Line6 Toneport UX1 review

[kellar]

I have been tweaking this thing for a few days and thought a quick review might be helpful to some.  :D

First surprise was how small and light weight it is. The Toneport UX1 has a headphones, instrument, and mic input. You can record guitar, bass, and vocals (although there is no phantom power for mic recording). No problem, I didn't buy it to record vocals anyway.
On the back there is a USB input (USB cable IS included with the unit!), 2 analog outs, stereo in, and 2 line inputs. There is also an output and mic volume control on top.

The installation was fairly simple. As expected, a few problems did arise. The troubleshooting shooting guide (included in the online manual) was adequate though and it sorted out my problem. It took me about an hour to get it up and running.

The included software is Gearbox (which is the interface that the Toneport works with) and Line 6 Monkey (update and compatibility software). There were several upgrades that were immediately available through Monkey that were actually worth my while. All of it was free and easy to download. They also have additional tone packages that you can purchase to widen the range of effects, amps, cabs, and modellers that are already included. (rip off in my opinion- packages start at $50  :roll:)

Anyway, on to the good stuff. The Toneport interface is very cool! All your effects are lined up in a chain just as they would be on your pedal board. Effects are Noise Gate, Volume pedal, Wah, Distortion stomp (fuzz face, fuzz pi, tube screamer, classic distortion just to name a few), delay (analog, tube, and digital delay), reverb (spring, medium, brite, cavernous, and slap), compressor, EQ, and Modulator (which includes chorus, rotary, tremolo, flanger, phaser, and U-vibe). There is also a very good onboard tuner. You can tweak the effects to no end, literally every parameter is available. You can change the configuration and tweak other things that have to do with your signal that I don't even quite understand yet. :?
More impressive to me are the amp and cab models. I find them pretty good and a lot of fun to tweak. There are lots of great amps available, everything from a 53' Tweed, 58' Bassman, and 64' Blackface, to a Plexi Lead and 67' Class A-30 Top Boost. Also, tons of cabs are available including those that match the head and much more. You can also choose from a list of preamp modellers.
There are loads of presets available and you can also hook up to Guitarport online which is right there on the interface to access hundreds of artist presets, a metronome, and a few other things that I haven't even bugged myself to mess with yet.

So, how does it sound? I was discouraged at first because a lot of the presets are not very good. But, after tweaking for about a day, I realized that there are loads of good tones available. You just have to be willing to invest the time. Trust me, it becomes an addiction fast! Like I said, nearly every parameter of your tone is adjustable. You can even change out the mic in front of your cab, the angle, and the distance!! And, small changes can bring about significant changes. So, the tweaking process can be time consuming but very rewarding. I managed to come up with 3 or 4 of my own presets based on my favorite artists sounds and was able to get very close on all of them. Hopefully I will be able to post some sound clips this weekend some time to demonstrate what it can do.

All in all I am very happy with it. The interface is very cool and the online manual is thorough. It even goes through each and every amp and effect to explain what it's based on and what some of the better settings are. Tweaking it is tons of fun and best of all, it sound great! :D

Negatives- The purchasable online tone packages I find a little ridiculous, I would have preferred a printed manual, and the included Ableton recording software is only a demo that allows just 4 tracks and doesn't allow you to import audio tracks onto it. :? So, I will be using Audacity for the time being.

Other than that, excellent value for 109 euros I would say. Thanks for reading!

[badgermark]

Thanks a lot for that, makes my choice much simpler now. I like the fact that it is Mac compatible, should make recording demos for bandmates a breeze. Thanks again!

[AndyR]

Sounds like a Line 6 convert to me!! :lol:

You're gonna have hours of fun twiddling. I have a feeling that amp modelling also "trains your ears" a bit if you put the effort in. Make sure you actually do some playing though - I found I could go a week or two and suddenly realise that all I'd been doing was setting up tones!! (I get the same thing with new BKPs :roll:)

The online "tone packages" you mention, not sure what you mean by those - are they the Line6 Model Packs? If so, they contain extra amp models, not just someone's idea of good patches. They are good value - some of my favourite amp models were in the Metal and Collector's Classic Model Packs. Just think of them as getting a bunch of new amps to add to your collection.

I'd suggest you stick with the models you've got for while though - I maxed-out my XT quite early on (all the model packs, including the bass expansion pack), and if you think you've got a lot to be fiddling with already... just imagine what it gets like if you add another 30 or more amplifiers before you've tried the ones you've got already! :D

[kellar]

Yes Andy, I was referring to the Model Packs. I like the idea of being able to expand your capabilities, but I thought the prices were a bit crazy starting at $50. I guess it would make it better if I could hear all the models first, since some of them are very good and others aren't all that great. I guess my biggest gripe was that you don't really know what you are buying. Not a big deal though, I will probably wind up buying them anyway. :lol:
Nonetheless, there are more than enough models to keep me busy at the moment. Some are very good, and the "tweaking" is highly addicting. Like you said, you can spend hours just tweaking and not actually playing.
One thing I have struggled with is how to get the best sound through my computer speakers. Mostly I have been playing through headphones, but when I play through my speakers I only get audio out of one speaker. Not sure why.
Also, haven't really figured how to hook this thing up in conjunction with my webcam to make youtube videos.???

Right now I am using Audacity to do some basic recordings but they come out slightly muffled and sometimes the tracks get out of sync. I am assuming the problem is Audacity, which I downloaded free. I might try looking for something better.

All in all, this thing is a lot of fun. It takes a while to get a hang of everything, but I have no regrets. Cheers!

Feel free to throw any advice my way that might help me out, thanks! :D

[hunter]

If you think about the price of this thing it's almost ridiculous that some people (like me) pay close to 2K€ for a modeler. But it's like with so many things, the last 10% in quality are the most expensive ones.

I am happy that the Axe FX cured from amp GAS though, it was starting to eat holes in my bank account. Hope the toneport does the same for you!

[kellar]

Thanks Hunter! I am quite happy with the Toneport, lots of fun to mess around with. 2K for a modeler is a bit more (ok-a lot more! :lol:)  than I am willing to sacrifice. But, I have heard your clips using the Axe-Fx and it's safe to say that the $1900 difference is fairly evident. Incredible tone coming out of that thing.

The Toneport I am finding to be quite suitable for my needs. The tones are plentiful, but literally have to be pulled out. It requires quite a bit of tweaking to get it just right. I think for now it's safe to say that it has cured my amp GAS though.  :D

[indysmith]

Hi Kellar - great review. I've been looking to get one of these; the only drawback seems to be that it needs the hardware (as opposed to something like Amplitube which is software based) do you know if it would be possible to use the UX1 and another audio interface together? This would save having to unplug my Apogee Duet which is my main soundcard and audio interface with mic and line inputs just to use guitar amp modelling.

[Transcend]

Hi Kellar - great review. I've been looking to get one of these; the only drawback seems to be that it needs the hardware (as opposed to something like Amplitube which is software based) do you know if it would be possible to use the UX1 and another audio interface together? This would save having to unplug my Apogee Duet which is my main soundcard and audio interface with mic and line inputs just to use guitar amp modelling.

Yes you can do that you just need to be careful with your windows/mac audio settings and make sure that the default recording setting is the toneport whilst everything else is set to your apogee.

[kellar]

^ What he said Indysmith. :D

Although, I haven't used it in that manner. I just use the GearBox Interface that comes with it, which is really cool, and record into Reaper.

[_tom_]

Is it good enough to use as a good quality external soundcard? I really like the idea of having a good quality audio interface/soundcard with mic inputs, preamps and all the modelling stuff as well. But I dont want it to be a "jack of all trades master of none" type thing. I'd rather be able to use it for recording AND as good quality soundcard (well, as good as or better than my motherboards onboard sound) for music, gaming etc than extra modelling stuff that "normal" interfaces dont have. Oh and will it be stable in Vista?

[Transcend]

Yes i would say it is Tom and it fully works under vista too.

Just be sure to disable you onboard/other sound as i foudn on vista the main soundcard always steals focus even though you set it not to.

[indysmith]

I bought the TonePort GX today (didn't need any features really - all I wanted was the guitar tones).
I can't make the bloody thing work :lol: I swear I'm not technically retarded. It's actually quite complex to set up :? I've made an "aggregate device" by sort of binding the duet and the toneport together in OSX's Audio/MIDI Setup... but now what the hell do I do? I open Gearbox and there's no sound. the only way I can get sound out of it is if I open up logic, put software monitoring on and select Input 1, and Output 3-4. And when I do this every now and then I get a hideous scratchy sound that makes me weep.
Confused to be honest. I feel like Guitar Rig and Amplitube are so expensive because they're damn easy to make work in a studio setup!

EDIT:
I also don't understand how to use it as a plug-in. I select it in Logic as an Audio Unit insert (like with every other plug-in)...except with the toneport the sound doesn't change at all. Frustrating.

[_tom_]

Yes i would say it is Tom and it fully works under vista too.

Just be sure to disable you onboard/other sound as i foudn on vista the main soundcard always steals focus even though you set it not to.

Good :) Any idea if the mic inputs and pres are good for recording a proper amp with? Indy I have no idea how to fix that, you should've got a windows based pc :P

[kellar]

I bought the TonePort GX today (didn't need any features really - all I wanted was the guitar tones).
I can't make the bloody thing work :lol: I swear I'm not technically retarded. It's actually quite complex to set up :? I've made an "aggregate device" by sort of binding the duet and the toneport together in OSX's Audio/MIDI Setup... but now what the hell do I do? I open Gearbox and there's no sound. the only way I can get sound out of it is if I open up logic, put software monitoring on and select Input 1, and Output 3-4. And when I do this every now and then I get a hideous scratchy sound that makes me weep.
Confused to be honest. I feel like Guitar Rig and Amplitube are so expensive because they're damn easy to make work in a studio setup!

EDIT:
I also don't understand how to use it as a plug-in. I select it in Logic as an Audio Unit insert (like with every other plug-in)...except with the toneport the sound doesn't change at all. Frustrating.

Mine was quite easy to set up. I am assuming that the GX and UX1 have the same installation procedures. Did you check out your latency level, buffer size, etc.? Mine was breaking up badly in the beginning and I adjusted the latency, that fixed it.

[Transcend]

I bought the TonePort GX today (didn't need any features really - all I wanted was the guitar tones).
I can't make the bloody thing work :lol: I swear I'm not technically retarded. It's actually quite complex to set up :? I've made an "aggregate device" by sort of binding the duet and the toneport together in OSX's Audio/MIDI Setup... but now what the hell do I do? I open Gearbox and there's no sound. the only way I can get sound out of it is if I open up logic, put software monitoring on and select Input 1, and Output 3-4. And when I do this every now and then I get a hideous scratchy sound that makes me weep.
Confused to be honest. I feel like Guitar Rig and Amplitube are so expensive because they're damn easy to make work in a studio setup!

EDIT:
I also don't understand how to use it as a plug-in. I select it in Logic as an Audio Unit insert (like with every other plug-in)...except with the toneport the sound doesn't change at all. Frustrating.

Mine was quite easy to set up. I am assuming that the GX and UX1 have the same installation procedures. Did you check out your latency level, buffer size, etc.? Mine was breaking up badly in the beginning and I adjusted the latency, that fixed it.

Yes the GX and the UX1 are the exact same to set up.

You dont have to use it as a plugin you just open gearbox and open your DAW arm a track for recording and hit record.

Simple as.

Oh yeah make sure you set the default recording device to the toneport.