IK Multimedia TONEX

[Shask]

Calling the capturing experts:
Does anyone know whether it's possible to change just the output level of a capture after the fact? I made a test capture myself, turned out to be quite decent but the output level is very low, so I need to pull up the amp volume pretty much all the way, would prefer not having to do so.
Shouldn't this be pretty trivial as no tone shaping parameters are affected?

No, you can only change the input trim to set the default amount of the gain baked into the capture.

You would have to just raise the volume in the preset.

Even if it were possible, I think being able to do that would create noisier captures.

 

[Sascha Franck]

So you have the HX Stomp already but are considering switching to the GT core?

Absolutely. Reasons:

- I won't use the amps of either, so the Boss amps being utter shite doesn't bother me. After all, that's what I bought the TXO for.

- For the small setup I have in mind, I don't need the FX flexibility of the Stomp, either. And as I own the big GT already, I can say with confidence that it's sufficient for my needs.

- With the GTs fast patch switching, I can get more out of things. The Stomp is just too slow for my needs, so I'd have to stay within one patch. Let alone patch switching isn't easy when you also want to control individual things inside a patch.

- Having said that, the GTs switching options are vastly superior regarding all options relevant for me. Especially the CurNum function is great (press the patch button again and it'll switch anything you like), pretty much doubling the amount of patches instantly.

- The GT has global blocks, which is just excellent, especially in combination with the TXO. On the big GT, I have one global EQ block assigned per TXO patch, the mids and output level of that EQ assigned to two encoders, so I can instantly tweak these two (for me most essential) parameters during soundcheck or even inmidst a tune, should I really feel like. No need to re-save. I also have some other blocks set to work globally (well, in all patches actually using them). Most excellent feature of all times (clunky implementation, though - that's our Boss for ya I suppose...).

- For a small duo project, I like using a looper every now and then. The Stomp one sucks, the Boss one is pretty decent. With the Stomp, I need to bring an extra device.

- Latency is super low, I can afford to run both loops serially on the GT, with the TXO nested in one of them (and maybe some choice dirt pedals in the other). Not possible with the Stomp, let alone each loop costs you a block.

That's the most relevant reasons. Plenty of them, IMO. I wish it was different, so I could use the FX and dirt pedals of the Stomp, but such is life.
Too bad the only 2nd hand GT-1000 Cores I've seen until yesterday are sold already...

 

[Sascha Franck]

You would have to just raise the volume in the preset.

Yeah, I was afraid it was like that.

Even if it were possible, I think being able to do that would create noisier captures.

Hm, not sure. After all, what I want is a higher amp block volume baked in, so I can keep the TXO knob around center, makes it easier to balance mutliple patches.

 

[Shask]

Hm, not sure. After all, what I want is a higher amp block volume baked in, so I can keep the TXO knob around center, makes it easier to balance mutliple patches.

I have just noticed as I have tried to perfect my capture process is that optimizing the levels in and out (as well as isolated power supplies and ground isolation) really helps the overall noise levels of the final captures. Some of the captures on Tone Net are noisy as hell, but I have been able to create totally gained out models that are relatively quiet.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Some of the captures on Tone Net are noisy as hell,

True, there's incredibly huge differences. But I don't think it's got much to do with their final levels but rather with the capturing chain and used components possibly adding noise.

 

[Chocol8]

I think it is both. Correct levels and quiet chain give the best results.

 

[Chocol8]

Another question for the capturing experts:

1. Can the ToneX Pedal be used as the audio interface with ToneX Capture when capturing?

I just got a pre-owned one from GC and of course, wasn't released from registration by original owner, didn't include the wall wart, and no instructions. I looked on IK's website and could not find a way to access the user manuals for products you don't own. Unless I'm looking in the wrong place, that seems par for the course for IK's process, but pretty damn stupid IMO.

2. Would someone that has the PDF of the user guide be willing to email me a copy? - If so, send a PM and I will send you my email address.

I think if you put the pedal in interface mode it can serve as some of the IO that you need but you will need another interface to supplement.

I would reach out to IK support about getting the device registered. Even if you don't get the Tonex Max license because the original owner kept that, you should still be able to register it to get updates, manuals and any purchased content.

That said, if that doesn't work, I can see if the manuals are downloadable. Are you looking for the OG Pedal, or the One?

 

[Byrdman]

I think if you put the pedal in interface mode it can serve as some of the IO that you need but you will need another interface to supplement.

I would reach out to IK support about getting the device registered. Even if you don't get the Tonex Max license because the original owner kept that, you should still be able to register it to get updates, manuals and any purchased content.

That said, if that doesn't work, I can see if the manuals are downloadable. Are you looking for the OG Pedal, or the One?

I got a manual from @bucephalus. Thank you for the offer.

Can you tell me more details about needing another interface with the ToneX Capture and ToneX Pedal?

Both of my amps I want to capture have direct outs so I was thinking I would only need one output and one input since I am not going to mic the cab. Only want direct captures with these 2 for now. Plus, when I captured them with my Stomp XL, I only needed 1 input and 1 output but it turned out pretty noisy. I read somewhere the USB is not very quiet with HX Stomp's

 

[Chocol8]

You can do that if you don't want to also have a guitar plugged in to check the capture.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Could possibly score a GT-1000 Core for <€300, so wish me luck.
That, a TXO, PM Pico, HB multiout PSU, DIY FS-6 clone, DI box, some cables and a DIY board would be around 600-650. Possibly the most powerful, flexible and - most of all - killer sounding setup in that price bracket.
Add whatever MIDI controller plus some EXP pedal when needed (around €200 maybe) and it's only getting better. Or add a little dirt box side car that you can always slap into the other GT loop.

This will beat my small Stomp-board any day, so I might be thinking about doing the unthinkable... (no, the Stomp is still the best all-in-one emergency thing there ever was).

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

Could possibly score a GT-1000 Core for <€300, so wish me luck.
That, a TXO, PM Pico, HB multiout PSU, DIY FS-6 clone, DI box, some cables and a DIY board would be around 600-650. Possibly the most powerful, flexible and - most of all - killer sounding setup in that price bracket.
Add whatever MIDI controller plus some EXP pedal when needed (around €200 maybe) and it's only getting better. Or add a little dirt box side car that you can always slap into the other GT loop.

This will beat my small Stomp-board any day, so I might be thinking about doing the unthinkable... (no, the Stomp is still the best all-in-one emergency thing there ever was).

You know what will happen, right? As soon as the Stomp is sold a surprise firmware update will drop making you want another.

But that sounds pretty powerful! I’m going to prototype my preliminary setup in MainStage and test my MIDI BT controller soon to see for myself if BT and wired MIDI works as I think it does. Would def be nicer with 4 footswitches without plugging in an extra momentary switch.

I haven’t checked yet but can you trigger preset changes in the Tonex player app via MIDI?

 

[Sascha Franck]

I haven’t checked yet but can you trigger preset changes in the Tonex player app via MIDI?

You mean the standalone? No.
But you could always use Amplitube, which allows loading Tonex blocks, too.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

You mean the standalone? No.
But you could always use Amplitube, which allows loading Tonex blocks, too.

Thanks. It’s annoying how stuff you kinda expect to be there is missing from the various products in the ecosystem…

I’ll probably try to set up in MainStage then. Tried it a long while ago so u think I have the basics figured out. I’ll aim to emulate a three channel amp (different Tonex instances) going into Helix Native for post FX. Or even out to my Stomp. Maybe throw in a few additional channels for fun.

I did not think I would have fun trying to integrate the TO into my setup but here we are. Might have spent too much time on Pedal Playground though trying to figure out how to not buying a bigger pedalboard…

 

[Sascha Franck]

I did not think I would have fun trying to integrate the TO into my setup but here we are.

I never thought so, either. I just bought the first one second hand because the offer was too good and I thought it'd be a handy emergency, headphone noodling and what not unit. Sure, I was considering it to replace the Amplifirebox on my board, but that was it.
Then I found out about these:
- There's some killer captures available.
- Patch switching is instant.
- It's always running in "autosave" mode, which is absolutely up my alley (can't remember how often I finetuned a patch during soundchecks, just to forget saving, then switching to another patch and *woof* there goes all the finetuning...).
- There's MIDI control "hacks".

Add to this that all of that fits right into the GT-1000 ecosystem, which, apart from the amp stuff (which I think is just plain horrible, ymmv of course) and the dreaded editing, is a great platform to build things around - and here we are. Before I got the TXO I was already considering to sell the big GT and now I'm on my way to buy a second one.

 

[Shask]

Thanks. It’s annoying how stuff you kinda expect to be there is missing from the various products in the ecosystem…

I’ll probably try to set up in MainStage then. Tried it a long while ago so u think I have the basics figured out. I’ll aim to emulate a three channel amp (different Tonex instances) going into Helix Native for post FX. Or even out to my Stomp. Maybe throw in a few additional channels for fun.

I did not think I would have fun trying to integrate the TO into my setup but here we are. Might have spent too much time on Pedal Playground though trying to figure out how to not buying a bigger pedalboard…

Yeah, they have many weird things that you think would work, but don't. ToneX having MIDI, and being able to open ToneX presets in Amplitube are two of them for me.

I have messed around with using Amplitube to switch presets, and also the DAW to change presets in ToneX.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Fwiw, if I was to set up a computer based rig (see thread here), I would never even consider using any of these things (Amplitube, Guitar Rig, Bias FX or whatever) as any kind of host, but rather get one of the established things (mainly Gig Performer or Mainstage) for all the switching, routing and what not. Wouldn't want to be limited to the FX those standalones offer, either, but in the first place, they usually don't offer any decent implementations to actually be used in a live context - or even just for some home fun.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

Fwiw, if I was to set up a computer based rig (see thread here), I would never even consider using any of these things (Amplitube, Guitar Rig, Bias FX or whatever) as any kind of host, but rather get one of the established things (mainly Gig Performer or Mainstage) for all the switching, routing and what not. Wouldn't want to be limited to the FX those standalones offer, either, but in the first place, they usually don't offer any decent implementations to actually be used in a live context - or even just for some home fun.

Yeah, agree. I have Amplitube 5 Max but it’s currently not even installed. I did get the missing Mesa packs for it (since I have the V1 Max…) in the group buy but that’s because I don’t know what to use the last one’s for.

 

[Shask]

Yeah, agree. I have Amplitube 5 Max but it’s currently not even installed. I did get the missing Mesa packs for it (since I have the V1 Max…) in the group buy but that’s because I don’t know what to use the last one’s for.

I like Amplutube, but I tend to default more to just using a saved template in Reaper to play. The ToneX + T-Racks combo tends to work better for general jamming. I can also add other plugins this way, and run the effects in parallel by having multiple tracks.

 

[Dimiguitar]

Just a note: when I first made V2 captures, I thought the gain mismatch issue was still there, where tonex needs extra gain compensation to match the source. Not sure if I did something wrong during the capture process with V2.

But now when I'm shooting V2 captures, the gain seems to be much closer compared to V1. I previously thought Kemper is more accurate for this. That no longer seems to be the case.

Both captures of Mesa IIC+ and Diezel VH4 come out with pretty much accurate levels of gain -- or at least much more accurate than before. Imperceptibly accurate to me right now.

I don't know if something changed in my own capture process or what. A friend shot VH4 captures -- and I shot captures of the captures, to test this, and still don't feel this "degradation". This seems improved, but absolutely don't take my word for it.

I still fudge around with the gain control a bit, but very small adjustments. Not like before, where I'd add bucket loads of gain to match the source.

 

[Shask]

Just a note: when I first made V2 captures, I thought the gain mismatch issue was still there, where tonex needs extra gain compensation to match the source. Not sure if I did something wrong during the capture process with V2.

But now when I'm shooting V2 captures, the gain seems to be much closer compared to V1. I previously thought Kemper is more accurate for this. That no longer seems to be the case.

Both captures of Mesa IIC+ and Diezel VH4 come out with pretty much accurate levels of gain -- or at least much more accurate than before. Imperceptibly accurate to me right now.

I don't know if something changed in my own capture process or what. A friend shot VH4 captures -- and I shot captures of the captures, to test this, and still don't feel this "degradation". This seems improved, but absolutely don't take my word for it.

I still fudge around with the gain control a bit, but very small adjustments. Not like before, where I'd add bucket loads of gain to match the source.

I spent a lot of time getting a reamp box and dialing in the output to be the same as my guitars, so now my captures come out very close and really don't need input trim changes.

I also found putting a buffer before the amp input while capturing can help the final feel of the capture also.