Next generation Tonex hardware [speculation thread]

[Richard_G]

During a discussion @ TOP about the new Tonex update (well done, IK!) and whether it should be called Tonex v2, Peter from IK (@IK Multimedia on this board) was pretty clear on that IK did not call it "Tonex v2". He also posted this:

I think it's pretty obvious that IK has been working on the next generation of Tonex hardware for a long time. And with the impressive software update with the "v2" capturing engine - where a lot of user concerns seem to have actually been addressed - I'm looking forward to what IK may release as the next generation (v2) of Tonex hardware.

What do you guys want from the v2 hardware? And what do you think we'll get? And when?

 

[EOengineer]

If IK were to drop a more significant piece of hardware with FX from their other hardware pedals, I’d MAYBE look at it but I’m really expecting to be on team Helix once that new hardware hits. L6 has earned a lot of my trust. I’d need to see a stronger pattern of addressing user concerns from IK before I’d consider buying hardware beyond the Tonex pedal I grabbed at launch.

Updates have been good, but slow coming. It does seem like they are ramping up but I need to see them keep it up. They have tough competition.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I have a feeling there'll be a massive overhaul of Amplitube and they'll integrate things a lot more tightly. IK has a pretty solid collection of FX, cabs and other models that would work perfectly with ToneX and a HW version of Amplitube but I don't think they've quite tapped into offering that to the user in an efficient way.

Re-adjusting how the gear inside Amplitube and T Racks is presented to users will probably be essential to the success of HW units that'll likely offer much of the same gear. Their collection of gear rivals anyone on the planet and much of it has been modelled well already.

 

[Lysander]

I think it's only a matter of time before IK drops a proper MFX competitor to the Helices, FM3/9s and Headrushes of the world. As others noted, they already have a very decent collection of effects and amp sims - and some of the best capturing tech in the market.

I'd be really interested if a) it's on a better form factor than the original ToneX pedal, and b) comes with no licensing shenanigans.

 

[ian_dissonance]

b) comes with no licensing shenanigans.

HAHAHAHAHA. You’re going to buy every effect and if the control App gets OEL’d in two years tough shit!

 

[Lysander]

HAHAHAHAHA. You’re going to buy every effect and if the control App gets OEL’d in two years tough shit!

 

[ian_dissonance]

I HOPE they figure out people don’t want to parts-buy hardware, but since a bunch of rubes paid for the Kemper player upgrade scheme instead of grinding them to dust on social media, who knows what the market will bear.

 

[[Nathan]]

Amplitube5 is pushing 5 years now as well. Would be pretty cool to see an ecosystem overhaul and some hardware to match.

I’ll still pre predict there’ll be some IK level shenanigans in whatever they do (there just always is), but competition is always good

 

[deathbyguitar]

Amplitube5 is pushing 5 years now as well. Would be pretty cool to see an ecosystem overhaul and some hardware to match.

I’ll still pre predict there’ll be some IK level shenanigans in whatever they do (there just always is), but competition is always good

I'd like to see Amplitube incorporate speaker impedence modeling more than anything. I can't remember if they did for recent amp models but the Mesa Boogie models feel really stiff cuz even though I think the tone is otherwise pretty good.

 

[EOengineer]

I'd like to see Amplitube incorporate speaker impedence modeling more than anything. I can't remember if they did for recent amp models but the Mesa Boogie models feel really stiff cuz even though I think the tone is otherwise pretty good.

Those Mesa models almost feel like they were modeled with a resistive load or something. I couldn’t stand any of the models.

 

[deathbyguitar]

Those Mesa models almost feel like they were modeled with a resistive load or something. I couldn’t stand any of the models.

That's exactly what I thought too. They'd probably be excellent if not for that, IMO.

 

[Chocol8]

One of the things I saw mentioned with the new "modeling" was that they included control of the phase so you can run two captures together which is currently not supported. That strongly implies a next gen of the hardware and software that allows multiple captures in parallel and hopefully series as well.

I am on the fence with the effects. If and it's a big if, IK can product a product that can compete with Helix and Fractal on effects quality, and do so at a more attractive price point, it could be a great product. That said, if it is more expensive hardware with just OK effects, I think I would stick to the pedals into Tonex One approach. To me they are different market niches and right now Line 6 and Fractal own the high end all in one, and Headrush, Nux and Hotone/Hotub are competitive on the lower end. A new Tonex system that goes up against either is going to need to be pretty good.

 

[Lysander]

I am on the fence with the effects. If and it's a big if, IK can product a product that can compete with Helix and Fractal on effects quality, and do so at a more attractive price point, it could be a great product.

IK has this already with the X- line of pedals. I never dug their reverbs much, but modulations were pretty great.

 

[EOengineer]

One of the things I saw mentioned with the new "modeling" was that they included control of the phase so you can run two captures together which is currently not supported. That strongly implies a next gen of the hardware and software that allows multiple captures in parallel and hopefully series as well.

I am on the fence with the effects. If and it's a big if, IK can product a product that can compete with Helix and Fractal on effects quality, and do so at a more attractive price point, it could be a great product. That said, if it is more expensive hardware with just OK effects, I think I would stick to the pedals into Tonex One approach. To me they are different market niches and right now Line 6 and Fractal own the high end all in one, and Headrush, Nux and Hotone/Hotub are competitive on the lower end. A new Tonex system that goes up against either is going to need to be pretty good.

This stuff is all relative but aside from using a small amount of verb when I’m playing in cans, I find the current FX throwaway. I offload all that to external gear. I don’t think those are representative of IK’s best work though.

I have fond memories of many of the Amplitube stomps, even some of their fuzzes, but don’t really trust my memory. It’s been a couple years.

If IK could allow us to set up the Tonex pedal to do a dual mono thing where one output optionally doesn’t have an IR/cab, that’s pretty much the single big feature that would be the icing on the cake for me. I’m not sure I’d need more than the existing Tonex pedal at that point.

 

[Chocol8]

I think good delays and reverbs are going to be important in the higher end market, and yes, what they have now is older and who knows what's been cooking behind the scenes.

 

[Chocol8]

Tonex pedal to do a dual mono thing where one output optionally doesn’t have an IR/cab, that’s pretty much the single big feature that would be the icing on the cake for me.

Yes, that's a big one. I would love to see the OG pedal get per output control of the cab block and also better USB so it can take a USB aux signal while in live mode and mix it with the guitar signal.

On the One, midi support and more options to custom configure knob function.

I don't think any of these will require new hardware. Better effects and multiple captures will probably require new hardware, but since current Tonex is so processor light, it seems they have a lot of upside to work with.

 

[EOengineer]

Yes, that's a big one. I would love to see the OG pedal get per output control of the cab block and also better USB so it can take a USB aux signal while in live mode and mix it with the guitar signal.

On the One, midi support and more options to custom configure knob function.

I don't think any of these will require new hardware. Better effects and multiple captures will probably require new hardware, but since current Tonex is so processor light, it seems they have a lot of upside to work with.

Yeah there’s no way we’re getting dual cap playback without new HW. I’m not certain whether they can achieve the independent outs on the existing pedal, but I REALLY hope they can. It seems like it should be feasible.

 

[bucephalus]

Would being able to capture using the new unit be a step forward?

 

[Lysander]

Would being able to capture using the new unit be a step forward?

Ohhhh good call.

 

[Tanax]

Having on board capturing will prevent them from upgrading the capture engine without having to release new hardware (of course, it might work depending on how they upgrade the engine, but they will for sure reach a limit eventually). Not sure that's a good route to go IMO. It's convenient having it on board of course, but is that the type of product we want?

I personally think it was very cool that they were able to upgrade the engine, and support it on all the current hardware (unlike Kemper). For me, that builds a lot of trust and goodwill.