WORLD OF MUSIC ; PORTABLE KEYBOARD - Latest Portable Music Keyboards, Synthesizers and Music News

IK Multimedia has launched the TONEX ONE, a super-compact amp modeller with cab sims and effects that harnesses the power of its ToneX pedal to present players with “an entire rig” in a mini pedal.

The company’s amp, cab and effects modelling power has never been so portable, with the TONEX ONE capable of storing 20 presets, and accessing thousands of sounds from ToneNET

The TONEX ONE is so small you might miss it on a crowded ‘board. It has a simple complement of controls. There is an oversized Volume/Gain dial that dominates the enclosure, with three illuminated mini-dials to control the studio-quality noise gate, compression and reverb.

Et voila, you have control over all the main performance related features you might need onstage. And, should you tweak anything to taste, the unit will remember your settings for the next time you fire it up

Those mini-dials can be colour-coded, with 9 custom LED colours to choose from, which in the absence of a display, could come in handy under stage lighting. You could mount it on your pedalboard without panicking over capacity. And yet despite its size, the TONEX ONE offers access to a bewildering array of industry standard modelled guitar amps, cabinets and effects.

Guitarists can store up to 20 customisable presets on the unit, with three slots easily accessible for playing. Hook it up to your laptop via USB-C and you can swap your presets in and out.

The unit ships with more than 200 premium Tone Models to get players started. Browse ToneNET, IK Multimedia’s online platform for sound-sharing, and you can access more than 25,000 different sounds.

But why let a USB-C connection go to waste? Players can similarly hook the ToneX One to a computer for home recording. Electric guitar, bass guitar, it doesn’t matter – this will work for both.

The TONEX ONE can be run in Presets mode, changing sounds as though changing channels on an amplifier, or in Stomp mode, bringing it in and out of your signal like a stompbox, and it has a TRS output that allows you to run it in stereo, dual mono or to hook it up with your studio headphones or active monitoring speakers.

While the absence of a display might put off some players, bear in mind that the larger ToneX had a relatively simple display in comparison to its competitors, and the big trade-off here is size and price.

The TONEX ONE is available now to pre-order, priced at $/€179, which might be too good to turn down if you want an amp modeller on the ‘board to expand your options or in case of emergencies, and it can be used with amps, PA systems and FRFR speakers, with a no cab function for use with a quote/unquote real amp. It also integrates nicely the other products in the ToneX eco-system. For more information, see the IK Multimedia website.

Reader Thomas J, aka tubesockor, shared this live performance of TDK’s Space Duregungle (8bit mix) using the Elektron Analog Rytm.

The performance is a great example of making an instrument your own, showcasing some of the recently updated capabilities of the Analog Rytm and exploring its capabilities as a chiptune synth.

What he say about the performance:

“At the heart of it is three channels (four tracks) of SY CHIP engine for all leads, basses, blips and most drums.

Additionally, an internally sampled kick (synthesised on the unit) as well as some analog hats. Tried to be very close to the original on all aspects, and then added some live jamming on top.

The SY CHIP engine of OS 1.70 was used for all melodic & drum sounds on Channels 1-3 (TRK 1-4), with a few additional sounds on other channels (analog hats & cymbals, sampled BD ACOUSTIC kick etc).

All recorded live in one go, direct from the main outputs – no compression or EQ applied.”

Thereminist and Continuum virtuoso Rob Schwimmer shared this music video for an original composition, Beyond The Sky.

The performance showcases the expressive possibilities of the Haken Continuum synthesizer.

“I love the Haken Continuum! It continues to blow my mind… ” says Schwimmer. “The flexibility and immediacy of thought to sound is just like an acoustic instrument, playing wise, and allows me to apply my piano, theremin, electric guitar playing, directly, while also embracing that which the Continuum can do, which nothing else can!”

Beyond The Sky features Continuum lead, piano accompaniment and Alesis Andromeda pads. Here’s what Schwimmer shared about the technical details:

“My exploration of outer space and music-An original piece, the main and very expressive lead instrument is Haken Continuum with my backing track on piano and (appropriately) Andromeda. When I finished the recording it really did feel Beyond the Sky to me so what could be more perfect than the incredible NASA photos from the Hubble and Webb telescopes!

This is also a tribute to one of my lifelong guitar heroes who passed away last year. Thinking of his music still resonating in space…”