IK Multimedia TONEX

[yek]

The Tonex has been a handy solution when traveling.

I even velcro'd it to my guitar strap, together with a small portable battery (Big Joe Power Box).
This allowed me to step on stage during jam sessions, plug the cable into any available channel strip or amp, and immediately rock on.
Not having to arrange stuff on the floor stage or needing a spare power outlet.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Now, with the Airstep, the TONEX makes those 20 presets from the Preset Browsing Mode more easily accessible. That's nice but in order to do this, it runs in Stomp mode. That means that those two precious presets / amp tones you've selected for the Preset A and Preset B slots, after examining hundreds of captures, are now not accessible anymore. Solution: add them to the 20 presets.

I was kinda aware of the switching options - and for my personal use cases, I don't see that much of a limitation here, as the main purpose of the Airstep would be to deal with all the switching. Sure, ideally you'd be able to utilize the Tonex' switch additionally, but that's a pretty minor drawback for myself.

Fwiw, for me, the main drawback with the Airstep would be that I can only call up 4 patches per bank. There's some more or less regular gigs I'm playing where the feature set of the Tonex One would be pretty much perfect (ok, I might have to add a little RC booster kinda pedal in front to somewhat juice things up here and there). but I really need 5 patches for those particular gigs, 4 for electrics, one for an acoustic. Anything less would make things a lot less easy.
Along similar lines: There seems to be nothing to indicate the bank number, that's pretty bad. Guess you could partially work around that by coloring the patches per bank on the pedal, but that's a pretty bad workaround. A single digit display on the Airstep would be immensely helpful.
I also don't like dual switch presses at all - if they offered a mode without that but 5 patches instead, this would be vastly more attractive for me.

And then, buying a floor controller tied to one single unit is a bit of a questionable thing, too.
Maybe I should have a look at the Pirate MIDI offerings. With those, the Tonex actually becomes fully MIDI capable (so you could use any device to control it), I just don't know what to think of their browser based editor. And obviously, it's more of a fuss to set things up whereas the Airstep is pretty much plug'n'play.

Fortunately, I'm not in any kind of a hurry - and perhaps someone comes up with an even better solution. Ideally, IK would update their firmware so the Tonex One could communicate straight via MIDI, too. All you needed in that case was a MIDI-to-USB capable foot controller, of which there are quite some.

 

[yek]

Yeah, the strength of the One is also its weakness. It's not a pedal made for switching / multi-stuff. And the Airstep isn't the ultimate solution to it.

What annoyed me is that the Airstep TX is limited to Tonex. Even though it has the brains to do more stuff, like other AirStep units (general MIDI), it doesn't allow that. So it's a one trick pony.

 

[Sascha Franck]

What annoyed me is that the Airstep TX is limited to Tonex. Even though it has the brains to do more stuff, like other AirStep units (general MIDI), it doesn't allow that. So it's a one trick pony.

Guess they don't want to cannibalize the sales of their "fuller" units - as they're quite more expensive.
But they could as well just add Tonex compatibility to those. I'd possibly consider one of them in that case, so I could run both a smaller and a larger setup.
Something that would really be pretty much perfect for me as well would be being able to remote control the A/B switch from whatever other device. No idea whether that'd even be possible, but I'd buy an adapter supporting that (USB-C to TS or whatever, so I could switch things with any stock amp CTL out) in a heartbeat. I would then slap it into the loop of my GT-1000 (which I will do anyway, but I need two amp sounds for my setup - and none of them will ever be any of the GT's internal nonsense) and use the GT's amp control for switching. That'd really be kickass.

 

[Byrdman]

Ok. I was just trying to fool around with the Tonex plugin. And guess what? You CAN'T enter any text in the model search box under Logic as all key actions are still only triggering Logic commands.
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?
Hey, @IK Multimedia, do you actually have any testers worth their salt?
I absolutely can't believe this!

Same old story, really. Potentially killer products, incredibly lousy quality assurance (and don't even get me started on the iLoud Micros and their un-solveable port turbulence issues).

You should have spent the money and got the OG Pedal. I don't think this will be the last we are going to hear on this topic from you

Seriously, the software is a PITA, but hang in there and it will work out.

I am doing my first capture as I am sitting here impatiently waiting for it to train. If it comes out decent, anyone want to check it out and critique it? It's my Marshall Origin 50H modded to sound more like a Plexi.

 

[Byrdman]

I don’t have one of the pedals yet.

If you get one, I think you will like it. I picked up a 2nd directly from IK off Reverb for $250 and so far it's been worth every $$ IMO

 

[nicolasrivera]

Still counting my blessings, I’m one of the “The Fractal UI doesn’t bother me in the slightest” types.

Should also note, I’m just running the ToneX plugin or standalone, I don’t have one of the pedals yet.

The TONEX pedal into the FM3 or VP4 delivers pure tone nirvana!

 

[Richard_G]

I have both the Tonex One and the Tonex pedal. They both have their strengths and weaknesses.

 

[DrewJD82]

If you get one, I think you will like it. I picked up a 2nd directly from IK off Reverb for $250 and so far it's been worth every $$ IMO

I have no doubts about that. I plan on getting a couple One's, one to keep around in a gig bag and one to keep up in New England for when I visit home. There's always ample jam opportunities up there but the last time I went up I was playing direct into a mixing board one night and and ultra clean, not fun solid state Fender combo the next.....that actually felt like playing direct too.

Shit, I got that mini Bogner head and enough 2x12's to spare, I should ship that up there as well as the One, then I can have a few dirt pedals to either put in front of the Bogner or just plug into it's return.

 

[[Nathan]]

Sascha getting a ToneX One pedal has gone pretty much exactly how I expected it would.

 

[riffy]

While I am still not able to play well. Still recovering from the stupid ulnar nerve surgery, I have two large Tonex pedals. I have a black one and the white anniversary pedal. I really, really dig them a lot. There is so much you can do with them. It’s not even funny. I have them set up with a midi pedal that does all my changes for me, I swear, having the real amps like an SLO a dual rectifier, the boogie quad and a 290 power amp, I still think I’m getting the best tones I have ever had, from the Tonex.

 

[Byrdman]

While I am still not able to play well. Still recovering from the stupid ulnar nerve surgery, I have two large Tonex pedals. I have a black one and the white anniversary pedal. I really, really dig them a lot. There is so much you can do with them. It’s not even funny. I have them set up with a midi pedal that does all my changes for me, I swear, having the real amps like an SLO a dual rectifier, the boogie quad and a 290 power amp, I still think I’m getting the best tones I have ever had, from the Tonex.

Have you captured those amps? That would give you something to do while you heal up some.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Sascha getting a ToneX One pedal has gone pretty much exactly how I expected it would.

I'll let you in on a secret: it has as well gone pretty much exactly how I expected it would.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Some *really* good news: In the loop of my GT-1000, powered by a Harley Benton PowerPlant ISO12AC Pro Modular (which plays way above its price league IMO, just as all HB PSUs do), the pedal is as silent as it gets. Defenitely also has got to do with Boss' most excellent management of all things related to ground issues (even if, as a result, you can run into some really loud hum when chosing the wrong settings - but that's something adjusted in a pinch), but it does as well show that IK has been doing something not exactly right, as I'm actually getting more noise in most scenarios when running the pedal entirely on its own.
Connecting the pedal to my computer or the docking station in addition does however add some noise, but with tons of things connected, that's what's usually happening (could adress it inserting countless galvanic isolation boxes, but I can't be bothered). It's fine for the moments when I'm actually managing patches, though, and really only noticeable on high gain amps.

Anyhow, as this is working so well, I may need another Tonex One one day, so I can replace both "amps" (right now an Amplifirebox and an Amp Academy, the latter just sent into retirement thanks to the TO). Not in a hurry at all, though. And with the HX Stadium around the corner, things may look entirely different somewhen next year anyway.
But hold on, I need another TO anyway, if this ends up on my pedal board...

Fwiw, overall latency of the GT-1000 and the nested TO is slightly less than 3ms. 3 full ADDA and processing cycles included. That's very impressive.

And finally, some recommendations for a pretty low driven (maybe slightly more than hairy) Marshall kinda sound out of the Tonex Max collection? That's what I could do with on the GT board. Would possibly save me a dirt pedal or two.

 

[Dimiguitar]

Some *really* good news: In the loop of my GT-1000, powered by a Harley Benton PowerPlant ISO12AC Pro Modular (which plays way above its price league IMO, just as all HB PSUs do), the pedal is as silent as it gets. Defenitely also has got to do with Boss' most excellent management of all things related to ground issues (even if, as a result, you can run into some really loud hum when chosing the wrong settings - but that's something adjusted in a pinch), but it does as well show that IK has been doing something not exactly right, as I'm actually getting more noise in most scenarios when running the pedal entirely on its own.
Connecting the pedal to my computer or the docking station in addition does however add some noise, but with tons of things connected, that's what's usually happening (could adress it inserting countless galvanic isolation boxes, but I can't be bothered). It's fine for the moments when I'm actually managing patches, though, and really only noticeable on high gain amps.

Interesting!

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Some *really* good news: In the loop of my GT-1000, powered by a Harley Benton PowerPlant ISO12AC Pro Modular (which plays way above its price league IMO, just as all HB PSUs do), the pedal is as silent as it gets. Defenitely also has got to do with Boss' most excellent management of all things related to ground issues (even if, as a result, you can run into some really loud hum when chosing the wrong settings - but that's something adjusted in a pinch), but it does as well show that IK has been doing something not exactly right, as I'm actually getting more noise in most scenarios when running the pedal entirely on its own.
Connecting the pedal to my computer or the docking station in addition does however add some noise, but with tons of things connected, that's what's usually happening (could adress it inserting countless galvanic isolation boxes, but I can't be bothered). It's fine for the moments when I'm actually managing patches, though, and really only noticeable on high gain amps.

Anyhow, as this is working so well, I may need another Tonex One one day, so I can replace both "amps" (right now an Amplifirebox and an Amp Academy, the latter just sent into retirement thanks to the TO). Not in a hurry at all, though. And with the HX Stadium around the corner, things may look entirely different somewhen next year anyway.
But hold on, I need another TO anyway, if this ends up on my pedal board...

Fwiw, overall latency of the GT-1000 and the nested TO is slightly less than 3ms. 3 full ADDA and processing cycles included. That's very impressive.

And finally, some recommendations for a pretty low driven (maybe slightly more than hairy) Marshall kinda sound out of the Tonex Max collection? That's what I could do with on the GT board. Would possibly save me a dirt pedal or two.

Plus being Germany it has that awful floating grounding scheme on the outlets that doesn’t help.
That’s why I finally got a p Split cause the isolated power supplies round here don’t do the trick alone.

 

[ChordInversion]

IK Multimedia software driving someone near madness with thoughtless design and execution is so on brand that it practically is the brand.

They deserve credit for bringing capture down in price and making it more economically accessible. That said, after years of Total Studio Max, a Tonex, and all 4 X-Gear pedals (and years of waiting for them to fix or even acknowledge key issues), I've been ridding myself of all of their hardware and software. I can afford not to put up with it.

 

[Sascha Franck]

IK Multimedia software driving someone near madness with thoughtless design and execution is so on brand that it practically is the brand.

Amen. I'm only into the Tonex Editor for one day, and while there's some particularly excellent features, a whole truckload of them are presented in a "WTF did they think?!?" way.
Now, I'm a longtime IK user already, and things certainly aren't just as bad as they once have been, but if they'd finally get their act together, they could possibly get rid of being stigmatized as the laughing stock of the UI quality world.

Having said that, I'm willing to deal with it and I'm by now having at least a kind of idea of finding my ways around how to organize things. The pedal itself is absolutely great (ok, minus the noise issues), it'll likely become another "never sell" item (next to the obvious HX Stomp), depending on how things pan out after putting it through its paces, I might even get a second one.

What I really wish for would be a mobile editor. Heck, when 3rd party companies such as Airstep and Pirate MIDI can roll their own, it should absolutely be possible for IK. Wouldn't even need to be able to deal with ToneNET, just editing the loaded patches would be sufficient.

 

[bucephalus]

Yeah, though it's undoubtedly improved I still find it slightly hard work getting what I need done.

 

[Dimiguitar]

Personally I tolerate the UI because of 1) how good the capture process is in terms of results, provided you adjust the gain properly to match the source (I know many don't do this) and 2) the tonex one being cool as hell for what it does. It's essentially my FM3 backup, my overdrive or boost in front of tube amp, my digital preamp, a nice way to record in my daw directly without using VST..