Why Is Nobody Talking About This? (My TONEX Hack)

Want to get the most from your TONEX? Check this out! In this video, we test out the TONEX in combination with IK's lesser-known Z-TONE pedal. IK Multimedia built this unit as the perfect analog frontend for their digital amp modeling products. It's a preamp, boost, EQ, and DI box-all rolled into one! So does this little box of tone deserve a bit more popularity? You decide. Let's check it out!
VIDEO CONTENTS:
0:00 - Video teaser
0:30 - Intro jam
1:28 - What's this video about?
2:20 - What does the Z-TONE do?
2:58 - How does the Z-TONE work?
6:16 - The signal chain for today
7:21 - Example 01: Clean sound
8:36 - Example 02: Breakup sound
9:42 - Example 03: Dirty sound
10:59 - But wait, there's more...
12:01 - Is this combo for you?
12:45 - Final thoughts
PRODUCTS MENTIONED:
IK Z-TONE: amzn.to/47LljeG
IK TONEX: amzn.to/3u0BIOy
Keeley Halo: amzn.to/3OcR49D
GTRS S900: amzn.to/48EDiVl
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OTHER LINKS & RESOURCES:
Website: www.guitariq.com
Books: www.guitariq.com/books
KZbin: / guitariq
VIDEO DISCLOSURE:
Some of the URL's above are affiliate links. (This means, at no cost to you, we make a small commission on products purchased via our links.) Some products featured are provided by manufactures for use in our videos. No other sponsorships or incentives are offered in exchange for this content. This video was not revised, amended, or paid for by any third party.
#tonex #ikmultimedia #ampmodeler

[@guitariq]

Howdy team! I just saw that IK are doing their Z-TONE pedal for $99 on Amazon US at the moment-that's over 40% OFF! Great deal. Here's my affiliate link if you're keen to check it out: amzn.to/47LljeG. Thanks ; )

[@xldsyt]

Really nice playing and tones! It's those small things that add up. Thanks for posting.

[@guitariq]

No worries! Glad you liked the video. Cheers mate ; )

[@ARRITDOR]

I have one on the way, thanks for the tip. Biggest challenge will be making room for it on the pedalboard.

[@xldsyt]

Really nice playing and tones! It''s those small changes that add up to great tones. Mine is on the way...Thanks!

[@odditeemusic6016]

I’ve used the Z-Tone for a long time..will try it with the TONEX..great idea!

[@guitariq]

Awesome!

[@chrisl2206]

Thanks for sharing and introducing me to this pedal. I own a Tonex and if I get a chance I might pick one of these up.

[@guitariq]

Cheers mate!

[@reSEQUENCer1]

That's some beautiful guitar work!

[@guitariq]

Thanks!

[@billkline1450]

I appreciate the video. I’m going to give it a try. I currently use a servo pedal in front to liven up the patches and it works nicely. But I am constantly hunting the next new cool thing.

[@guitariq]

Nice! The servo looks like a cool pedal-I'm keen to try one. I imagined the Z-TONE would be less of a "colour box" type pedal and more of a utility tool (with lots of cool features). FYI: I just notice the Z-TONE is on sale at Amazon for $99... Below is my affiliate link if you're keen to check it out. Cheers! amzn.to/47LljeG

[@thaile4417]

A 200 bucks hack for subtle difference, sponsored by IK. All that happens to be the answer for the video title too. Beautiful! Thanks.

[@guitariq]

Sorry, if you didn't like the video. This unit is currently for sale on Amazon for $99. Personally, I think that's a bargain. But I appreciate if the unit isn't for you. All the best, mate ; )

[@nicholasaragon4126]

Thanks for the video. I have the Axe IO One which essentially has those controls which I find are a great improvement for really making Amplitube and Tonex sound pro AF. Very cool to have a pedal version for live. One gripe I have about the Active/Passive switch is that after using it, I can't live without it, my guitar with EMG SA, SA, 89s sounds so good through it with it engaged, nothing else in my guitar collection comes close. The damage has been done, my ears know the potential of sound. I don't play metal much, mostly R&B, Pop, Neo Soul. The cleans I get with EMG s with that Active switch are unreal. Z-Tone knob also very useful. To the naysayers I say if you're using only 1 guitar for Tonex, this is probably unnecessary cause you can dial in everything fine without it and just leave it. But for guys like me, with over a dozen guitars in and out with multiple types of output pickups and Actives, this saves lots of time. If you have Active pickups and are unhappy with how Amplitube or Tonex sounds with them, I'd recommend. Great video!

[@guitariq]

Nice! Yeah, it's awesome that IK has included these features in their line of interfaces ; )

[@paulbradshaw431]

Great video. Thank you. I'm six decades into this including a good number of years in Sydney during what I consider to be the golden years of live music there, the mid 70s to the mid 80. I am embracing the new technology as best I can and stopped using amps a while ago. My present setup is the ToneX pedal into an HX Stomp XL with the ToneX providing the amps, cabs/IRs and the Stomp all effects and doing the switching. My question is, would the Z-Tone work in front of this with the guitar into the Z-Tone which would then go into the Stomp? If so I'm getting one right away. Thanks for your input on this.

[@guitariq]

Hey! Yes, the Z-Tone will work for sure... The "Z" control is designed to see the direct output from your pickups. So place it first in your signal chain and you should be good to go. Hope that helps ; )

[@BakerImageGroup]

What audio interface are you using? Are you going into the Hi-Z inputs? I have an Apollo Twin which only has one Hi-Z input.

[@guitariq]

Hey! I'm using a Focusrite Clarett 8pre. It has 2 instrument inputs on the front. Cheers ; )

[@davezoradi]

Hey, curious if you’ve put the Z-Tone after the Tonex to see if the results are the same? I would love to use the Balanced out to send the Tonex One to FOH while getting the benefits of the variable impedance as well as splitting signal to via link to go back into my Boss GT1000core.

[@guitariq]

Hey! I haven't tried it... But I think that should work fine. I assume the "Z" knob would probably behave a little differently-but you might prefer it ; )

[@larriveeman]

If I put my tc electronic flashback X4 after the tonex pedal ( like you have the halo), I lose some high end and a little volume at the output, do you find this to be true with your setup?

[@guitariq]

No, not really. I'd assume the that Flashback wouldn't alter the sound of the TONEX. But if you're finding it's and issue, you could go for a delay that's "analog dry-through." This means the input what be touched by the A/D conversion. Hope that helps!

[@beenay18]

Can i profile an amp with overdrive, distortion, reverb, delay, chorus, flanger, compressor, noise gate etc all at once with it?

[@guitariq]

Hey! In short, no. Amps can be captured with additional gain staging (e.g., boost, compression, OD etc.). However, time-based effects won't work (e.g., modulation, delay, and reverb etc.) I hope that helps ; )

[@JediMasterRick2]

I don’t know much about this but this may be attainable with a Tube Screamer pedal. You just need to have the Trim dialed in and use different captures for different guitars.

[@guitariq]

Yeah, a Tube Screamer would work great with the TONEX! The Z-TONE pedal is a more of a multi-function utility tool. So it's something different from an OD pedal. But you could certainly use a nice OD pedal to achieve a similar effect.

[@JediMasterRick2]

@@guitariq I ordered the ToneX One a few days ago. I’m looking forward to getting the 68 Champ capture pack. I think I’ll just have that with a delay pedal and maybe an ODR-1 and that will be my whole rig.

[@guitariq]

@@JediMasterRick2 Nice!

[@PhillipStewartTech]

Would you put this before the wah and tuner?

[@guitariq]

Yeah, it's designed to see the signal coming straight from your guitar. That said, you can really place it wherever. The "Z-TONE" will just behave a little differently if it sees a buffered signal-that's all.

[@heavymetal11]

But there are no stock in the link you provided

[@guitariq]

Are you in the US? They still seem to be in stock on Amazon.com... However, it might be different in other parts of the world. Sorry ; (

[@mohitrahaman]

Only if your name was ToneY, I would have believed all of it.

[@matthewearl9824]

They have these on their audio interfaces

[@guitariq]

Yes, they do! It's a great feature for an interface ; )

[@SenfSenferson]

I guess any Preamp/EQ/Boost/Compressor will do similar things.

[@guitariq]

Yes, certainly. We could use an number of other pedals together to get similar results. I often use the combo of Xotic's EP booster and SP compressor for that very reason. That said, the beauty of the Z-TONE is that is rolls so many features into one pedal. I also noticed that Amazon currently have it on sale for just $99. Bargain! (Link in the description.)

[@sevynn3970]

So this could be used to solve the problem of say, switch between lower powered pickups and hotter pickups?

[@guitariq]

Absolutely.@@sevynn3970

[@sevynn3970]

@@guitariq just ordered one from Amazon, $99 is a good price. The ability to run a clean signal for re-amping is an added bonus

[@guitariq]

Awesome! I hope you like it ; )@@sevynn3970

[@Buttface1981]

So the 'hack' is to use an official pedal from IK designed for the very purpose of sitting in front of their other products such as the Tonex? Not much of a hack is it?

[@guitariq]

Howdy, good sir! The "hack" part is more about experimenting with your gain staging and tone shaping options before hitting the TONEX. The Z-TONE pedal just offers a convenient way to do that because it's inexpensive and has a lot of features rolled into one. Hope that helps ; )

[@iosumetal]

Not cool.. this tonex pedal also has a feature that is the pregain input, so.. z thing or z tone is no needed...

[@guitariq]

Hi! Yes, you can certainly adjust the input trim on the TONEX within the global settings. This video is more about experimenting with your gain staging and tone shaping options "before" hitting the TONEX. The Z-TONE pedal offers a convenient way to do that. It also has a lot of features rolled into one-that the TONEX doesn't have (preamp, boost, z-tone, DI etc.). Hope that helps ; )

[@therealmiddy]

Those are not DIP switches

[@guitariq]

Noted, thanks.

[@shivr3270]

It is clear that the bypassed version is quieter, Why are you doing this? Do you wanna trick the untrained ears to buy this unneccesary product

[@guitariq]

Hi there! I think the pedal sounds great. But this is just a user demo. It's of no consequence to me whether people buy it or not... To clarify, the unit is acting as a boost pedal. So the engaged signal will be a little louder. The point is that we can use a pedal like this to drive the input of the TONEX (just like we would a real amp). Cheers ; )

[@shivr3270]

@@guitariq when there is comparisons its crucial that the levels are the same