IK Multimedia TONEX

[synthpenguin]

So, the PM Pico arrived. Amazing device, worked right out of the box so far. Pretty much zero gap when switching patches via MIDI. Along with trail spillover (in case I use reverb/delay) from the GT-1000, it should defenitely not be noticeable (only checked with the Stomp so far). Great start, things will likely only get better from here.

Ok, quite obviously, patch switching via GT-1000 works every bit as supposed. Pretty much no perceivable gap. That's just excellent.

Nice, that's great to hear! I'm going to live with the Tonex One for a bit longer before seriously considering something like this (I don't really NEED it with how I'm using the Tonex), but I'm going to keep it in mind, especially since they're shipping to the US again.

Let me rather describe what it will look like (in case I don't feel adventurous tomorrow, until friday it'll be the old one as shown in the pedalboard thread).

- GT-1000 as the brain.
- Dirt pedals in loop 1.
- TXO in loop 2, patches switched via MIDI.

And that's already it, really. I will describe some details when I'm done with all the recabling (I might stumble over issues or additional ideas...).
I already mentioned this before, latency of a fully loaded patch with both loops running serially and the TXO in loop 2 is pretty much exactly 3ms (which should almost be a world record in modeling land).

How do you like the GT-1000 effects btw? Compared to the Helix etc.

I've very casually considered the 1000CORE as a replacement for how I'm using the HX Stomp (for IR + post FX), but I need to find / check out some good demoes of the FX. I do know the interface on these is not the best, but I also know it has a lot of pros as far as I/O, A/D, switching, etc

 

[Sascha Franck]

How do you like the GT-1000 effects btw? Compared to the Helix etc.

Defenitely not as flexible, I also can't use much of them because that'd make organizing patches /w true splillover and global blocks a lot more of a brain twister. But they're very serviceable and some of them are more "instant gratification" than some HX counterparts.
I'm actually not using much anyway, my most used live bank has a phaser and flanger for cleans, tremolo and a Uni-vibe-ish thing for dirts and that was it for modulations, I then use a delay and a kinda "utility" reverb for leads and the master delay for some spacier bits. And that was it, really. I usually allow myself one "playground" patch per bank (I never switch banks live), usually something not requiring to be switched to or from, so spillover isn't an issue.

The thing defenitely not working well for me is all the drives but their "Natural OD". Which is why I still have some pedals on the board (and they obviously can be switched on/off "globally"). And quite unfortunately, the wahs aren'T anything to write home about, either - but again, for live they're fine.

If it was just for FX variety and quality, I'd defenitely go for the HX series, but the GT-1000 is allowing me to organize things almost 100% the way I want (mainly because of the global block functionality and partially because of the gapless switching). The TXO with its autosave functionality matches that approach almost perfectly.

Also, let's face it, Boss knows how to do very sturdy hardware that is made to stand quite some beating and last for long. Unfortunately I can't say the same about Line 6 products (I have a pretty awful track record of things breaking with their products - and it's not because I treated them badly).
And finally, one of the reasons I sold my Floor was the horrible visibility under critical lightning conditions. Just not an issue with the GT, you can see things under all conditions from any angle.

 

[synthpenguin]

Defenitely not as flexible, I also can't use much of them because that'd make organizing patches /w true splillover and global blocks a lot more of a brain twister. But they're very serviceable and some of them are more "instant gratification" than some HX counterparts.
I'm actually not using much anyway, my most used live bank has a phaser and flanger for cleans, tremolo and a Uni-vibe-ish thing for dirts and that was it for modulations, I then use a delay and a kinda "utility" reverb for leads and the master delay for some spacier bits. And that was it, really. I usually allow myself one "playground" patch per bank (I never switch banks live), usually something not requiring to be switched to or from, so spillover isn't an issue.

The thing defenitely not working well for me is all the drives but their "Natural OD". Which is why I still have some pedals on the board (and they obviously can be switched on/off "globally"). And quite unfortunately, the wahs aren'T anything to write home about, either - but again, for live they're fine.

If it was just for FX variety and quality, I'd defenitely go for the HX series, but the GT-1000 is allowing me to organize things almost 100% the way I want (mainly because of the global block functionality and partially because of the gapless switching). The TXO with its autosave functionality matches that approach almost perfectly.

Also, let's face it, Boss knows how to do very sturdy hardware that is made to stand quite some beating and last for long. Unfortunately I can't say the same about Line 6 products (I have a pretty awful track record of things breaking with their products - and it's not because I treated them badly).
And finally, one of the reasons I sold my Floor was the horrible visibility under critical lightning conditions. Just not an issue with the GT, you can see things under all conditions from any angle.

Thank you, that's very helpful!

I'm basically happy with the functionality of the Stomp, but am constantly finding a few of the FX categories a little lacking. That was okay before (it's not like they're bad or anything), but it's become a bigger thorn now that FX are like 90% of what I'm using it for.

It sounds like the GT1000 won't solve that problem, even if it has other advantages of its own.

 

[Shask]

Which reamp box did you get?

I got a DIYRE LA2. I like to build a lot of stuff, and this is a pretty simple little kit to put together.

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[Sascha Franck]

It sounds like the GT1000 won't solve that problem, even if it has other advantages of its own.

Yeah, likely wouldn't buy it if I was looking for great FX, either, especially as you can only run one fully featured delay per patch (the other 4 are dumbed down, think simple delay in the HX world, plus damping) and one reverb. So there's not much nesting, parallel fun or whatever.
I actually thought about adding the Stomp for that kinda stuff already - but I really don't need that stuff for live.

 

[synthpenguin]

you can only run one fully featured delay per patch (the other 4 are dumbed down, think simple delay in the HX world, plus damping) and one reverb

Oh wow, that's odd!

 

[Sascha Franck]

Oh wow, that's odd!

Well, it's not as bad as it may read, because in Boss land, you can switch patches without issues as there's no gap and global blocks. So, to do what you were doing in one HX Floor kitchen sink preset, you could then just split the load (and options) to two patches, or even three.
But yeah, as long as we're talking options within one patch, the HX series wins by a wide margin.

 

[Dimiguitar]

That's not common in other units that do offer high and low cuts in the cab block. I understand the desire for more flexible EQ options, but keep in mind Tonex was never meant to be a standalone all in one solution. External EQ is probably your best bet.

I guess more flexible low and (especially) high cuts didn't seem like a big deal to me. But I certainly get the point. And I remembered wrong about some other devices; you are correct.

 

[Dimiguitar]

Then others might not like it. And in return, people would be asking for choices. Etc.
While I'd personally love all these options, you'd end up with a whole lot of things that you just can't cram into such a small (and possibly pretty CPU limited) device.

I've just made versions of the IRs I want with different high cuts, at this point. Even 10k makes a difference with these. For some other IR, much smaller change.

 

[Dimiguitar]

Nice playing, but I don't exactly see how this sound would only be possible in case you've used a high cut at 10k. Seriously, there's barely any energy in that range anymore.
Anyhow, if you really think it's so important for you (which is absolutely fine, just so you don't get me wrong), I would just do some DAW homework and EQ the cab section. It's pretty easy and rather straightforward, even when using captures with embedded cabs.

Ah, I meant that as an example of a high-gain tone where 10khz cut can make a meaningful difference for me.

Here is a "direct" dual rec capture going into a Mesa York Audio IR (quite popular IRs). 10khz cut applied in DAW. To my perception, there is quite a bit of fizz that goes away. It exists from 10khz and above.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Here is a "direct" dual rec capture going into a Mesa York Audio IR (quite popular IRs). 10khz cut applied in DAW. To my perception, there is quite a bit of fizz that goes away. It exists from 10khz and above.

Just by listening it sounds to me as if the cut would reach into the spectrum *way* below 10kHz as well.

 

[Dimiguitar]

Just by listening it sounds to me as if the cut would reach into the spectrum *way* below 10kHz as well.

Steep slope, but unless I am hallucinating, certainly not much below. Also tried setting it to 11khz and there's similar difference. Do you use such high-gain tones?

 

[Sascha Franck]

Just by listening it sounds to me as if the cut would reach into the spectrum *way* below 10kHz as well.

Seems I was wrong, at least given whatever analyzers.

 

[Sascha Franck]

More or less just grumbling by myself, stupid GT-1000 apparantly doesn't allow me to send PCs within a patch in a meaningful manner (as in: switch on = PC x, switch off = PC y). Being able to switch between amp "channels" within a single patch has always been quite useful for me. Hmpf...

 

[Sascha Franck]

Ok, this is a shitty little video, but it's sufficient to demonstrate how well this setup is working (or will work, once things are done). Had to prerecord a stupid loop (so I could hold the phone), but you will then see me switching GT-1000 patches with the TXO following gaplessly. I tried to switch onbeat and you even notice when I miss the beat as the switching is so accurately fast. You'll also notice how nicely delay and verb trails spill over. And in the end I'm raising the gain of one TXO amp via the Tonex One Controller webpage (hosted locally by the PM Pico) for giggles.
This is all coming along as flawlessly as it gets.

 

[AlbertA]

Ok, this is a shitty little video, but it's sufficient to demonstrate how well this setup is working (or will work, once things are done). Had to prerecord a stupid loop (so I could hold the phone), but you will then see me switching GT-1000 patches with the TXO following gaplessly. I tried to switch onbeat and you even notice when I miss the beat as the switching is so accurately fast. You'll also notice how nicely delay and verb trails spill over. And in the end I'm raising the gain of one TXO amp via the Tonex One Controller webpage (hosted locally by the PM Pico) for giggles.
This is all coming along as flawlessly as it gets.

 

[Chocol8]

Ok, this is a shitty little video, but it's sufficient to demonstrate how well this setup is working (or will work, once things are done). Had to prerecord a stupid loop (so I could hold the phone), but you will then see me switching GT-1000 patches with the TXO following gaplessly. I tried to switch onbeat and you even notice when I miss the beat as the switching is so accurately fast. You'll also notice how nicely delay and verb trails spill over. And in the end I'm raising the gain of one TXO amp via the Tonex One Controller webpage (hosted locally by the PM Pico) for giggles.
This is all coming along as flawlessly as it gets.

That looks like it is working pretty well! Do you get access to all 20 saved presets on the One, or just the two in its A/B slots? I am wondering if it can swap the others in out as fast/gapless as it does the A/B with the One's foot switch.

I still think IK should add MIDI over USB capability if physically possible (seems like it should just be software) but this is a pretty small and inexpensive work around. I am definitely curious and following your trials with interest!

 

[laxu]

still think IK should add MIDI over USB capability

They absolutely should. Seems it works via MIDI Sysex or something since there are quite a few third party tools.

 

[Chocol8]

They absolutely should. Seems it works via MIDI Sysex or something since there are quite a few third party tools.

I think the third party tools are translating midi messages to whatever protocol IK uses with their editor over USB.

 

[Shask]

That looks like it is working pretty well! Do you get access to all 20 saved presets on the One, or just the two in its A/B slots? I am wondering if it can swap the others in out as fast/gapless as it does the A/B with the One's foot switch.

I still think IK should add MIDI over USB capability if physically possible (seems like it should just be software) but this is a pretty small and inexpensive work around. I am definitely curious and following your trials with interest!

You can select all 20 presets.

What it does is move it to the stomp slot when you select it. It runs it on stomp/off mode, and then always moves the preset to the stomp slot that you select.