IK Multimedia TONEX

[DrewJD82]

As one of the few advocates for IK multimedia, they have deals all the time. Right now they have their Total Studio max 5 deal going.
It includes all the previously released tonex signature models. I'm hoping a year from now it will include the 3 Brown sound packs and I'll pick it up then.
I already picked up Total Studio Max 4 last year for $70. Crazy.

I'm going to be scooping up their T-Racks stuff for sure. I didn't realize until this past week how much recording stuff they get into, I've only paid attention to the guitar-based stuff. Particularly because it seems to be mainly mixing/mastering-based plugins, I'm swimming in guitar tone stuff already and it's time I start dipping into the final part of the mixing/mastering area.

 

[Chocol8]

As one of the few advocates for IK multimedia, they have deals all the time. Right now

Since I posted that, I saw they are selling limited color Tonex One's that each come with 2 of the three EVH packs. I was thinking about selling my OG Pedal and getting a second One. Between the pre-order sale and jam points, I can pick up a One, and two of the EVH packs for $200, and I should be able to get $200-$250 for the OG Pedal. Hmmm.

 

[dean701]

I'm going to be scooping up their T-Racks stuff for sure. I didn't realize until this past week how much recording stuff they get into, I've only paid attention to the guitar-based stuff. Particularly because it seems to be mainly mixing/mastering-based plugins, I'm swimming in guitar tone stuff already and it's time I start dipping into the final part of the mixing/mastering area.

Their Total Studio bundle is a great value as it includes pretty much every package including T-Racks.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not here to sell their stuff for them. I think their MODO stuff is awful. T-racks 6 is very good. I know nothing of Pianoverse as I have way too many Kontakt offerings. Their Hammond is still top shelf and I like Sampletank.
BUT... for the whole thing at it's current sale price, it's worth it IMO.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I have an AX I/O One and was considering retrying it as a ToneX cap device using a buffer on the output to boost levels, would this work do you think? @@EOengineer and/or @@MirrorProfiles ?

Yeah, as long as you can get a suitable amount of level and noise doesn’t become an issue. Accuracy is always better on machine learned models when noise is as low as possible. I’m sure it’ll work pretty well though if you’re just making use of what’s at hand.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I'm going to be scooping up their T-Racks stuff for sure. I didn't realize until this past week how much recording stuff they get into, I've only paid attention to the guitar-based stuff. Particularly because it seems to be mainly mixing/mastering-based plugins, I'm swimming in guitar tone stuff already and it's time I start dipping into the final part of the mixing/mastering area.

There’s some good T Racks stuff, a lot of it is very underrated and you can get it all for a decent price these days.

There’s some typical IK bullshit though - the upgrade pricing will never be fair or enticing, there are long standing bugs that are unlikely to ever get fixed, and tbh, most of their library was copying the product line of UAD and offering it native. Now that UA has native plugins, and competitive pricing, I’d just go straight to UA. As far as mixing and mastering plugins go, UA are the equivalent of Fractal - they’re the benchmark everyone else compares against. When the pricing is similar, I’d go UA all the way as it’s where you’ll probably end up eventually anyway.

 

[EOengineer]

There’s some good T Racks stuff, a lot of it is very underrated and you can get it all for a decent price these days.

There’s some typical IK bullshit though - the upgrade pricing will never be fair or enticing, there are long standing bugs that are unlikely to ever get fixed, and tbh, most of their library was copying the product line of UAD and offering it native. Now that UA has native plugins, and competitive pricing, I’d just go straight to UA. As far as mixing and mastering plugins go, UA are the equivalent of Fractal - they’re the benchmark everyone else compares against. When the pricing is similar, I’d go UA all the way as it’s where you’ll probably end up eventually anyway.

Spot on - was going to encourage but with warnings.

Some of the IK stuff sounds really good. I like their bus compressor and 1176 quite a bit for punch and character. You have to work for stuff though. No automatic volume leveling features or mix knobs on most of the compressors so maintaining unity and parallel compression are more work. You end up having your plugin list polluted with their entire suite, even the stuff you don’t own.

I’ve been much happier with the UAD stuff, I think even over a lot of the brainworx stuff, which had been my bread and butter up until recently.

 

[ChordInversion]

If you're more willing to work on your sound than IK is willing to work on their software, the cheap price of Total Studio Max may indeed be for you. I think I can upgrade for $85, though I haven't used their stuff in months.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Some of the IK stuff sounds really good. I like their bus compressor and 1176 quite a bit for punch and character. You have to work for stuff though. No automatic volume leveling features or mix knobs on most of the compressors so maintaining unity and parallel compression are more work. You end up having your plugin list polluted with their entire suite, even the stuff you don’t own.

I’ve been much happier with the UAD stuff, I think even over a lot of the brainworx stuff, which had been my bread and butter up until recently.

For 1176, 1073, API, LA2A, Fairchild, SSL channel and bus comp, Manley Vari Mu, Lexicon reverbs, Roland Space Echo, Distressor, Ampex+Studer tape, UA is just better (even when IK does them well).

I also rather like the IK SSL bus compressor although on last count I had over 10 different versions on my computer and they’re all decent. IK Sontec is good, but I tend to gravitate to Brainworx’s or DMG Equilibrium. IK 33609 is good, but I use UAD. The tape machines are good, but I never use them. The distressor is awesome but again, I just use UAD exclusively. That’s my point really - no matter how much I like the IK version of something, I never seem to prefer them over the alternatives.