Good point about the QC. We saw such rosy reviews from the biggest gear channels right around launch, then hardly a word about it after. There’s no way those dudes weren’t paid specifically to praise the QC. “This video was sponsored, but the thoughts and opinions are all my own” yeeeaaah right
Looks awesome, definitely a great addition to the market. The Helix was a Kemper killer for me as soon as I stumbled onto your channel. All the forum posters and RUclips players comments about the tones being inferior just faded to white noise when I watched you get great tones out of every modeler on the market. So, I purchased a Helix LT because it was the most versatile and best bang for buck 🤷 1st modeler I have owned since the 90s- GAS dead.
I hope it kicks some of the competition along as it just seems like this should have been the way forward a while back? Why should captures/profiles ONLY be available in hardware?
Maaaan this pedal sounds great! in the S/R of most modellers will be very powerful combination. Great video John, thanks again! Hope you & family are doing very well!
I got a Helix instead of the Kemper/Cortex because I had zero interest in creating captures. I'm happy to use the professional ones provided by Line6. But the Tonex sounds like it would be the perfect companion for a real pedalboard.
So close to being brilliant. I’m a fractal fm3 user but I’ve had Kemper, headrush, helix etc etc. for me this needs balanced xlr outs and possibly an effects loop. The idea of an amp only unit that you can then add pedals too is extremely tempting but I guess that’s an iridium ?? I think it’s only a matter of time before fender bring out the tonemaster tech in pedal form - deluxe reverb preamp and IR without the speaker so you can go direct or frfr. That would be a cool thing I think.
Have one right now in front of me. Yes I confirm it’s kemper killer. Already loved the ToneX plugin but this… it’s perfect. Couldn’t be happier. I keep the kemper only for some customers who still use it but most of the team has switched on ToneX that’s crazy… can’t wait for the competition to wake up 😊
Don't see that. It's a very different product. Sellers will promote this, because they will be selling more pedals because it's not an all in one solution. But it's not any better or worse. Take care of your money... 😉
I have a Kemper and a Quad Cortex. As soon as I knew that the ToneX Pedal was available I went direct to Thomann and bought it. I hope it lives up to the hype.
@@andivax QC and Kemper are quite different and both amazing units. The key is that both have features that the other one is lacking. The pros of the QC are the small foot print in relation to it's processing power and the ability to run several captures of pedals, amps at the same time. If you need any of the fancy new features of the QC then the Kemper isn't for you. But the Kemper is a very well rounded product where the QC still is in it's infancy. Many very practical features that the Kemper has in it's ecosystem make it the better option if you are a pro musician that needs an unit that is "finished". Things as extreme different as having a PC editor or having a dedicated powered cabinet with Kemper Kone speakers talk about the work that has already been done in Kemper world. In the meantime QC just released the 2.0.0 CorOS that adds some very, very basic features like hybrid mode. So I would only recommend the QC to some one that is happy with it's current features or needs any of the new features that the Kemper will never have like dual amps, dual cabs, etc. Also Kemper has, in my opinion, way, way better effects. Sound wise, the amp sounds are similar and top of the line in both units. I have not tried ToneX yet, so I can't have an opinion.
Great review John. You really covered a lot. No Fx loop doesn’t bother me like some people since you can place it wherever you want. I prefer to have my time based effects after the cab like you would in the studio. Sounds better IMO👍 Pedal sounds great when you play it! Cheers!
Great for playing captures, but for me a capture player is inferior to a full amp modeler with all the pedals and effects in it like the HX Stomp. I spent the last weeks matching the best captures I could find on tonex and I managed to make them sound almost indistinguishable. I used flat studio monitors and headphones and honestly I can say tonex does not sound any different or better or more realistic. Of course you have to spend the time dialing the hx stomp though. But anyways, wow, the tonex pedal looks like a GREAT product for the price. Very impressive.
I played a show a week ago and got the first time used the Iridium. It was with my acoustic group so I was just adding some electric but in a live setting, it was so refreshing to have a consistent tone and that “feel” people say is lacking, kind of isn’t present live, at least for me. I played the same, dug in the same and felt like I was playing an amp. This Tonex intrigues me as you really could have it all in one box.
Why should a "Profiler" without effects and connectivity from a Kemper be a game changer? If you want presets, you have to mount all effects and a midi-pedal on a pedalboard. And still got no morphing, but lots of cables...
Mornin! I love these new gear reviews, which is crazy because every time I buy one of these things, I end up selling it within a couple of months. But I can't bring myself to ever sell my amps.... just got my first Alessandro 40w AZZ and I've never had a modeler deliver the smile I get when I hear that amp fire up. (I got a great deal on the amp!!) I think I'm just not patient enough for the technical gear. I get option paralysis. I try to get into my practice time and find that I spent 2 hours building a tone that I end up not liking by the end🤣. Or even worse, I use that same 2 hours just trying to figure out how to use the gear. This unit looks fun because you can do everything with the hardware.
Thx for this video! No killer for me. I own both a Kemper and a newly purchased ToneX pedal with the software running on my computer. I love both in terms of quality of amp captures. But in terms of speed, I profiles 12 amp profiles while ToneX was working on only one in the same time. In addition to that I think the two products are not comparable, because the Kemper is a one-stop-shop, while the ToneX pedal is only one modular component that doesn't have all the Kemper features.
There is absolutely no comparison, not even worth mentioning the kemper. I've been recording so much with all sorts of pedals and plugins, kemper included and tonex is just on a whole other level. So much so that I'm just astonished people are not realising yet how good it is compared to everything else on the market right now. Maybe "good" is not the right word. But it is the closest to a real amp in terms of tone, cab phase, feel, dynamics, depth, eq response... well, everything. With everything else I always end up going through dozens of presets, dozens of IRs, there's always something bothering me, always eq-ing everything like mad. With tonex I can just drop in any preset/model and it's the right sound. Just this week I had to record some metal guitars and even though the models used (just some random hi-gain models) may not be the final ones for the final mix, they just sound fat as life and sit just right in the mix without touching anything yet! I mean for me it's just mindblowing and I'm so happy this exists. And to have that in a pedal format... it's a no brainer for live players really. The future is really amazing man :)
God damn, that Joe Bonamassa preset is spot on. I used to have a recording studio, Apollo 8p, Satellite system, Fender American Strat, Strymon Timeline, a bunch of things. Sold all of it to start a new hobby (woodworking). Returning to playing guitar, seems like the market evolved quite a lot. Going to buy this one for my apartment setup.
Interesting video, thanks! Bit frustrating for those of us who already have Amplitube and TONEX packages to have to pay for those again if we want the pedal, so hopefully IK Multimedia will release a something at a "pedal only" price point for their customers who've invested in them previously.
I have A-5 (with no limitations) and TONEX MAXX. I also bought a TONEX Capture. (So I now have three purchased copies of Tonex 2 MAXX and one CS). I bought my Tonex pedal at the IK website and it cost me $299.00 So If you go through them you'll save a bit of coin.
Maybe now fractal will put out a small pedalboard friendly amp modeler pedal like this without all the bells and whistles of the fm3 and bigger units. We’ve been asking for one for a while.
I have my QC on a relatively small pedal board, with my mini wah and wireless. Probably could fit another small pedal too if I wanted. This is great for a mini board though, nice tones. User interface has a bit of Zoom look to it, which I never really loved but at that price point it's hard to be too hard on it.
@@JudgeFreddNeither me. 😉 There are so many good profiles... but it's still everything in a box. Better than missing all the effects. And the easy way to program the remote, assign the switches the way you want.... I don't want to sell a Kemper, but I feel it's ridiculous to call a unit like this "Kemper-Killer". The QC is a competitor. Still not as many quality effects... but it can evolve. This one is just an amp, 3 switches... it's a good thing, but not the same category.
Thinking of selling my quad cortex… I’ve used the demo ToneX and the captures are just as good as any on the cortex. Maybe extra few dollars from selling towards some decent pedals
This pedal MOST likely is a test, wait and see if they add fx loop, which it seems lots are screaming about. Will be watching videos demos to see how adding time effects pedals/delays/tremelo/vibrato work with this, and where they are adding them in. And if Tonex software starts adding a section with those items. Imagine being able to add Timmons Halo echo unit, strymon Cloudburst into the software somehow. Maybe the Keeley Doubler.
I think this along with an hx stomp is going to be a pretty amazing combination 😊 Have you tried any drive pedals straight into it? That’s the only part I haven’t heard much of and is the part where you can kind of tell the difference between real and digital amps.
I have seen some reviews of Tonex and I use Amplitube 5 Max, that is amazing. Having everything for 1 price is the deal of the century! Sounds are great and even a budget guitar could compete in a blind fold test! Thx.
Good question - the Amplitube integration is only in the DAW - the pedal itself will load Tone Models/Presets which are limited to Compression - Amp/Cab - Reverb and Noise Gate
Hey Andreas! I think it's the capture/profiling thing that many folks seem to like (especially in the Kemper world for example where I think most folks don't really even create many of their own profiles) - so for those chaps it's probably a cheaper way to get in on that action, as long as some folks start creating tone models for it. Although if IK multimedia keep on modeling Joe Bonamassa's gear, we probably don't need anyone else to make tone models ha!
@@johnnathancordy Myself using the QC I almost exclusively use captures as oppose to the built in models, not sure why as they're less tweakable and can introduce phase issues in stereo rigs. I reckon there's something psychological about capture technology that's more appealing to players as opposed to straight up modelling
my problem still with tonex profiles are the lack of that low end beef that this thing doesn't seem to capture that pretty well. but I love most of the tones Im getting on my tonex. hopefully future updates would fix that.
I love my Kemper but yeah I have never used the profiler capability and would happily have a cut down version of it. Maybe add USB-C Thunderbolt 4 DAW interface.
I tried the Tonex, and really wanted to like it, but grainy sounding semi-distortion, and just not good sounding to me. Definitely not a Kemper killer! Not even close…(It is worth mentioning that I only used it directly into my board, might be a different experience through an amp.)I promptly returned it, and hooked up my Kemper again…happy again! I have so many pedals that of one doesn’t blow me away completely…back it goes.
Once again John, may I say that other than your amazing ability to coax wonderful tones out of various pieces of equipment, you are also one of the very best electric guitarists on the planet right now. I would hope that it's only a matter of time till your playing takes you beyond this wonderful YT channel into a larger career.
With the combo of Strymon Iridium, Riverside, and Revival Drive Compact I am getting all the tones I want but its great to see more advancements like this and especially at this price point. Perhaps at some point in the future I'll have a serious look at this.
How are you using your revival drive in that set up? I have all 3 too but I can’t get the revival drive dialed in using anything other than a real amp and I would love to use it with my Iridium….
@@stephenwares8317 I have the Iridium set to Round and use the York Audio IR DXVB 112 Mix 02 from the Deluxe Reverb pack. Bass - 11:00, Mid - 2:00, Treb - 2:00, Drive - noon. I set the Revival Drive to High - noon, Gain- 3:00, Bass - 11:00, Pres - 5:00 , Blend 100%. I hope this helps. ☺
@@Musecrafter thanks very much indeed! I need to get those York Audio IRs, everyone I hear playing tones I like with the Iridium is using them. Thank you for your settings!
hi brother! thank you for the video! i have QC, and i do find it still missing some good delays and reverbs , but i do love the amps and cabs sound. do you think the tonex is at the same quality as the QC for the amps and cabs? and does the amps feels as real as the QC? you are one of the very few youtubers i trust when it comes to honesty for hardware . thanks again brother!
ruclips.net/video/16SiUuOtTnc/видео.html - here's a comparison of ToneX vs Quad Cortex - bear in mind that the ToneX tone model takes quite a lot longer to create than a QC capture, but I think it's at least on par, if not perhaps a little more accurate in my experience
Am I unreasonable to think that the lack of an FX loop is a huge miss? I just bought a Boss IR 200 because it was easy to integrate into my current board. I see no built in chorus or delay on this, so where would I put those pedals? OD into a modeler makes sense. Modulation shouldn't, and probably shouldn't go after either.
@@johnnathancordy Sure, but where I want it, and where I think most people would want it, is in an FX loop. Amps added FX loops because modulation sounded better there. Adding them after means they aren't included in the headphone out or audio interface part of the ToneX, and in my (admittedly limited) experience with line6 modelers, I found modulation after the amp sim to give a different feel compared to putting them before. Maybe I'm unreasonable in thinking it's a deal breaker.
Yes huge miss!! I dont want my delays in the amp all the time, maybe Im going straight into my computer and monitor speakers and there is no headphone out or Xlr shame.
Modulation, delays and reverb are quite often added afterwards in the studio, rather than part of the signal chain that is captured. But yeah, an FX loop would be useful, especially if it’s placement can be moved around.
Can you disable direct input monitoring when using it as an interface/amp?, Can you also send MIDI commands with the footswitches?... that's what I wanted to do with the HX Stomp when using it with my iPad for extra FX but on HX Stomp you can't disable direct input monitoring... This seems like a perfect add on for someone with an HX stomp that can be used only for FX or the Helix FX
@@JohnnyForte That sends the signal dry, same on out 5-6, what I meant is being able to hear the amp tone back at the same time as the other USB audio and not directly from the pedal on headphone jack
Very interesting! That display is very analogue... not that I care! ;-) I have too much time and knowledge invested as a Kemper user though... at home and playing live, and even though I am not a pro, I spend a lot of time on my guitars and KPAs. I own two now, one powered, and a Stage; and also a PowerKab, and they are still addictive to use after years (I keep the software up to date). I'm one of those you identified that have never profiled anything and probably never will, so plug-and-play with some minor tweaking is very important to me. After 2 unsuccessful years with Helix, Kemper solved my 'it feels like an amp, right now, without messing around' issues and fulfilled almost all my pedal requirements, too. My Helix just couldn't cut it, too much latency without snapshots which ate up DSP, so as lovely as it was in other respects (UI / effects), I sold it in the end. Is there a marketplace for ToneX profiles? If I used it live though, it would be a backward step because of the need for pedals etc. I get 100% that the ToneX is not really sitting in the same space as the Kemper, which seeks to provide an all-in-one solution for studio and live situations. But I do wonder if the guys at Kemper are going to sit up and look at the profiler technology competition now. Some people (though not me) want a smaller version, like this. Quad Cortex isn't mature enough in the marketplace, though I'm sure that won't be TOO long... I keep looking for what Kemper will do next, but they have gone very quiet.
So the input is not TRS? If this is also an interface, how are you supposed to run stereo pedals? Can you confirm this input is NOT TRS? What a major oversight if so. That makes routing this for live performance or recording kind of a hassle. You need an additional interface for recording, or additional pedals down the line after stereo delay and reverbs (DI pedal). What am I missing here?
What are you playing it through? I have an FRFS for my headrush but I wondered how you put an amp sim through a Norma amp without that amp colouring the effect. I thought maybe the effects loop but you said the pedals would have to go through that.
Sounds great. My Kemper stage sounds great too. Back to the pedal board and add tone x..?Think I'm going to dodge this rabbit hole for a while.. but it does sound great!
Would love to see testing on making a live DI rig with it, can we use to make a killer stereo capable rig that will fit in the pouch of guitar backpack pouch- I think it can be done!
I am saying this just to give some good word, not to criticize. You make really great content, but it would be even greater if You'd take care of volume/loudness changes between parts. It is loud, all of the sudden quet in another scene, and then loud again. Otherwise great content!
Love this one. I think it will be complementary to my HX stomp. The price excelente. By the way I don't need an Ipad over my modeler and pay for it. Great review !!
Exciting to see new products in this space! But the demos i heard before yours didn’t convince me. Of course your tones are outstanding, and this is no exception!
This is almost the future. The actual future will be this, plus tons of built-in effects like an HX Stomp, for $399. Every patch I use on my HX Stomp has at least one pedal. The beauty of the Helix family is that you don't "need" anything else (except a way to make it loud.) But the Helix (family) can't make models and load other people's models. The ToneX is a good enough product to justify the money on its own, but I'm fine with the HX Stomp until the next generation of the ToneX comes out.
@johnnathancordy Would you say that the Tonex Amps sound better than the Hellix (Like for Like). I like the Helix but may be tempted to also purchase a Tonex Pedal
I see this as more in competition with the likes of the Iridium pedal, rather than the Kemper. It’s just amps, with no effects and also no effects loop (strange). Comes loaded with 1000 profiles (similar to rig exchange on Kemper) with a fair hit and miss ratio. All said, yes, Kemper has missed this market. Even a Stomp sized Kemper, without the capability to profile amps (which few people do) would be great. Then again, Christoph’s initial target market was recording studios and top bands. IMO there are too many brands that are trying to perfect Kemper’s recipe. We need a visionary like Christoph to come up with the truly next new product.
But most of what Kemper built their reputation on was the Amp sounds right? Still one of the myths that follows it around are that the effects etc are subpar. But yeh I think the main thing is that it seems they've listened to what a significant chunk of Kemper users were after - that smaller form factor that maybe doesn't have or need all the bells and whistles?
@@johnnathancordy if you have a bit of time, look up That Tone Show on the Kemper RUclips channel. Thomas has been putting together some interesting profiles/effects.
Looks very promising indeed. Love the option to use the same presets in DAW or hardware (which is why I bought into the Helix system and indeed original POD beforehand) AND much better size/format than a Kemper....do I need it? Probably not but we shall see........thanks for covering it, look forward to hearing more.
I'm already considering putting in the fx loop of my HX Stomp getting my captures with pre and post fx from the stomp. BTW, I think you'd really like IKs xpedals the reverb one is a real competition for the great Big Sky.
If you want to make your own sounds ToneX make the 'Tone Capture' box so you can do it. It cost $250.00 USD. If you have both you have spent $650.00 USD to literally have Kempers full features.
Andrew is right, you don't have the full features of a Kemper - you also don't need the ToneX Capture box to capture, you can do it with any reamp box!
Nice character assassination, those ealy QC reviewers omitted so many issues. It's still not what was adverrtised, but at least they have the JP2C added so I won't complain as much :P Is this a kemper killer? Maybe? But it still doesn't have effects or all the routing the KPA has. Would make an awesome small rig with an HX Stomp or Effects tho!
Good point about the QC. We saw such rosy reviews from the biggest gear channels right around launch, then hardly a word about it after. There’s no way those dudes weren’t paid specifically to praise the QC. “This video was sponsored, but the thoughts and opinions are all my own” yeeeaaah right
I don't come here to find new gears anymore I come just to listen to your music. My goodness such an inspiration
Looks awesome, definitely a great addition to the market. The Helix was a Kemper killer for me as soon as I stumbled onto your channel. All the forum posters and RUclips players comments about the tones being inferior just faded to white noise when I watched you get great tones out of every modeler on the market. So, I purchased a Helix LT because it was the most versatile and best bang for buck 🤷 1st modeler I have owned since the 90s- GAS dead.
This may be what I need for my quiet practice since I’ve already got a pedalboard
Sounds great! I don’t personally need one, but I love that this exists. More excellent solutions for all kinds of players.
I hope it kicks some of the competition along as it just seems like this should have been the way forward a while back? Why should captures/profiles ONLY be available in hardware?
Maaaan this pedal sounds great! in the S/R of most modellers will be very powerful combination. Great video John, thanks again! Hope you & family are doing very well!
Great sounds, wonderful playing!
I got a Helix instead of the Kemper/Cortex because I had zero interest in creating captures. I'm happy to use the professional ones provided by Line6. But the Tonex sounds like it would be the perfect companion for a real pedalboard.
So close to being brilliant. I’m a fractal fm3 user but I’ve had Kemper, headrush, helix etc etc.
for me this needs balanced xlr outs and possibly an effects loop.
The idea of an amp only unit that you can then add pedals too is extremely tempting but I guess that’s an iridium ??
I think it’s only a matter of time before fender bring out the tonemaster tech in pedal form - deluxe reverb preamp and IR without the speaker so you can go direct or frfr. That would be a cool thing I think.
@JohnNathanCordy772 ohhh that sounds dodgy as hell….
You can plug guitar into a potato and still sound great . you are the man, Mr. John.
Have one right now in front of me. Yes I confirm it’s kemper killer. Already loved the ToneX plugin but this… it’s perfect.
Couldn’t be happier. I keep the kemper only for some customers who still use it but most of the team has switched on ToneX that’s crazy… can’t wait for the competition to wake up 😊
Don't see that. It's a very different product. Sellers will promote this, because they will be selling more pedals because it's not an all in one solution. But it's not any better or worse. Take care of your money... 😉
I actually hope that you will have your hands on Headrush MX5 one day because I think this thing is underrated.
I have a Kemper and a Quad Cortex. As soon as I knew that the ToneX Pedal was available I went direct to Thomann and bought it. I hope it lives up to the hype.
Waiting for your feed back then that d be nice 😊
Over hyped
how do you like QC over Kemper? Does it replace it? And what is your opinion on ToneX?
@@andivax QC and Kemper are quite different and both amazing units. The key is that both have features that the other one is lacking. The pros of the QC are the small foot print in relation to it's processing power and the ability to run several captures of pedals, amps at the same time. If you need any of the fancy new features of the QC then the Kemper isn't for you. But the Kemper is a very well rounded product where the QC still is in it's infancy. Many very practical features that the Kemper has in it's ecosystem make it the better option if you are a pro musician that needs an unit that is "finished". Things as extreme different as having a PC editor or having a dedicated powered cabinet with Kemper Kone speakers talk about the work that has already been done in Kemper world. In the meantime QC just released the 2.0.0 CorOS that adds some very, very basic features like hybrid mode. So I would only recommend the QC to some one that is happy with it's current features or needs any of the new features that the Kemper will never have like dual amps, dual cabs, etc. Also Kemper has, in my opinion, way, way better effects. Sound wise, the amp sounds are similar and top of the line in both units. I have not tried ToneX yet, so I can't have an opinion.
Let us know what you think when you get it and tried it out for a bit 👍
Great review John. You really covered a lot. No Fx loop doesn’t bother me like some people since you can place it wherever you want. I prefer to have my time based effects after the cab like you would in the studio. Sounds better IMO👍 Pedal sounds great when you play it! Cheers!
Great for playing captures, but for me a capture player is inferior to a full amp modeler with all the pedals and effects in it like the HX Stomp. I spent the last weeks matching the best captures I could find on tonex and I managed to make them sound almost indistinguishable. I used flat studio monitors and headphones and honestly I can say tonex does not sound any different or better or more realistic. Of course you have to spend the time dialing the hx stomp though. But anyways, wow, the tonex pedal looks like a GREAT product for the price. Very impressive.
I played a show a week ago and got the first time used the Iridium. It was with my acoustic group so I was just adding some electric but in a live setting, it was so refreshing to have a consistent tone and that “feel” people say is lacking, kind of isn’t present live, at least for me. I played the same, dug in the same and felt like I was playing an amp. This Tonex intrigues me as you really could have it all in one box.
Why should a "Profiler" without effects and connectivity from a Kemper be a game changer? If you want presets, you have to mount all effects and a midi-pedal on a pedalboard. And still got no morphing, but lots of cables...
Mornin!
I love these new gear reviews, which is crazy because every time I buy one of these things, I end up selling it within a couple of months.
But I can't bring myself to ever sell my amps.... just got my first Alessandro 40w AZZ and I've never had a modeler deliver the smile I get when I hear that amp fire up. (I got a great deal on the amp!!)
I think I'm just not patient enough for the technical gear. I get option paralysis. I try to get into my practice time and find that I spent 2 hours building a tone that I end up not liking by the end🤣. Or even worse, I use that same 2 hours just trying to figure out how to use the gear.
This unit looks fun because you can do everything with the hardware.
Well. An Alessandro is gonna be hard to beat hahah
Thx for this video! No killer for me. I own both a Kemper and a newly purchased ToneX pedal with the software running on my computer. I love both in terms of quality of amp captures. But in terms of speed, I profiles 12 amp profiles while ToneX was working on only one in the same time. In addition to that I think the two products are not comparable, because the Kemper is a one-stop-shop, while the ToneX pedal is only one modular component that doesn't have all the Kemper features.
This will save so much DSP in my Helix when I use it in my loop
Ordered mine at 3am this morning 🤦🏼♂️. Must be hard to keep quiet when you receive these new units before the general public.
There is absolutely no comparison, not even worth mentioning the kemper. I've been recording so much with all sorts of pedals and plugins, kemper included and tonex is just on a whole other level. So much so that I'm just astonished people are not realising yet how good it is compared to everything else on the market right now. Maybe "good" is not the right word. But it is the closest to a real amp in terms of tone, cab phase, feel, dynamics, depth, eq response... well, everything. With everything else I always end up going through dozens of presets, dozens of IRs, there's always something bothering me, always eq-ing everything like mad. With tonex I can just drop in any preset/model and it's the right sound. Just this week I had to record some metal guitars and even though the models used (just some random hi-gain models) may not be the final ones for the final mix, they just sound fat as life and sit just right in the mix without touching anything yet! I mean for me it's just mindblowing and I'm so happy this exists. And to have that in a pedal format... it's a no brainer for live players really. The future is really amazing man :)
God damn, that Joe Bonamassa preset is spot on. I used to have a recording studio, Apollo 8p, Satellite system, Fender American Strat, Strymon Timeline, a bunch of things. Sold all of it to start a new hobby (woodworking). Returning to playing guitar, seems like the market evolved quite a lot. Going to buy this one for my apartment setup.
Interesting video, thanks! Bit frustrating for those of us who already have Amplitube and TONEX packages to have to pay for those again if we want the pedal, so hopefully IK Multimedia will release a something at a "pedal only" price point for their customers who've invested in them previously.
I have A-5 (with no limitations) and TONEX MAXX. I also bought a TONEX Capture. (So I now have three purchased copies of Tonex 2 MAXX and one CS). I bought my Tonex pedal at the IK website and it cost me $299.00 So If you go through them you'll save a bit of coin.
I am not a Kemper user, but I don't really think the two products are aimed at the same person.
Maybe now fractal will put out a small pedalboard friendly amp modeler pedal like this without all the bells and whistles of the fm3 and bigger units. We’ve been asking for one for a while.
Yep wish they would make a simpler and lower budget version of the fm3
It sounds great and is surprisingly cheap. A win for IK for sure.
Perfect size for a pedalboard compared to QC or Kemper.
I have my QC on a relatively small pedal board, with my mini wah and wireless. Probably could fit another small pedal too if I wanted.
This is great for a mini board though, nice tones. User interface has a bit of Zoom look to it, which I never really loved but at that price point it's hard to be too hard on it.
The Kemper IS the pedal-board. If the premium effects in it are good enough for you, of course. 😀
@@buddyslowhand7647 I just don't need the capture device in the Kemper.
@@JudgeFreddNeither me. 😉 There are so many good profiles... but it's still everything in a box. Better than missing all the effects. And the easy way to program the remote, assign the switches the way you want.... I don't want to sell a Kemper, but I feel it's ridiculous to call a unit like this "Kemper-Killer". The QC is a competitor. Still not as many quality effects... but it can evolve. This one is just an amp, 3 switches... it's a good thing, but not the same category.
He actually said "Kemper Player" before it's release 😮
Thinking of selling my quad cortex… I’ve used the demo ToneX and the captures are just as good as any on the cortex. Maybe extra few dollars from selling towards some decent pedals
I watch these videos mostly for your tone and playing!
If Ik built a floorboard unit with Amplitube baked in, I'd buy it in a heart beat.
This pedal MOST likely is a test, wait and see if they add fx loop, which it seems lots are screaming about. Will be watching videos demos to see how adding time effects pedals/delays/tremelo/vibrato work with this, and where they are adding them in. And if Tonex software starts adding a section with those items. Imagine being able to add Timmons Halo echo unit, strymon Cloudburst into the software somehow. Maybe the Keeley Doubler.
I think this along with an hx stomp is going to be a pretty amazing combination 😊 Have you tried any drive pedals straight into it? That’s the only part I haven’t heard much of and is the part where you can kind of tell the difference between real and digital amps.
See the Studio Rats channel, where Paul discusses this
Or just an HX effects!
@@qbbowman yes saw that. Looks promising 👍
@@HerroYuy246 that would be the ideal - already have the stomp though 😊
@@HerroYuy246 I just bought one of these to pair up with an HX Effects once I found out this has midi. Should be compact and powerful
Like your enthusiasm. It’s obviously genuine. I own numerous amp plug-ins, a Fractal FM9. I’m not sure I need this. Will download the freebie and see
I have seen some reviews of Tonex and I use Amplitube 5 Max, that is amazing. Having everything for 1 price is the deal of the century! Sounds are great and even a budget guitar could compete in a blind fold test! Thx.
Great sounds. Does it mean with the integration of amplitude that you can add pedals in the signal chaîn and load these patch in the pedal? Tks
Good question - the Amplitube integration is only in the DAW - the pedal itself will load Tone Models/Presets which are limited to Compression - Amp/Cab - Reverb and Noise Gate
Get back to me when they've profiled Eric's venue isle rig 😉
I think those Les Paul tones were some of the best I have heard. Sounds lovely!
Just bought this….really excited to get in on different amp profiles at an affordable price!
At this price point I'd probably just go hx stomp, unless for whatever reason you really needed capture technology?
Hey Andreas! I think it's the capture/profiling thing that many folks seem to like (especially in the Kemper world for example where I think most folks don't really even create many of their own profiles) - so for those chaps it's probably a cheaper way to get in on that action, as long as some folks start creating tone models for it.
Although if IK multimedia keep on modeling Joe Bonamassa's gear, we probably don't need anyone else to make tone models ha!
@@johnnathancordy Myself using the QC I almost exclusively use captures as oppose to the built in models, not sure why as they're less tweakable and can introduce phase issues in stereo rigs. I reckon there's something psychological about capture technology that's more appealing to players as opposed to straight up modelling
my problem still with tonex profiles are the lack of that low end beef that this thing doesn't seem to capture that pretty well. but I love most of the tones Im getting on my tonex. hopefully future updates would fix that.
You are so right!! Those Joe B tones really are 3D and exciting
If it only would have a XLR DI Out, It would definitely won bassists hearts over HX Stomp. A xf loop would be cool too.
I love my Kemper but yeah I have never used the profiler capability and would happily have a cut down version of it. Maybe add USB-C Thunderbolt 4 DAW interface.
Interesting price point! I wonder how this competes against hx stomp and other similarly priced modelers
The hat / jacket combo is ace. Nice one JC!
love your playing, reeeeally nice 👍👍👍
I tried the Tonex, and really wanted to like it, but grainy sounding semi-distortion, and just not good sounding to me. Definitely not a Kemper killer! Not even close…(It is worth mentioning that I only used it directly into my board, might be a different experience through an amp.)I promptly returned it, and hooked up my Kemper again…happy again! I have so many pedals that of one doesn’t blow me away completely…back it goes.
Once again John, may I say that other than your amazing ability to coax wonderful tones out of various pieces of equipment, you are also one of the very best electric guitarists on the planet right now. I would hope that it's only a matter of time till your playing takes you beyond this wonderful YT channel into a larger career.
THAT STRYMON 2 FOOTSWITCHES AT ONCE IS A DEAL BREAKER
can you revisit how you make backing tracks again?
With the combo of Strymon Iridium, Riverside, and Revival Drive Compact I am getting all the tones I want but its great to see more advancements like this and especially at this price point. Perhaps at some point in the future I'll have a serious look at this.
How are you using your revival drive in that set up? I have all 3 too but I can’t get the revival drive dialed in using anything other than a real amp and I would love to use it with my Iridium….
@@stephenwares8317 I have the Iridium set to Round and use the York Audio IR DXVB 112 Mix 02 from the Deluxe Reverb pack. Bass - 11:00, Mid - 2:00, Treb - 2:00, Drive - noon. I set the Revival Drive to High - noon, Gain- 3:00, Bass - 11:00, Pres - 5:00 , Blend 100%. I hope this helps. ☺
@@Musecrafter thanks very much indeed! I need to get those York Audio IRs, everyone I hear playing tones I like with the Iridium is using them. Thank you for your settings!
@@stephenwares8317 You're welcome. Glad I could help.
Great Playing🙌🏾 Definitely one of the better demos of product. I’ve heard in a very long
I don’t need this. However, it would be my ticket to getting the Vox AC50 tones I’ve been craving for awhile.
hi brother! thank you for the video!
i have QC, and i do find it still missing some good delays and reverbs , but i do love the amps and cabs sound.
do you think the tonex is at the same quality as the QC for the amps and cabs? and does the amps feels as real as the QC?
you are one of the very few youtubers i trust when it comes to honesty for hardware .
thanks again brother!
ruclips.net/video/16SiUuOtTnc/видео.html - here's a comparison of ToneX vs Quad Cortex - bear in mind that the ToneX tone model takes quite a lot longer to create than a QC capture, but I think it's at least on par, if not perhaps a little more accurate in my experience
Very helpful! Incredible playing BTW!
Am I unreasonable to think that the lack of an FX loop is a huge miss? I just bought a Boss IR 200 because it was easy to integrate into my current board. I see no built in chorus or delay on this, so where would I put those pedals? OD into a modeler makes sense. Modulation shouldn't, and probably shouldn't go after either.
Well you just put this where you want it in the chain. Drive in front, Modulation/Delay/Reverb after?
@@johnnathancordy Sure, but where I want it, and where I think most people would want it, is in an FX loop.
Amps added FX loops because modulation sounded better there.
Adding them after means they aren't included in the headphone out or audio interface part of the ToneX, and in my (admittedly limited) experience with line6 modelers, I found modulation after the amp sim to give a different feel compared to putting them before.
Maybe I'm unreasonable in thinking it's a deal breaker.
Yes huge miss!! I dont want my delays in the amp all the time, maybe Im going straight into my computer and monitor speakers and there is no headphone out or Xlr shame.
Modulation, delays and reverb are quite often added afterwards in the studio, rather than part of the signal chain that is captured. But yeah, an FX loop would be useful, especially if it’s placement can be moved around.
Beautiful product… but no FX loop??
Almost perfect.
Great demo and playing!!
You explained this all so well, thanks.
Cool little unit. Is there a delay in it? If not, that would be the only drawback to it being my perfect all-in-one porto-rig.
No delay - but a fairly decent selection of Verbs?
Can you disable direct input monitoring when using it as an interface/amp?, Can you also send MIDI commands with the footswitches?... that's what I wanted to do with the HX Stomp when using it with my iPad for extra FX but on HX Stomp you can't disable direct input monitoring... This seems like a perfect add on for someone with an HX stomp that can be used only for FX or the Helix FX
you can disable direct monitoring on the hx stomp. set the output to usb3 when using with a DAW.
@@JohnnyForte That sends the signal dry, same on out 5-6, what I meant is being able to hear the amp tone back at the same time as the other USB audio and not directly from the pedal on headphone jack
Very interesting! That display is very analogue... not that I care! ;-)
I have too much time and knowledge invested as a Kemper user though... at home and playing live, and even though I am not a pro, I spend a lot of time on my guitars and KPAs. I own two now, one powered, and a Stage; and also a PowerKab, and they are still addictive to use after years (I keep the software up to date). I'm one of those you identified that have never profiled anything and probably never will, so plug-and-play with some minor tweaking is very important to me. After 2 unsuccessful years with Helix, Kemper solved my 'it feels like an amp, right now, without messing around' issues and fulfilled almost all my pedal requirements, too. My Helix just couldn't cut it, too much latency without snapshots which ate up DSP, so as lovely as it was in other respects (UI / effects), I sold it in the end. Is there a marketplace for ToneX profiles? If I used it live though, it would be a backward step because of the need for pedals etc.
I get 100% that the ToneX is not really sitting in the same space as the Kemper, which seeks to provide an all-in-one solution for studio and live situations. But I do wonder if the guys at Kemper are going to sit up and look at the profiler technology competition now. Some people (though not me) want a smaller version, like this. Quad Cortex isn't mature enough in the marketplace, though I'm sure that won't be TOO long... I keep looking for what Kemper will do next, but they have gone very quiet.
No FX loop? Dang! This unit would be great with modulation between the amp and cab-mic-room sections
And a DI
So the input is not TRS? If this is also an interface, how are you supposed to run stereo pedals? Can you confirm this input is NOT TRS? What a major oversight if so. That makes routing this for live performance or recording kind of a hassle. You need an additional interface for recording, or additional pedals down the line after stereo delay and reverbs (DI pedal). What am I missing here?
Yeah no clue what they were thinking.
Speriamo arrivi il nuovo con le modulazioni overdrive Comp ecc
With all due respect but we are at point where every 6 months we have new "game changer"....
What are you playing it through? I have an FRFS for my headrush but I wondered how you put an amp sim through a Norma amp without that amp colouring the effect. I thought maybe the effects loop but you said the pedals would have to go through that.
I firmly, unbiasedly believe this is a true Kemper killer
Sounds great. My Kemper stage sounds great too. Back to the pedal board and add tone x..?Think I'm going to dodge this rabbit hole for a while.. but it does sound great!
I think there's a bunch of folks out there who have been using pedals with Kempers etc that this might make sense for?
@@johnnathancordy for sure.. called real estate (on board).. makes sense sir..
Would love to see testing on making a live DI rig with it, can we use to make a killer stereo capable rig that will fit in the pouch of guitar backpack pouch- I think it can be done!
Sounds amazing... Have you tried the 1960's AC30 in Amplitube 5? IMO one of the best AC30's i've heard!
I am saying this just to give some good word, not to criticize. You make really great content, but it would be even greater if You'd take care of volume/loudness changes between parts. It is loud, all of the sudden quet in another scene, and then loud again. Otherwise great content!
I have Amplitube Jimi Hendrix and I love it. Is it possible to load my favorite tones from it into the Tone X pedal? That would be awesome.
Could this be used in the loop of a hx stomp for the stomp to provide pre and post fx?
Love this one. I think it will be complementary to my HX stomp. The price excelente. By the way I don't need an Ipad over my modeler and pay for it. Great review !!
Exciting to see new products in this space! But the demos i heard before yours didn’t convince me. Of course your tones are outstanding, and this is no exception!
Download a Matchless, a Victory, a Trainwreck, and a Dumble on to it from your laptop and take it to a show and have the sound guy plug it in. Done.
John, so how about a comparison of this and the Iridium? I have a Helix, but I still find myself using the Iridium with the HX Effects for my gigs.
It would be good to see how this pedal would work in conjunction with the HX Stomp.
Can you use the Tonex pedal along with with a cheapo pedal like NUX for some delay, chorus, overdrive etc?
You could!
This is almost the future. The actual future will be this, plus tons of built-in effects like an HX Stomp, for $399. Every patch I use on my HX Stomp has at least one pedal. The beauty of the Helix family is that you don't "need" anything else (except a way to make it loud.) But the Helix (family) can't make models and load other people's models. The ToneX is a good enough product to justify the money on its own, but I'm fine with the HX Stomp until the next generation of the ToneX comes out.
moving playing 👍
Not if you own a kemper , but if I were starting over id definitely buy tonex , eventide H90 is my next purchase with the kemper 👍
@johnnathancordy Would you say that the Tonex Amps sound better than the Hellix (Like for Like). I like the Helix but may be tempted to also purchase a Tonex Pedal
What are the main differences between this and the HX Stomp?
I see this as more in competition with the likes of the Iridium pedal, rather than the Kemper. It’s just amps, with no effects and also no effects loop (strange). Comes loaded with 1000 profiles (similar to rig exchange on Kemper) with a fair hit and miss ratio.
All said, yes, Kemper has missed this market. Even a Stomp sized Kemper, without the capability to profile amps (which few people do) would be great. Then again, Christoph’s initial target market was recording studios and top bands.
IMO there are too many brands that are trying to perfect Kemper’s recipe. We need a visionary like Christoph to come up with the truly next new product.
But most of what Kemper built their reputation on was the Amp sounds right? Still one of the myths that follows it around are that the effects etc are subpar.
But yeh I think the main thing is that it seems they've listened to what a significant chunk of Kemper users were after - that smaller form factor that maybe doesn't have or need all the bells and whistles?
@@johnnathancordy if you have a bit of time, look up That Tone Show on the Kemper RUclips channel. Thomas has been putting together some interesting profiles/effects.
John just needs to get his hands on a dumble and call it a day😎
Is it possible to connect it both with frfr speaker and mixer for live situations?
I've said this before.....am I the only one that wishes this came with a cover or case? Even for purchase seperately....
Should i trade my Headrush MX5 for this John? Home use no gigs.
Yes it is
Looks very promising indeed.
Love the option to use the same presets in DAW or hardware (which is why I bought into the Helix system and indeed original POD beforehand) AND much better size/format than a Kemper....do I need it? Probably not but we shall see........thanks for covering it, look forward to hearing more.
I'm already considering putting in the fx loop of my HX Stomp getting my captures with pre and post fx from the stomp. BTW, I think you'd really like IKs xpedals the reverb one is a real competition for the great Big Sky.
Can you explain how you would use this in conjunction with the HX Stomp? I am interested in this
love your playing....
Thanks for the review , what were you using for play back sound?
yes.
If you want to make your own sounds ToneX make the 'Tone Capture' box so you can do it. It cost $250.00 USD. If you have both you have spent $650.00 USD to literally have Kempers full features.
Not full features it doesn't have effects
Andrew is right, you don't have the full features of a Kemper - you also don't need the ToneX Capture box to capture, you can do it with any reamp box!
A small pedal that captures the tones of King Bonamassa…. “Pulls out the bank card” 😂 Great review and tones!!
Nice character assassination, those ealy QC reviewers omitted so many issues. It's still not what was adverrtised, but at least they have the JP2C added so I won't complain as much :P
Is this a kemper killer? Maybe? But it still doesn't have effects or all the routing the KPA has. Would make an awesome small rig with an HX Stomp or Effects tho!
Dressed up for this one. Fatherhood suits you.