"What actually changed in Total Studio 5 MAX V2? If I already own 4 MAX, should I upgrade?"
If you use IK's bundles, you've probably wondered about this at least once.
What you'll learn in this article
- What's in Total Studio 5 MAX V2 (the headliners: TONEX, AmpliTube, MODO DRUM)
- What changed from 4 MAX
- Standard vs. upgrade vs. MAXgrade, and prices
- Whether 4 MAX owners should upgrade
The Short Answer: 4 MAX Owners Don't Need to Rush
TONEX, AmpliTube and MODO DRUM, the core of a home-recording guitarist's setup, are already in 4 MAX.
So if you own 4 MAX, you don't need to upgrade right away.
Upgrading is worth it if you want T-RackS 6 or Pianoverse MAX.
If you own 4 MAX, there's a cheaper way to buy called MAXgrade. If you're buying for the first time, you want the standard version. Prices are in the price section below.
See price and contents at Plugin Boutique
What Is Total Studio 5 MAX V2?
Total Studio 5 MAX is a bundle from IK Multimedia. It covers everything from songwriting to mixing and mastering in one environment.
According to IK, it includes more than 160 titles: 72 plugins, over 16,000 sounds and over 2,000 effects.
Everything is managed through "IK Product Manager," so installing and updating takes little effort.
The main brands included are:
| Category | Main contents |
| Guitar / Bass | AmpliTube, TONEX, MODO BASS |
| Drums | MODO DRUM |
| Instruments | SampleTank, Syntronik, Pianoverse, Miroslav Philharmonik |
| Mixing / Mastering | T-RackS, MixBox, Lurssen Mastering Console |
| Monitor correction | ARC |
The Headliners: TONEX, AmpliTube and MODO DRUM
Guitar, bass and drums are the core of any band sound, and these three cover them.
I've used all three since 4 MAX, and they're included in 4 MAX too.
TONEX
It uses AI Machine Modeling technology. It's an amp simulator that recreates the feel of real amps as-is.
Have a listen to see the quality for yourself.
I cover TONEX MAX in more detail in its own review.
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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. 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. What you'll learn in this article Why TONEX MAX has an "air" that others don't My honest impressions from using it in home recording What kind of guitarist it suits What Is TONEX MAX? The Basics, Quickly TONEX MAX is software ...
AmpliTube
A long-standing, standard amp simulator.
It has amps, cabinets and even stompboxes, so everything you need to build a tone is in one place.
Even a Nirvana "Come As You Are" style tone can be built with AmpliTube 5 alone.
My AmpliTube 5 review is here.
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AmpliTube 5 MAX v2 Review | Is It Enough for Band Home Recording? Differences from Free, SE and Standard
AmpliTube 5 MAX v2 in Three Lines AmpliTube 5 MAX v2 is the top edition of the guitar/bass amp simulator. It is a plugin IK Multimedia has developed for more than 20 years. It puts 435 gear models in one plugin. It includes officially licensed Fender, Mesa/Boogie and Marshall-type models. There are two biggest additions in v2. One is integration with the company's "TONEX," which brings in sound with AI machine modeling. The other is integration of "ToneNET," the preset sharing platform. AmpliTube 5 MAX v2 vs the Free CS, SE and Standard AmpliTube 5 comes in four grades. The ...
MODO DRUM
A drum instrument generated by physical modeling, not sampling.
It's less prone to the "same sound repeating" feel typical of samples, and gives lifelike nuance.
It also fits grunge-style sounds.
For a standalone MODO DRUM review and a comparison with BFD3, see these.
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MODO DRUM Review | Can Physical Modeling Drums Work for Guitarists' Home Recording?
What Is MODO DRUM? How Physical Modeling Works MODO DRUM is a drum plugin developed by IK Multimedia. Its defining feature is "physical modeling" (modal synthesis). A typical drum plugin plays back pre-recorded audio. MODO DRUM doesn't. It calculates the drum's material, size, tension, and more in real time — generating the sound from physics. Aspect Sample-Based Plugins MODO DRUM Sound generation Plays back recorded waveforms Real-time synthesis from physics Storage Tens to hundreds of GB About 11.5GB Playing realism Switching between recorded hits Infinite gradation by hit position and dynamics Customization Choose samples Build the sound with parameters My ...
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BFD3 Review: Honest Long-Term Thoughts from a Home-Recording Guitarist
When you record a band sound at home, drums are the first wall you hit. For many guitarists, it's the hardest part of the whole process. I (ryo) own BFD3. I also own MODO DRUM by IK Multimedia, and I switch between them depending on the track. In this review, I'll be honest about who should buy BFD3 — and who shouldn't. What Is BFD3? A Quick Overview BFD3 is a software drum instrument developed by BFD (now under inMusic). It first launched in 2013. Today, buying BFD3 installs BFD3.5. In one sentence: BFD3 is a realism-first drum instrument built ...
What Changed from 4 MAX
These are the additions and updates IK lists for V2.
| Item | What's new |
| T-RackS | Updated to T-RackS 6 MAX. 62 modules, 10 of them new (Bass ONE, Channel Strip X, Master Match X, Lurssen Mastering EQ and more). 4 MAX's T-RackS 5 MAX has 53 modules |
| Pianoverse | Pianoverse MAX (9 pianos, 33 cinematic spaces) |
| TONEX | TONEX MAX gains Signature Collections (9 collections) |
| AmpliTube | Adds the Morley Collection (3 classic stompboxes) and more |
| ARC | ARC 4 (a monitor correction tool that compensates for your room's acoustics) |
※Contents follow IK's official information and retailer listings. For fine differences, check IK's official comparison chart.
I've put together how to use T-RackS 5 here.
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T-RackS 5 Review | An Honest Take on Why This One Plugin Completes Home Mastering
"For mastering, which plugin should I actually buy?" When I started home recording, I stalled there too. What I use now is T-RackS 5. It came in the same bundle as TONEX and AmpliTube 5 MAX. This one plugin completes my mastering. What Is T-RackS 5? The Mastering Tool in Total Studio 4 MAXT-RackS 5 is IK Multimedia's plugin for mixing and mastering. You line up processors such as EQ, compressor, reverb and saturator, like in a rack. You can buy it on its own. But what I own is one piece inside a bundle called Total Studio 4 MAX. ...
Standard vs. Upgrade vs. MAXgrade
How you buy depends on which IK products you already have.
| Version | Who it's for | US list price |
| Standard | First-time buyers | $599.99 |
| Upgrade | People with a registered paid IK product | $399.99 |
| MAXgrade | Owners of MAX products such as Total Studio 4 MAX or AmpliTube 5 MAX v2 | $299.99 |
※Prices are US list prices checked in October 2026. Check each shop for the latest price.
If you own 4 MAX, you're eligible for MAXgrade.
Check IK's official page for which MAX products qualify and the conditions.
See MAXgrade (for MAX product owners)
Standard vs. Pro vs. MAX
Total Studio 5 comes in three editions.
Note that in the lower editions, the main products become "SE" (feature-limited) versions.
| Item | Standard | Pro | MAX |
| TONEX | SE version | Standard version | MAX version |
| Pianoverse | 2 pianos | 4 pianos | 9 pianos |
Key point
Outside the MAX edition, MODO BASS 2 is an SE version with only 4 models. If you want all 22 models, MAX is the only choice.
Price and Sales
The standard price is $599.99 (US list).
With so much included, it's not cheap.
But IK runs sales often, and during a sale a coupon can sometimes bring the price down further.
A past example (for reference)
In a summer 2026 sale, the bundle was 67% off, and with a coupon on top it dropped even lower. That sale has ended and doesn't guarantee future prices.
I've collected Black Friday information here.
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Black Friday 2026 Guide for Guitarists | TONEX, AmpliTube, UAD and How to Buy Without Regret
To give the conclusion first, the main day of Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27. The first thing a guitarist should aim at is the TONEX MAX + AmpliTube 5 MAX two-in-one bundle. For the past two years in a row, there has been a sale where "buy one and get the other free." Black Friday (BF below) is the time of year when DTM plugins get cheapest. Discounts of 50 to over 80% are not rare. But if you buy everything in sight just because it's cheap, you only add to your pile of unused plugins. This page ...
Check the current price at Plugin Boutique
Things to Know Before You Buy
It's not all good news, so I'll be honest about the drawbacks.
Storage space
A full install needs more than 840GB.
The SampleTank and Pianoverse data alone take up a lot of space.
I recommend setting aside 1 to 2TB of free space, such as an external SSD.
Learning curve
With so many products included, mastering all of them takes time.
Getting used to the controls with something like the free TONEX version (CS) first makes things smoother after you buy.
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Is the Free TONEX (TONEX CS) Any Good? What It Can and Can't Do
"I heard TONEX is free. But how far can it really go?" If you look for amp simulators, you will run into this question at least once. Here is the short answer. The free version of TONEX (TONEX CS) is surprisingly good. You get the same sound engine as the paid versions, and you can even record with it for free. For a free plugin, that is exceptional. That said, the free version has some real "walls." This article lays out exactly where the line is. I'm writing from the position of someone who started with the free version and ...
Why I Recommend It for Home-Recording Guitarists
This bundle is all-purpose. I find it especially good for guitarists.
The reason is simple. TONEX, AmpliTube and MODO DRUM alone let you finish the guitar, bass and drum sounds in one environment.
FAQ
Summary
Summary of this article
- The headliners TONEX, AmpliTube and MODO DRUM are already in 4 MAX
- V2's main changes are T-RackS 6, Pianoverse MAX, Signature Collections and more
- 4 MAX owners get the cheaper MAXgrade ($299.99 US list)
- First-time buyers want the standard version ($599.99 US list). Check the product page for sale timing
If you're unsure how to buy or how to use Plugin Boutique, this article will help.
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What Is Plugin Boutique? A Complete Guide to Signing Up, Buying and Virtual Cash
What you'll learn in this article How to sign up, buy and download at Plugin Boutique How Virtual Cash (5% back) works and how to use it Free gifts and the new membership program (Member, Silver, Gold) How to check your license code The refund policy and cautions before buying When buying plugins, have you ever had questions like these? Plugin Boutique is a shop that carries many plugins used by guitarists and home-recording players. But its own points system and free gift mechanism are hard to understand. I get the impression that many people lose out. This article explains ...
