Moving from ToneX to Nano Cortex?

wddonalds

I’ve had the big ToneX pedal for quite a while now. I use it at home paired with an HX One for additional effects (which I found vital before IK dropped the FX upgrade)

While I like the sounds from the ToneX I’m getting tired of the workflow of the ToneX software and Editor. 

I’m therefore thinking of selling both and buying a Nano Cortex. From what I can gather the NC Amp captures are on a par with ToneX, the FX are better and the Nano Cortex app makes it easier to use 

Was wondering if anyone else made the switch and what their thoughts were?

John_P

I made the switch but partly as I have a quad cortex and it’s handy to be able to use the same captures on both instead of buying twice.   

As I was already used to using the neural app for downloading captures I found it a lot easier to use the nano c than the tonex.   

Soundwise it would take better ears than mine to tell them apart.   The amalgam captures I used on the tonex sound the same in the nano c but editing the nano is a lot easier imo.   

fretmeister

IIRC @Lewy has a Tonex and Neural kit (might be the QC though) and thought the amp sounds on both platforms were very similar.

I think the Tone Junkies captures are better than the Amalgam ones - of the ones I own anyway - they just sound more alive to me. They also do mad short term special offers so they can be a bargain.

wddonalds

Thanks guys. I’ve mainly used the Amalgam Marshall JCM800 and AFD packs together with some Rockman cleans from Kan LD. I would either purchase the Nano equivalents again or look into some of the alternative providers. 

fretmeister

Irrespective of platform the captures I am generally disappointed with are JCM800 ones.

It’s my favourite amp of all time and so far nothing has quite got it right, even with my favourite IR (G12-65) 

Brio

I have both (and a Kemper Player). I love the captures on the Tonex but don’t feel happy with the FX for use as a one box gigging solution.
So it’s going and the Nano is staying. To get the most from the Nano in my situation you need an external controller (as does the Tonex) I’ve used the Chocolate but have shifted to an MC6Pro. The ability to make captures in the unit has let me make a lot of caps of favourite Kemper and Tonex presets.

guitarcookie1

You night want to keep the HX One and pair it with the Nano.

I have the Nano (and much prefer the editing to the Tonex I had before) and was hoping that it would be a compact all-in-one solution but you still need an external controller to be able to use the fx properly - you can use an expression pedal to turn on, say, an overdrive but it's more fiddly than simply stomping on a single switch, or you need a midi controller (board size is expanding again).

So I've added my HX Stomp back to my board (Nano in a loop of the Stomp).

Also, I'm not sure the Nano can be a useful multi-channel amp as there's quite a lag between switching presets.

fretmeister

I have a Tonex and HX Stomp and the Tonex is in the loop on the Stomp.

Stomp controls the Tonex via Midi. Tonex doesn't seem to have any lag when switching between one of the 3 sounds in a bank.
Not tried it with a bank change as well as I never need more than 3 basic amp sounds.

The Stomp does most of the other FX although I've still not yet found any FX / modeller that does Fuzz sounds that react properly to the guitar volume so I have real fuzz pedals on the board too.

Shelders

This is essentially the question I was going to post. Looking to upgrade to either ToneX or Nano  Cortex and it appears to really comes down to the software (Tonex reviews seem to be worse in the reviews in this regard). Is the tonex software that much worse to justify being £150 less than the Nano? 

Bats_

The Tonex software more is soooooooo much better than it was, IK seem to be really listening to user feedback, slowly. 

I’ve had both these units, I found the Tonex to sound and feel much better, the included fx are good enough for me, I’ve not tried any of the newer profiles yet since the update but I’ve heard good comments on it. 

The Nano, I felt it was more like a toy to hold, the app was was ok, still needs work though as it’s a faff at times and I believe you can only use the phone app from memory, that may have changed though. 

In terms of value, nothing comes close to the Tonex in my view and every guitarist should definitely own one. 

fnpt

Bats_ said:

The Tonex software more is soooooooo much better than it was, IK seem to be really listening to user feedback, slowly. 

I’ve had both these units, I found the Tonex to sound and feel much better, the included fx are good enough for me, I’ve not tried any of the newer profiles yet since the update but I’ve heard good comments on it. 

The Nano, I felt it was more like a toy to hold, the app was was ok, still needs work though as it’s a faff at times and I believe you can only use the phone app from memory, that may have changed though. 

In terms of value, nothing comes close to the Tonex in my view and every guitarist should definitely own one. 

This.

It also comes with a screen, which to me is essential.

wddonalds

I’ve bitten the bullet and ordered a Nano Cortex. ToneX is going up for sale tomorrow 

Shelders

wddonalds said:

I’ve bitten the bullet and ordered a Nano Cortex. ToneX is going up for sale tomorrow 

Drop me a message when you have 

kennedydream1980

I've flipped between the Tonex pedal and the Nano Cortex at least twice. For gigging as @fnpt stated, the screen is essential for me. I use it with the small M-Wave Chocolate midi footswitch. When you switch effects in and out, the screen on the Tonex Pedal confirms the effect in question is on or off. Also I think the Tonex pedal sounds slightly better for the captures that I prefer to use.

Shelders

kennedydream1980 said:

I've flipped between the Tonex pedal and the Nano Cortex at least twice. For gigging as @fnpt stated, the screen is essential for me. I use it with the small M-Wave Chocolate midi footswitch. When you switch effects in and out, the screen on the Tonex Pedal confirms the effect in question is on or off. Also I think the Tonex pedal sounds slightly better for the captures that I prefer to use.

What sort captures do you prefer to use?

kennedydream1980

Shelders said:

kennedydream1980 said:

I've flipped between the Tonex pedal and the Nano Cortex at least twice. For gigging as @fnpt stated, the screen is essential for me. I use it with the small M-Wave Chocolate midi footswitch. When you switch effects in and out, the screen on the Tonex Pedal confirms the effect in question is on or off. Also I think the Tonex pedal sounds slightly better for the captures that I prefer to use.

What sort captures do you prefer to use?

I use captures made by this guy:

The Guitar Nerd

wddonalds

Nano Cortex arrived the other day. Once I got my head round how captures/presets/cloud worked it was fairly strait forward to find some captures and build the presets that I was after. Have to say that the workflow is a breeze compared to the ToneX. The only thing that I find a bit annoying is that you can’t build banks of presets and then toggle through them using the footswitches (unless I’m missing something). I just play at home though so it’s no big deal.