Line 6 TonePort

[obsolete]

This thing looks pretty damn sweet. I think I'll get one soon, anybody have it yet?

[anthrax233]

Yes...
Ive Been Reading up on The Tone Port Too It Looks Really Sweet
I Havent Been Able To Find ANY Reviews On It...Just Like What Music123 Tells Me And The Line 6 Web Page.
It Looks Like IT has very useful features and I think you can make demos on it all by yourself so im lookin at it.
Well Ill tell ya if i find anything out
See ya dude

[thee_dug]

I have been curious about this thing too, so someone update me on this please! Especially the UX2.

[fatgraymatt]

I picked one up a couple of weeks ago, very cool unit for the price. There's an amazing amount of possibilities with it, considering all the amp models and FX included with the Gearbox software. My only complaint is that the Ableton Live software can get pretty complicated and the manual is not that great IMO. Overall, awesome buy though.

[idealflaw]

I'm logging in to answer some toneport questions.
I have the bigger toneport. It works great... You will have to adjust the latency a bit to match your computer, but after that, you're good to go...

I use it with a laptop.
I can write and record an entire song with the following list.

Guitar
Guitar cable
Tone Port
USB
Mic
Mic Cable
Laptop


That's a pretty short list... A dream come true for me... It weighs about the same as a feather...

[thee_dug]

How convincing are the softwares models?

[idealflaw]

Originally posted by thee_dug
How convincing are the softwares models?

That's a very subjective question. They're convincing enough that I could probably post them and no one would know the difference.

The thing with modeling is that i see it as a recording tool for home studio. In performance settings it seems to fall very flat. it doesn't respond the same at high volume settings the way a tube amp does. Your live playing sounds pre-recorded, sometimes.

on recording, that's just fine, though. I wouldn't EXCLUSIVELY use any 1 format, but it's a very useable tool for writing and recording convincing bedroom demos.

[Wicked Sickness]

I am a newb when it comes to recording at home and on a pc and I am considering picking this up next week. Can someone tell me what this device and the software included will allow me to do?

As in, how many tracks does it have?

Are there limitations for how many guitar tracks can you can edit the amp model on? (Like I used Amp Farm on Protools once and I had to commit to my models after 8 guitar tracks in order to use it on more tracks)

How do you put drums down? Does Ableton include drum samples? And if so can you create your own rhythms with them or are they just generic beats?

Are you able to put effects on vocals?

What types of plug-ins are available?

Can you import songs in and record more parts on top of it?

Can you use the Tone Port with other software? And if so, is there a software out there that would be a better choice for what I'm looking to do?


Like I said, I'm new to this, and I need something to make demos on, but I need to be able to be creative with drum parts and effects, I don't need it to sound like a perfect finished product but it needs to be close. So, I'm just looking for some info to steer my in the right direction.

Oh, and also my pc is only a 1.8 ghz with 512 m of ram... do I need to upgrade?

[fatgraymatt]

I can't answer all of your questions but I can tell you that the number of tracks is limited to the memory of your computer. I have pretty much unlimited tracks on my desktop PC but only four on my laptop. Ableton Live does contain drum loops but they are prerecorded, not programmable. There are alot of them though and you can change the tempo to your liking. Overall it's a pretty impressive package for the price and the sound quality isn't bad. I've posted a track I laid down and if you don't like the sound quality blame me, not the software. This was something I just spent a few hours on to familiarize myself with the recording process. I'm new to PC recording myself.

http://myspace.com/thewilliamshatnerexperien

It's the track marked "demo" and should play automatically when the page loads.

[Wicked Sickness]

Thanks Matt.

Does anyone have any possible alternatives for drums? Like a "drum machine" software or something that will work with this software... or maybe just another recording software that work better all around and would work with the Tone Port?


Also, how well does the Tone Port accept pedals? Will I be able to use my Wah and Whammy with it?

Does it have an on board tuner? Tap tempo Delay?

[fatgraymatt]

Originally posted by Wicked Sickness
Thanks Matt.

Does anyone have any possible alternatives for drums? Like a "drum machine" software or something that will work with this software... or maybe just another recording software that work better all around and would work with the Tone Port?

I don't know of any drum machine software but you could easily run a real drum machine into the toneport and record it that way.


[i]Also, how well does the Tone Port accept pedals? Will I be able to use my Wah and Whammy with it?[/B]

I'd assume those pedals would work fine through it but I didn't record that way. I actually recorded my parts using a PODxtLive into my Ampeg amp and mic'ing the cab. I did use the Gearbox amp models for bass, some of them are really excellent.

[i]Does it have an on board tuner? Tap tempo Delay? [/B]

There is an onboard tuner but I don't remember a tap tempo delay. You can add delay or any other effects to any track when mixing though. There's literally an entire studio worth of effects software with full parameter control in addition to all the amp models. There's a noise gate too. This page has a bunch of info about what's included:

http://line6.com/toneport/guitar.html

The stuff sounds good too. Man, I would have killed to have access to all these effects back when I was recording using a 4-track cassette machine. Back in the 80's one of those things cost $400 and now for $200 and a computer you get a whole studio worth of virtual gear.

[Wicked Sickness]

Alright, I'm still reading all this stuff on the Line 6 site.
I still have questions though, as I might pick this up tomorrow.

Matt, you mentioned you can add the effects in after you record your track, correct? Can change amp models as well? Does recording with effects on cause more latency?

Does the recording software have it's own effects? As in plug ins or something? Or do you/can you use the Line 6 effects after you've recorded your parts?

Also, I was reading that you can get you own drum patterns by using "impulse" and the midi editor, if anyone can back this up and explain, I'd appreciate it.

[idealflaw]

here's the deal about ableton, toneport and software in general.

We're living in a time where drum machines are obsolete. When you can take an actual drum loop into ableton and re-arrange it's basic structure within ableton in real-time, what's the point of a canned drum machine?

Technology is WAY beyond that..

If you really need a drum machine software, fruity loops is king...

anyhow, back to ableton.. ableton is a song-writing dream come true. you are painting with sound.

All toneport is is a sound card. There is really one reason it exists; to record with modeling tones at nearly 0 latency. This the toneport does very well...
If you're a laptop musician, there really isn't much cooler out there. If you don't understand the concept of 0 latency monitering, I'm not sure how to make it make sense...

Basically, when you record, computers delay what you're hearing slightly becasue it takes a fraction of time to process audio. This results in confusing timing issues. this toneport device allows you to hear PROCESSED audio in your headphones and record it with 0 latency. IN fact you can record both processed and dry source, which I love...

All in all i think it's a waste of time trying to 'decide' if it's something you want to do or not. Get off your ass and start learning. Here are the essential softwares you NEED..

Sony Acid (free version)
Sony Acid (http://www.sonymediasoftware.com/download/step2.asp?DID=551) Learn this. loop based arrangement software.

ableton live (demo) (http://www.ableton.com/index.php?main=downloads) This is another loop based arrangement software. Not as easy as acid but a great tool you'll need to learn..
Fruity Loops (http://www.tucows.com/get/209204_156965) Drum Machine Software (not a toy at all, can do literally everything)
Adobe Audition (http://www.adobe.com/products/tryadobe/main.jsp#product=92) Audio editing software. You'll need this to crop loops, edit files and other audio editing.

IF you're going to get into loop based song writing, you need to start by just making loops. Assloads of them....

I have 4 folders on my desktop. Loops, Percussion, Sounds and Oneshots

Loops are any easily looped sound file.
Percussion are any loops that are percussion-based.
Sounds are usually longer samples that are less loop-based and more ambient or textural.
Oneshots are not loops, they are files like cymbal crashes, bass drum hits, or individual building blocks. These are great to drop in at the begninning of a verse. They are called oneshots because they do not loop but rather play once... Your fruity loops software will pull a lot from this folder...

Get out an MD recorder and stereo mic and run around recording everything. Find cds you like and chop the drums out of them and pull them into fruity loops to re-arrange. Record guitar licks you like but can't figure out what to do with. Same for bass or synth stuff..

Then when you open acid or ableton, you just start painting and constructing songs with the sounds you just made.... Neither Ableton or Acid require any special tempo or pitch. They can match everything up...

Have fun!

[anthrax233]

yea I got this for christmas and I have some things to say about it

The actual port doesnt have any real problems but the ableton software isnt too good unless you wanna upgrade. And thats like $500. But it only has four tracks :( which makes me sad cuz thats not even enough for my guitar
so yea I wanna get some other software and I was thinking about cubcase so ill look into that.
and uhmn Yea Ive made some songs from it and it does pretty good after you really get used to it.
The drum loops arent too good but you can actually make your own but its real hard. like with the impulse device and ive tried it but its too confusing for now so until i get my drummer to record drums its gotta be a boring loop
he used his drum machine before but doesnt sound too good
so we got his drum set and miced in into a mixer and the mixer to the toneport and thats a good way to record drums.
Yes you can put pedals before the toneport and it sounds good to record with.
I used to digitech for a better delay
Yes there is also tap tempo delay
and thats all I think I have time to cover for now.
any questions ill be happy to answer.

-Kyle

[fatgraymatt]

Originally posted by anthrax233
But it only has four tracks :( which makes me sad cuz thats not even enough for my guitar
-Kyle

Are you using a desktop or laptop?

[anthrax233]

Im using a desktop
But its not the computer thats holding me limited to the four tracks
Im sure my computer could hold as many as I could use
Its just that the demo version of ableton live that comes with it only provides 4 tracks
So I just need to buy a different recording software.
I guess it was kind of a give away that it wasnt gonna come with a full version

[anthrax233]

So yea does anyone have any options for a $100-150 recording software?

[obsolete]

Originally posted by anthrax233
So yea does anyone have any options for a $100-150 recording software?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/rec/navigation?N=100001+304910&Ns=P_Price|1&page=6

theres a couple options for you in the $100-150 range. (cubase, cakewalk sonar, etc). hope that helps.

[mellon]

it's not the computer that's holding you to 4 tracks but the ableton version (live 4 lite) that's included with the line6 toneport.
I have the toneport ux1 and really, this is a very nice soundcard, gearbox is really an excellent emulation software (same sounds as the pod xt and way better than guitar rig 2). The fact is: your toneport is a soundcard, nothing more. So you can use your toneport with all the programs that you want. (i.e. I downloaded Ableton live 5 and it's like paradise...you can use cubase,sonar,acid, and so on because toneport works with asio drivers.
I recorded really nice stuff on my own, this thing can really bring you to make some good things. It has everything for guitar (but I think you can use your own pedals) everything for bass, and even for vocals (I sing with a sure beta 58 a) and the voice I recorded was warm clean and with a good volume, and you can use all the effects that you want, but that's not the best thing, the real fun is editing the voice with ableton effects (i use the 5th edition) you are gonna enjoy that.
I'd really suggest to buy it if you were looking foward to do it, it's really a good deal. If you are looking for something similar I'd suggest a M audio fast track (same bucks as the line6 but without the stereo line in) or a m audio fast track pro (something added but it cost twice as the line 6 and it looks more like the ux2).
Just don't deal with terratec please they sucks.

[anthrax233]

yea thanx dude
I pitched in for my drummer to buy the guitar tracks 3 thing.
Ill see how that works out compared to the ableton.