Update on Line 6 Toneport

[Surfcaster]

Line 6 just released Version 2 of the Gearbox software and I downloaded it last night. While it included a two new amp models (Marshall 18W Reissue and Orange 30) and 4 new effects (3 bass effects and the Crybaby Wah), what I really like about it is that it now includes a metronome as well as the ability to play music files stored on your computer or in the CD drive.

The metronome is cool and allows you to select the sound...even allows you to program in simple drum loops (not recording quality by any means, but great for practicing!)

And the built-in media player allows you to jam along with any song. It has the ability to slow the song down to half speed, which is not groundbreaking by any means, but it's the best quality sound I've heard for slowed down music. The digital devices that I've used in the past to slow down songs to learn gets really choppy at half speed or lower making it really hard to get all the notes in a fast passage. (Most notably the devices I've used up to now are the Boss BR-864 and then Ableton Live Llite that came with the Toneport and a friend's RP-7 I tried a few years ago) This one is very smooth at half speed...very much like an analog tape played at half speed, and I was able to figure out some passages in a Satriani solo I've been working on (tbh, one of his slower solos and it's still a challenge for me!! :-) )There were a couple sections that I had been guessing on before because of the choppy nature of the devices I was using before. This alone was very exciting to me.

The player also allows you to loop sections to learn, and it's all very user friendly.

I'm not terribly excited by the two new amp models...I think the Marshall 18W is fairly accurate...I'd played one a few weeks ago in a store and this definitely captured its essence. But I prefer the Plexi sound, so I don't imagine I'll use it much. And I'm not real impressed with the Orange either...which surprised me, I've always thought I'd like them...so who knows if that's an accurate portrayal of the amp, or maybe just not a good model of it.

Another upgrade feature allows you to more easily access your presets, which is nice. Another allows you to subscribe to Guitarport and basically get all the features of Guitarport with your Toneport. These days I'm not terribly interested in hearing other people's presets and am not sure how much I'd utilize the other Guitarport features, so I don't think I'll activate that.

Anyway, I'm all the more thrilled to have purchased this unit. As far as I'm concerned, it's a great practice device (not to mention a lot of fun!) that's been made that much better. And the price is right.

Edit: Jeepers...I sound like a paid endorsement!! But I really do like it! :mrgreen:

[Jaybo]

For the price of those units - those are some really good upgrades.

[alleyoop2020]

The new version of Gearbox is nice. I use a couple of other Line 6 stuff too like Guitarport and podxt live. It was initially frustrating to have to use different softwares for each of the gear, i.e. Gearbox for Toneport, Guitarport s/w for Guitarport; and Guitarport s/w or line6 edit for the xtlive.

Glad that they decided to combine all the software into Gearbox. Most of the "new" features were actually stuff that were brought over from Guitarport.

My only complain would be for some of the presets, the equivalent amp is not available in my xtlive even though I am using Gearbox for the xtlive interface. The screen prompts you to purchase the missing amp model on Line6's website but, the missing amp models are not in any of the model packs! :???:

Well anyway it is a good thing I ain't too crazy about those couple of preset tones....ha,ha just finding something to complain about :lol:

[dmock66]

Hey Surf -

My situation has changed some and now I'm in the market for an audio interface to sit between my mixing board and computer for recording purposes. Someone suggested the Line6 Toneport and it reminded me of this post. I have to say, in re-reading this may be just want I'm looking for. It would provide all the interface functions I'd need - 1/4" guitar and XLR mic inputs as well as two 1/4" line inputs plus a headphone out. In addition it adds all the other stuff - the modeling capabilities as icing on the cake. Also, given you feel the tones to be superior to the V-Amp II it would allow me to sell my V-Amp Pro and use those funds for other equipment I'm interested in obtaining.

Thanks for your thorough review of the Toneport!!!!

David

[MDK2323]

Just curious, have you tried playing acoustic through it? I think it would be cool to try and record with an acoustic and vocal. Maybe burn some CDs. Just wanted to know if it sounded good with an acoustic electric.

[dmock66]

My UX1 came in last night. I got about 30 minutes to goof around with it.

I agree with Surf in that the models are brighter than the V-Amp Pro - no doubt about it. I can see where it will take a bit of getting used to in order to create really nice patches - but like Surf - I can see where this is a very cool piece of gear! I've not laid down any tracks yet with it. I'm in the process of switching over the computer I use for recordings. I connected the Toneport to the "new" machine which doesn't have any recording software on it so it's going to be a short process - but the PODxt stuff in it is cool.

It's a pretty "feature rich" interface. If you want/need more than the UX1 has you can go with the UX2 which is essentially two UX1s in the same box with a few extras too.

All in all I'm impressed with the Toneport.

[Surfcaster]

double post

[Surfcaster]

MDK2323, I have played the acoustic through it with good results, though I tried it again a week or so ago and something wasn't right...I'm not sure what was going on, but the signal quality was definitely lacking. At first I thought it might be the battery in the guitar's preamp, but when I tried the guitar with my Boss 8-track it was coming through fine, so I don't know what the deal was. But the previous times I had done that I was very pleased with the results.

Glad you like yours, Dmock. I still have my V-Amp2 and the other night I decided to plug back into it after several months and you know, I think I prefer the JCM800 on the V-Amp over the model on the Toneport, though the Toneport's version of the Plexi is definitely my preference over the V-Amp. I think the clean models are very comparable between the two units.

One thing I've come to dislike about the Toneport is that none of the clean models have very much headroom, so when using it with my Les Paul I have trouble keeping a pristine clean tone. I'm guessing the Twin Reverb model has more clean headroom, but it's not worth the price of the extra model pack to get it, at least to me.

So, a year later I'm still pretty happy with my Toneport and use it almost daily for late night playing, though I'm not quite as enamored with it as I was last summer....and I still feel the models are a little too bright.

[dmock66]

I've noticed the lack of clean headroom as well. I'm getting some noise in my clean tones so I wonder if I have other issues or I've just got the volume/gain cranked up too hot. I'm going to compare using some of the clean presets that came with it.

I'll have to do a more hard target comparison of the two - but definitely the V-Amp is darker overall relative to the Toneport models.

All in all - the Toneport will get a lot of use - but as a modeler and a recording interface.