IK Multimedia recently unveiled ToneNET, a groundbreaking community platform for its AmpliTube 5 guitar plugin modeling suite.
But what, exactly, is ToneNET?
As Guitar World Tech Editor Paul Riario explains, “ToneNET is a web platform with social features dedicated to guitar and bass players for exchanging AmpliTube 5 presets with other users, and for finding the latest ones from VIP artists and popular musical instrument brands.”
What’s more, “It’s also open to other musicians or anyone interested in what’s happening in AmpliTube’s expanding universe of tone.”
And best of all, “You can join the ToneNET community for free.”
ToneNET is usable from within any version of AmpliTube 5 – including the free Custom Shop edition – as well as via any web browser. The platform has social media-like functionality, enabling users to create their own music-based profile where they can upload audio demos and add music links, share presets and follow other members.
It’s extremely easy to search presets, and once you choose one, all the relevant info, as well as the signal chain and a sound sample, are displayed. As an example, Paul types in “Rhoads” and hits return, and voila! all the available Randy Rhoads presets pop up. In an instant, Paul begins cranking out the opening lick to “I Don’t Know,” sounding amazingly like Blizzard of Ozz-era Randy.
Next, Paul types in “Van Halen.” Soon enough, he’s danc(ing) the night away and unchaining his guitar to unleash major EVH-sounding riffage.
Finally, Paul types in “Brian May,” and employs the Queen legend’s entire signal chain, from amp to Rockman Sustainor to pedals, to crank out ‘Tie Your Mother Down.”
Paul even creates his own presets under – what else? – “Guitar World" and then demos some of them (featuring awesome names like “Hi Ho Silver,” “Country Glitter Sparkle,” “Edgy Neck Driver” and “Hallelujah! It’s St. Paul’s Cathedral!”) for us to hear.
He then demonstrates how he builds a preset sound, adding, swapping and moving pedals, choosing amps, trying out different cabinets and mic configurations, moving speakers and employing various rooms and other outboard gear.
“And then all I have to do is click on ‘Share,’ and boom! It goes right to ToneNET,” he says.
Paul’s verdict? “ToneNET is a valuable addition to IK Multimedia’s AmpliTube 5’s massive tone studio for guitarists and bassists,” he says. “This online platform is community building at its finest. ToneNET is simple to use and navigate through, with the ability to easily share, preview and upload and download presets to use among this burgeoning ecosystem of artists and players that utilize it, myself included.
“It’s wildly fun to use and save presets, not to mention the sounds of the gear in Amplitube 5 are flat-out superb.”
To check out ToneNET for yourself, head here.
