Line 6 TonePort UX1 USB Recording/Modeling Interface

Zero Latency...FINALLY

I tried various USB interfaces in the past and was not impressed with the claims of "near-zero" latency. So I was a little skeptical when I saw the Toneport's claims of tone-direct monitoring. After having this for about a week, I am absolutely blown away by how quickly this little guy can handle the throughput. I don't know how Line6 did it, but it works. The Gearbox software is good to get you going, but don't be misled into thinking you've got a Podxt on your hands. Don't get me wrong...there are some great tones in there, but I was a little disappointed. Overall Gearbox is very easy to use and the "Monkey" takes care of all updates and drivers...very nice. You can also bypass Gearbox entirely, so you can do your processing pre-Toneport and still have the zero-latency response time. I run my signal through a Boss GT-8 then to the Toneport, and record with Garageband/Logic Express. I'm using a Mac Mini Core Duo and have had no problems at all with compatibility. Overall...highly recommend. Line6 has a great product, and the interface is worth the $130 alone, with the Gearbox software being a nice "bonus". The only thing I would like to see added is a digital in (digital out is available). FYI, the UX1 does not have phantom power, you'll need the UX2/KB37 for that.

Reviewed by Voodoo Chile on 12/21/2006 who plays rock, christian worship.

Dizzying array of sounds!

I bought the Toneport UX1 from Guitar Center after seeing an online ad for RiffWorks, a simple recording & composing program that can be bought bundled with GuitarPort. I bought the Toneport instead because it has a mic in; otherwise, the software that comes with it is the same (no RiffWorks - I bought that seperately). Very easy to set up, worked flawlessly on my PC (CAUTION- *requires* XP service pack II). I plugged in my newly purchased Squier Bullet, and began playing around. The sound that is produced is EXTRAORDINARY! The Gearbox software that comes with it has a graphical interface that shows a signal path with EVERY POSSIBLE effect box (distortion, modulation, delay, etc) plus about 30 different amp/cabinet combinations. And everything is graphically represented by pictures of the actual gear - you simply 'adjust' the knobs just as you would if it were in front of you. It's as if you were in the music store and could grab any amp, stomp box, etc. and play with them to your hearts content. Best of all, they sound incredibly authentic! I tried a few combinations of gear I already owned, and could not hear a difference. If you dont want to spend all your time fooling around with settings, there are about 50 'pre-sets' that are terrific, some of them mimicing the setup (AND SOUND!) of popular songs or signature sounds. All in all, a terrific product - if you like to experiment with different effects, amps, etc., and particularly if you are recording on your PC. Highly recommended!!

Reviewed by mullman on 10/9/2006 who plays Rock, Classic Rock, Fusion.

It gets the job done. It comes with a demo recording software that isn't half bad. I definately suggest saving the extra 70 or so dollars to get the upgraded version of this interface. The bass settings are perfect and the guitar isn't really that good if you want original sounds.

Reviewed by Travis on 8/3/2007 who plays metal.

Up Graded

So, here is the deal, I purchased a Guitar Port by Line 6 about a year ago, and took it back, wasn't happy. They came out with new software and I decided to try it again...very happy. Wanted to record vocals, Guitar Port is not really designed for that. So, I upgraded to the Line 6 TonePort UX1. Same great guitar effects, ease of set up and use. They also have great mic pre-amps based on some classics. The mic I have does not need phatom power, since the UX1 doesn't have phantom power, score there. Easy set up for use with in Adobe Audition and good clean audio. I can't say enough about what Line6 has done over the last year or so with their computer based products. I think the quality is great the pricing, more than reasonable and I've had very good luck with their tech support. If this unit was stolen, I'd either buy it again or if budget permitted I'd buy the UX2.

Reviewed by CGU on 9/26/2006 who plays Jazz/Blues.

great for plug n play recording

This unit was a little more tricky to set up than I would have liked. There were some driver issues and some less than helpful documentation. But with a little patience and getting the latest software updates from Line6.com, it's a very usable system. I sold my Vox Tonelab after I got this. I like having everything up on my computer monitor at the same time: Amp, FX, Tuner, DAW. I think it makes for a better workflow that keeps me focused on recording instead of tinkering. The Vox Tonelab had superior sounds, but not signficantly so. The VOX had the kind of sounds that I was always tinkering with instead of recording with. The Toneport comes with some very usable presets for guitar, bass, and vocals that sit well in a mix together without a lot of extra work. The quality of both the amp models and the USB interface means that snippets that I record in a hurry just to get an idea going can be gradually morphed into full-fledged songs. I'm not a big fan of Ableton Live, so the included copy didn't interest me much. If you don't already have a favorite DAW package, then you could budget some time for Ableton's learning curve. Personally I would go with Sony's ACID as the easiest DAW to learn. Also, save some bucks and get the Toneport UX1 instead of the UX2 and either get a cheap Behringer mixer or mic preamp to phantom power your condenser mic. It will still be cheaper than the UX2 and you'll have some additional flexibility for recording.

Reviewed by Macman on 11/3/2006 who plays rock, blues.