TONEX MAX Review | An Honest Take, Plus How It Differs from SE, Standard and the Free CS

"Aren't all amp simulators basically the same?"

Honestly, I used to think so too.

But after I started using TONEX MAX, that idea was completely turned upside down.

ryo

I've been through a lot of amp sims, but this was the first time one felt this much like real gear.

In this article, I'll share my honest impressions after using TONEX MAX heavily for home guitar recording over the years.

The short version: it is my favorite guitar plugin right now.

Can a plugin really make that much difference? Honestly, I'm a little skeptical...

Reader

What Is TONEX MAX? The Basics, Quickly

TONEX MAX is software from IK Multimedia for amp and effect modeling.

Its biggest feature is a technology called "AI Machine Modeling."

AI captures the sound of real amps and pedals and reproduces it as it is.

What's included is simply impressive.

Beyond amps, it has everything from fuzz and distortion to overdrive and boosters.

ryo

It feels like a guitar player's whole pedalboard is inside your computer.

By the way, the price differs quite a bit between IK Multimedia's own store and regular retailers.

At US retailers it sells for around $299.99. On IK's official store, it is sometimes much cheaper.

IK Multimedia also runs sales very often. In the past, discounts of more than 70% off were common.

TONEX MAX vs SE, Standard and the Free CS

TONEX software comes in four grades.

The engine that makes the sound is the same in all of them.

There are two differences.

One is the number of Tone Models (premium Tone Models) included from the start. The other is the features you can use.

*The numbers follow the IK Multimedia official site.

For CS, the product page says 40 and the official comparison table says 20, so the two don't match.

Free updates sometimes add more sounds.

Among the paid versions, the difference is almost only the number of sounds included from the start.

Captures and unlimited ToneNET downloads are available from SE up.

So even the cheaper SE or Standard sound the same?

Reader

ryo

The way they make sound is the same, so there is no difference in the quality of each sound. What differs is how many sounds you have ready to use. I chose MAX because I wanted to spend less time hunting for the amps I like.

Who Should Choose MAX, and Who Is Fine with Standard or SE

On the other hand, MAX suits people like these.

• You'd rather spend time playing and recording than searching
• You want to use the full set of sounds that IK made officially
• You want to use TONEX sounds inside AmpliTube 5 as well

The safest order is to try the free TONEX CS first, then decide.

The full list of included Tone Models is published as a PDF on the IK Multimedia site.

Before you buy, check that the amps you like are in it.

So the difference is the number of sounds. I'll try the free version first.

Reader

What Surprised Me Most Was the "Air"

Let me be honest.

What surprised me most was the "air" of the sound.

ryo

The moment I played the first note, I actually said "Whoa." The texture was that different.

The amp sims I had used before always felt a bit like "sound inside a screen."

Flat, and thin even when re-amped.

TONEX MAX was different.

The texture of the moment the pick hits the string.

The feeling of standing in front of an amp, with air vibrating.

Getting that from a line recording at home honestly surprised me.

You hear the word "air" a lot, but what does it actually mean?

Reader

ryo

Maybe the best way to put it is that the sound follows how hard or soft you pick. It feels live.

Why Does It Have That Air?

My guess is that it's because real gear is captured whole.

Traditional modeling worked by calculating the circuit of the amp.

TONEX takes the approach of using AI to take in how real gear actually responds.

Specifically, an actual guitar signal is run through the real gear. A neural network analyzes the result and generates a Tone Model.

IK Multimedia itself describes this as accurate enough to be "indistinguishable from the real thing."

I Compared the Sounds (Clean)

Words only go so far, so I made videos of the actual sounds.

First, a comparison of a tweed-style clean tone.

I compare Logic Pro's built-in Amp Designer with TONEX MAX. I play the same phrase through a preset from each.

There is no narration. It is a simple comparison with just the screen and the sound.

ryo

When you listen, you can hear that the resolution and fine detail of the sound are completely different. Logic's built-in amp isn't bad, but with TONEX the outline of each string feels clearer.

You're right... the difference shows especially in clean tones.

Reader

ryo

Clean tones can't hide anything, so I think TONEX's strengths come out as they are.

I Compared the Sounds (Crunch)

Next is a Marshall-style crunch tone.

I play the same phrase through a crunch preset from each.

ryo

Even among Marshall-style tones, you can hear that TONEX has more core in the mids and comes forward.

Oh, now that you say it... the second half sounds thicker. The grain feels different too.

Reader

I Compared the Sounds (High Gain and Distortion)

Last is high-gain distortion.

I play the same phrase through a preset from each.

ryo

The higher the gain, the more a sound tends to turn muddy. But with TONEX, the outline stays even when you raise the gain.

You're right... it's distorted, but the sound is still clear.

Reader

It Can Also Do Alternative Sounds

I like alternative bands such as Radiohead, and I often make thick, layered sounds.

TONEX MAX handles that kind of alternative sound well.

ryo

Thick fuzz and wall-like distortion are covered at the base with TONEX MAX. I use the MS-70CDR+ separately for time-based effects, but for the core of the sound, this is fine.

Thick layering is pretty unusual, isn't it? Can a plugin recreate that?

Reader

ryo

It helps that stacking layers doesn't make the sound muddy. When you build a wall of sound, it matters that each layer's outline doesn't get crushed.

What I Found Underwhelming

If all I did was praise it, you wouldn't trust me, so here is what bothered me too.

TONEX MAX is designed to "capture real gear as it is." You have little freedom to adjust the cabinet or mic placement separately.

Sometimes you want to dial in the material feel of the speaker and cabinet, or even the mic position. In those cases, AmpliTube 5 is a better fit.

So which should I choose, TONEX or AmpliTube?

Reader

ryo

If you want a realistic sound right away, it's TONEX. If you want to build every detail yourself, it's AmpliTube. That split feels most natural to me. I own both and use them for different jobs.

Once you get used to it, fixing a few favorites is enough to be comfortable.

Who I Recommend It To

On the other hand, if you only need a minimal set of sounds, it may be more than you need.

ryo

The other side of that is that the more you care about sound design, the more fun there is to get lost in.

Summary: My Favorite Guitar Plugin Right Now

I've used it for years. TONEX MAX has definitely become my main tool for home recording.

To be blunt, it is the best.

The deciding factor is the "air" I keep mentioning.

ryo

Honestly, I can't go back to recording the way I did before I found this.

If you used to think "all amp sims are the same," I'd especially like you to try it once.

I think it will change your idea of what a sound can be.

After hearing all this, I want to try it...!

Reader

I can't decide whether to buy just TONEX MAX or also other plugins.

Reader

ryo

In that case, I also recommend Total Studio 5 MAX. It is not only TONEX MAX. You also get other plugins such as AmpliTube 5 MAX together.

Check out Total Studio 5 MAX now