"Is hardware better? Yes, is it worth it? Not for most people" One of the best lines and takeaways to all this stuff, 100% truth.

Interesting fact about Cliff who designed the AxeFX. I have been using AxeFX Since 2006 when it first came out. Line 6 had a modeler before and that's why it always sounded bad because they tried to model the sound. Cliff, from what I understand used to design sonar systems for submarines and when he created the AxeFx he did not try to mimmick amp sounds. Instead he went to recreate the circuitry as digital. Eash resistor, cap, transformer, tube, etc in a digital circuit with the anomalies from heat and increase voltage. Then he assembled these digitally like the original schematic of the amp. At least somewhat to this degree in lay mans terms. That is why AxeFX was the first and original and deserves praise because it opened all the doors to what the amp sim/modeling/capture industry today is.

Love your logical approach on all things music.

I have the Tonex, but I don't own any amp worthy to capture, Yes I am in the majority of users, Also I own the Helix Hx stomp and I will keep it to be complementary. Having said that if i can keep only one of those i would be the Helix because it is all in one solution. Cheers..

Totally agree! I'm holding onto my Kemper Rack especially because of the new updates, however, the ToneX pedal is one amazing piece of equipment at a great price point! I believe in the next coming months that IK Multimedia will be offering a more expensive version of the ToneX pedal with built in effects etc....

Have you tried NAM yet?? It’s free and essentially eradicates the need for kemper/tonex imo. A massive community already being built. It’s a fantastic bit of software. I sold my Quad Cortex as a result . Worth looking at

Barry, Love the channel ! I have the Tonex plugin on my DAW which I am having a ton of fun with, I also have a real Boogie Mark2B, Hiwatt Custom 50, Bogner Alchemist and a bunch of other amps that I can't part with. Here's my 2 pennies. Anytime I can find a new reason to get excited about a new sound or creative idea I'm in. The thing is weather its a real amp a plugin I don't care they ALL sound different and have different purposes. As a guitarist I love the chance to discover and get lost in something new that will spark a new idea.

Barry, I'd recommend trying out the completely free NAM (Neural Amp Modeler). The detail in amp capture is largely measured in Epoch's and the more the better and the EQ is better. There are plenty videos comparing ToneX and Kempers and NAM, and NAM wins out in terms of quality of capture pretty much all the time. In fact, Kempers, Quad Cortex's and AxeFX are already kind of passe in comparison to ToneX and NAM. ToneX can come in pedal form and NAM doesn't, yet, so Tonex leads on this. NAM is completely free and open source though and it's just a bit better than ToneX, but the ToneX does come packaged up well in terms of graphics and the ancillary infrastructure that IK Multimedia offers. There's also AIDA-X software and it's also currently sold in the MOD Dwarf footpedal, which also has good FX. The Kemper FX, I have always found to be , not very good IMHO, sorry. Anyhow, just to say, there's a lot more going on than ToneX.

Great video. I haven’t decided for sure on getting my own ToneX, but will likely wait a while. I’m hoping to find more folks sharing their experiences and suggestions for building quality profiles because that’s really what I would want to do. 👍

Good video and explanation about the difference between modeling and profiling. I realize that I used the two terms interchangeably and appreciate the correction. For guitars, I like tube amps and enjoy working with my small collection. I like the limitations, which forces me to get to work. But mostly I like the feel and sound they bring. This does not mean I dislike the Kemper. I had some chances to use one. And you are 100% correct, the person behind the profile makes a huge difference. Michael Britt profiles were to be marveled at, whereas others had that disappointing "almost there" sensation of luke warm coffee. I enjoyed the Helix over the Kemper because I liked building a virtual rig. This does not mean the Helix is better. It is just my preference. I did not buy the Helix because I have enough gear already. To your closing point about "in the mix," it is hard to distinguish among amps, profilers and modelers, sure thing. I say use what works for you. By the way, this debate over a real McCoy versus a digital stand-in happened with keys a long time ago. We still have pianos and Casios. Play what you like. There's nothing to fight about.

Totally agree. To get a really great capture it takes time to learn how to exactly do it properly (levels, settings, mic placement, mic choice, etc). I have the Quad Cortex, Kemper Stage and ToneX. I like them all but the Kemper has (like you said) so many great profiles out there. The new Liquid Modeling for the Kemper sounds really promising with the ability to model the EQ and Gain Control on an amp. I am looking forward to the update when it's released.

I am confused. The manual shows that you need a DI box bewteen the Tonex pedal and the FOH PA board. IF so that is disappointing. Appreciate some feedback here... Thanks

tone X pedal: i have various IR loaded in my pedal, I can't switch to other IR manually ... only ONE IR will be displayed .. Help plz? thank u

But what about that desk tho?? Walk through anytime soon?

I love my ToneX pedal as well. I was looking for a perfect capture of a Mesa Rectifier and, admittedly, I didn't find any (or anything else I liked) that came stock on the device itself. I browsed through the ToneNet for the perfect Rectifier sound that is in my mind. I finally found one and oh boy it's great! The goal was to use the ToneX pedal to monitor while I'm recording the DI and have the ToneX plug-in version of the same profile in my DAW. Works like a charm. I'm totally happy with it.

Try the new free Kemper Liquid Profiles, modelling and Profiling!

As an old school guy with Guitar/ pedals and Plexi, lol. If I go digital the ToneX it is the only thing that makes sense. All I would need is one or two great amp sounds to play or record. Other things out there either studio software that doesn't need to be sold in a box, bedroom tools or antiques. Those with pedals in them can not help but at best be second best as they are an audio photograph of my pedals. THANX ...for your well thought through advise.

The Kemper is doing anything for me. ToneX does no capture and nearly no effects. No comparison!

I have the white Kemper. I'm keeping it. It looks cooler haha

I was thinking about getting this unit, before that the Helix Stomp, but after seeing this, the Helix Stomp might fit my needs more. I'm not totally ruling the Tonex out though. Although I don't really see myself doing much profiling on my own.

Obligatory comment I kinda want to get a tonex for the hell of it. I have a jcm800 that i can't really use and dont lug to gigs. I play a boss katana and love that for gigs. But this just seems like a fairly inexpensive way to get a ton of well captured amps i will never buy.

I find it amazing how the Kemper holds up. How updates are constantly coming. Also, in terms of sheer sound quality, if you have good profile. Honestly, I have no idea what to improve. Now that other units have different flavours (or 'interpretations') in their 'capture' of an amp / cab / mic sound, that is all fine. But a real quality difference? Not that I am aware of. But of course, if you are buying new, the tendency is to buy cheaper. Ähem. More price sensitive :-). Nothing wrong with going with an alternative then.

my kemper (bought one of the very first ones and loved it) went for sale 1 day after the tonex pedal arrived. imho tonex sounds just as good and being a minimalist using only a delay pedal for leads and the tonex fx for the rest, this is a no brainer.

I just don‘t get this Tone-X hype. I tried the software and did not find a single sound I really liked.

I understand the technology and held off on the Kemper because of it's age. I would buy one if they made substantial improvements or found a deal on one I couldn't refuse. I did buy the Tonex pedal a few months ago but have yet to take it out of the box because of other things competing for my time. I will definitely by buying some on MB's profiles when I start using it. I don't want to waste my time trying to get profiles I probably wouldn't be happy with anyway.

I've got them both and not selling the Kemper. It's not like it all of a sudden sounds bad. :) Having the host of FX in one unit, plus the "Performances" holding 5 presets per switch is so handy. Also the morphing on a single preset between 2 settings is like having 10 presets on a single "Performance" page. 4 additional switches that can each be assigned to up to 4 effects make the Kemper super flexible. I'd argue that to get a pedalboard with a Tonex that can do everything the Kemper can would run up to a comparable price point, but with a lot more hassle and fault points. I always hoped Kemper would come out with a software or firmware update that ran more tones for a higher resolution profile. Tonex & NAM run more tones and get arguably more precise profiles. As a new buyer it's certainly getting harder to justify, but I really hope Kemper can hang on. I really love the unit, what it can do, and the ethos of the company.

I was going to run Amplitube in concert but I think a Tonex is a better idea.

thank you for this video👍

Some folks think you can get something for nothing. Untrue. You get what you pay for, well not always. Bottom line. If you don't have good ears or you don't protect them, well, everything sounds the same. Be kind to yourself. Save up and make an investment.

liquid profiling?

I got the Tonex and returned it. I prefer tones in the $29 waves voltage amps.

Tone x is amazing. Sold my quad cortex. Tone x takes pedals the same as my amps

Wasn’t thrilled with the plugin. Seeing Glenn Fricker’s endorsement really puts it in the hard NO category now.

I have total confidence that I'll be able to make really great captures of my amps. But then I have 30 years of pro engineering experience and the best recording gear available.

Speaking of ten times better, this video would have been ten times better if you had included some audio samples of the ToneX vs. Kemper!

Don't sell your Kemper ...it's not time to do so ....especially with the liquid profiling in sight. I've got the Tonex too and it's a different beast and too good too and here again we might expect something new soon. The risk here is to be overwhelmed by the new offers while in real facts we all only need a handful of amps without the hassle of trying its 800 IR to get the right tone. This is where the liquid profiling is said to come handy.

Good video and I share your views as well. The Kemper does what I need and its more than good enough for me. I have never bought a profile and probably never will. There are plenty of great profiles for free that with a little tweaking will blow anyone's mind (Morgan ac20 is delicious). Keep up the good work this video just made me a subscriber to your channel. Cheers...

And it’s OK if mixes sound different… uniformity is destroying originality. And every musician and sound engineer participate to this uniformisation when using these emulations, plug-ins… People will cry when they won’t have the choice… or maybe after a few generations they just won’t remember they had it and just an ultra minority will claim the necessity to turn back to whatever period… when creativity was allowed.

None of these compare to a Fractal modeler.

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO TONE - IVE TRIED AMPLITUBE , HX NATIVE , NEURAL NATIVE , BOSS GT1000 CORE ,HX STOMP , AND THEY ARE ALL ABSOLUTELY SHIT COMPARED TO KEMPER

Great commentary. I really think that if it sounds good, it is good. If you have a library of great sounds on a device, why mess with that?