Trails) makes the switches imperceptible.
Or is there something I'm missing?

 

[laxu]

I did some thinking and re-checked my HX Stomp patches. If I'm honest, I mainly use it to turn on and off basic Effects (OD, EQ, Comp for Clean), have some Amp sound with IR and route MIDI. There's no need for me to touch the device even and I usually don't, because the interface is so small.
So maybe I'll check out the Sonulab Stompstation. It will still work with what I have in my mind if I create NAMs for all situations (Clean, Clean with OD, Rhythm, Lead). That reduces the need for Pedals in front of the device, so there's no switching required into the device and the post loop will be controlled by the Hydra as planned. It also supports switching patches and it does so fast. Having Reverb controlled by the Hydra (including Trails) makes the switches imperceptible.
Or is there something I'm missing?

I'd probably check if the new Valeton GP-50 meets your needs as well. See the thread for these products here.

Realistically a Tonex One might be a somewhat viable solution for you as well, with way better capture quality. If you set it to the preset selection mode (press footswitch + alt together), you can cycle between 3 presets. Each preset can have Comp, EQ, Mod, Delay and Reverb so you would be able to build some of your settings combinations via its built-in effects and different captures.

To access more presets than 3 at once, you would need e.g Pirate MIDI Polar products and a MIDI controller (e.g HX Stomp).

 

[FrankyFire]

I'd probably check if the new Valeton GP-50 meets your needs as well. See the thread for these products here.

Realistically a Tonex One might be a somewhat viable solution for you as well, with way better capture quality. If you set it to the preset selection mode (press footswitch + alt together), you can cycle between 3 presets. Each preset can have Comp, EQ, Mod, Delay and Reverb so you would be able to build some of your settings combinations via its built-in effects and different captures.

To access more presets than 3 at once, you would need e.g Pirate MIDI Polar products and a MIDI controller (e.g HX Stomp).

The Valeton GP-50 was what sparkled my intereset in replacing the HX Stomp. But it doesn't load IRs along Profiles, which doesn't work for me, because I switch them from time to time and don't want to create new profiles each time. I thought about waiting until GP-150 and GP-180 will be released.

As far as I know Tonex One and Sonulab are on par (at least when Null-Testing). I do not recognize small details in a live situation anyways, as the drums are just so loud and there's so much going on.
Sonulab has MIDI and I do not need an extra device to translate to USB and the presets work the same. Also there's Bluetooth and a mobile app included, which is a huge plus for me (always missed this with the HX Stomp). The only thing keeping me from pulling the trigger is: Flexibility with the Ampero Stage II and the soon to be released Valeton devices.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Fwiw, are there any latency figures for the Sonulab thingy around?

 

[Sascha Franck]

If you set it to the preset selection mode (press footswitch + alt together), you can cycle between 3 presets.

It's actually only two. Unless I'm missing a trick that's not in the manual.

Each preset can have Comp, EQ, Mod, Delay and Reverb so you would be able to build some of your settings combinations via its built-in effects and different captures.

For me, the issue is that you can't edit anything but the most basic things on the pedal itself.

To access more presets than 3 at once, you would need e.g Pirate MIDI Polar products and a MIDI controller (e.g HX Stomp).

That's actually a very powerful team. Buying the Polar Pico (even if it was sorta expensive-ish as it had to be shipped from Australia and I had to pay customs) has been the best decision ever.

 

[FrankyFire]

Fwiw, are there any latency figures for the Sonulab thingy around?

Yes there is:


Slightly above 2ms with everything activated, so extremely low.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Slightly above 2ms with everything activated, so extremely low.

Oh, thanks. I thought I already looked for Leo Gibson's test - apparently not so.
That's a great value then.

I may have to reconsider some things. I actually grabbed my Tonex Ones (3 by now, but one was kind of an "accident") because they offer some onboard editing, which I think is downright horrible on the Sonulab. But then I ended up to do all small EQ and volume edits in my GT-1000s (yes, two of them...) anyway or grab the TXO Controller web editor (only working with the Pirate MIDI Pico), so I could as well hide any such a unit below the pedalboard and possibly even gain some real estate on the top.

 

[laxu]

It's actually only two. Unless I'm missing a trick that's not in the manual.

It's 3. You need to be in the preset selection mode and then it will consider the "Stomp" option just another preset and the foot switch cycles through all 3.

I wish you could make this a default option because the Stomp option is useless to me.

 

[Sascha Franck]

It's 3. You need to be in the preset selection mode and then it will consider the "Stomp" option just another preset and the foot switch cycles through all 3.

Oh right, the switch works as a selector then. But you're losing the other controls in that mode. Plus, you might run into accidentally touching them and change the preset. Nothing I'd do live.

 

[laxu]

Oh right, the switch works as a selector then. But you're losing the other controls in that mode. Plus, you might run into accidentally touching them and change the preset. Nothing I'd do live.

Yeah it's far from perfect for sure.