IK Multimedia TONEX
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synthpenguin
Roadie
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If you're not having the issue running into a power amp > guitar cab, but are having it when running it direct into a PA, it sounds like the issue has to do with your cab sim / IR. Do you have decent speaker or headphone playback to test that at home? What are you using and how does it compare to your actual guitar cab / speaker(s) at home?
If you're not using a cab sim / IR and don't want to because you're using your acoustic electric, then you'll have to be really careful with your drive pedal choices and settings. Many of them will introduce or accentuate a lot of harsh frequencies that would normally be filtered out by a guitar speaker (which is what is happening when running the Tonex / Stomp into your Origin). Using drive pedals with EQ controls and cutting the high end with them can help (the Teemah and Ratatouille both have powerful treble / filter controls for this) , or you can just do low and high cuts that you toggle on when you engage on the drive pedal(s).
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Sascha Franck
Goatlord
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Hm, got some great tones from the Tonex nested in the Stomp's loop. In fact, it's not unlikely for this to become my small setup (even if the Stomp on its own is absolutely fine already).
Sascha Franck
Goatlord
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JFYI: Oblique's RTL Utility already showed some differences between reported and measured latencies when using the TXO as an audio interface, but I was measuring that offset again under Logic, turned out it's 230 samples (or maybe 231, transients can become a tad smeared on loopback recordings).
Under 44.1kHz (which is what I'm still usually going for, it's also the native samplerate of the Tonex pedal), that equals 5.2ms of additional (unreported) latency on top and it also means that you might want to compensate things in your DAW when recording. Logic fortunately offers a global recording offset function, just that you have to remember switching it back when switching interfaces (would be great if that was remembered per interface, but that's another story...).
Anyhow, this means that the TXO, when used as an interface, goes up from a still useable value of 7.9ms (which is the reported value) to around 13ms. Which isn't anything I would want to deal with. And fwiw, it's been the reason I started these tests in the first place, because the reported 7.9ms just didn't feel like that (I'm pretty used to fooling around with various interfaces and testing them, hence checking latencies in that kinda ballpark, so my "latency antenna" is kinda sensible or whatever you may call it).
Not sure whether IK could improve overall latency figures (as those are largely depending on the chipset used, and in whatever modelers it's certainly nothing to write home about as they're not meant to work as interfaces in the first place), but IMO they should defenitely improve the driver and/or firmware so correct values are reported to the host.
Maybe someone on Windows might want to check whether it's the same there. It's a pretty easy procedure, just download the RTL utility here, switch direct monitoring on the Tonex off and bypass it, then connect its output to its input and measure away.
Under 44.1kHz (which is what I'm still usually going for, it's also the native samplerate of the Tonex pedal), that equals 5.2ms of additional (unreported) latency on top and it also means that you might want to compensate things in your DAW when recording. Logic fortunately offers a global recording offset function, just that you have to remember switching it back when switching interfaces (would be great if that was remembered per interface, but that's another story...).
Anyhow, this means that the TXO, when used as an interface, goes up from a still useable value of 7.9ms (which is the reported value) to around 13ms. Which isn't anything I would want to deal with. And fwiw, it's been the reason I started these tests in the first place, because the reported 7.9ms just didn't feel like that (I'm pretty used to fooling around with various interfaces and testing them, hence checking latencies in that kinda ballpark, so my "latency antenna" is kinda sensible or whatever you may call it).
Not sure whether IK could improve overall latency figures (as those are largely depending on the chipset used, and in whatever modelers it's certainly nothing to write home about as they're not meant to work as interfaces in the first place), but IMO they should defenitely improve the driver and/or firmware so correct values are reported to the host.
Maybe someone on Windows might want to check whether it's the same there. It's a pretty easy procedure, just download the RTL utility here, switch direct monitoring on the Tonex off and bypass it, then connect its output to its input and measure away.
Progressive_disclosure
Roadie
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I’m having some issues with the TONEX One and my sensitive fuzz pedal. Seems whatever I do the TO is sending out so much noise that the fuzz pedal is rendered unusable. Especially with guitar volume rolled down it’s just a noisy mess. I run the TO in one of the loops of my HX Stomp.
First I tried a separate power source for the fuzz and also running a 9V battery but nothing changes. Also tried running TO on USB from Mac.
Are there any tips for alleviating this or am I stuck running either digital stuff or the fuzz? Is the combo of Stomp and TO just too much regarding noise? I use the fuzz in front of my amp and the TO in that setup runs a capture of the power amp section after the preamp.
Fuzz pedal is a DOD Chthonic. It’s designed for single coils up to low output PAF humbuckers so it’s quite sensitive it seems.
Signal path is:
Fuzz - Analog comp - 2 analog OD’s - amp input - FX loop out - analog eq pedal - HX Stomp with TO in loop - Headphones
First I tried a separate power source for the fuzz and also running a 9V battery but nothing changes. Also tried running TO on USB from Mac.
Are there any tips for alleviating this or am I stuck running either digital stuff or the fuzz? Is the combo of Stomp and TO just too much regarding noise? I use the fuzz in front of my amp and the TO in that setup runs a capture of the power amp section after the preamp.
Fuzz pedal is a DOD Chthonic. It’s designed for single coils up to low output PAF humbuckers so it’s quite sensitive it seems.
Signal path is:
Fuzz - Analog comp - 2 analog OD’s - amp input - FX loop out - analog eq pedal - HX Stomp with TO in loop - Headphones
Byrdman
Shredder
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That is probably what is happening. I'll give those suggestions a try and see what I can come up with. Worst case I'll find another capture for increased gain needs.
I do not have speakers or good headphones but I do have an older PA I can use to try to fix it. Just not thrilled of setting everything up if there was an easy fix in the settings
Thanks for the suggestions
Byrdman
Shredder
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Yeah, it sounds fantastic through my amp, but not so much through the PA.
Mongillo19
Rock Star
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Have you messed with the Tone X noise gate?
EOengineer
Rock Star
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Try taking the stomp out of equation temporarily. The Hx loops can generate a near unity static hiss that gets amplified under some conditions. I’ve experienced it with my HXFX. I’d isolate for that before doing anything else.
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Thanks for sharing these! They sound great, I'm especially digging the Vintage High Gain B.View attachment 53450
Alrighty, I've been dipping my toes back into capturing some of my amps and humbly submit a small batch for my friends here. For those with hardware, these are setup to translate accurately to the Tonex harware with trim at 0.
- 1998 revision G Dual Rectifier
- fresh caps
- fresh JJ EL34s
- Solid State Rectification
- Bold switch
- Tung-Sol in V1
- a whole lot of attitude.
If you like Rectos, you will probably enjoy some of these. If you are Recto-curious, start with the crunch patches, plug in single coils and roll your guitar volume down a touch, there are nice shades of gain and compression in there.
Details:
I captured the amp through a Suhr RL direct via a Presonus Quantum 2626. I won't make any grand statements about quality, this was the result of a test working out levels and seeing how the various channels and modes responded to my reamping chain. I like some of these better than others, but I think it captures a decent summary of the amp.
Hope you all enjoy!
Clean:
Vintage lighter crunch:
Vintage Crunch:
Vintage High Gain:
Modern cloned to vintage:
Modern Crunch
Modern High Gain:
EOengineer
Rock Star
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Thanks for checking them out! Hoping to be able to share some additional amps here in the near future, still working a couple hiccups out of my reamp chain.
Chocol8
Shredder
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Start with Fuzz -Tonex - headphones. That should work unless you have power problem. Once it is working, add back items one at a time, probably stomp last.
Count_Drugula
Groupie
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- 47
For the first time in 30 years, I needed a silent practice solution so I picked up one of these last week. After a week of mucking about with this stuff for far longer than I care to admit, I can safely say the tones I'm getting in the software are pretty good, as are the ones recorded to the DAW. The same tones direct to the PA are pretty meh and going to a power amp (Bluguitar Amp1) into a cab (Splawn 2x12 with Fat Jimmy Creamback type speakers) is poop.
My main need was silent headphone practice but I thought I could take this to an occasional practice with a PA or maybe even try it live on a cover show, but nope, not as it sounds right now. Maybe I'm doing something seriously wrong here but why does it sound so good in the software and so fake, harsh, and nasally in the PA or through a real cab?
All in all, it's just OK, I don't see what the hype is on this thing. It still sounds fake to me and it takes a LOT of fookery to get mediocre tones. The IK platform is straight up bollocks. I guess I'll keep it in case I need to do a direct practice again, but I don't see myself using this much.
FWIW, I even bought some Amalgam patches (Boutique 1, 2, & 3) and got all the Signature tones from ToneNet. Nothing had blown me away. I'm open to suggestion before I box thin this thing up for the shelf of forgotten toys.
My main need was silent headphone practice but I thought I could take this to an occasional practice with a PA or maybe even try it live on a cover show, but nope, not as it sounds right now. Maybe I'm doing something seriously wrong here but why does it sound so good in the software and so fake, harsh, and nasally in the PA or through a real cab?
All in all, it's just OK, I don't see what the hype is on this thing. It still sounds fake to me and it takes a LOT of fookery to get mediocre tones. The IK platform is straight up bollocks. I guess I'll keep it in case I need to do a direct practice again, but I don't see myself using this much.
FWIW, I even bought some Amalgam patches (Boutique 1, 2, & 3) and got all the Signature tones from ToneNet. Nothing had blown me away. I'm open to suggestion before I box thin this thing up for the shelf of forgotten toys.
EOengineer
Rock Star
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FWIW I did recently experience an NPN rangemaster clone screaming bloody murder with the Tonex pedal but I’ve yet to circle back to troubleshoot and suspect it didn’t like the 1spot I’d tossed it on in a pinch.
I’ve had zero issues with Tonex and Fulltone 69/70, DOD Carcosa, a couple big muff variants, so likely an external issue.
I’ve had zero issues with Tonex and Fulltone 69/70, DOD Carcosa, a couple big muff variants, so likely an external issue.
synthpenguin
Roadie
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If you're not using an IR at all, a quick and easy fix without messing with anything else would be sticking a cab block in the HX Stomp right after where the Tonex comes into it. Try a few single cab blocks in Helix at default settings and see if any of those sound better.
synthpenguin
Roadie
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- 356
Are you hitting it pretty hard with the rangemaster? Rangemasters can give out a ton of volume, up to like a 35dB boost (depending on the exact model and how it's calibrated). I'm not familiar with the Fulltone, but a fuzz face, by comparison, will often output below or around unity unless modded (but it's perceived as louder)
Sascha Franck
Goatlord
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Progressive_disclosure
Roadie
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- 354
Thanks for the tips. Mucked around and yes, I’m an idiot. I was running everything from the same Harley Benton power supply. It’s supposed to be isolated outputs but yeah, very much not so. Been doing a fair share of experiments and I think I got it down to manageable levels now! Have to run the dedicated wall wart for the Stomp. I tend to forget that I can’t run everything on the same power supply…
synthpenguin
Roadie
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If it sounds good in the software, but doesn't sound good with the pedal into a cab or PA, then either something is going on with your gain staging into the pedal, or something is wrong with your playback setup, or both.
Are you possibly clipping the input of the Tonex pedal? How do you have the input trim set?
When you're using a PA, are you using a cab sim or IR? What about when you're sending the Tonex into a power amp and cab?
How does the pedal sound being fed into the same playback system (headphones, speakers, whatever) you're using with the software? If input levels are matched between software and pedal, it should sound basically the same as the software.
While it's possible and valid that you may not like Tonex, I think it's great to keep in mind that a lot of people get really good sounds, and that you're getting good sounds in software, so it's most likely an issue like this rather than Tonex itself being bad :)
Chocol8
Shredder
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Are you using a pedal? Tonex One or OG? First step would be to get the pedal to sound right with headphones.
If using a full amp+cab capture or and amp only capture plus IR and it sounds good into headphones, it should sound good into a PA, monitor, or FRFR with only minor tweaks (less reverb/delay? small EQ changes to adjust for headphones and PA neither being flat). If not I would check Tonex output levels, PA input levels, and cabling.
For a real cab, you will want an amp only capture. Start with that plus an IR, and if that sounds good through headphones, disable the cab block/IR and it should sound good into the amp and cab. Again, check output and input levels and cabling if not.
Tonex can sound fantastic through an FRFR or a real cab, so if yours doesn’t, something is definitely off.
