ToneX One vs Boss IR-2 vs Line 6 Pod Express | Which one are YOU buying?! (not sponsored)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 มิ.ย. 2024
- Today, I’m asking for your help about which of the hot new affordable amp/cab sim and modeler pedals I should buy! I’m stuck between the IK Multimedia ToneX One, the Boss IR-2 and the Line 6 Pod Express.
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Get them at Thomann: www.thomann.de/intl/thlpg_egy...
At Sweetwater: sweetwater.sjv.io/3eQynM
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Ever since Boss unveiled the IR-2 Amp & IR Cabinet simulator pedal in late 2023, I’ve been ready to grab one. But, during the wait for the IR-2 to become available in Europe, Line 6 dropped their Pod Express units for guitar and bass players, and now IK Multimedia has made things even more interesting with the launch of the ToneX One!
They’re all kind of similar in that they’re all small modeling pedals that can (theoretically) replace a traditional amp and cab setup, and they all come in at around the $200/€200 price point.
But they all have plenty of unique features too. The Boss IR-2 (which is the smaller brother of the bigger, more feature-rich IR-200) is the most like a standard swap-out for a traditional amplifier. You can theoretically use it with a pedal board and then play through headphones, to a PA, or record directly, and you have 11 amps sims and 11 Celestion IRs to use here.
The Line 6 Pod Express is more of an all-in-one solution, with seven Line 6 amps/cabs built in alongside numerous effects: boost, overdrive, distortion, fuzz, and multiple delay, reverb and modulation effects. It’s also rocking a tuner and a looper, and again, you can run it through headphones, to speaker, or straight into your DAW for recording directly.
Finally, the ToneX One is… well, I’m not quite sure yet! This tiny pedal seems to offer myriad advantages, from being able to capture the tones of your existing amp and drive pedal collection, through to taking advantage of the thousands of ToneX captures offered in IK Multimedia’s ToneNET software, being used as a standalone drive pedal, and more. And of course it’s got a headphone out and is a USB audio interface too!
The question is: which one is going to be right for me as a player? While the IR-2 seems a natural choice, and comes with the standard Boss reliability and quality, the Pod Express looks loads of fun, and the hyperbole-infused sponsored videos that are everywhere about the ToneX One right now really seem to make it out to be a bit of a (and I truly despise this term) gamechanger.
So, in the absence of being able to play any of these devices for myself yet, I’m turning to you - the viewers, who I often think know more than me anyway - to let me know your thoughts. Which of the three would you recommend, and why? Which would suit me best? I’m really looking forward to hearing your opinions, and perhaps you’ll be able to persuade me which of these pedals to spend my hard-earned cash on when they finally do become available in Europe.
Here are some links to the various parts of the video:
00:00 Intro to the Boss IR-2
00:45 Intro to the Line 6 Pod Express
01:47 Intro to the ToneX One
02:39 I need your help please!
03:23 Boss IR-2 features
06:49 Pod Express features
08:38 ToneX One features
11:42 Which one should you buy? Which is best?
12:14 Choosing the best one for your own rig and needs
Backing music from the TH-cam Audio Library: Duck In The Alley - TrackTribe.
#BossPedals #ToneX #Line6 #IKMultimedia #Line6Pod #AmpSim #GuitarGear
Note: certain links in the description are affiliate links. If you click said links and purchase anything as a result, I will receive a small commission. This doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it does help to support the channel. So, if you do that, thank you very much!
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Which of these are you buying, Timestamps Team?
00:00 Intro to the Boss IR-2
00:45 Intro to the Line 6 Pod Express
01:47 Intro to the ToneX One
02:39 I need your help please!
03:23 Boss IR-2 features
06:49 Pod Express features
08:38 ToneX One features
11:42 Which one should you buy? Which is best?
12:14 Choosing the best one for your own rig and needs
BOSS IR-2 - as it is simple, perfect size, effects loop that allows you to connect effects and hear them in your headphones connected to dedicated jack, and record via USB with the pedals that you normally plug in after the amp like fe delay pedal
ToneX One for me, small size, gets the job done, my wife agrees.
Yeah, those are all definite plus points!
👏👏👏
Small is good😅
5:17 I bought the IR2 just before Christmas '23! Sounds great, I use my own effects on my board, stereo delays and reverb, plus chorus etc through the loop.Overdrives straight through ,in mono.I'm now using this pedal live into the PA. After a lifetime of using valve (tube) amps, I'm very happy using the Boss pedal! No more humping heavy combos for me!!😂
That's a great write up, thanks for sharing! The IR-2 does seem to be ideal in that regard. Our backs will thank us!
Got my tonex one in the mail today. Simply put...AMAZING. Loaded a ZWreck on it, and it captures the real deal exactly. The touch response is phenomenal. Get it, you won't regret it. I'll be putting up some shorts of it later today.
Oh, that sounds promising! Will be heading over to catch those videos of yours later :) If you get the chance to also do a Short with the capture and the ZWreck too, that'd be super cool to hear! Cheers :)
I really like the POD Express. So simple to use, sounds great, the FXs work very well. It's all-in-one approach on your desktop is what sold me. No additional pedals needed.
Yes, that's exactly what I like about it (in theory)! Next thing is to try one for real... hopefully they'll be available in Europe soon!
Is it possible to run the pod express (with amp and cab turned off) into the effects loop of the ir2 and use the modeling of the ir2 but the effects of the pod?
Yes! At least I think so. In the Pod Express manual, it says you can turn the amps and cab sims off and just use the FX. This would be to use with a guitar amp, but I'm sure the IR-2 would work there as well. That might actually be ideal - the IR-2 with the Pod Express for effects!
I'm looking for a pedal that I can plug directly into my audio interface...which one has the best amp sound and functionality for that procedure?
Well they can all be plugged directly into your audio interface... the next question would be: which one has the kinds of tones you're after! This is a question I'm asking myself as well, and why I guess I need to try all three. At the moment, I am edging towards the ToneX for its versatility and the free captures from other players you can download. Still haven't decided though!
I think one thing they’re all missing is a Bluetooth connected editor that you can control with your smartphone. If the tone-x did that, I would have already ordered it. I like the huge library available for tone-x, but I just know in most situations where i’d need to edit on the fly, I’m not also going to have a laptop on me. Yes, I know there are knobs and switches on it, but being able to swap out presets on a phone would make ease-of-use way easier.
And I’ll add that I already have a Mooer Radar that has the IR I really like that came stock in it, I would probably just use the tone-x as the amp model without an IR, which would also allow me to have delays and reverbs between the tonex amp and the mooer IR, like an effects loop. Yes, I know the IR-2 has an effects loop, but I’d rather have access to a large library of presets if I’m going the modeling route. I’m also leaning towards a used Hughes & Ketner Tubeman as a preamp to use with the Radar, not sure yet.
I've been thinking the same thing as you with these units. Can you examine the total cost of ownership of ToneX as I believe some of the downloads are chargeable?
That's a good point. With ToneX one you do get quite a few free, and I think the value is already there from purchase, but then you need to pay for additional packs and access to their fully-loaded software, and then I guess it depends on how much you want to spend and how many sounds you actually want. The one other thing is that there will be more and more people making free presets in future, and presumably some will actually be as good as the premium paid-for ones. Gonna have to look into this a bit more!
The Boss Katana Go is an obvious competitor to the Pod Express for your stated use case, though I see you've already covered that option in response to a previous comment. Follow-up video required?
Yes, you're right, and yes... follow-ups definitely required at some point! I've tried the NUX Mighty Plug (which is similar to the Katana Go) and that's really fun, for sure, although definitely for practice and noodling only. I need to do some more research and really see about the others. It's really interesting to get such decent and useful feedback on these videos, though, so thanks!
Cool vid. I’ve tried the IR2 and liked it, found it easy to use and sounded great. I’d like to try the other two sometime. I think for me tho I’m more an IR2 fan but I won’t know til I try them all.
Thanks! I'm with you there in a way... I think the IR-2 would be the one I'd be most instantly comfortable with too, as it's the closest thing to simply replacing my current amp and slotting into my rig. But the other two - especially the ToneX - have some intriguing possibilities that I want to try whenever they actually come out over here!
The ToneX One can be use in any totally Pro application with everything about it aimed at longevity. It has endless applications and in future if one buys something more sophisticated/better it could easily move into a choice of several secondary modes. I find the others are at best semi-pro if not outright toys that will have a short best before date.
That's an interesting take, and I agree. The Pod Express is definitely being aimed at a different clientele. I think the Boss is suited for people at any level, although the potential for the ToneX to grow over the years (in every way) does make it an exciting proposition. For me, though, it's going to live or die on how good it actually sounds (hard to tell from TH-cam videos alone so far!).
@@RichWordsMusic Yes you are right about TH-cams videos but when I heard the standard model ToneX shootout with a Fractal and a Neural that both one can assume are the measuring stick none sounded better or worse then the other. In short they were equally handicapped. Sooo...
Will be getting the ToneX one. Hoping to use it for a pedal platform at the end of my board with my analog pedals.
That's how I'd use it too, I think. Looks a super cool thing! If you ever get one, let me know how it is :)
bought a line 6 pod express, used it a couple of times and it's on return now. tonex shows tomorrow. hopefully it can be my mini rig, if not a friend wants to buy it from me. got it used. the pod express was fine for what it is, but i have a helix floor and headrush prime. the tonex is going to tell me if i am keeping the prime and selling the tonex, keeping both and using the tonex in conjunction with the helix floor.
Interesting. Why are you returning the Pod Express? Anything bad about it, or it is purely because you don't need it because you have the Headrush/Helix? Let me know how you think the ToneX compares please! Always good to hear from real people out there testing this stuff.
I’ve ordered the ToneX One. Already have an HX Stomp, so that rules out the Pod Express. The Boss was on my list but I couldn’t get one and pleased I had to wait as the ToneX One is better suited to my needs. I think a few people might cancel Boss IR-2 orders and go for the Tone X One. Only thing the ToneX One is missing for me is an east way to see which of the 20 presets you’ve got loaded. I wish they had gone with a slightly bigger (Boss sized) unit with a clear LED numeric display for ease of use. Still, for the price I think it’s superb. I already use ToneX software and the amp captures available for that are amazing.
That sounds promising! The ToneX is the one I'm leaning towards... may pull the trigger this weekend. I also think ToneX will be hoovering up quite a few orders from people who've been waiting on the other two over here in Europe since they were announced. Our patience can only last so long! I also think the ToneX has the most potential of the three in terms of potential, and the library of tones will only continue to grow. This can't happen with the other two. Good luck with yours, let me know how it is after you've tried it!
I went for the Pod Express. Haven't tried the other ones but I'm happy with my purchase and won't look any further.
That's the one that for me has the most potential as a simple, fun tool just for whenever inspiration strikes. At the moment I feel like I might grab the Pod Express and one of the other two at some point, but for different things.
Untill you get the IR-2 and realize its not anywhere close to the IR-2. I litterally gave my PE away. Yeah Its okay but it not in the same league as the IR-2. The FX on the PE are nothing special and it dont play nice with other pedals it makes too much noise.
I’ve purchased both the IR-2 and the Pod Express for the sake of going amp less. I obtained the Pod Express first and am still really impressed with the amp models and how they sound and how easy it is to dial in a sound. I then ordered the Boss IR-2 to compare which would sound better. In my humble opinion, the IR-2 was too digital sounding and just didn’t feel right to me. I ended up returning the Boss IR-2. I have the ToneX One on back order right now. I’m hoping to try that one as a means of having an amp at the end of my pedalboard.
Exactly what I did. And exactly my same thoughts on the IR-2. I really wanted to love it. Trying the Tone X next. Keeping the Pod express for now.
Same opinion here on the IR-2. The tones are so.....bad to my ear.
I’m currently using a Mooer PAL (4 cable) into a Line 6 Powercab plus. I’ve recently joined a band and will be soon playing live again and due to reliability and support issues with the PAL I’m planning a direct swap with the IR-2. Effects wise I use a Line6 HXFX with a couple of outboard drive units.
Yes, I think in that situation the IR-2 is the natural thing to swap in... please let me know how it goes! With an IR-2 and an HXFX (plus a couple of analog drives) you have any sound you could ever need...
I bought the IR-2, Pod Express and now waiting for my Tone X One to arrive. I have recieved both the IR-2 and the Pod Express. Ive gave the PE away its ok but its certianly not at the level of the IR-2 or Tone X.
That's good to hear from someone who's had hands-on experience with more than one of them. What wasn't good about the Pod Express? Just the quality of the sounds?
@@RichWordsMusic The Pod Express is a great unit as stand alone and for what it is. However the IR-2 tones are just way above it and probably anything else on market under $500 bucks. For FX Joyo is your friend and I also bought the Joyo Amphouse to stack the IR-2. I have both units on the Messa Boogie presets. The IR-2 is on the dirty channel and then the Joyo is on a clean channel. It is awesome!. I just got my Tone X One yestureday. Have not had much time to play with it. Im not a fan of the stock preset, but other than that it really is a pretty dang cool device. It does a lot in a very compact device. Im planning on building this into another pedal pedal board and using only the mini pedals. More than likely the Joyo Ironman Series. I may migrate the IR-2 over to this board. Undeciced at the moment. But If I do then I may just add more Joyo larger sized pedals and build that with just Joyo pedals.
If I want to play without an amp I’ll use my HeadRush Prime. Just bought a nice soft case for it.
With my regular pedalboard maybe one of the Friedman pedals amps with tubes. I don’t have one of those.
Ooh, that would actually be a good shout. I've been watching some vids with the Friedman IR-D today... sounds great, and I do love my Dirty Shirley pedal. That would be another sweet option then!
I love your videos!
Thanks a lot, really glad you're enjoying them!
From these three im seriously considering Boss Katana Go ;) because i need something portable with built in battery to use on travels with some small headless guitar (still waiting for the return of Dullahans ;) )
Ha ha, I was really considering doing a bit on the Katana Go as well... I've tried one and it's really good! And funnily enough, I recently went headless for the first time (with an Ibanez Q52) and was actually thinking about the Katana Go to go with that as the ultimate travel rig! Great minds think alike 😉
Good Saturday evening, very solid and quality comparison. A tough choice, this review can definitely help those interested. Personally, I'm still undecided. I got 8 effects delivered this week, plus other stuff for the music, but I have yet to put that decision on hold. The problem is in my abilities in quality connection with PC or NTB. Greetings Pavel CZ.👍👍👍
It's such a tough one for me, Pavel! I'm like you, I think... menus, plugins and software are not my natural environment. This is what worries me most about the ToneX One. Otherwise I am really excited for that one! The Ir-2 is the closest thing to simply replacing my amp... I think in the end I will need to test all three before knowing which one I prefer! Cheers and rock on!
Tonex One for everything but practice. BOSS Katana Go for practice. I know it isn’t one of these, but it still gets the nod
Yeah, I was actually considering adding a little bit on the Katana Go to this video... that thing is awesome!
My current thinking....
If I was gigging I think the ir2 might be where I go coupled with some modulation pedals in the loop. It would be the best live solution to me.
The pod express makes me dewy eyed for my old Pod2. As someone who only plays at home that is my current favourite. I can see it as a great home recording boon.
The tonex is amazing. But for me daunting to get into as I can't capture rigs apart from my H&K dual 6l6 and old Marshall so is rely on the library which looks far far to big to me and I'm going to have to get into computer editing which I've avoided to date. So for me it looks too big a leap.
You seem to have a similar mindset to me... to be honest, right now I'm most excited to try the ToneX, but I'm the most apprehensive about it too! I've never been one for plugins and complex menus, and I know you can keep it simple but the real opportunities are in the software.
The IR-2 looks like a great swap for a traditional amp - would work well immediately with my pedal board - and the Pod Express kind if looks like a super fun all-in-one practice and noodling machine for at home! I guess I'm going to need to try all three at some point :)
Why these new pedals keeps on avoiding fx loop feature. Still finding more valuable option than IR2
I bought a pedal of this ilk about 6 weeks ago and I chose...the Nux Amp Academy, obviously. It would have been the Boss if it was in stock somewhere before July.
You know what? The Amp Academy would totally deserve to be in this discussion if it had been released in the same time frame... I've spent a bit of time with one and it's excellent! So great choice there.
All three are good pedals. I will go for the IR-2 since got the effects loop. Simple to use. I regret getting one when it became available in my local store. Sold out in one day. 😢😢😢
Of these three, the TONEX ONE. However, I think you should compare the Pod Express with the other new cheap multi-FX pedals like the Zoom MG line and the Hotone Ampero Mini (with touchscreen!). Of the smaller multi-FX pedals, I opt for the Ampero Mini.
Interesting - I've not tried the Zoom or the Hotone, but I guess I need to. I'm edging towards the ToneX at this point, I have to say...
My main rig right now is an HX Stomp. I have a ToneX (which I am going to sell), and I've pre-ordered a ToneX One. I am also interested in the POD Express. I think of the POD Express as a Line 6 Catalyst-in-a-box.The POD Express would be a great all-in-one backup device. I imagine integrating the ToneX One into a pedalboard, either my Stomp board, or an analog board. The Boss doesn't really interest me - I've never been a fan of Boss stuff.
Between my katana, podhd500 and twonotes Opus I have enough tonal possibilities to keep me happy for ages now i just need to actually start writing songs instead of preset building . But that lil tonex is trying to light the pilot light on my G.A.S. Furnace. 😂
That's why I made this video really... the ToneX opened the wound for me 😅 I also have all the gear I need ever and I was casually waiting for the IR-2 and Pod Express until last week! Even HP says it's a gamechanger 😉 Gotta mean something! Ah, songwriting... need to get back to that rather than stoking the GAS furnace! (Although I am also using that furnace to smelt the first wild Firehorse...)
@@RichWordsMusic i recently built a pedal board for a friend who also has a pod and katana and a few additional pedals… so i can procrastinate on writing till i get a few presets made for him as he’s not as gear savy as i am. I guess working with multiple multi effects units since the early 90’s has its advantages when setting up a rig.
@@PooNinja Ha ha, for sure! Like riding a bike, I think you never lose that knowledge. I still need a Katana.
@@RichWordsMusic I have the sword and the boss amp, while the sword was good at trimming trees it doesn’t come in handy very much the amplifier however, gets used every day
It's hard to beat tonex here because of software, community and size. It can be handy for bass too.
Yes, those are all great plus points, and of course the bass side is a nice bonus too (and something I would use it for!). All points in favor of me pulling the trigger ;)
My goal is to make an ultra lightweight fly rig to replace the vintage 40kg weighing Boogie MK1 with Altec 417-8h Series II speaker I use in my Santana Tribute Band. For that it will be the Tonex One.
You can't get much more lightweight than the ToneX One! And I guess you could even profile/capture the Boogie/Altec rig for it... let me know how well that works if you ever do it please! Would love to know.
I have a katana amp i leave in my car as a back up amp, kinda has the same sound as the ir2, so no, even though the pedal is more convenient. I have a helix on my board, use it for reverbs, modulation, and delays, but dont like digital preamp or amp sounds, so no to the pod, BUT the tonex, using captures, sounds more like a real preamp then the digital ones, and you can just use it as a drive pedal, or back up preamp, , thousands of tones,.. so yes to the Tonex, infact , i have one pre ordered, supposed to ship in 2 weeks.
Interesting, and your reasons for pre-ordering the ToneX are kind of like the ones I have in my head too! It really does seem like it has a few extra possibilities and use cases compared to the other ones. The key for me will be how good it actually sounds (and feels) to play.
@@RichWordsMusic exactly, and over the years i have tried so many solid state amps and digital things that i dont like, and you dont know till you are playing live, that for 180 bucks, its worth trying, even if i leave it in my bag in the long run, or could probably sell instantly the day after i get it.
@@RichWordsMusic just came this morning, it sounds great.
Still waiting in Canada for POD Express and IR-2! Senior in tiny home recording and playing, don't have my old pedals or amps anymore. Tonex is IK Multimedia ecosystem and I'm committed to desktop Positive Grid Bias (though not the Spark) so I'll just skip it. I think I'd like both the IR-2 and the POD Express. I like that the POD Express has it 'all on one'. Not a fan of the POD default amp settings, most need user tweaking for my tastes, but there's lots of user preset space. I like the default IR-2 amps and Celestion cab sims and that the IR-2 has several useful clean amps. I like that the IR-2 has an fx loop for using a looper with a longer duration than the POD's default looper. I like that the POD takes an external two pedals with a variety of user settings. I think running the POD Boost/Effects into the IR-2 with POD amps off would be fun as well if the two are compatible would cover a lot of bases. (Stereo as well.) POD Express needs an editor and Line 6 is playing coy so some buyers will just skip it. Maybe I will too if I get an IR-2 first and it's keeps me happy. Or visa versa...
Ah, main.. Again perfect topic.. Being a simple single channeltype player, who needs tap delay and a tuner to complete the setup, i am actually tempted, especially with l6 express because i like the idea of having it all in mega portable package, being able to do a full gig with it alone.. Even having a small footprint poweramp pedal is not expensive and remains mega portable.. But, tonex does win in options regarding the most important aspect, thats the amp tone... Its really tempting if the quality of the amp sound is better.. It still can be a brain of a mega portable little rig.. With gazillion of some incredible captures available really makes you want it.. But does it really sound better!? Have no clue... Again i am a simple guy.. If the higher gain setting on Express works. That would be all i need.. But its hard to decide without testing.. Looking forwatlrd to find out what you have decided.. Great to see you gaining recognition you deserve and channel going strong, awesome content man
Bought an IR-2 and waited 3 months. I don't love it. The tones just sound so hollow, weak to me. Going to send it back. Going to look at the Pod Express and the Tone X.
Interesting. That's my worry too... doesn't matter how practical it is or what features it has if the sounds aren't any good. Let me know how the others match up! I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on the ToneX One this weekend :)
@@RichWordsMusic Right on. I will stay tuned for the Tone X review. :)
Then we shall see the "positive grid one" coming the way 😂
Oh yeah, still plenty more companies who need to get into this game 😅
I have the IR-2 and really only like the Twin sim. I have no need for the high-gain models. In addition, I am of the opinion that sims still don't take drive pedals in the same way that analog circuits do. I would rather have the Tonex library with its variety and baked-in drive sims. It's a better approach for me to sort the tones in the app, load what works, and go with that. I predict that Boss will eventually develop the loader capabilities of the IR-2, but for now, Tonex One offers the right combination of back-end flexibility and front-end simplicity.
PS: My best results into my FRFR have been with the Tech 21 SansAmp Paradriver, which is a robust analog preamp. For now, it's either go with an analog preamp as the centerpiece of a stacked-pedal rig, or find a way to model the core tones with a flexible loader.
Another benefit of Tonex One is that models include noise gate, compressor, and reverb, which could further reduce the additional pedal count.
BOSS IR-2. Good as it is, stellar with 3rd part IRs.
I was imagining it could sound even better with different IRs too. Definitely need to try it ASAP!
You can get the IR2 here!
The mini one of course 😂
The ToneX is the one I'm edging towards right now... not for the size, but for the potential it seems to have! Being small is another advantage though, for sure.
@@RichWordsMusic I agree! It can play so many roles and be molded into future setups and signal chains in many ways. Really excited to try it
If any are burning in wonderment after reading my original comment about these 3 shown here? I'm using a Boss GT-1 and an Boss original FA-1 with a Gretsch Streamliner Jr into a Crown power amp into a matched-pair of 15" two-way full range AB Tech P.A. enclosures, ....it sounds absolutely breathtaking particularly live and I'm constantly being inquired to, to reveal my tweaks by fellow players and what other devices are in my live-use chain etc, the only other is a Freq Out unit tweaked accordingly to suit my personal few constant tones....I know it's perfect for my needs in any circumstance for live or recording etc...how? because I also already own some other equipment most fellow guitarists would drool over too perhaps?...I know only some players are fortunate to find their actual puppy...I'm thankfully one of them, I wish you likewise in your search for your one too. ✅
Ir2. Simple go to pedal
That's one real advantage to the IR-2, I agree. What you see is what you get! It's the closest thing to an amp of the three for sure.
I don't need any of them! I have a Cube Baby emulator board I use for low vol practice, & to record rough song ideas. It works well enough! & you can load 3rd party IRS into it if you choose!
I DO however, have the FREE IK ToneX VST plugin. Only has like 5 amps in it, but they are excellent and tons of IRS I can swap and change.
I mainly got it for its upgraded AMPEG SVT emulation + loads of speaker IRs!
It works way BETTER than the old IKMM Ampeg SVX plugin with the 5 different Ampeg amp emulations!
The old 1 distorted too easily and was noisy!
The new 1 is dead silent, and CLEAN alm all the way up the gain dial! It just gets FATTER! The EQ is far more responsive, that i do NOT really need to ADD a post EQ to fine tune it!
Flatters even a cheap bass with shitty pick ups, OR a pitch shifted guitar!
That Cube Baby sounds interesting... something else to add to the list!
See, the thing that worries me slightly about the ToneX is the software. I'm rubbish with plugins and computery stuff, and yet I can see the potential there is hoge. Also, the software aspect means the ToneX has way more scope for improvements and upgrades over the IR-2 and the Pod Express... decisions, decisions!
I don't think you can use tonex one for capturing your own rigs
You don't use the pedal itself, but the included TONEX SE software. I'm quite excited to try it one day in the future!
Buy all 3 of them!
That's always the correct answer 😎 I would like to!
Non I already got an amp/fx in a pedal so no need for another one. 😊
I already have some too, but I want more 😉 GAS is a curse sometimes! Which one do you have?
I'm immediately avoiding anything without a looper. It's such a simple tech these days I've no idea why Tonex wouldn't include it. Just seems stupid. Annoying too, as that's the one I'd buy. Dedicated looper pedals can do it with one button, so it's not like it's hard to do.
Yep, that's an interesting point! The Pod Express really wins there for me - because of the tuner too. That's another one you really want in a "your rig in one pedal" type thing. So the IR-2 is losing out a bit in that regard. I don't think it'd be too hard for IK Multimedia to put a looper in the ToneX either.
None of them, I'm an old fashioned guy, who prefers a valve amp. I've tried various modelling rigs over the years and always revert back to my amp on stage. The market is so over saturated with modelling devices etc..... and I use to find myself, tweaking presets etc...... and not enough time spent actually playing 👍
This is a worry for me too, and what worries me most about the ToneX! I am pretty terrible with deep-dive menus and plugins and prefer to just play! I have a bunch of pedals too, but I love being able to physically tweak the knobs on them... and I've never met a digital drive pedal that sounded anywhere near as good as an analog one. That's why maybe the IR-2 is closest to my needs... it's like swapping out your amp in that sense. I feel I'm going to need to try all three to be sure though! Thanks for sharing your experiences here, I'm loving getting all these different opinions :)
👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks my friend!
Given the fact that Boss rarely gives updates and advances their products unlike line 6, IK multimedia the Boss is a no from me. I’m looking seriously at the ToneX one , as 3 months ago my Helix LT turned into a smoke machine.
Sorry to hear that about your Helix LT! That makes total sense, though. The ToneX library of tones will just continue to grow and grow as well, so although you'll have to pay for some of them, it'll still be totally valid years from now. With Boss, I feel there's not much more they could do with the IR-2 anyway... people will just go for the IR-200 if they want more in that flavor.
@@RichWordsMusic I mean I’m not stuck for stuff to play through, I’ve got the StJames 6L6 and a Boss katana Go because it was so cheap, but was gutted about the Helix, it was the perfect platform with the amp via FX loop.
To be honest, I would not even want to use my very best ToneX models for recording, much less on stage instead of my real tube gear. Simply never sounds the same.
A Line6 or Boss modeling sound fan I anyway never have been.
I prefer using my real tube gear instead.
Like I say in the video, I've not been massively convinced by any of the tones I've heard from three three units online either... so I feel you there. The one thing I want to test if how these three feel to play. Would actually be really interested to hear your thoughts if you do ever try one of these!
@@RichWordsMusic Well, what I can say, is, that I meanwhile have created some thousand ToneX models by myself from my real gear.
But I hardly ever use them by myself and also never wanted to use them for recording, much less on stage, if I can use the real amps and pedals instead.
Just some sort of hobby form me to see, how close I can get to the real sounds.
ToneX is not bad, but there always are differences in direct comparison and also ToneX for me is a typical amateur system to make (a lot of) money with, but still miles away from being a really professional system like eg. a Kemper, especially not for creators. You hardly have any post-editing options, which means, you have no chance to fine-tune your model in any way, which also means, if the sound is wrong, you have to start again...
IK Multimedia could have made or could make ToneX much better, since the beginning, but they rather seem to be interested in selling as much pedals as posssible instead of implementing some more professional improvements, which could improve the quality of the models a lot. Whyever.
What you get, are some snapshots of a certaing setting, nothing more, not even a complete amp, which reacts and can be adjusted and sounds exactly like the original.
Tried Helix a while ago, the amp sounds did not convince me at all, but also a POD never did, my favorite amp plugins did a better job for me. With Boss I have little experince during the last years, my last Boss pedal was the COSM Wah, not bad, but also did not blow me away, so I returned to using my old Jen white fasel again. I also am no fan of closed systems, especially if it comes to effects.
Mostly the few ones, which I like and sometimes use (just like a Jen wah), are not included, so I anyway have to use external plugins then, which also do not cover everything but usually at least more, even my favorite overdrives are hard to be found as plugins and even then the risk is high, that they sound completely wrong.
Where I really like modern features and options are cabinets and speakers. A really good load box combined with an IR loader and some good cabinet IR's are really useful in front of a tube amp and you get - more or less - authentic tube amp tones and dynamics also at line level, but more authentically sounding. But good load boxes are expensive and cheap ones can alter the tone a lot. On the other hand, you only need a good once most probably...
I bought a Kemper PLAYER.
I need to try one of those too! It's a bit more money than these, but looks pretty darn good.
All 3 are usable to replace any conventional guitar amp for live or recording purposes from pro player to beginner.
How do I know that? because pro players on less expensive equipment are capable of making less costly equipment sound more costly than it is, and less experienced players are only capable of sounding better than they are as players.
I think the best of the 3 would be the Boss unit from both's perspective because it is in my personal ears the better unit for several reasons too many to list here.
I also think conventional amps manufacturers and retailers are the core reason so many excuses are being made for the alleged short supply of all three in most places too, why? because there's more profit potential in selling conventional amplifiers and the usual effect pedals then selling any of the 3 you've displayed here, units of this nature are easier to carry and travel with and set up for live or recording purposes than conventional guitar amplifiers for sure.
I use a different set up and I've settled on such for around 5 years now of pro use and playing and as much as I like and appreciate the availability of the newer devices I'm sure none of them could improve on my current set up.
If we lived in a balanced culture that promoted behaviors which foster the understanding of the flow state and the creative process, the few choices that the Boss unit offers would be all most players would ever look for. However, in our loony toons culture of consumerism overload, most players feel a compulsion to buy nine hundred and forty seven different versions of pedals that all basically do the same job. Being part of this loony toons world, I'll probably end up getting the baby Tonex...then a second one...After that it will be back to the good ol days of tubes and I'll buy a Friedman IR-D...Then I'll feel the need to go all the way back to "100% analog" and buy 37 tube lunchbox amps...Then something new will come out and we can all waste our time arguing about why that is the best route...sorry I'm a bit jaded today.
Yep, facts! I'm a fully paid up member of this loony toons culture, I have to say, and I am getting weak with these. The IR-D does look good too... I was just watching a video on that earlier 😅 Like you and so many of us, I have more than all the gear I need already! I suppose the journey is the destination, in that sense, and hunting new gear is always fun, but I am sure we'd all have a lot more fun if we just played a bit more music instead ;)
The secret to great tone regardless of whether its clean, filthy or in-between, is to accept the fact the guitar being used during the establishment of such, is an integral part of the process just to get a player of any level even into the ball park initially...the player's personal playing ability is also the main element too obviously.....but only to some it seems...
I will not be getting any of these. I like things that are easy to use and control. Things with screens and a good OS. I'll stick with my old Ampero. The world moved on from tiny knobs and colored lights.
I know what you mean. I come from a different viewpoint, where I like my devices to be "what you see is what you get" to the highest extent, so as few menus as possible. But if I do have menus, I want them on the unit, and not in software on my Mac... this is one thing that puts me off the ToneX slightly!
@@RichWordsMusic Thanks for being honest. The whole idea of modelers was to move the pedal-board forward. A real board is a mess of wires with units connected with a fixed signal path. If you wanted to move an item it took minutes, then the noise would kick in...
Bring on the new modeler pedals. Now you had a silent path that you get to switch multi-units at once and rewire on the press of a foot switch. Settings could be changed and stored for recall when needed. Life was good.
Now we get tiny crammed pedals with knobs to turn and colored leds to remind you what is happening. We are going backwards. I don't use 100s of presets but I can jump around to different favorites and return with 100% accuracy. It seems that people just want new crap to mess with. Then they get to buy a new 'thing' next month so everyone is happy.
If I had the Money I would buy the Tone X , and I mean the Tone X not the Tone X 1 , because it is available. I'm coming out with a new pedal just like these and I am calling it... NOT AVAILABLE! You can't resist it but you also can't touch it. It's so cheap you wish you could have one and has everything you would want like an ex girlfriend that stole your heart and then had to move away. I bet you can't wait but you will have to. HA HA HA HA HA HA.
That's the sad state of affairs these days... I'm still yet to pull the trigger on the ToneX, but I quite weak ;) But you're totally right because I don't need (or specifically want) the min side of it, so it would then make more sense just to get the full fat one. Hmm.
They don’t great thanks.
I owned all 3. Boss sucked. Line 6 great!!! Tonex confusing.
Interesting... one for Line 6 then! Good to hear from someone who's had them all!
DID this guy just do a review with NONE OF THE PRODUCTS HE WAS REVIEWING? what in the actual. F?
It's not a review - it's a cry for help because I don't know which one to buy! I don't believe I state anywhere in the video that this is a review either...