Tone Port UX 2

[chovie d]

Unfortunately, the hardware quality doesn't seem to be the best, so I'm not sure whether it'll stand up to my needs.

Its true that the casing is plastic. Its not the flimsy thin plastic like the cheap Danelectro pedals tho where if you sneeze the thing falls apart..hehe. The jacks are all metal and it seems fairly sturdy thus far, tho I admit I never move it around. One annoying thing however, the few times i have unplugged it completely it has asked me to reinstall and that would be an obvious pain in a mobile situation...maybe its just me tho, I am not very computer savy. The thing is not without its quirks and bugs. I'm also a bit skeptical of its performance with laptops from what Ive read on the forums, it seems to be very finickey about usb power. I'd do alot of research first if your buying for mobile, there may be a better more stable option for that kind of work. Theres also a new VST version but the price seems a bit steep for that.

[Lunch Money]

If you plug into a different USB port, it'll ask you to reinstall the drivers. You could always just unplug and re-plug into all your ports after first installing. No surprises later.

It's true that it's not extra confidence-inspiring sturdy. In fact, I had to take special measures to keep mine in place so that I didn't accidentally pull it off my desk and shatter it. I bet you could rig up some sort of carrier for it using a padded laptop bag or something, but I wouldn't want to just throw it into something alongside other substantially-weighted gear.

Greg

[morelia]

The questions keep popping up here. It's going to cost me at least AU300-400 so i want to be sure I'll like it and be able to use it. I imagine I'd still want to use my Terratec EWX2496 for midi, and audio output. Is it likely this will be possible? I think I have most of the amp sims out there and I am still looking for one that will make me happy.

[Sascha Franck]

I imagine I'd still want to use my Terratec EWX2496 for midi, and audio output. Is it likely this will be possible?

In that case, I probably wouldn't use the Toneport as an audio interface but as a USB-powered guitar pre only.
I think the Terratec will still outperform the Toneport in terms of both smallest possible latencies and CPU efficiency. USB audio interface are still adding a noticeable burden at low latency settings. Might not be all that much on modern machines anymore, but in case you're maxing out your computer more or less often, you may want to go for those extra 5-10% a properly driven PCI card might give you over whatever USB solution.

Anyways, you can't use the Toneport as your sequencers input device and use the Terratec for the output. All sequencers I know of only allow for using one audio device.

[MelodyMan]

Anyways, you can't use the Toneport as your sequencers input device and use the Terratec for the output. All sequencers I know of only allow for using one audio device.

Is it not possible to use Direct Sound drivers to use the outputs of your audio-interface (in my case an Esi Wamirack 192x)and still use the inputs of the UX2?

[Sascha Franck]

Is it not possible to use Direct Sound drivers to use the outputs of your audio-interface (in my case an Esi Wamirack 192x)and still use the inputs of the UX2?

No. Unless you cable them physically, that is. All hosts only allow you to use one single soundcard. Stackings can only be done in case the soundcard allows for such a thing - and in that case you'll have to use multiple cards of the same brand.
Under OSX there's a thing called "aggrevated audio device", which seems to allow you combining various audio interface into one single driver model - but I haven't tested that yet, and I also doubt it'll sync the various interfaces well enough.

[whyterabbyt]

No. Unless you cable them physically, that is. All hosts only allow you to use one single soundcard. Stackings can only be done in case the soundcard allows for such a thing - and in that case you'll have to use multiple cards of the same brand.
Under OSX there's a thing called "aggrevated audio device", which seems to allow you combining various audio interface into one single driver model - but I haven't tested that yet, and I also doubt it'll sync the various interfaces well enough.

You can get driver aggregation out of ASIO4All, cant you?

[Sascha Franck]

You can get driver aggregation out of ASIO4All, cant you?

Hm, yeah, seems like. I wonder whether that'll work out well though. I'd expect massive syncing problems (something ASIO4All is suffering of with many soundcards anyways, even if you only use one). I could also imagine quite a jump in CPU useage (again something ASIO4All is usually suffering of), so, in the end, I wouldn't recommend this for any more or less reliable setup.
Might be worth a try though - but I think a simple analog connection would lead to better results. One could even use the digital outs of the Toneport, so there'd be no loss by any additional conversion.

[samwich]

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http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gearboxhx5.jpg (http://img486.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gearboxhx5.jpg)

there is a picture of the updated gearbox, I don't know if this issue was resolved, but some people were talking about Toneport not letting a DI. I haven't tried it yet, but with the sends 3/4 it seems as if you can choose for it to be before the all the simulation, meaning completely dry. Hope this helps resolve some questions.

[thecontrolcentre]

I bought Line6s KB37 keyboard, which is basically the UX2 with a keyboard attached. I had 3 different ones, all with different faults, over a period of 2 weeks.
The main issue was loud clicks and pops in the audio when starting any music apps, and also the build quality is very poor. The VU meters were dodgy on one of them, and another one had a live moth trapped inside of it!!!
Line6 support were useless, failing to reply to any emails ... I sent the 3rd faulty unit back and bought an X-Station instead.

[Sascha Franck]

Thanks for that discouraging report, thecontrolcentre!
I'm serious - I was almost about to order one for my on-the-road needs, but have been suspicious about the build quality already. This confirms my thoughts. Even if I'd like a moth for those lonely moments in some hotel room...

[thecontrolcentre]

I'd like a moth for those lonely moments in some hotel room...

Just switch a light on ...

[Sascha Franck]

Just switch a light on ...

Ok, let's see how many of them are still there in winter.

On a serious note, I'd love to find something not too large featuring more than the 25 keys of my Edirol PCR-M1 (two of them are already only putting out nothing or velocity 127 anymore).
I also have a PCR-A30, but it truly sucks.
I wish someone would do some ultra-slim controller with 3 octaves. Oh, I should perhaps reconsider the Creative Prodikeys, and if it only was for the drum presentor on that famous video.

[thecontrolcentre]

Novation Xiosynth

25 or 49 keys ... no moths

[Sascha Franck]

Yeah, I know that one.
Thing is, it's rather thick. And the 49 key version wouldn't fit into my suitcase any longer (which, believe it or don't, is an important criterium).
I wouldn't need any integrated audio necessarily either (would've been a nice addition on the Line6 one as I actually like their amp modeling), but 25 keys are just around 8-12 missing to actually play chords with a left hand bass in addition.
Maybe I should just glue 1.5 Edirols together...