TONEX PEDAL - is this The One? Does Kemper have a future?

You betcha, it's a full assessment of the new IK Multimedia ToneX pedal, with a juicy music demonstration.
TONEX Pedal: bit.ly/3kojtNZ
Amplitube 5 for $50: bit.ly/3XWAAnU
TONEX Plugin: bit.ly/3Z6tQ7O
(Affiliate links)
- COFFEE: www.buymeacoffee.com/jonwrightmusic
- The song is an instrumental version of this: • Liv Austen - How Thing... which I made with my wife
- MY WEBSITE: www.jonwright.co.uk.

[@EadsJasper]

Forget the tonex or kemper or any of that. This dudes playing...man. Thank you for your creative contributions to the world. Being able to manage your sounds on the fly and remain consistently on fire with your technique, absurd and terrifying and wonderful.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Oh man that's very kind. I feel the playing is kind of janky and it was all a bit of a 'that'll do' rush. So I appreciate the encouragement!

[@georgemavimbela]

yeah he is good

[@ksharpe10]

What you SAID, the actual most important part. he does know how to Record a REAL NICE TRACK. The layering is super.

[@JayTheLane]

Agreed.

[@Babs42]

First track is haunting.

[@ShadrachsGuitar]

woah. the videography, the tones, the playing, you deserve all the success you're gonna get with this channel!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

That’s very kind. I think it’s consistent video output that’s the most difficult thing for me

[@hanovergreen4091]

+1 for The Gold Standard™for Video Production!

[@duarteestelita7257]

​@@JonWrightMusicTV That's the main reason why i didn't jump into a YT channel of my owm, u know.. I didn't want to HAVE to make a video, just for the sake of putting it out and keeping the Logs going... Judging from what u present(ed) here.. , and this is the 1st time i watch a video of yours..... i would stick to whatever you want to say.. and not worry about numbers.. I've been following quite a few guys that dove into this, a few years ago... and focused on quality. And their numbers are growing.. whilst others burn out too quickly. Honestly, as a hot / "impulsed" feedback i wanna give you.. right now.. is that i wish that we lived close to each other. Perhaps we could collaborate on some of these videos. U seem to have sort of complementary approach to what i would have. So, all the best in the world. Don't give up, keep at it.. whatever little videos a month you're able to put out. Like me, there will be those who have subscribed, and will listen to whatever you have to say, whenever you will be able to say it ;) . Kudos from Portugal Jon PS: that E-H Soul Food sounds brilliant , despite the lack of loudness that might be put out.

[@dirkweidmann1926]

OMG!!! What an awesome demo! No matter what plugin you play, with your fingers everything sounds awesome!!! Unbelievable good tone! That's the secret of your great sound.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

That's really kind Dirk, thanks!

[@tuomaspietinen1485]

I cant get over how well these videos are made. Brilliant playing, of course, but also the feeling, camerawork and lighting. Great to watch, thank you!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

That's really appreciated, thank you

[@maxxstock]

The presence of a loop and a balanced output (XLR) would make this pedal an absolute winner

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Strongly agree

[@Sascha_Franck]

A loop would cost money (extra ADDA converters) and would add latency (ok, no need to discuss that...), but most of all with those extra connections IKMM would have to come up with a new housing and PCB instead of using those of the X-Gear series - which is probably the main reason why they can offer this thing for so little money. I rather wish it was smaller.

[@szveszs]

the freaking FX Loop that people everytime forget, it's so simple, IK just would put some freaking FXLoop on something if they made a 2k euro machine.

[@rodrigozamo]

Why an fx loop? Just out modulations delays and reverbs after it and that's it.

[@jviolin]

Winter NAMM 2025 Tonex MKII 😅

[@bradwilliamsandthedancehal8422]

Even though this particular product doesn't interest me, I'm super stoked to see you back! Your videos look amazing and you're a charming presenter. This channel deserves to be way bigger.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thank you so much!!

[@jcugnoni]

Wow I am blown away by the your demo song. Really top notch playing and mixing.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Ah man, thank you very much

[@MorbidManoeuvres]

sounds killer with or with out delay, exquisite playing sir. just got a tonex absolutely blown away

[@ksharpe10]

Bet you feel like a Kid in a Candy Store. IT is amazing.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Cheers Qual!

[@JonathanSaldivar]

i came for the demo but stayed for the music! dude wtf you came out of nowhere with some amazing playing!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

You're very kind man, thanks

[@Black-Viper75]

I came for the ToneX pedal. Got blown away by that intro track. I loved the video and your straight to the point approach. Subbed 🤟

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks man, welcome to the club. Expect approximate one video every two months 😂

[@Black-Viper75]

@@JonWrightMusicTV No problem. I'll keep watching this one over and over 😂. Seriously, it was that good.

[@klextacy]

Best demo and explanation of this pedal yet. Thank you!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks!

[@H3llb0y19876]

If the effects after the mic are really a problem, you could run the presets without an IR simulation in the ToneX, then go out, through all your effects, and then into a CAB M for your IR. That would simulate a traditional amp setup, and you get some of the best IR simulation and control together with this amazing ToneX modelling.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

I hear you, but this effects loop/IR thing is something I’m going to cover in another video

[@rodrigozamo]

Took me 3 watches of the intro song to finally get into the demo. What a great song!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Ah thank you! That's nice to read. It's a real song that I produced and I repurposed the backing for this. Link in description if you want to hear the alternative version (sung by my wife)...

[@shovington67]

When I first got the POD 20 some odd years ago, for practice and learning, I was in heaven for $250 ! I've been waiting all this time for the newest, cost effective, unit, that I could practice and play live with, for around the same money. Its here. The nice thing is that my grand niece is getting interested in guitar, not because of me funny enough, but through osmosis at school and through friends. She's 11. Imagine going through your entire guitar playing life, with one unit, and being 95% satisfied (or more) ? How much money have you spent over your lifetime on gear? How much would you have spent if life hadn't got in the way? I'll be watching and waiting to see if my grand niece becomes more interested, and I'll sweeten the experience at just the right time, first with a good guitar, then an excellent guitar setup, and perhaps my old POD, all in stages of course. Perhaps it will go somewhere, we'll see...

[@marcuslee2186]

I love this! Sounds like your niece has a good path to becoming a shredder.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Haven't things come a long way. I remember that kidney bean monster! What a nice starting point if it makes its way to your niece

[@LordBransty]

I haven't watched every review of the Tonex pedal. But I have watched quite a few. Yours is the first that shows you can play at bedroom sound levels. There's a lot of us bedroom guitarists, and that's an important feature. Thank you for that!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Yes, and I should probably have made a bit more of that. With the right sound it's really quite satisfying in the room even at normal volumes

[@jefgirdler7232]

Whoo boy that solo SLAPPED. You earned the guitarist bend face I made for. Sure.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks for recognising the bend face. It was a good 2-step one and hurt ever so slightly

[@duesenberger]

Thx for this video! 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.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Don't disagree with you here

[@jacksonhall1446]

At this price point, I see players possibly buying 2 units.... running wet dry or stereo. You have a backup unit if one goes down and you still spent half the price of a Kemper or Quad Cortex. Then profile your own collection of drive pedals and build them into the presets so u can carry a mini to medium sized pedalboard with the 2 units, delay, reverb, modulation, and a midi controller/switcher.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Or using one unit to FOH and one to feed a cab on stage... I want a dual unit - the ToneXL

[@whazpoppin]

2 Month ago i bought the Ampero Hotone 2 and never looked back to my amp. I integrated my whole pedalboard around that device and i‘m more than happy 👌🏼

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Happy days!

[@RoryHope]

Stunning mate. Makes me happy to see you still doing your thing, hope you guys are well x

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

We are thanks mate, and likewise. So lovey to hear from you! x

[@MotownGuitarJoe]

This is literally like the only video I've seen in YT that speaks to how the effects loop ACTUALLY works and what it means for things like the Tonex

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks. I feel like I’m out here in my own saying that effects before power amp and cab and mic is different to at the very end of the chain. That might be because people don’t really care which in itself may be informative.

[@DavidDucaz]

I’ve been looking into the tonex and kemper player.. stumbled upon this review. Your phrasing and tone are delightful 👏🏼

[@carpediem4413]

TONEX + Amplitube = Finally a SW solution that sounds awesome (and the tonex pedal if you are playing out live).

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Yep. The room reverb and effects in AmpliTube are amount my favourites in the virtual world

[@nkozi]

Not even in the market for this box (have a Simplifier DLX) but this is some of the best and most interesting music I've heard in a video like this. Not many people have taste and production chops like this on youtube.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks man. It's a real song that I produced and I repurposed the backing for this. Link in description if you want to hear the alternative version (sung by my wife FWIW)...

[@fireworx_925]

How do u like th DLX? I also have the DLX and I’m thinking to try the ToneX. If it’s good it’s staying, if it isn’t that different, I’ll just send it back

[@rangerdoc1029]

The feeling that you pour into your playing is spectacular. Incredibly expressive. I was captivated & totally forgot that this was a product review.

[@kiillabytez]

Don't froget the incredible video editing. Do you think this was done in one take?

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

That's really kind, thank you. I try to make music that I actually care about.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Each different sound was one take each, except the solo: I dropped in for the fast bit which is why the camera angle changes there

[@Claimjumper55]

Amazing playing and great tone. I'm planning on getting a Tonex to run with my Helix at home and with my HX Stomp when I'm on the go.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks v much. Nice combo

[@franknguitars7671]

nice playing, nice tones - I enjoyed that - thanks for sharing!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks for listening

[@justsomerandomguyman]

Effects being after cab (impulse response) is definitely not a big deal considering that's how the vast majority of albums are produced. Most mixers prefer using stuff like SoundToys or Eventide plugins in their DAW nowadays.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Love Soundtoys for guitars in the studio. But there's just something slightly different about delays and reverbs hitting the power amp and being shaped by the speaker alongside the dry signal, to just applying affects to the final guitar tone - in the room, it's just a bit different. NBD as you say, but I think it's worth being aware of

[@frans688]

@@JonWrightMusicTV My solution is to conec in the Fx loop of my Hx stomp (that i have) And the Tonex is on his way home. Can't wait 🤤

[@peterjessop1878]

Not completely true. I rarely place time based effects in series after a cab. I use aux sends instead for recording which is the more traditional way of doing it. If I was to use this live I’d have to have a switcher with a parallel path or a mixer.

[@millman82]

EVH even live applied effects after the cabinet. He had a mic’d cab for his dry sound and also went into a attenuator and cab sim then to wet effects. So, definitely most sounds you hear, a lot even live, are after cabinet.

[@pb25193]

Time based effects can be swapped with IR without any real effects on the signal. It cannot however be swapped with an actual cab/mic sequence (there will be some difference). IR however is NOT a cab and mic. It is a very good simulation of cab and mic. You can move the delays and verbs up and down the chain with ir, you'll be fine.

[@patchpit]

Jon, thanks for this video I've been kinda thinking about picking up the Tonex pedal for a while you just convinced me, I have a lot of the same pedals so now I'am all in ,anyway great job and crazy good playing!!!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Did you go for it in the end?

[@FastRedPonyCar]

I've owned all the major players in the modeling game and gigged with the kemper off/on for a decade and the thing with the kemper is that it's practically unbeatable from a core foundational tone perspective. None of the others (axefx, helix, QC) get the feel of playing through a real amp as right as the Kemper does and none of them take drive pedals in front as naturally as the Kemper and none of the others drive/boosts that are built in sound natural the way a decent analog boost in front of the kemper sounds. With that out of the way, I ended up using external delay/chorus, etc pedals in the kemper loop and a nice analog boost in front and it was great. The best way to think of the kemper is like a nice digital amp and that is all. Just ignore everything else and treat it like a guitar amp head. The nice and easy to use controller, the morphing, the desktop software, the tone profiling, etc are all just added bonuses. At the end of the day though, I went back to just using a great tube amp on stage but with the Torpedo captor X so I don't have to rely on a cab/mic and I can get a consistent tone in the PA and my IEM's.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Sounds like you're pretty happy with your rig - good place to be! I'm just beginning to get into the world of IRs for live (outside of the Kemper)

[@timparker4228]

Nice vid, nice playing, nice tones. No over the top wrestling style commentary. I dig it. Subbed and looking forward to more from the channel.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Nice to have you Tim, and thanks for the kind words

[@tk7836]

Thanks for the video, great introduction. Got mine ordered, looking forward to integrate it with my Line 6 Helix. Especially for recording, got to work through tons of amp sounds then... 😂. But it's indeed an amazing deal. About the placing of Reverb and Delay, never bothered me in the Helix or Fractal, there usually always place them after amp and cap with mic...

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks man. Yep, broadly agree with what you’re saying there, NBD

[@JakeBisognin]

The only real catch with the ToneX, which is the same issue with the Kemper, and that's that it only has a mono input, and you can only use one amp profile. Obviously only minor complaints though.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

I agree. I'd like a ToneX Pro with dual amps and an FX loop - imagine that's going to be a bigger box and extra processing though...

[@DreidMusicalX]

I never had a Kemper or Helix. I was going to get one, start checking out stuff and I seen this pedal and just ordered it tonight. Man I am excited! I did the PODxt modeling years ago and I just went back to pedals after it took a dump and I lost EVERYTHING in seconds! ,... because I enjoy the dance of pedals.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Ah the Pod XT... probably a blessing in disguise! I'm with you, I love pedals and the immediacy of them - hope the ToneX works out for you

[@DreidMusicalX]

@@JonWrightMusicTV It will be here Monday from zZounds. I'm still keeping my big amps and pedals. But I am going to hopefully be able to do some videos again and record better sound with the TONEX. Micing cabs and recording them is not my thing and not very consistent if a mic moves.

[@BoDavisMusic]

Dude...that was a great track, smoked it🔥 Thanks for sharing!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks man. It's a real song that I produced and I repurposed the backing for this. Link in description if you want to hear the alternative version (sung by my wife FWIW)...

[@BoDavisMusic]

@@JonWrightMusicTV Ahh I see now! Really great stuff you guys are doing!!

[@foxmeisteruk]

I'm running my ToneX in the loop of my HX Stomp with the cab sim on the ToneX globally turned off - in that way, I can pre-amps and post-amp effects in the Stomp, with the ToneX just providing the amp tones. If want to a cab sim, I can use the cabs/IRs on the Stomp, but since at the end of my chain I've got a Blackstar Amped-1, I can go straight to a guitar cab and/or use the cab-sims on the Blackstar itself with the XLR out.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

That's a nice compact solution!

[@vintagelemondrop]

How does it sound with cab from stomp compare to tonex?

[@foxmeisteruk]

At the moment, I've no put the ToneX through anything that requires a cab sim as I'm going into a poweramp and real guitar cabinet, so I honestly couldn't say.

[@MrMarcburger]

see I used to play an Iridium and since I go to a poweramp and onto a guitar speaker cab, I turned cab sim off on the Iridium. sounded better to me. So I'd expect to be turning off cab sim on the Tonex and stick wet fx between Tonex and poweramp.

[@user-rj4yf8im3l]

I use my Tonex with a Headrush gig board . Guitar into the Headrush, using the head rushes effects. Just like you would with an amp (pre and post). I run the Tonex thru the effects loop of the Headrush. Complete heaven. I used to run an Ampere Stomp 2 in place of the Headrush gig board because of the size, however the Headresh effects dominated so had to sacrifice with bigger unit. Plus I can set separate stomps per scene. Great stuff!

[@challengerdvr]

That is exactly what I was thinking of doing

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

It's a cool solution!

[@johnjacquard863]

just found the channel, love the playing in this intro badass!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Welcome aboard! Thank you

[@notalkguitarampplug-insrev784]

Had the exact same experience. Now ToneX is into my AxefxIII loop. Using AxefxIII IR

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

MIDI sync between them?

[@notalkguitarampplug-insrev784]

@@JonWrightMusicTV yes

[@leifpearson5205]

did you feel the amps felt or sounded better than your axe fx iii ones? I'm thinking about using tonex to add as an fx block to my fm3 so I can have dual amp setups..

[@notalkguitarampplug-insrev784]

@@leifpearson5205 yes I must admit tonex sounds MUCH closer to real amps... BUT AF3 amps still are very good to. in my case Tonex gives me the right feel of my slo and JP2C

[@400_billion_suns]

When using an IR, placing reverb or delay before the IR is the same as placing it after. In the mathematical nuts and bolts, IRs are linear transforms, so they will give the same result regardless of order with other linear effects. (Anyone who is skeptical of this, please try it with your own modeler and do a null test. No need to spend more money on an external IR loader for TONEX because unless you’re putting nonlinear effects like distortion, overdrives or compressors between the cab and IR, it doesn’t matter if they’re pre- or post-IR.)

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

You’re forgetting the power amp

[@400_billion_suns]

@@JonWrightMusicTV Nah, I didn’t forget it. I’m just not aware of any amp modeler that lets you insert effects between the modeled pre-amp and modeled power amp. You can only put them between the amp and cab, or after the cab. And if it’s using an IR for the cab (or any other linear transform cab model), then it doesn’t matter if delays and reverbs go pre-cab or post-cab. It’s the equivalent of A*B=B*A.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Well, ignored then. The power amp can make a big difference to how your effects sound - you might well have a level boost in the loop that pushes the power amp into more compression. Amplitube itself allows you to put effects between the pre and power amps. I agree it’s not common in other devices and probably not an issue for many people but it’s not zero difference at all. I even went through the process of showing you how actually it didn’t bother me - maybe you didn’t get that far into the video.

[@400_billion_suns]

@@JonWrightMusicTV Ah, I didn’t know Amplitube has a true loop insert between the pre and power amp. That’s very cool and it might be the only modeling package out there that does that. Even the AxeFX doesn’t have that capability and neither does the Helix. I did get that far in your video. I just see the misconception about pre or post-IR come up a lot, and wanted people to know that it actually doesn’t matter in most cases. I’ve seen a number of people considering using an external IR loader pedal with TONEX for this very reason and don’t want them spending money for something that won’t change the end result. I see now that I should’ve been more careful in how I phrased my last couple sentences, though. I didn’t mean “you” specifically; I meant it broadly to other people who read the comment who might be skeptical, they should test it themselves so they will be convinced. Sorry if it sounded a bit confrontational, and I’ll edit it to make it sound less so.

[@IamMusicNerd]

You could use a Captor X after the board before your DI, which would enable you to put your delay and reverb before the cab/mic IR if you like, but it sounds good either way.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Be nice if it was all in one box though wouldn't it...

[@IamMusicNerd]

@@JonWrightMusicTV Agree. However, I have been using mine on my pedalboard in loop 2 of the GT1000 core anyway, which enables me to put pedals before or after it in any order I like. So it hasn’t been a deal breaker for me yet. But yes, it would have been nice if they included it. Maybe v2 will someday.

[@marktwain5232]

I just started researching the Tonex. Just wow! THIS was the presentation to see! Thank you!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

You're so welcome!

[@marktwain5232]

@@JonWrightMusicTV From your review, I then researched several others! I then pulled the trigger and got one! Joy of joys! Absolutely spectacular technology! Wow do I wish I had had one of these back on the road with my Band in the 1970's! But better late than never on this end of life too! Again, my sincere thanks for your very highly entertaining effort! Highest regards and best wishes!

[@johnnathancordy]

Cracking video Jon!!!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

All hail JNC! Thanks mate

[@swmorgan515]

I have no issue with having to delays in the signal chain after the cab sim, as I typically prefer that sound (delays in DAW) but they will tend to sound brighter with all other things being equal, because the cab IR will roll off high end. But a good analog delay will be doing that anyway, or an eq setting could account for that even on digital delay.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Yep, it’s not a huge deal breaker

[@chofo273]

Great video Jon. To the point, honest, and extremely informative. Thank you!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thank you sir, that's always the aim

[@geetarplyr1]

Fantastic tones. My Tonex pedal arrives later today. Can't wait!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Enjoy!

[@michaelbelgil]

Great video Jon - EPIC playing in the intro - WooooooooOOOOHHH!!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Bless you man! Appreciate the support x

[@chrisr9426]

This was fun to watch. By that I mean: yes, great info, but I really enjoyed the presentation style. It made me smile. :)

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Ah that’s cool. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@wakinginfinity]

One option: Disable the cabs and IRs- removing the mic modeling-and run through delay/reverb. Use an IR pedal (like the one from TwoNotes) at the end of the chain. Not perfect, but it’ll get you pretty close and still within budget compared to the alternatives.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Absolutely. It would just be GREAT if it were contained within one relatively affordable pedal!

[@ZacharyMoonshine]

I was just thinking that and run it into the effects return of my real amp.

[@Jesterfizz]

This sold me! For a live show should I use a powered speaker? I know I can do straight to the board too

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Personally I would, as I like the physical interaction of the speaker and the strings. Make it feel more like a real amp...

[@1717jaydog]

at 5:26 there is a pretty great side arm shot. Amazing playing btw. But that side arm is next level. subbed for more vids, hopefully more side arm. Would you consider using your side arm for ad space? For real though, that intro solo is nuts and I will be back for more. Great content.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks Jay! Worry not: all the while I'm filming myself, recordings guitar tracks, with 2-3 cameras, and needing to cut away to hide an edit, there is a high chance there will be arm shots.

[@qualaup]

Dude, i had a ToneX, it is back in the shop right now. Hyped pedal. Got the Kemper player. Awesome! Who like profiling? I profiled three amps with my Kemper profiler 7 years ago, never profiled again. There are sooo many good profiles on the market these days so why try to invent the wheel again?

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

I agree with you - except no-one profiles the ENGL Steve Morse head with an e906 and V30s...

[@wroclawskawielkaplyta]

As a backup, our guitar player is using Boss IR200 in his pedalboard. All stompboxes thru this device and when playing thru real amp, Boss has everthing off (amp, cab, reverb). When real amp is useles (little pubs) he just has to push 3 buttons and Boss do the job.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Super flexible rig!

[@themischa]

I just came across this because I’m a Kemper user who was considering the jump to Quad Cortex and now ToneX broke through the wall and disrupted the entire amp modeling/profiling market. Just one question… HOW IS YOUR CHANNEL NOT BIGGER??? you’re great. Insta sub

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Ha! Thanks for that. It’s mad how many views this video has, hard to get my head round.

[@jittboy1]

No effects loop for live playing sucks, studio it is great

[@themischa]

@@jittboy1 watch Tone Junkies new vid … everyone’s misunderstanding this.

[@marcofioravanti4176]

Same here. 😊

[@frankcunnigham220]

Hee hee you came across it

[@iansimmons735]

Thanks for the info. It's never going to replace the Kemper for me live... but I'm not a pro, only semi. The ToneX seems to be quite a different beast. I now have two Kempers, one powered, and I got a Stage for redundancy - I sold a Helix LT to get it. ToneX really needs a 'plus plus' version that encapsulates what the Kemper has, for live use, for me to ever consider it. I really don't want masses of pedals, for example, I never use my own OCD anymore, and the other KPA effects are absolutely good enough for me... Perhaps they will produce something like that one day. I think the ToneX will sit well maybe in an HX Stomp environment? Or full pedal board, I don't know. As for the tones themselves, I accept yours (and others') opinion that it is 'better', but Joe Public is never going to notice that level of distinction. I suspect it's more appropriate to make those distinctions in a studio environment. I just search for and find the profiles that sound fabulous, inspire me, and like I'm playing through a 'real' amp. A thought - delays after the speakers should be Ok in most cases, I would imagine... don't they record that way in studios (record a full signal chain dry, add ambients after)? What concerns me more really is that there are now a couple of mooted 'Kemper Killers' out there now (e.g. QC), but Kemper themselves have gone VERY quiet. They need to up their game perhaps and find a voice again to counter the competition. I am happy to take their excellent OS and Rig Manager updates, but what next? What are they up to?? I can't help wondering!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Yes, I wonder what Kemper are up to. They're a stubborn bunch but surely a Kemper mini would make sense...

[@buddyslowhand7647]

Kemper is as good as the profiles you're using. And it is an all in one solution. Comparing apples and oranges could never make this a "Kemper killer".

[@IainFrame]

@@JonWrightMusicTV 100%. I've had my Kemper for about 5 years and never used the actual profiler element of it. Also never used the MIDI at all, but I know some folk will. I use it live (into FOH desk and monitor) and for recording (SPDIF out). I'd happily take a cut-down version of it.

[@robnolette]

Great video! I dig your sarcastic humor. Do you not use the noise gate? I always have to remove that hum and static white noise, especially from single coils. Anywho... my Tonex is arriving soon and can't wait! Cheers!

[@marcosalves3101]

Effects loops were added to guitar amps to approximate what it's like when you add modulation/time effects to a recorded guitar sound (post microphone) in the studio.

[@teebone333]

So good to someone credible challenging the hype of the superiority of Kemper. I've been tempted to dive deeper into these Ampltube hardware units ...now I am seriously considering it, thanks!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Same here. I’ve only tried the X-time delay pedal but I’m really curious about the drive…

[@Wilson-PaintAudio]

Love your play and demo so much! You can use a foot controller like MIDI Captain to save all your hand tuning works during your play. Checked for Strymon Flint you just need a MIDI-EXP to do connect :)

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Glad you enjoyed. Yeah I've set up complex switching/control systems before. For this it was just a bit of a jam though and trying to demonstrate the 'live' knob twiddling possible with stomp boxes vs a Kemper/all in one unit

[@onpoint1180]

U are a master of your craft my friend. I thoroughly enjoyed 😉

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thank you so much 😀

[@Jamespendle]

Have only had brilliant experience with kemper repair shop. Freight is cheap as chips if you use a broker like parcelmonkey or similar etc. definitely intrigued by tonex though. Shame it doesn’t have a poweramp.

[@frankiewalnuts]

Just subbed, amazing content, love your delivery and mannerisms

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Love you too Danny!

[@LeMans512]

This a great video. Not just for the content but the delivery too. The British are so much better at using language than any other English speaking group.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Ha - thanks for the kind words!

[@defenderstargate1447]

I am only a few minutes in, just listening to the music, and had to give a like already. Awesome jam!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Much appreciated!

[@majorgiroux]

Considering the pedal is very inexpensive (relative to your board anyway), you could use with modeled pre amps after your drive and a second one modeling power amps at the end of the chain. That would imply creating your own profiles but I think it's be a fun process. + one can control the other via midi (I guess)

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

That's definitely a consideration!

[@paulsummerside]

Original time bassed effects were studio based & therefore after cabinets and microphones 🎤, so not that much of an issue. Could always turn off the cabinet and microphone models on the Tonex pedal, then buy a separate unit for speaker mic models, perhaps the tonex “one” if it has the speaker & microphone models on it and use that at the end of the chain. What I’d personally like to see is a Tonex Amp Combo for Bassists, and then another one for Guitarists. Always thought Kemper was overpriced. Tonex pedal for £300 - £400 is great. And essentially does the same job. Think one will be on my shopping list.

[@davidriggs8196]

Of course the Kemper post efx is after the cabs anyway. I usually route the Kemper post stack for recording and add reverb and delay and reverb in the DAW. But here is a thing. I get latency in my DAW as my project builds. So if you want to record with the Tonex here is an idea. I use Plugin Alliance's Gig performer, a plugin host, for singing and bass guitar. I build the necessary range of plugins I want in the order I want them. I then run Gig Performer outside Cubase in Standalone mode and it is unaffected by the DAW latency. Now if you run the Tonex with the post cab efx you can monitor your setup as you are recording and you can route the Tonex into a Cubase input, but only monitor the Gig Performer, thus hearing the sound you want to record. Which is useful if you don't have an extensive pedalboard. You could also run Amplitude in gig performer with the same profile but with efc before and after.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

I'm going to have to read this properly when I have a bit more time. Have to say though I've not has issues with latency building for quite a few years now with modern hardware and DAWs

[@davidriggs8196]

@@JonWrightMusicTV Well it's probably because I am a UAD user. They do tend to add latency when used during tracking.

[@Darrell111]

Really wish this had either or a trs input or an effects loop. That would have made it integrate with any pedal board. If you want to use it as an interface as it is designed, everything has to go prior to the input of the ToneX. Same for using it with pedals and headphones. For me it's a big miss. For others maybe just fine.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

TRS input would have been great. As you say, some won't care and without knowing what percentage of people want to run it they'd be doubling the required processing power to have dual signals, which means cost. But yeah, I feel ya!

[@ksharpe10]

I will be waiting to see if IK multimedia addresses these issues in a Quick fashion, Maybe a slightly higher prices PRO unit, which addresses what they missed this 1st time. And watching to see if they work to keep up with support.

[@weedywet]

For me, I've just gone 'the other way'. That is, we toured Japan (and done one-off fly dates) with just a USB stick and a hired Kemper from the backing company. I don't want to have to travel with a pedal board or have to fuss with things changing every night. The lack of at least a delay in the ToneX limits it too much for me to replace the Kemper.

[@ghostsofatlantisofficial]

Buy a delay pedal.......

[@weedywet]

@@ghostsofatlantisofficial I don't need one.. that was the point

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Yeah that's a nice solution - though I would be nervous about USB/reliability as I've had some flakey USB-related behaviour. Sounds like it worked out!

[@weedywet]

@@JonWrightMusicTV well if you mean the USB stick itself, we carry multiple copies. Although we haven't had a failure yet.

[@jasongoad1084]

How did I just now find your channel? Very well done! Subscribed!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

You’re here now and that’s what counts.

[@dans5529]

Based on the demos I've come across, I haven't heard one example of the ToneX sounding as good as the Kemper can sound. The Kemper can also sound bad depending on the profile, but the right profile with the right guitar sounds better than any other modeller. This is just my opinion of course. And I think it's great that different options exist at different price points. However, I just don't understand why so many people are saying this sounds as good as or better than the Kemper does.

[@ArchangelCrusader-he3gg]

You must own a Kemper?

[@joemato]

ToneX is the New Kid In Town phase and make take a while until a new kid comes.

[@aliengrey6052]

@@ArchangelCrusader-he3gghe does. 1600 to 300 must hurt. Ouuucchhh!

[@ThePoushal]

15 seconds into the video, already subscribed. Must be a record for me.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks mate!

[@boshi9]

Cab sims, reverbs and delays are linear and time-invariant (unlike distortion pedals and gainy amps), so the order between them doesn’t matter. Mathematically it’s all the same, a+b=b+a. That’s why there’s no need for an effects loop.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

It’s not quite that simple and I’m going to explain why in a vid

[@boshi9]

@@JonWrightMusicTV OK, looking forward to that.

[@demondik]

That sounds awesome brother! I think the digital and analog have smeared their existences as one! LOL I've used solid-state gear my entire life, even in this preamp that had two 12x7 tubes in it! So I put two of the AMT Solid-State Warm Stone 12sWS to replace the tubes! It sounds 100% better than ever too! Tube amps have been ancient technology since the 80's anyways!

[@LukeMosse]

It seems like a lot of people are focusing on the fact that there's no effects loop on this, but on most modellers people just use complete preamp/poweramp modules - most people don't separate out their pre and poweramp anyway. I know you can do it on the Ampero II Stomp, maybe you can do it on others, but most people don't do it. So probably the vast majority of people who are using modellers aren't inserting their effects loop effects between the preamp and power amp sections anyway!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

I think you’re right. I still think effects between pre and power amps is its own thing, but I’m not sure how attached I still am to the idea that it’s ideal.

[@Bridging_the_Political_Divide]

Intelligent people and creative players can make anything sound good. Put this dude on any old ragged effects pedal and it will sound great. It's the player. 😉

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

I'd love to take this compliment but through the wrong gear I feel deeply uncomfortable and de-skilled. But you're very generous, thank you

[@gtmuse329A]

I have always run stereo effects after whichever amp modeler I’m using and never had an issue. This looks like a good sound upgrade from the Iridium or HX Stomp which I have been using.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Same really. Nothing wrong with fx post-cab. I'd say that's a pretty solid assessment of it overall!

[@davidjoel111]

I’ve loved my kemper for years now but the tone x is a no brainer for the price , the only reason to get a kemper over a tone x is because you need an all in one unit and don’t care about the effects so much, or need a power amp, but the price difference is abismal, I see kemper prices dropping.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

I pretty much agree with you here

[@robmarmaduke]

Great intro!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Cheers man! Link to the original is in description if you're interested

[@algorithm007ify]

I still think that Kemper has a better eco system, especially considering the Kemper Kabinet which does both FRFR and amp in the room, Moreover, there are many more professional profiles for Kemper at the moment. Furthermore, you have the inbuilt power-amp in the head and rack powered models..which is quite convenient and neat. Lastly, you have the iOS apps which can connect to kemper wirelessly (with a wireless bridge for non-floor models, or direct to a floor model).

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Kemper still has a lot of value for sure

[@tbirdkenny]

With liquid profiling and new usb reamping / recording it’s still putting up a really good fight . I do like the size of the tonex though .

[@algorithm007ify]

@@tbirdkenny I agree...liquid profiling is actually quite powerful...I wish Kemper made a tonex sized pedal

[@PitWChannel]

You are absoutely wrong about the non clicky like button, how would you know how loud it was when I smashed it?! Thank you, that gave me a lot of good information. I have an IR-200, but I will be selling it. Sounds great, stereo and all - but it only takes distortion pedals in front with really low gain settings, which is less than ideal for my usecase

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Yet more misinformation on KZbin! Apologies for misleading

[@AudioBoi1]

WOw, the intro was pretty cool. Like a soundtrack to some film

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks mate

[@deans.4705]

not understanding the big deal. The pedal was designed to be part of an already present effects loop. It doesn't have an effects loop as it's being treated as a distortion pedal not an entire amp. Do your pre-effects, then plug into the Tonex then out to your post effects. That's normally how it is done in the studio. In the studio, all post effects processing are usually done after the cab.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

I don’t think it’s designed as a distortion pedal at all. It’s a complete amp+mic capture. I hear you re effects being done in post but that’s the studio and the whole (or most of) point of the hardware is for live use. As I say it’s not a deal breaker but there is a difference to pumping your effects through the power amp and cab and not the other way around

[@deans.4705]

I understand your opinion but without an xlr out to go to FOH or an effects loop, it now goes in the loop of my FM9 or Helix stomp.

[@philfyphil]

Actually, on a negative note, I installed their free software and it played havoc with my otherwise faultless PC. It locked up my USB interface for some inexplicable reason, and some of the sounds took an eternity to load. They would also often load (in Studio One) and I would hear it, but it would not show in the mixer as a plug-in.

[@david-ruby]

Tried software as well and found the driven amps a bit noisy and got rid of a bit of it with the noise gate but the headrush was much quieter thru studio one.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Oh man, that's not fun. I'm not about to try to diagnose but hope you figured it out. Re the noise (Dave) this might be about interface and so on - the dirty amps are not in themselves particularly noisy in my experience

[@david-ruby]

@@JonWrightMusicTV Thanks for the thoughts here. I will revisit from your advise Jon. Cheers.

[@edruiz1202]

Wow can’t believe it’s the first time I come across this guy. He’s bad ass.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

👀

[@Tzaltochnie1]

Great video and great playing.. I don’t know what I am doing wrong but my drive pedals sound absolutely shit in front of the tonex in comparison to my twin reverb.. When playing at home it sounds ok but in a band situation the difference between real amp and tonex is big..

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

I have this now and again and I think for me it’s a perceptual thing. When experimenting with amps and pedals, the variation in sound can be so vast that moving between them is jarring and some pedals just don’t go with some amps. What do you experience when you move to a band situation?

[@JayTheLane]

Very tasty playing 💜 That's for being straight up about this and not being a Kemper snob 👍🏼

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

It's all just nice gear that sounds great and it doesn't really matter, right?

[@DennisWardsTrakShak]

I'm amazed at how many musicians think that having a "stereo" sound is relevant to live performances. Professional live engineers will almost always either reduce the width of a stereo signal or just ignore it. The fact is that if you are not listening in the right place of the venue then you cannot appreciate the sound of a "stereo effect" at all.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

With respect this sounds like a lack of experience on your part. I’ve worked with international touring standard live engineers who have been more than happy to take a stereo feed and absolutely use the full width through the FOH. It’s also extremely nice in IEMs for the band on stage.

[@DennisWardsTrakShak]

@@JonWrightMusicTV Thanks for your concern. I've been a world wide touring musician for 35 years. Not a long time, I know, but I know enough engineers that would rather just take the stereo signal (for recording purposes, for example) and just not get into a discussion about it. I do the same in the studio too.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

My experience is usually that you work collaboratively with the FOH guys and they are usually perfectly happy to have the discussion. Usually they’re keen on stereo in my experience, same as they’re keen on stereo keys etc. I don’t doubt your experience Dennis but when you are so dismissive of stereo guitar sounds it just seems like you haven’t experienced a situation where that’s desired. Your assertion that stereo guitar is pointless and beginners will automatically mono it is just wrong. Also, for IEMs, stereo reverbs etc are extremely helpful in getting an enjoyable mix for the musicians and for some it’s worth a stereo rig for that alone.

[@bb-bryzontrap1525]

Man this Tonex is a beast but you're actually giving it everything to sounds good; you play so nice the guitar bro.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks man, I'm trying

[@recellegende2453]

Tonex is a great way to have a great amp simulation on a pedalboard. However, for people who want an all-in-one solution, the device is unfortunately not an option and the Kemper is still preferable here. So to get back to the original question: Yes the Kemper has a future and will also be preferred by many.

[@algorithm007ify]

Kemper also has amp in the room (via kemper kone) and liquid profiling now....

[@CartoonDogg]

The Tonex pedal does come with the Tonex software and Amplitube 5, which has a massive amount of FX pedals (which can be MIDI-programmed). Surely with a MIDI foot controller, it would work as an all-in-one solution, no? I’m trying to find a good live solution so am trying to deep dive with this one!

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Of course you're right. But it's an ok question to ask, and indicates the main area of competition - which is amp profiling tech. Also it's a question for me - does the Kemper have a future FOR ME. And it didn't...

[@benjaminashlin]

This tune is so good. Amazing.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Glad you like. Link in description!

[@RobertSvilpaMusic]

I think all digital effects/modulations essentially sound like doing it in the control room during a session through an Eventide or similar. It sounds pretty darn good

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

I agree. I just like the power amp and speakers to get hit with the effects too.

[@Mike_Spor]

Very professional video. The introduction looks and sounds really good. Did you do all of this camera work and editing yourself?

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Hey Mike, thank you. Yes indeed. Recording with three cameras shooting 4K does lead to a bit of a ‘that’ll do’ when it comes to the takes!

[@user-ys2wc5od6r]

"There's a big but and I can not lie"... well played

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Thanks for appreciating 😆

[@jwright8838]

I've had negative interaction with Kemper support myself, but the Kemper has been my go to solution. The Kemper has been great, but I've always fought with the mids congestion/focus of the Kemper on the low A and low E strings. I had recovered the bottom end and growl of those strings by using a drive pedal on the input (now a Duke of Tone). I'm always struggling with the seeming "low resolution" of the Kemper in the high and low end of the frequencies. The Tonex maintains the "resolution" across the spectrum and the low end and growl of the guitar is there. It sounds far superior to the Kemper in that respect. I think IK Multimedia is working on dual amp rigs for the Tonex. There was a question on a feedback form that seemed to hint at dual rigs for the Tonex. Wouldn't that be great? An AC30 and Super Reverb or Dumble? Yes, please.

[@HerroYuy246]

Oh man it doesn’t do dual amp?

[@jwright8838]

@@HerroYuy246 Nope, The Tonex does one amp "capture" into stereo reverb. In Amplitude 5 you can setup multiple amps (including Tonex captures), but the pedal currently does one capture at a time.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Another J Wright! Agree in general. The dual amp option - with all the routing options - I would guess would be a whole new box. Who knows!

[@jwright8838]

@@JonWrightMusicTV Yeah, that's cool! I think they have probably built a huge amount of DSP power into the pedal. They could run one capture into the left and another into the right channel. The Kemper's DSP chips are several generations behind what is currently available. Even the Lin6 HXStomp has many times the computing power of the Kemper.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

@@jwright8838 I don't what chips are in a Kemper vs more modern pedals. But I know those Kemper chips are a) at least 10 years old and b) the Kemper interface and switching is terribly laggy when you have lots of profiles stored. Be lovely to think they've put an absolutely monster processor into the ToneX but would guess it's been done economically so a whole additional signal path? Not sure.

[@RICO_SUAVE21]

Kemper has a lot of thinking to do. They’ve made a ton of money with their products but there’s a new kid on the block that is MUCH cheaper in price, MUCH smaller pedalboard friendly footprint and just as good as the Kemper. 😊

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Agree with you on this. Especially with the latest Tonex One...

[@glencruciani]

I'm always interested in new tech, so I'm open to trying it. I have both the QC and Kemper Stage. I got the QC because of the hype as a Kemper killer... not so much as I found out. While there is a debate over the accuracy of a profile or capture, and perhaps the QC effects being superior, I defy any to tell me that the form factor of the Kemper Stage isn't the better for gigging musicians. The ease with which you can change patches, morph, tweak, and save changes is still better on the Kemper. Not to mention the nightmare of adjusting levels between QC patches because they vary greatly. The Kemper is literally the solution for someone who wants to have everything on one board. Is it the best at any one thing? No. But in my opinion, it's flexibility for an all in one pedalboard. There is a laundry list of thing that the QC and the Tonex don't do that the Kemper does. I consider them all different tools for different scenarios, so instead of being a Homer for one or the other, just agree that they all have their own strengths and weaknesses. Kemper is not going anywhere... except for yours I guess.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

I agree with you in the main. The Kemper still sounds as good as it ever did, and is up there with the best all-in-one options. I love pedals, and IRL don't actually use morphing etc so for me, live, this is an exciting product. However now that the amp profiling/sharing is so affordable, that's a big part of Kemper's (costly) appeal that's no longer unique, and that's where I think they have a problem.

[@Imokyourok440]

I would love to have an obsolete Kemper at a discount price someday. I saw one at EZ Pawn and it was still a grand! I hope it becomes obsolete so I can afford one. My $200 ADA MP1 pre amp was obsolete until it wasn’t and I sold it for $650

[@boimesa8190]

@@JonWrightMusicTV what do u mean by morphing?

[@guitartoneSA]

Thing is, 99% of Kemper owners never make a Profile and 99% of QC and ToneX owners will never make a Capture! So all these KZbinr videos about QC and ToneX being Kemper 'Killers' and the Kemper being old technology are just click bait for increasing Subscribers and views. It's taken 10 years for QC and ToneX to figure out this old technology which is now called new technology. 🙂 I think ToneX takes 10 minutes to Makena Capture and QC something like 5 minutes (I could be wrong?) Yet the KZbinrs only refine a Kemper Profile for 20 seconds, if that, before comparing. Well, Refine a Kemper Profile for 5 or 10 minutes and then compare! IMO

[@glencruciani]

@Boi Mesa the Morph feature on the Kemper is great. It allows me to take any parameter on a patch and change it by simply stepping on the same switch a 2nd time. The sound parameters then change to whatever your desired setting is. It's like a toggle switch. For example, it can be used as a lead boost on the same channel without using up another patch. Or you could increase the amount of gain, or the feedback length or mix level of a delay...or both simultaneously. Whatever you want. It's so handy. And to get back to the original patch, all you do is tap the same footswitch again, like a toggle. It's almost like having a midi controller built in. You can change multiple effect parameters all at once.

[@robertsimpson5801]

It is just a different tool. I think this is for a different market than the Kemper, QC, full sized Helix models, and FM9/ AxeIII. These units are all considered all-in-one units, and they don’t need to be used with a pedal board (although all of them can be). The most direct competition for the Tonex are things like the HX Stomp, the Strymon Iridium, the Walrus ACS1, etc. when compared to its direct competition, it is a no-brainer purchase… Although, it is nice that the HX stomp has the ability to host eight blocks internally, which gives the option of a combo amp +7 effects. Well, the FM3 could possibly fit in this group, and prices itself out by almost $700.

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

Absolutely. No one’s calling it a multi effects - it’s really just the comparison to the modelling/profiling aspects of those other products that are being made. For some people though, that’s 90% of what they need so…

[@michakowalski2930]

shiet, it went from nice elevator music doodling to goosebumps when the solo screeched along with acoustic guitar. Dayum :D what's happening. They should hire you because the goosebumps are selling it : D

[@JonWrightMusicTV]

THIS GUY GETS IT ❤️

[@EasyHeat]

I'm detecting a tinge of influential contemporary flavors of David Gilmour in your soundscape, and I mean that in the BEST way possible. Wicked tones mate. Cheers!