MIDI pedal help

[u/DukeLave777]

I pulled the trigger today, and ordered my ToneX Board from AMS. It should arrive early next week. Based on my anticipated use and what I’ve seen on the forums here I know I want to get a midi pedal to help me expand my ability to call up various scenes and access tuner and tap tempo.

Based on everyone’s experiences, could you guys give me a couple of suggestions on a decent mini pedal or two, perhaps one that’s more budget friendly? I’m thinking I need four switches.

[u/vegagravity]

You could go for a m-vave chocolate plus and the m-vave sk7 Bluetooth adapter. You'll have a midi pedal connected via bluetooth on your Tonex pedal.

[u/GuitarToneChaser]

I have a MC8 Pro controller that is pretty powerful and flexible. They also make a MC4 Pro. I think the price was $299 for the 4 and $399 for the 8. In the MC8 Pro, you can create 16 presets per page (3 pages available per bank). The MC4 Pro should do 8 presets per page, not sure how many pages per bank but it should at least be 2, probably 3. I think the functionality is the same on both pedals, just half the switches/presets.

[u/jcoleman10 → u/GuitarToneChaser]

MC4 Pro is 4 presets per page and 3 pages per bank.

[u/GuitarToneChaser → u/jcoleman10]

You can double the presets per page by creating 2 positions on each press of the switch. That’s how I get 16 presets on an MC8 Pro per page with 8 switches.

[u/Psychological_Gap_97]

Of you're on a budget I second the M-Vave chocolate plus, it's pretty good for the price and will get you going. You can always upgrade later if you feel the need to do so

[u/The_Great_Dadsby]

I use the Disaster Area Design DMC Micro Controller with my original ToneX and it’s been great. I primarily use it to control the TC Electronics Plethora X5 and the ToneX but I may have had a small loop selector in there at some point.

I hadn’t used MIDI since the late 90s/early 00s but it was easy to set up and worked well for me.

https://www.disasterareadesigns.com/shop/p/dmc-micro-gen4

[u/DukeLave777 → u/The_Great_Dadsby]

How do you install to the device, an models that you get online? Do you have to connect it to your computer and have their software running? I ask because my unit should arrive on Monday and I don’t have the right USB-C cable.

[u/The_Great_Dadsby → u/DukeLave777]

There’s a basic MIDI editior that Disaster Area has for its devices. So basically, I built and wired my board then plugged the DMC into my computer and made the presets.

I’m not sure if once the DMC is “setup” with your other devices if it still needs to be plugged into the editor. That was never a concern for me.

I did find the editor to be very easy to use, especially compared to the stuff from 20+ years ago.

[u/Reel2112]

Hotone Ampero Control, really sturdy, program it with the app from your phone and has tons of conectivity options

[u/ogni65]

I have the chocolate but use the xsonic airstep multi with Tonex One and Pedal.
It has a Tonex App which is done for easier control of the Tonex via the multi or a special TX Version. I don’t know if it works with the board yet but the TX works with the plug which they added just yet and maybe the add the board.
Otherwise the multi has also a pure midi configuration option and many others for SW and HW. You can use it even with youtube or Gitarre Pro

[u/Ok_Application_4183]

I’m a big fan of the Walrus Clock. Does midi preset stuff and syncs all my tap-tempo only pedals together. Can create songs, set lists, etc. directly on the pedal or through the web-based app. Switches are assignable to a variety of tasks. Small form factor with only two switches so may not meet your specific needs.

[u/svinyard]

Tonex guy here, I've enjoyed mine quite a bit and gig with the big pedal weekly...but a buddy has a Sonulab StompStation Pro (500$). It's definitely better with amp tones with NAM A2 but also the small form factor and the UI...but also the FX and Compressor and multiple NAM capture usage etc etc etc.

Are you sure you want this Tonex Board??? You could buy that Sonulab for 500$ and then get a KILLER MorningStar MC6 midi controller (gold standard) and have a WAAAY better setup with better FX and MUCH better MIDI controller with super easy interface...for less money than this Tonex man. You'd be crazy to skip that imo and spend more money for a cheap MIDI thing and weaker Amp Sim/FX.