The Steel Guitar Forum Store 

Post new topic Any ToneDexter users?
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Any ToneDexter users?
Niklas Widen

 

From:
Uppsala, Sweden
Post  Posted 13 Feb 2018 3:06 pm    
Reply with quote

Has anyone in here tried the ToneDexter from Audio Sprockets? It’s like a Kemper profiler for acoustic instruments and uses technology similar to Fishman’s Aura pedals, with the added benefit of being anle to tailor the ’images’ (or WaveMaps, using ToneDexter lingo) to your own instrument.

I’ve had mine for a few weeks and really like what it does to refine a quacky piezo signal. Here’s a little clip I recorded with a dobro, switching between the raw piezo pickup and the tonedexter. Recorded straight from the output of the ToneDexter into my soundcard.

https://soundcloud.com/nickewiden/tonedexter-demo-w-beard-resophonic-guitar

Curious to see if anyone else has tried it. Would love to hear how it would work with a Weissenborn, for example.

Check put their website, www.audiosprockets.com

/Niklas
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Bryan Daste


From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 13 Feb 2018 11:24 pm    
Reply with quote

My bandmate has one for his acoustic guitar, and it’s truly amazing. It really does make the pickup sound like the instrument itself, using convolution. Takes a bit of doing to set it up, but if you’ve got a decent microphone it’s not that difficult really. I want one for my banjo and upright bass! And a Kemper while we’re at it. Wink
_________________
http://pedalsteelpodcast.wordpress.com
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Niklas Widen

 

From:
Uppsala, Sweden
Post  Posted 23 Feb 2018 2:30 pm    
Reply with quote

I made a recording today of an improvised little bluegrass thing using the ToneDexter. All instruments are recorded through the TD (except for an electric bass which was DI:d) - no EQ, compression or other processing. I'm loving this little unit more and more Smile

https://soundcloud.com/nickewiden/tonedexter-bluegrass-demo-2

I have experimented with a few banjo pickup options and the best results by far were with the LR Baggs banjo bridge with integrated piezo. That's the one used in the link above. Compare it to my other bluegrass clip, which was done with a K&K. The only limitation with the Baggs pickup is that they only make it in a 5/8" height version.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Lee Rider


From:
Fort Bragg, California, USA
Post  Posted 25 Feb 2018 7:51 am     ToneDexter
Reply with quote

Niklas: What pickup are you using on your dobro?

Thanks

Lee Rider
_________________
StringBender Musical Instruments selling Gene Parson's StringBender products
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Niklas Widen

 

From:
Uppsala, Sweden
Post  Posted 25 Feb 2018 8:23 am    
Reply with quote

I’m using Fishman’s ’Nashville series’ pickup. That’s the one that uses piezo transducers built into two replacement bridge saddles.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Bob Watson


From:
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
Post  Posted 26 Feb 2018 12:58 am    
Reply with quote

Does it have to be a piezo pickup? I have a Beard Gold Tone with the Classic Series Passive Resophonic pickup in it and I was wondering if it would work with that pickup?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Niklas Widen

 

From:
Uppsala, Sweden
Post  Posted 27 Feb 2018 2:17 am    
Reply with quote

I think the passive Fishman pickup is a small piezo transducer, only that it's mounted to the cone center-screw rather than built into the bridge saddles. I have used that pickup before but never with the ToneDexter so I'm not sure how well it would work. I only know that magnetic pickups are not compatible with their technology.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Olli Haavisto


From:
Jarvenpaa,Finland
Post  Posted 13 Mar 2018 7:59 pm    
Reply with quote

I ordered the Tonedexter and had it delivered to my hotel at the Texas Steel Jamboree.
I had my mic with me and did the models or maps in my hotel room, without headphones because I forgot the adapter for 1/4” jack home Very Happy
Played my Beard with the Fishman Nashville on the main stage and at least 10 players came to ask how did I get such a natural sound out of the guitar plugged in.
So, I`m really happy with it. I also played a loud bar gig in Austin using the Tonedexter and it fared equally well. A great pedal....
_________________
Olli Haavisto
Finland
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Tommy Detamore


From:
Floresville, Texas
Post  Posted 14 Mar 2018 3:59 am    
Reply with quote

I got mine a couple days ago. I am going to try it this weekend with upright bass, but meantime I did some preliminary testing here in the studio with a gut-string and a steel-string acoustic. This thing is impressive. And James May at Audio Sprockets has been very responsive and helpful.

I need to take it for a spin with my Schertler Basik-equipped dobro....
_________________
Tommy Detamore
Quilter Labs, Goodrich Sound, Source Audio, Neunaber Audio, and Stringjoy Authorized Dealer

www.cherryridgestudio.com
www.steelguitartracksonline.com


Last edited by Tommy Detamore on 14 Mar 2018 8:05 am; edited 1 time in total
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Tommy Detamore


From:
Floresville, Texas
Post  Posted 14 Mar 2018 7:54 am    
Reply with quote

BTW, really nice stuff Niklas! And the A-B testing is dramatic and revealing. Wink
_________________
Tommy Detamore
Quilter Labs, Goodrich Sound, Source Audio, Neunaber Audio, and Stringjoy Authorized Dealer

www.cherryridgestudio.com
www.steelguitartracksonline.com
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Charlie Thompson

 

From:
South Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 19 May 2019 1:16 pm     Tonedexter Banjo Advice
Reply with quote

Niklas Your banjo playing is superb. I am wondering if you could share the procedure you used for the banjo wavemap?
Thanks
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Larry Dering


From:
Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 19 May 2019 4:52 pm    
Reply with quote

Excellent bluegrass playing and what a nice natural tone. That's great stuff there.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Richard Nelson


From:
Drogheda, Louth, Ireland
Post  Posted 19 May 2019 5:03 pm    
Reply with quote

Isn’t that the same technology that the Fishman Aura pedal uses?
_________________
https://www.facebook.com/ricknelsteel/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChkzP48NKKSiredddt-NGEQ?view_as=public

www.myspace.com/ricknelsteel
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

gary pierce


From:
Rossville TN
Post  Posted 19 May 2019 5:40 pm    
Reply with quote

I wonder if it will work with a Shertler basic, or does it have to be a piezo pickup.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

Karlis Abolins


From:
(near) Seattle, WA, USA
Post  Posted 21 May 2019 6:06 am    
Reply with quote

After this thread was originally posted, I checked out the tonedexter and decided to get one for my Baltic Psaltery. I have found it to live up to its claims about accurate reproduction of the pickup signal as if it were being mic'd.
The training procedure is simple and responds to your playing style. Because of this, you can have several programs which were trained on different picking styles.
The notch filter is a life-saver. My instrument has a strong resonance around D-Eb and I can quickly dial in the notch to eliminate feedback. I only wish it had a couple more notches like the Fishman Aura.
All in all, it is the best preamp that I own and the one I use all of the time. I use the Aura for outside playing because the tonedexter is not battery-powered.

Karlis
View user's profile Send private message

Larry Dering


From:
Missouri, USA
Post  Posted 21 May 2019 6:40 am    
Reply with quote

I own the Fishman Aura Spectrum pedal and it never gets a tone like those examples. I have better results with the Baggs para DI. I'm totally impressed by the ToneDexter and will try one soon.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

David Spires


From:
Millersport, OH
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 5:32 am    
Reply with quote

Thumbs up on the ToneDexter as well, and I was a Jerry Douglas Aura user. Nothing more realistic that I have come across.

-David Spires
_________________
2021 MSA Legend XL 10&7; Asher Electro-Hawaiian Junior Lap Steel; '79 OMI Dobro 66 w/ Scheerhorn cone and setup; '64 Hand-wired Re-issue Fender Princeton Reverb
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Charlie Thompson

 

From:
South Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 5:59 am     Mic
Reply with quote

Any recommendations for microphones and Mike placement?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

David Spires


From:
Millersport, OH
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 6:05 am    
Reply with quote

I used my Slate ML-2 (small condenser), and just like recording... find the spot to mic it that sounds best to you.
_________________
2021 MSA Legend XL 10&7; Asher Electro-Hawaiian Junior Lap Steel; '79 OMI Dobro 66 w/ Scheerhorn cone and setup; '64 Hand-wired Re-issue Fender Princeton Reverb
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Charlie Thompson

 

From:
South Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 23 May 2019 8:31 am    
Reply with quote

David.. did you run it through recording software and use a model or just the mic direct?

So far i have used the Ml2 and a 57.. The wavelabs sound like there is a slight phaser effect which is undesirable for me. I am using Mics direct w/o software. I have tried several mic positions
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

David Spires


From:
Millersport, OH
Post  Posted 24 May 2019 5:13 am    
Reply with quote

ML-2 direct, no modeling... Are you listening through headphones/in-ears, or speakers? Our fiddle player has been using the TD, and when we were on wedges, he felt the tone wasn't right, and I reminded him of the phase switch on the back.

The only other thing I can think to mention is staying very still at the mic during training (I sit down).

Hope you get it to work out... It's been amazing for me.

Sincerely,

David Spires
_________________
2021 MSA Legend XL 10&7; Asher Electro-Hawaiian Junior Lap Steel; '79 OMI Dobro 66 w/ Scheerhorn cone and setup; '64 Hand-wired Re-issue Fender Princeton Reverb
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

Charlie Thompson

 

From:
South Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 24 May 2019 5:32 am    
Reply with quote

Thanks David still working on it..Using headphones, very still and have tried both phase switch positions. looks like you are using on Dobro which I haven't tried yet. I have been using the Douglas Aura as well on on Dobro. I will be testing on dobro too. Thanks
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website


All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  

Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction,
steel guitars & accessories

www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

Please review our Forum Rules and Policies

Steel Guitar Forum LLC
PO Box 237
Mount Horeb, WI 53572 USA


Click Here to Send a Donation

Email admin@steelguitarforum.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for
Band-in-a-Box

by Jim Baron
HTTP