Ultimate Amp Modeler Showdown: Tonex vs. Iridium vs. ACS1 vs. Dream & Ruby

[@rhoydotp]

The most useful adjustments for Tonex are the Depth and Presence controls. May need a v2 to include IR-2, Simplifier and the updated ACS. Turn the level on the KOT a little bit to cook that frontend of the amp sims. You’d really hear the difference between these units.

[@scottbecker3485]

This cries out for a sequel with the ACSI updated to its 2.0 firmware. That would make it a truly „ultimate“ comparison with no omissions.

[@lightfootfx]

I know! It breaks my heart that we missed that update. We might try and do this again when we have time. Thanks for watching!

[@gonebymidnight2881]

@@lightfootfxPlease do, it’s a whole different pedal now!

[@stringedaz]

I have the UAFX Ruby, Lion, and Dream 65. I love them.

[@lightfootfx]

I still need to try the Lion I hope to have one soon. They are awesome pedals!

[@jordan-c-bay]

Awesome video, this helped me decide to get a Ruby. If my honeymoon phase with it lasts (I love it so far) I might end up getting a Dream as well. I already have a Deluxe Reverb, but would be nice not to have to lug it to gigs… too much risk of damage or theft.

[@lightfootfx]

Great choice! Both those pedals are amazing! Thanks for watching!

[@KempStrings]

The Dream 65 having reverb built in was a deciding factor for me over the Iridium (one great sounding pedal to PA).

[@lematrix01]

Superb video , really real world !! Thank you

[@lightfootfx]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@jonathane40]

Wonderful video! Thanks for making it! I wonder how close you can get to an AC30 sounds with the Dream and a Vox in a box pedal in front of it

[@lightfootfx]

Thanks for watching! Yeah that would be interesting to try sometime!

[@GhostofMozart]

for those watching please keep in mind that you are: 1. listening to this through youtube which is processing it it's own way. 2 you're getting the direct out sound only when the guitar is playing. you hear the drastic difference when their mics come back on. All of that being said, there will be slight differences IRL if you were to play all of these at the same settings with the same guitar. I do think this was the best way to do this video though and it's extremely helpful :) PS: Most comparison videos I see drive me INSANE because what they are playing changes dramatically between models they are comparing. it will be full strum open chords and then all of the sudden some blistering solo above the 12th fret with new effects added. Super annyoing. With this video I really appreciate that basically the same thing was played for every comparison. Well done. For what it's worth i have a tonex being shipped to me as we speak but after watching this video i personally liked the Ruby the most. might return the tonex now if i cant get it to sound the way I want

[@lightfootfx]

Thanks so much for watching and for your kind run down! Ruby and Tonex are definitely my top 2 of anything on the market right now for amp modeling.

[@JudgeFredd]

Great video

[@lightfootfx]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@sundaytone]

Great comparison!

[@lightfootfx]

Hey thanks so much!

[@PedalPoopers]

Okay everyone, let's be honest here.... Round 1: ACS1 Blew the Iridium out of the water on cleans while the Iridium sounded only slightly better than ACS1 with the KOT. ACS1 won. Round 2: Ruby beat out the ToneX, the ToneX sounded muddy'd up and underwater compared to the Ruby. That didn't surprise me. Ruby won. It's not surprising that the ToneX and the Iridium sound sterile and feel digital. Round 3: Dream sounds like an actual Deluxe Reverb, ToneX sounds like a digital model trying to emulate a Deluxe Reverb but something was missing - I'm not sure what. Round 4: ACS1 and ToneX were pretty neck in neck here. If I had to pick one, I would probably go with ACS1, felt like it had more high end which you'd need in a live situation, and the clean was popping out the overdrive in a pleasing way. Listen to the video with a good set of speakers or headphones and you'll hear why Universal Audio rises to the top above anything else. You really need a UAFX Lion, a Friedman IR-X, AmpliTube X and a Boss IR-200 so you can compare those 4 next!

[@scottpeterson7538]

Agreed

[@peponline88]

I really like the comparison... but also i think that it could be great to add the real amps to hear wich one sounds closer to the them. I think that maybe the Acs1 sounds crispier or cleaner because it sounds more boosted in some frecuencies that make it sounds like that.

[@lightfootfx]

That’s a good point I’ll have to keep in mind for future videos. Thanks for watching!

[@singpraize2]

So the older Tone Factor Tone matched IR's were supposedly more EQ settings specific where they needed to be how Tone Factor Set them, The New XR IRs are suppose to be more flexible when it comes to eq settings

[@lightfootfx]

Yeah I was reading about that as well. Might have to do a round 2 in the future with all the udpated firmware and new XR IRs because I am genuinely curious on how much of an improvement it is.

[@GraeMcCullough]

I greatly enjoyed this! I have an acs1 on the way. It will be my third time owning one 😂 I want to try out the new firmware update. Anyway, I also just bought the Tone Factor XR Chimera pack. Do you know specifically which IR from this pack that you loaded onto the acs1 for this video?

[@lightfootfx]

I’m glad you enjoyed it! Yeah on all of them we used the 545 mic

[@GraeMcCullough]

@@lightfootfx thanks!

[@FakeGlasses]

I always prefer the Oxford in the dream, I a/b’d it with my vintage 67 deluxe and they are indistinguishable when recorded

[@lightfootfx]

Love it! Thanks for sharing!

[@FakeGlasses]

@@lightfootfx Took the plunge on a Tonex One to try out the Tonex universe, and initial impressions are that I'm sticking with the Ruby and Dream. Found the app lacking, and was very disappointed by the 'matchless' and a lot of other models on the LIbrarian app. Haven't found a Vox AC model that stands up to the Ruby, which is a shame as I think the Ruby is weaker than the Dream and sometimes responds to fuzzes differently/oddly than the Dream. There's some decent stuff to be sure and for the money the Tonex One is a great deal, but it feels a tier below the UAD stuff in terms of feel and clarity of sound. Everything on the Tonex with any gain to it feels muddy to me. I was hoping it would knock the Ruby off my board and allow me to swap/match things with the dream and get a matchless into play (my amps are a 67 deluxe reverb and a DC-30) or a super reverb/bassman from time to time, etc. Thanks for the video and discussion.

[@TheSaintBrad]

As a Vox user, I think the Ruby by a mile!

[@lightfootfx]

Another one for the ruby! That’s for sharing

[@jaribu2758]

Two words in defense of the Iridium. Input trim. Also perhaps a bit to wet for comparison.

[@johannmunoz_gtr]

Please a 5 minute video without talking, between ACS1 (updated) vs ToneX - Including some delays and reverbs, and drives. (New sub)

[@lightfootfx]

I would like to do more in the future! Thanks for watching

[@Jayrawk]

Capture the Ruby in the Tonex.

[@lightfootfx]

Hey now there’s an idea!

[@andym1966]

Time to include a Marshall comparison now that UA have released the Lion...

[@lightfootfx]

Yes! It’s on my list to review

[@brandnewyou5254]

You have to put on some headphones and then dial it into a mix to see it really shine then you'll understand they've been selling you the same thing in different boxes for 30 years

[@brandnewyou5254]

The old rp355 has it all in one box does it all and everything

[@MartinVazChannel]

Simplifier DLX, the best one for me.

[@lightfootfx]

I had that one and sold it, I wish I had it still to compare, I thought it sounded great while I had it!

[@MartinVazChannel]

@@lightfootfx That’s what I have now and freakin love the thing, it’s very cool that it has XLR to go FOH and also two outs to use with a real cab with no irs, effects loop, I mean this device is insane, for me it’s the best in market for this kind of devices.

[@SundayMorningGuitars]

I was wondering where this video went hahahaha

[@lightfootfx]

😆 we had some technical difficulties and had to repost haha. Thanks for watching!

[@SundayMorningGuitars]

@@lightfootfx yes of course, great sounds from this video. I’m curious if you saw the new “Lion” from UAFX 😂

[@lightfootfx]

@@SundayMorningGuitars indeed I did see that release. I’m not a huge marshal guy but if I can get my hands on one I’ll definitely film something with it.

[@SundayMorningGuitars]

@@lightfootfx if I get my hands on one before you do, I’ll let you borrow it!

[@tzmathew]

How does an HX stomp compare to these based on amp modeling ?

[@lightfootfx]

I used to have the hx stomp and was not a fan compared to these, that was back in 2021 or so and I know it’s had many improvements since then so if I tried it again I may like it now!

[@LEUNN_]

No real AC30 sounds like the ACS1 sounded here, no AC30 has that much low end.

[@brandnewyou5254]

If you ain't got an old digit tech RP355 you ain't played with a real modeler yet all you need is a few good IRs and you're good to go

[@lightfootfx]

Haha I can’t tell if you’re trolling. I’ve played one of those they sound terrible compared to the stuff that’s out today like fractal, helix, kemper or quad cortex. But you do you man!

[@BkBk-gy6vr]

Tonex sounded like what it is..digital. hands down the UA Dream wins.

[@lightfootfx]

Interesting, thanks for sharing! I won’t lie the dream is very good.

[@marks4553]

Why you guys sound like you bout to kiss...

[@daveandrew7014]

Ruby is least favorite to me. I don't like the bass and highs on it. KOT into it sounds horrible. Sounds bloated.

[@lightfootfx]

Interesting take! I wonder if that is due to the era of ac30 they are trying to capture. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheBluesine]

BLAH BNLAH BLAH --- Shut up about your guitar bro ---- this is suspsoe to be about the modelers..

[@aliengrey6052]

Why all the damned effects?????? We want to hear the modelers not the effects. Same on all of these types of posts.

[@brandnewyou5254]

I cannot believe what you guys will pay for this stuff when you can go to a pawn shop for less than a hundred bucks and get a model that will go straight in your interface and kick all that ass

[@clintwhite3021]

Alright alright I’ll bite, what is it 😂?

[@brandnewyou5254]

@@clintwhite3021 rp355 digitech

[@brandnewyou5254]

10 seconds into the video and I can tell you you're doing it wrong if you ain't running it straight to the interface and to tape and then maybe compress it a bit or something and on the KZbin you ain't doing it right

[@yessitsme6884]

"Ultimate"... Yet does not include Helix, Fractal, Kemper, Tone Master or Headrush. People, please stop calling everything "ultimate"

[@adamricard9410]

“Ultimate mid tier modeler shootout”

[@chrisgarciaj16]

He explains why in the video.

[@saltstream]

Pretty sure the guys were dealing with single guitar fx pedals for Amp's and IR's. I really enjoyed it. Helix, Fractal etc are a completely different situation as they are "all in one units" that offer a lot more than Amp modelling.

[@yessitsme6884]

@@saltstream Then rename the video. It's called "Ultimate amp modeller showdown". Sorry, I'm on a losing battle against the overuse of the word "ultimate". Also, tribute bands stop saying yours is the ultimate tribute, it is not.

[@saltstream]

@@yessitsme6884 Chill dude. There is no issue. All is good. The title doesn't matter. It's just a vid looking at various amp pedals. Some are better than others. This amp pedal stuff is very subjective. Some love it ... Others not so much..