TONEX Pedal as part of a Live Rig? I'm Not Sure

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I got asked about options for using the TONEX as part of a live rig, in particular, turning on/off cabs into the return of a Line 6 Catalyst. It has left me with a few questions about the optimal way to run this - completely direct seems fine, or into FRFR, but what if you wanted to run both to FOH and to an Amp FX return?
Please leave a comment if you want me to explore TONEX more in the coming months?
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/ johnnathancordy get my backing tracks here
www.buymeacoffee.com/johnnath... - if you like what I do and
only if you wanted, you could buy me a coffee!

[@perrybutt801]

Gigged it last night, pedals into tonex with cab sims off and into a power cab and mic'd up to FOH. Best sound i've had with lots of amps at my feet. Very happy with it.

[@ksharpe10]

wow, feedback from a gigging musician. Thanks

[@adamwilcox6405]

Interesting, you used the models in the power cab. I hadn't considered that. Still waiting for my tonex pedal to arrive.

[@thenoboundariesband]

I am getting mine tomorrow... Plan to use it the same way as you. I use my axe fx the same way. Lots of pre amp models with a real tube power amp. Now I get to do it on my pedalboard without the axe... I hope I like it. Thanks for sharing.

[@matthewmessner1105]

Were you nervous going in or did it come naturally? Mine arrives tomorrow and have never gigged with anything like it

[@saffmohamed7416]

Thanks for the feedback!! Super useful to hear from folks who are already using it out in wild, and what works for their setup. Thanks for sharing!

[@daveklein6585]

Using one in the FX loop of an Ampero 2 stomp at the moment, basically as an external amp block.. It takes pedals in front extremely well, and then using the Ampero Stomp for effects and IR/cabs and eq.. Sounds really good this way... and really versatile.

[@djole02]

I really don't see any appeal in TONEX + real amp combo... It just doesn't make sense to me since the TONEX is an amp simulation pedal, you buy it so that you don't have to carry a real amp. If you have an amp that you like, you make a capture and you leave it at home...

[@bronchick]

Gigged with it using it for clean amps and my crunch pedals in front, with mod and delay after, into an Atomic CLR. Loved it! Love having an FRFR speaker on a stand behind me at ear level - much better than an amp facing up or on a tilt stand. My drummer agrees!

[@notalkguitarampplug-insrev784]

I also did captures of my beloved AxefxIII best amps!!! That’s crazy how they sound EXACTLY the same and most importantly they feel like the AxefxIII when playing!

[@jcw5007]

First of all Great playing. I'm looking at this right now and this video really helped me out.

[@sugarprobe]

I leave mine on as well for the same reasons. Works so good with my Mesa dc5 combo in the return

[@BobbyCulpepper.srv3fender]

This is why I think modellers should have a mix control for cabs and IR's

[@ksharpe10]

What about Line level dial?

[@simonm3889]

Great to hear your thoughts on this

[@markburrows1563]

Into a Fryette power station. Sits in the loop of my hxfx. Cab is an old 4x12 1960a … I’m sold. Yep had to adjust a few presets but to these old ears it sounds very useable and is sure as hell a lot less messing about than setting an amp up in the Helix.

[@duncancartledge1667]

I run the IOS version of Tonex into my Power Station. Works great, plus using AUM I can add effects.

[@martyshwaartz971]

Killer playing off the top John!

[@MichaelRiesenbeck]

It would be helpful to be able to turn off the cab for each output individually, one going to foh with and the other to a monitoring system, like a power amp and cab or return of an amp. For now I'd put one output through my pedal with cab emulations and one without

[@sosborniv]

I run mine into an HXFX out the stereo sends to a buffered splitter and then back to the HXFX with one side. The first outs of the splitter I send to my powered cab without can sims and then use an IR block in the HXFX to add the cab sim for FOH.

[@sonicsaviouryouwillnotgetm6678]

seems I preferred the cab off tones overall. But they were also a lot louder, so it is difficult to tell.

[@jmccoymusic]

The way I’ve done it is close to how you described at the end, running the Tonex without cabs in the loop of my HX Effects, sending a line without the IR to my Powerstage 170 and 1x12 and the IR on a different path out the main outputs to the desk. Feels very no compromise to me. HX controlling the Tonex through MIDI. FX loop block treated like an amp block in HX.

[@dirkjanreinders330]

I'm thinking of using the same setup! Do you think all amps sound good or accurate that way (clean/low/mid/high-gain)? Thanks in advance!

[@jmccoymusic]

@@dirkjanreinders330 all amp models sound and respond perfectly!

[@facundomorales24]

@@jmccoymusic can you set 2 differents outs in tonex? 1 with ir and the other with no ir ?

[@Sperzel]

@@facundomorales24for anyone wondering, no. The output is either mono or stereo.

[@pb25193]

​@@jmccoymusicdo you switch off cabs on tonex? Or do you need cabless amps?? I don't have the units but evaluating the possibility of running this into a power stage and celestion at home. (I hate frfr)

[@mohnjark3739]

I just got the catalyst I’m getting the tonex next. 🙌

[@trebleboost7]

I am very intrigued by this product but am really wondering how I would use it in my live setup. I am running Mono into a Synergy Syn30 head utilizing the 4CM, and using the cab-simulated direct out to FOH and the amp/speaker out to one side of a Bogner 4x12 mic'd which is loaded with Wizard Rock20's (kind of a little higher headroom greenback), for a pseudo-stereo effect. I have toyed with using the XLR to HXstomp for the cab modeling alone, using un unbalanced cable as proof of concept but the noise floor is a bit troubling in my proof of concept. That said, the Cab-simulated out on the Synergy actually sounds pretty good (the Cab sim is defeatible). I am still a big fan of running into my tube preamp with pure analog signal and then adding the 'sauce' post pre.

[@pappyfightkid]

Sweet playing. I added a comment on the IK forum requesting the option to bypass the IR on one output... but seeing as you have a direct dial (is it like the bat phone?) please do pick up the phone to them and make the request!

[@tsouknosflwrina]

If you want to send it direct to FOH it needs a DI box because it hasn't an xlr output ? Or you go straight from the left (mono) output?

[@martiboucat]

The last thing you said is what i’d do! Tonex with no cabs in the Fxloop of the stomp, reverbs and delays, one stereo send block to return of Catalyst to keep the stereo line, then dual cab or dual IR to FOH so they can balance the mics. I’d love to know your opinion on my setup. Is a combination of Stomp and Blackstar IDCORE 100. Because it has a Stereo FxLoop return sounds HUGE at relatively low volumes but also can ve really loud. It’s the same size of a Catalyst or a Katana. The only thing you have to do is chain the fxloop send with the input to avoid weird feedbacks. I loved the spikyness on those tones! 😜

[@johnnathancordy]

Hmm that does look pretty cool actually? I haven't tried any of the digital blackstar stuff but that's a great price for a stereo rig if it sounds decent? Something like that probably should be the standard vs the Headrush stuff?

[@martiboucat]

@@johnnathancordy i even thought about a Roland JC for a stereo rig for an all in one but their noise floor reputation put me away a bit. I really thought the Catalyst 200 would be a stereo fxloop return amp but, surprisingly, it’s not. All the videos comparing the IDCORE line with the Katanas focus on the sounds of the emulations of the amps and the Blackstar ends up sounding bit worse than the Boss, but since i only need the fxloop return… i haven’t really checked the Blackstar as an amp because i always plug into the stomp no matter what 😆 Btw, the idcore has a minijack headphones out that keeps the stereo that recieves from the fxloop in but sends a signal with a Blackstar IR (i guess you can change it on software, similar to the Amped1 stuff… When you say “the headrush stuff” you mean FRFR?

[@ksharpe10]

An 80's metal player would love and do use those Spiky tones. Some of it sounded like robben ford to me.

[@martiboucat]

@@ksharpe10 i’m not always a fan of JNC’s tones. They’re a bit “behind” to me. But it’s fine. Everybody has it’s voice 🙂

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Looks like we had pretty similar Sundays 😂

[@RedHotCollat]

If you were to use this with your HX Stomp are there any of your presets that would be good to gig with? Meaning something that sort of has all you need for your show?

[@Imperial_Venom]

hey guys, Quick question, I'm moving out from my randall stack to the Tonex (arrived yesterday) and I was wondering if there's any chance of using it to replace my randall head. I mean, from an underground metal guy who plays in caves and barely have more than the 4x12 itself to sound the guitars I need something to power the 4x12 right? Can I use the toneX with the Seymour Duncan power stage (200w) and the 4x12"? Basically the tonex are just replacing my randall head. Will that work in a live situation or studio rehearsals? Thanks

[@familjen.alcover]

If you turn the cab off and you change to a new bank does it still stays off? I’m thinking about buying the pedal and what I want to do is to have a collection of amps + cab for studio recording directly to the DAW. But use it with a SD poweramp 200 with a cab when playing live. It would be awesome if I can use the same collection in both cases and just turn on/off the ir for the cabs

[@bleigh6562]

Ok in the end your idea it sounds video worthy. 😊

[@rogb3199]

Ok John, forgetting price point. Organising and playing a varied live set with effects and the "feel" (for personal playing pleasure) including real estate/add-ons needed. Quad Cortex or Tonex pedal? Very curious as I've played QC a bit and not 100% convinced ...

[@LucasVale]

Is there any latency when you change presets? Does it get in the way of playing? I mean... can i change preset in downtempo?

[@JimmyDevere]

Will this tonex pedal allow me to capture my amp for blues and then roll off my guitar volume for fine gain adjustment, or does the amp need to be captured several times? I don't want to be having to push the pedal for different gain levels (clean/mild overdrive/crunch)

[@saccomarcelo]

It will clean up if you roll off the volume knob of the guitar!

[@miguelmeillon5418]

Hi John and everybody. Does the tonex work if i connect it directly to a cabinet and then mic the cabinet? i mean without using any kind of amp. Asking since I don't have an amp and thinking about a rehearsal or live situation, does this setting works? guitar to tonex pedal to cab (for rehersal) and then mic the cab (live)...

[@LordBransty]

I don't think it will. You need a power section of an amp to power the speakers. The Tonex doesn't have that built in.

[@mattgalbraith3050]

i would try maybe using amp only patches instead of turning the cab section off. might have better results going into the power amp in on the catalyst

[@johnnathancordy]

Good idea, though I'm not sure they have the Amp only versions of the Dumble stuff?

[@abehaddad]

Thanks for the video can you turn the cab sims off globally or do you have to do it manually for each preset?

[@johnnathancordy]

I *think* there's a global setting from the manual: CAB label The CAB label can have 5 different statuses: 1. CAB (off): the CAB is bypassed or empty on the selected PRESET. 2. CAB (amber): the CAB is a CAB TONE MODEL. 3. CAB (green): the CAB is a VIR cabinet. 4. CAB (blue): the CAB is a custom IR. 5. CAB (white): the CAB is globally bypassed.

[@abehaddad]

@@johnnathancordy thank you

[@scke3717]

Am I missing something? What the difference between using the StompXL amp+IR into a guitar amp power section vs using the Stomp and replacing the HX (amp/IR) with the Tonex in the loop and out the same way to your guitar amp's power section?

[@hexoflexo]

I don't understand that either or did he mean "off" instead of "on when he talked about the helix into an amp? Anyway I think there is a workaround for that problem if you use a poweramp or any amp with simulated cab output (like the seymour duncan powerstage 200 for example). You can just turn cab sim off, use any normal guitar cab and send XLR out with cab sim of the poweramp on.

[@shanemichaels8289]

It was the missing link in my rig. Between the pedals and amp. It goes on top my amp as a preamp

[@PaulDerbyshire007]

is the lick at 6:33 available on your patreon site? if so, I'm in...!

[@theod0r3]

I think what you need is a powered speaker instead of an amp for no compromises in sound with the cab sims on...

[@theod0r3]

just noticed you mentionted it in the end of the video, sorry!

[@abrahamaguilar6900]

It works if you happen to have a solid state amp, I own a Roland jc120 so it rocks!

[@jaunianise4172]

TONEX or Line6 HX for playing with a headphone at night ? Thx :)

[@johnnyguitar2]

I'm running Tonex into an orange stamp pedal (effects return) - loud as hell - but leave cab sims ON. (Off sounds dreadful). I can keep everything in my pedal board and the stamp is cheaper than a power stage

[@juancarlosprevostzarate7077]

Whenever you use two cabs the sound will be attenuated because there are two layers one being the Timex IR and second being your real amp speakers...

[@picksalot1]

Interesting and the opposite of what I would expect. The ToneX sounded much better without its Cab on, then going to your Catalyst. I was going to suggest looking for a Global EQ. Perhaps there is some kind of Speaker Impedance mismatch from ToneX to the Catalyst. Based on the sound when the ToneX Cab is being used, perhaps there is some kind of a Phase Cancellation taking place, if two signals are actually being sent to the Catalyst. 🤷‍♀

[@matthewearl9824]

There i no impedance issue as there is no resistive load such as a speaker that is attached to tonex pedal. Also the tonex pedal doesn't have a power amp. Line level is just that. Line level.

[@picksalot1]

@@matthewearl9824 I just watched a new video from Jason Sadites called "HELP! My TONEX PEDAL Does Not Sound Good?!?!," where he talks about and demonstrates the importance of setting the "Trim" in the Global Settings correctly. This makes a huge difference to the tone, and can be used to match the volume/tone on the ToneX Pedal to what is heard in the ToneX Software. This seems to be a common issue that can be easily resolved. Not sure if that's what is going on with John's setup.🤷

[@angrybuzzy]

In the video it sounds more like a real guitar amp with the cab off. But your point about the spikey high end at higher volumes (Fletcher Munson curve) with the cab on is something to consider.

[@Alex_Martz]

Test the ToneX inside the FX loop of the HX Stomp or HX effects!

[@DaveSteele07]

I agree! It looks like the most useable alternative. Add an eq after the loop to tailor the overall amp tone.

[@DaveSteele07]

This guy did it in getting ready for a tour.

[@DaveSteele07]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bYqXmYp7d9CErKM

[@DaveSteele07]

Add a midi cable and use the scenes in the HX stomp and it looks like it works well.

[@Alex_Martz]

@@DaveSteele07 Yes, that way we can also add any FXs before or after the ToneX captures, the ToneX doesn't need and FX loop because it has to go inside another FX loop

[@Adventuresingearland]

Bottom line, this thing SEEMS to have enough about it to get pro-level captures/sounds at an accessible price-point. Looking forward to hearing you explore the potential further...and field test it!

[@ksharpe10]

Ditto this Comment. Before I buy it, I am watching all these experts, getting their feedback to IK and seeing what they do to maybe immediately improve the Pedal even if it did bump the cost up a bit. Most people squawking about the no fx loop thing.

[@lolpwnnubs]

I honestly can’t imagine anyone feeling like the “cab on” patches sound good. They sounds like muffled garbage while the cab off versions sound like guitar amps.

[@djole02]

Cab ON and going into FX Return like what he was suggesting?

[@Stefan-]

It suddenly sounded like the sound came from a small transitor radio when the cabs were on and infinately fuller when they were off.

[@JohnSmith-ef2sx]

This is exactly what I was worried about. People talking about putting into the effects loop of your amp and how great its gonna sound for live playing with a real cab, yet can't find anyone on youtube other than you whose kinda putting that to the test.

[@ksharpe10]

This is why I am holding off buying this new kid on the Block, til everyone/experts send enough feedback to IK so they have a chance to address this, and or change the product, and to see how fast they address any problems. The captures and the process for doing so is now GEN 3 in modelling, to me anyway. Gen 1 the old Pod/vox valvetronix, Gen 2 Kemper, now we are heading into the next level with Tonex.

[@MotoRiff77]

cab on had a serious blanket, I liked cab off

[@DocDisco241]

Yes. Sounded fucken horrible.

[@robertj1303]

Tonex being Amplitude is kinda old and I guess if you compared with the Mooer Prime P1 you would stop looking at it. I also have an Axe fx III and am steadily designing the presets in the p1 to match the Axe. I scrolled thru your vids couldnt find anything on p1, recommend you take a look you ll be surprised as i was

[@dovemanvideo]

How does Tonex sound thru Fender FR12?

[@wolfsoto]

Recently purchased the Tonex Pedal I did all the proper things register the pedal, and downloaded the Tonex & Amplitude app got it registered. Then I tried to download an amp profile so I can use it on my Tonex Pedal and I wasn't able to it gave me no access. It also kept saying to make sure I have a verified account. Which is what I did at the very beginning. This has been very frustrating. Is there a tutorial on youtube or pdf file with instructions?

[@ksharpe10]

This is what i am watching for with this pedal, customer support, and customer problems. Right now this is the NEW kid on the block. Let us see what goes on, with all this, before I plunk down cash on it. Jason Sadites seems to have some videos on some of the problems. But try customer support at IK multimedia 1st. Most of these youtube video people only have their notifications on for a day or 2, so the likely hood of your getting an answer from John Cordy is slim.

[@ksharpe10]

I found this and one other fellow has one for amplitube 5 with file/capture sharing look for that too. But here is the one I found that might help, Seems it takes hitting thumbs up, and favorites, so watch for those. Hope it works for you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bKSnZn5qq7qlg7M

[@feralshe-male6858]

saw mike from gutted christ use a tonex live last saturday and it melted faces!

[@landontproductions8186]

Idk if you will see this but… so i have a Peavey valveking 112 and it has a send port and return port on the front i know thats the effects loop i think but its on the front of the amp with all the eq knobs… its a combo amp. How could i plug my tonex pedal to that?? Can i? I plug this into my scarlett 2i2 interface and the tones don’t sound this good.. its either super thin, the latency is crazy … idk what im doing wrong. Sometimes it has way too much bass even if i dial it to 0. I changed the chord i was using amd or fixed the static cutouts when using ASIO in the plugin and the pedal connected. Idk…

[@johnnathancordy]

You could plug into the Return of the Peavey Valveking I think? Something sounds not right with your Interface set up though? Sounds like maybe you don't have direct monitoring on or something weird is happening?

[@landontproductions8186]

@@johnnathancordy hmmm there isn’t a direct monitoring button on it i don’t think. I will check to see. Maybe there is an instrument button under the gain knob on both inputs. Maybe i could try turning that on. Im new to recording pedals and stuff physically. The interface works perfectly with direct in with my guitars.

[@timjones8754]

For me, (ymmv) it sounded much better with cabs off in all scenarios - in fact some of the best sounds I've heard from you tbh. But then I'm not really a fan of the Dumble type sound, I like a brighter marshall type sound at all levels of gain.

[@erickfuga]

It was ~kinda~ made to be used live. For the studio, an interface with the software will do way better than the pedal. A MacBook + a portable interface (for DI) brings much more to the game too. Honestly, I don't get why guitar players are so afraid of using modern stuff live. Quad Cortex is essentially an entry-level smartphone (hardware-wise) with a custom OS and people love it.

[@sunnibird]

Couldn't you just run it into a Fender FR12? Strange they they don't have the option for cab on/off separately on the outputs.

[@dykeneuk]

I see what you mean about the fizziness, but in a band context, that’s the bit that helps the guitar cut through. I preferred the sound with the cab turned off. Sounded more real to me.

[@MotownGuitarJoe]

I have a pod go. Was thinking of creating a "poor man's" fractal by putting a Tonex in the pod go's fx loop. Crazy?

[@rockr8840]

I was also thinking about the same thing.. tonex in the fx loop and turning off the amp and cabs in pod go or other MFX units.Then use the effects from pod go and amp and cabs from tonex.. for both studio and live use cases.. I was also wondering if one could control change from one preset to another (in tonex) through the foot switches of pod go when tonex is in the fx loop

[@MotownGuitarJoe]

@@rockr8840- probably not with the Pod Go, but with HX Effects/Stomp, yes, via MIDI

[@Acousticeg]

I tried to order the Katana preset pack. Added to cart put in all info press the pay button and it flashes but nothing happens. No email no code?

[@Cat-ql1pw]

Tonex - Mooer Cab X2 (2 connection) 1 connection (your IR)- Dibox - PA; 2 connection (disable cabsim) - real amp with cab. But i really don't understand why IK cannot add it to firmware. We just lost 50% of pedal functionality and need to purchase addition pedal. WTF IK?

[@gffg387]

You've been using an IR before a guitar cab???? No no no, Jonathan. That's a big no, my man.

[@crsantin]

Cabs on sounded like complete ass. You can do whatever works for you but having a cab sim going into a real cab doesn't make any sense.

[@Stefan-]

Yeah, personally having used modelers for almost 20 years i am very surpriced that some people wants to use cab sim on when going into a guitar speaker and as you say it doesnt make sense.

[@BOATIE141]

Tonex into Captor or Opus and boom you got better Cab Sims

[@alexandertorrente198]

My advice if your playing live is this: DONT USE MONO! I have this running live, with a mono set up, and it really doesnt end up working out, stuff kind of fights for volume. If you have a setup like this thiugh, I think it should work.

[@ToneDeth.]

Title sowing the seeds of doubt. The tides begin to turn against Tone X. The Modeler Wars Prophecy is complete.

[@johnnathancordy]

Meanwhile Neural DSP's global eq expert is cooking something up in a burning kitchen

[@ToneDeth.]

@@johnnathancordy 🤣 I think you mean Neurotic DSP

[@ultravirez]

Intrigued but not convinced....yet.

[@CezaryJakimik]

Tonex is not an amp modeller. It’s a player for single settings. You cannot change gain - You have to use different capture. Most of my life I’ve been playing tube amps. I love modellers but I hate players because they ruin my creative workflow.

[@GuitarAnimal]

katana sounds better than that

[@yuudee3132]

better to use yamaha stagepas 200 pa system.