Metal Gems is an exclusive collection of 100 high-gain Tone Models, meticulously captured to deliver both classic and contemporary metal tones, giving users instant access to 4 legendary amps: a Diezel Herbert, Bogner Uberschall, Soldano SLO-100 and a Peavey 5150.
The essence of these high-gain jewels has been preserved in stunning high-definition using IK's cutting-edge AI Machine Modeling Technology in conjunction with a sonically perfect environment to produce the incredible guitar tones available today.
Collection Overview
- 100 Tone Models based on legendary high-gain amps including with and without cab
- A Premium Tone Model collection for use across the entire TONEX ecosystem
- Compatible with all TONEX versions including the free TONEX CS and TONEX App
- Captured at a professional studio with ideal acoustics and the perfect gear
- Created using cutting-edge AI Machine Modeling technology with advanced training
- All Tone Models can easily be loaded to TONEX Pedal and used for live performance
The Featured Models
Diezel Herbert
The Diezel Herbert is a 180-watt fire breather that can go from dynamic cleans to ultra-tight distortion. 30 Tone Models deliver that Diezel signature definition and tightness perfect for modern and classic metal tones. The collection includes all 3 distinctly voiced channels captured with different cabs, mics and outboard gear.
Bogner Uberschall
The Bogner Uberschall is a renowned high-gain guitar amp prized for its all-tube distortion and clear string separation. 25 Tone Models deliver searing lead and rhythm tones with tight and powerful bass, ideal for players of extended-range and drop-tuned guitars. The collection includes clean and high-gain Tone Models using multiple stomps to tighten and drive the amp into brutal territory.
Soldano SLO-100
The SLO-100 redefined high-gain amplification in 1987 as one of the first amp heads to feature powerful harmonics and impeccable gain, sustain and responsiveness. 25 Tone Models feature clean, drive and high-gain tones with several using a TS-9 and Furman PQ-3, captured with a variety of settings, speakers and other outboard gear to achieve a wide range of tones for hard rock to modern metal.
Peavey 5150 Block Letter
The Peavey 5150 is one of history's most iconic high-gain amps, instantly recognizable on any stage. Renowned for its bloom and juicy harmonic saturation, the 5150 was quickly adopted by many top metal guitar players. 20 Tone Models feature a variety of captures including some with stomps and with 6 different cabs to deliver a wide range of skull-crushing, gig-ready tones.
A New Tuner for TONEX Pedal
The release of Metal Gems coincides with a free firmware update for TONEX Pedal featuring a game-changing chromatic tuner. The new tuner inside TONEX Pedal can replace any tuner currently used with its easy-to-read display, selectable reference frequency and three operating modes: Mute, Thru, and Off.
To update to firmware 1.2.3, connect TONEX Pedal to a Mac or PC with an internet connection and launch TONEX. Navigate to the librarian section and select "Update Firmware." Once complete, the pedal will restart automatically with the new firmware installed and the tuner ready.
This update and future improvements represent IK’s commitment to ongoing TONEX hardware improvements, software refinements and additional Tone Models.
Metal Gems Signature Collection is available now to purchase via ToneNET and within any version of TONEX for Mac/PC for $/€49.99.* For a limited time, Metal Gems is included free with new purchases of TONEX Pedal and TONEX MAX.
For more information, please visit ikmultimedia.com.
IK Multimedia TONEX Pedal Amplifier/Cabinet/Pedal Modeler with Z-Tone Active Direct Box
Busy Box
The Twin MkII is powerful enough to serve the I/O needs of a modest project studio, but small enough to bring to rehearsals and gigs. As one of the few guitarists foolish enough to perform via a laptop more than once, I’ve been using the original Twin since its 2014 release. The software and hardware have performed flawlessly. The sound quality equals that of the large-format Apollo in my studio. And I’ve been able to gig with sounds that simply don’t exist in the stompbox world.
Processing capacity differentiates the three versions of MkII. The $699 model has a single SHARC processor. The $899 version has two processors, and the $1,299 version we tested has four. Processing needs vary from plug-in to plug-in. But at risk of oversimplifying, a single processor lets you add a few favorite UA plug-ins to your mixes. The dual-processor version might shoulder much of mixing’s processing demands, though you may need to incorporate native plug-ins on big mixes. The quad version may let you mix using UA plug-ins exclusively—at least on less-than-huge sessions. Additionally, all Apollo interfaces can be linked. So, for example, I can wire the Twin to my larger 8-channel Apollo for extra I/O and processing power come mix time.
Twin MkII communicates with your computer via Thunderbolt cable. It houses two pristine-sounding mic preamps, fed by two balanced mic/line inputs plus a 1/4" guitar input. There’s also an ADAT cable jack for eight additional input channels (digital only). There are stereo monitor and headphone outs, two additional analog outs (perfect for sending musicians a headphone mix), plus eight digital outs via ADAT cable. As on MkI, you set all levels via the large encoder wheel and assign functions via a set of physical switches.
Ratings
Pros:
Superb audio quality. Compact, solid, and ergonomic. Access to stellar plug-ins.
Cons:
None.
Tones:
Ease of Use:
Build/Design:
Value:
Street:
$1,299 street as reviewed with quad-core processor (models start at $699)
Universal Audio Apollo Twin MkII
uaudio.com
Console Me
The Twin package includes UA’s Console app—a virtual mixer so attractive and full-featured that most DAW mixers weep in envy. You don’t have to use Console. You can input directly to your DAW without launching the app. However, Console unlocks one of Apollo’s coolest features: “Unison technology.” Here, you can record through certain plug-ins before the signal reaches your DAW. Unison’s latency is absurdly low. It truly feels like tracking through hardware.
Only a fraction of UA’s plug-ins can run Unison-style, but they’re the ones you’re likeliest to use that way: compressors, preamps, and virtual guitar and bass amps and effects (but not the amp models included in the MkII bundle.)
New for II
MkII offers several new and improved features. According to UA, the A/D/A conversion has been redesigned for improved sound quality. I don’t doubt the claim, though I confess I don’t hear a massive difference when recording electric guitars. (It might be more apparent with fuller-frequency material, or to engineers with better ears.) There’s a nice new feature for project studios: a built-in talkback mic that lets you speak to performers over the headphone mix.
But this may be the coolest MkII feature: no price increase. The single- and dual-processor MkIIs cost the same as the MkI versions. (The quad-processor version is new.) Also, note that since MkI’s release, UA developed a fine library of virtual guitar and bass amps licensed from Marshall, Fender, Chandler, ENGL, Friedman, and Ampeg. These aren’t included in the MkII bundle, but you can explore them via the two-week demos.
The Verdict
We raved about the original Apollo Twin in the September 2014 issue, and the rave goes on. Twin MkII has enough connectivity for ambitious project studios, yet it’s small enough for a gig bag. The audio quality is superb. The build isn’t just studio-worthy; it’s stage-worthy. Unless you specifically need the new features, there’s probably no rush to dump your MkI. But MkII is a perfect entry portal for UA newcomers.