Tonex Pedal....It's REAL

[Whizzinby]

Every time someone says endless encoders, an angel loses their wings.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Like M5, it'd need at least two switches—one for on/off and one for TAP.

Look at the MS-50G. With an additional EXP input (preferably TRS, so you could connect 2 switches/pedals). Also MIDI-via-USB would be possible. Really, it's hard to beat that little box in terms of efficiency (just that it's lacking an EXP input, which is really too bad).

 

[JiveTurkey]

I'd rather prefer the LED readout to display the value it was saved at. In case it's a "fresh" capture, obviously it'd be at 5.

That makes sense too.

 

[Digital Igloo]

Look at the MS-50G. With an additional EXP input (preferably TRS, so you could connect 2 switches/pedals). Also MIDI-via-USB would be possible. Really, it's hard to beat that little box in terms of efficiency (just that it's lacking an EXP input, which is really too bad).

We've found that a very low percentage of users connect external footswitches or expression pedals to single effect pedals, which is practically a crime against humanity given DL4/DL4 MkII's parameter morphing. The notion of not being able to select presets without adding a peripheral device is a non-starter IMO.

It's not like two switches takes up a ton of room. Look at Chase Bliss pedals.

 

[Sascha Franck]

The notion of not being able to select presets without adding a peripheral device is a non-starter IMO.

You can do that just fine with the MS-50 as it allows you to cycle through any number of presets. At least in a switchable loop it's working nicely. Wouldn't mind 2 switches, though.

 

[Digital Igloo]

You can do that just fine with the MS-50 as it allows you to cycle through any number of presets. At least in a switchable loop it's working nicely. Wouldn't mind 2 switches, though.

How does that work if you need to go from preset 3 to preset 21?

"Press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press, press... wait, 22?! $%#&! Now I have to cycle all the way around all 128 presets again!"

 

[Sascha Franck]

How does that work if you need to go from preset 3 to preset 21?

You assign letters to them beforehand. Always cycles through any number of letters alphabetically. In case you just assign A to C, it'll cycle A-B-C and so on. You can assign any letter to any of the 50 internal patches. I usually assign 2-4 presets per gig (I mostly only use it for modulations here and there). Works incredibly well.
Seriously, in terms of packing maximum usability/functionality in minimum space, those MS pedals should be a "must study" thing for all pedal designers (minus the lack of an EXP input).

 

[Mongillo19]

As a Kemper user for so long, I’ve stuck with it because it sounds like the vintage amps I still own, since day one, as well as a couple amps that have been sold off along the way. And a lot of others I don’t own but have a lot of experience with. But for you people who have used component modeling all this time and were always frustrated with or resistant to the Kemper or just the idea of the Kemper, do the Tonex pedal amps sound better than what you’ve been using? I get how powerful a rig putting one in the effects send of a Stomp can be, but there’s part of me just wondering if using the HX Stomp on its own, with the highly acclaimed new cabs implementation, isn’t good enough by itself. I get that it’s different. Outside of Kemper and a ton of plugs I haven’t owned a hardware component modeler since way way back. I know the Kemper sounds great, and assume the Tonex does too, but are you guys getting into this because you’re hearing something better than what you’re used to, or because it’s a novelty and affordable?

PS No judgment, at this price I think whatever your motivation is is valid.

A little bit of both. To me Tone X sounds just as good of not better than Kemper but just like the Kemper, you need to have the right profile.

Where Kemper is hard to beat is just the sheer amount of available content. Capture tech can capture things that component modeling may miss out on. Now is that 1-2 percent difference enough to matter, thats up to you. On the other hand, is that 1-2 percent difference enough to make you give up the tonal control component modeling offers?

People are going to have different wants and needs but to essentially have a Kemper Lite at $300-$400 is very very hard to beat

 

[Fireproof]

With the open source capture tech out now, plus ToneX and their pedal, etc., Kemper better do something to stay relevant. It’s a bit long in the tooth and will be leap frogged by features and price point if they continue to rest on their laurels. Won’t be long before there are more full-featured profilers/capturers with effects, advanced routings, etc.

 

[Badonkey Kong]

As a Kemper user for so long, I’ve stuck with it because it sounds like the vintage amps I still own, since day one, as well as a couple amps that have been sold off along the way. And a lot of others I don’t own but have a lot of experience with. But for you people who have used component modeling all this time and were always frustrated with or resistant to the Kemper or just the idea of the Kemper, do the Tonex pedal amps sound better than what you’ve been using? I get how powerful a rig putting one in the effects send of a Stomp can be, but there’s part of me just wondering if using the HX Stomp on its own, with the highly acclaimed new cabs implementation, isn’t good enough by itself. I get that it’s different. Outside of Kemper and a ton of plugs I haven’t owned a hardware component modeler since way way back. I know the Kemper sounds great, and assume the Tonex does too, but are you guys getting into this because you’re hearing something better than what you’re used to, or because it’s a novelty and affordable?

PS No judgment, at this price I think whatever your motivation is is valid.

I don't have the pedal (yet) but the cool thing is the free software lets you test it for yourself. Granted you are limited to 20 actual downloads, but you can still load a profile without downloading it. Sounds weird but that's how it works.

I just got it hooked up where I am using my Helix as the interface to the Tonex CR app and feeding my guitar into it and then feeding it back to Helix, out to my SD Powerstage 200 and then to my 2x12 CAB. I haven't worked out all the settings for the USB routing yet. Right now I am getting all Windows sounds out through the Helix, lol... It's weird hearing the Email Arrived sound through your guitar cab... SO I still have some tweaking to do there, but some profiles have sounded potentially great.

The big attraction for me is getting my own gear and settings profiled, and having a crazy easy portable rig...

Plus it's just a lot of fun to play with this stuff.

 

[texhex]

If I were Christoph Kemper I'd hire that open source guy, move him to Germany, cut him in on a large piece of the Kemper 2 he would help us develop and have him work with the rest of everyone at Kemper. Work on porting the open source bit to the new Kemper 2 hardware that can also play the all existing Profiles. The new unit would act as a digital interface to the software that would run on PC and Mac. The software and PC/Mac would actually create the Profiles and both the software and hardware are managed by an updated Rig Manager.

Now all Kemper needs is a time machine...

 

[Mongillo19]

But again again again … I’m curious to hear from those profile holdouts finally getting in to it—since it was software or $399—who are finding out yeah now I get, or who are like, it’s cool but my FM9 Helix Headstrong whatever still gets me there just as convincingly as snapshots.

It's the new thing. I've seen people ditching their FM9 or axe fx already. I think if you are ditching a full fledged device for a $300 or $400 pedal. Maybe you shouldn't have bought a top tier flagship modeler to begin with lol

However, I'm in love with my tone x but I will absolutely not be getting rid of my Axe Fx. It's just not the same product

 

[Gearzilla]

I mean yeah .. a wildly successful inventor sound designer and entrepreneur with a sonic stamp on hits and stadium tours spanning thirty years is probably shaking in his boots. Sarcasm alert. Whether or not Kemper hardware is “left behind”. ..which is probably unlikely .. his future plans may not even center around the Kemper. So for anyone who is committed to his innovations for their music, alternative products emerging that they can explore is a fantastic development. Everything doesn’t always exist in a “versus” paradigm.

There’s also plenty of examples of technological innovations in electronics becoming less expensive or aging out. That’s not to take anything away from Kemper or the utility the device has provided.

Now that there’s competition in the amp snapshot segment it will be interesting to see how he proceeds.

 

[Mongillo19]

I mean yeah .. a wildly successful inventor sound designer and entrepreneur with a sonic stamp on hits and stadium tours spanning thirty years is probably shaking in his boots. Sarcasm alert. Whether or not Kemper hardware is “left behind”. ..which is probably unlikely .. his future plans may not even center around the Kemper. So for anyone who is committed to his innovations for their music, alternative products emerging that they can explore is a fantastic development. Everything doesn’t always exist in a “versus” paradigm.

And there is nothing wrong at all with trudging along with the kemper. Use whatever you like

 

[Orvillain]

You assign letters to them beforehand. Always cycles through any number of letters alphabetically. In case you just assign A to C, it'll cycle A-B-C and so on. You can assign any letter to any of the 50 internal patches. I usually assign 2-4 presets per gig (I mostly only use it for modulations here and there). Works incredibly well.
Seriously, in terms of packing maximum usability/functionality in minimum space, those MS pedals should be a "must study" thing for all pedal designers (minus the lack of an EXP input).

You know, for someone banging on about endless encoders and workflow for ToneX... I'm amazed you're offering up the Zoom pedals as some sort of guideline for usability. Their preset system is absolutely fucking horrible!! Relying on a single switch to cycle around a list in the middle of a sweaty metal show?? Bollocks to that. I need predictability, I need minimization of mistakes, I need idiot proof, and I need quick and easy and simple. Those Zoom pedals (as much as I kinda dig the 70CDR version) are awful to use.

 

[Orvillain]

do the Tonex pedal amps sound better than what you’ve been using

I've shot it out against my Axe FX 3. ToneX amps are just as good to me, but Fractal is more capable of course.

 

[Orvillain]

Where Kemper is hard to beat is just the sheer amount of available content.

Betamax had shit tons of tapes out there at one point

 

[Mongillo19]

haha trudging .. i have a ton of plugs literally every single thing uad makes, five neurals, yada yada, but keep coming back to kemper via spdif .. left channel for straight guitar muted for reamping later—which never seems to be necessary—and right channel for stomps and amps .. usually dry, add echo and verb after.

That all said I may be moving in the other direction.

My new thing is i may have a couple of sought after analog pedals coming my way that i’ve been approximating really well inside the Kemper. I’m hoping it’s .. different and inspiring .. something about committing to the tones and also maybe that the feel is different. Whether or not it’s through the Kemper or a vintage mic’d Gretsch or Valco amp. But I’ll admit I’m afraid it won’t best what I’m getting inside the box .. even for live .. and that I won’t have the patience that I used to for the external hardware ..

Whatev, if it happens I’ll report.

Meanwhile power to all you ToneX’rs. I’m not ready for that interface yet, but I can see getting past that hurdle in no time and running with a couple of those stellar tones .. almost forever. Who knows ..

That's cool lol I feel like you have this mentality that we want you to ditch your Kemper. We are just responding to your questions about how we feel it compares to Kemper. Just play what you like and makes you happy

 

[Mongillo19]

You’re mistaken. I have never asked how it compares to the Kemper.

I know the Kemper sounds great, and assume the Tonex does too, but are you guys getting into this because you’re hearing something better than what you’re used to, or because it’s a novelty and affordable?

 

[Mongillo19]

Out of context. People kept responding about the Kemper but my post didn’t ask that at all. Maybe you didn’t read more than you quoted.

Also I’m not a big ditcher, and tend to stick with what works for me. I had one five year period maybe fifteen years ago where I tried everything. Anyway when it’s hilarious, like Gearzilla or Whizzinby or JT teasing me, I love it. It’s deserved. But I never worry about my gear decisions, I’ve always gotten pro tones, even during my brief Pod 2.0 phase, and only sometimes, like with a tiny Stomp or ToneX, do i get curious or jealous about some new things. But not because I think there’s a better tone I’m not getting.

Alrighty