These recommendations are starting points only. The ideal setting depends on your guitar, pickups, playing style, and overall signal chain.

As a general guideline:

ToneX
– Humbuckers: 0 dB
– Single Coils: +8 dB

NAM
Use the calibration feature and enter your signal level in dBu.
Our captures are typically calibrated around +15 dBu (similar to strong PAF-style pickups).

Cortex
– Humbuckers: 0 dB
– Single Coils: +8 dB

You can also use a utility gain block in front of a capture to fine-tune input level per preset instead of adjusting it globally.

As with all ToneX Tone Models that are stored in the TXP preset format, not directly. To use them on iOS, you need to purchase the captures via ToneNET.

Yes. Our captures work across the entire Cortex ecosystem (including all current Cortex hardware).

Cortex captures are delivered via Cortex Cloud and must be shared manually.

To receive them:
1. Enter your Cortex User ID (not your e-Mail) during checkout
2. Follow all of our accounts on Cortex Cloud
3. Wait for the captures to be shared to your account

You will immediately receive:
– IR files (if applicable)
– Documentation
– Download links via email

Captures are delivered separately via Cloud sharing.

Delivery time:
Up to 24 hours (usually much faster).
Please allow this time before contacting support.

DI Captures
– Amp only (no cab or mic)
– Include custom IRs (*.WAV)
– Maximum flexibility
– Can be used with IRs, real cabs, or power amps

CAB / FULL Captures
– Complete signal chain (amp + cab + mic)
– Plug-and-play simplicity
– Less flexible, but faster workflow

Essential Packs
– A curated selection of the best tones from a full pack
– Smaller, more focused, more affordable

Core DI vs Expansion DI
– Core DI: most common, “go-to” tones
– Expansion DI: additional, more specialized settings
Recommended approach: start with Core, expand if needed.

General workflow:
Unzip the downloaded file and place it in a folder on your computer.

ToneX
Drag & drop TXP files into the app.

NAM
Use the folder icon in the player and point to the folder.

Cortex
Go to “Shared With Me” in Cortex Cloud and download presets.
IR files must be loaded manually into the IR block.

Kemper
Import profiles via Rig Manager.

Our naming system is designed to give you clear, useful information at a glance.

Example:
MRSH JT45 JU Crunch BAL CAB

Breakdown:

GAIN LEVELS

– Clean: our cleans usually have a hint of breakup as the amp feels most alive when it starts to break up slightly. If you need a cleaner tone, just back up the input gain / trim

– Edge of Breakup: our EOD tones have noticeable breakup and they allow for a huge dynamic range from clean tones with a light pick attack up to almost crunchy tones

– Crunch: think of a bass spec plexi on 7 and that is approximately where our crunch tones live – classic rock territory

– Dimed: usually it is the amp with volume cranked to 10 or sometimes the most amount of usable gain that one can get out of a particular amp

– Drive: for vintage, low and medium gain amps our drive tones are achieved with a pedal in front of the amp. For modern and high gain amps that can get there on their own, it is the range where the amp starts to sing, but the sustain is yet not fully there for lead levels

– Lead: a sustaining, singing lead tone, achieved with a drive pedal in front of a low to mid gain amp or with a master volume amp that allows cranking the gain up quite a bit

– Gain: various shades of high gain. Some vintage amps can get a similar amount of gin with pedals, but they lack the tighter character of modern amps, so this designation is reserved for modern high gain amps

– Fuzz: the nastiest, but undoubtly one of the coolest forms of distortion. We usually include at least one fuzz capture with one of our vintage or boutique fuzzes in front of the amp

EQ VARIATIONS

– Thin (THN): the brightest or the least bassy setting on an amp. Not necessarily thin per se – often a good pick for a dense mix and usually works well with Humbuckers

– Bright (BRI): the bright setting that usually works nicely with Humbucker style guitars. It can also work nicely with single coils if you are after a brighter tone

– Balanced (BAL): this is our setting for what we consider to be the sweet-spot of the amp and that is the setting from which we diverge into various other EQ directions. Usually works really well with both Humbucker nad Single coil equipped guitars

– Warm (WRM): depending on context whis setting can mean more mids content or a for rounded, mellower top end. In vintage style amps usually a great match for single coil style guitars. In high gain amps usually the more mid forward, less scooped setting

– Fat (FAT): a setting with an emphasis on the low end. Usually a great match for a bridge pickup, especially on the cleaner side of things

– Scooped (SCP): a setting with recessed mids or pronounced lows and highs that results in a more crystaline tone. Works great when you want a big sound that still retains clarity

FORMAT

– Direct Injection (DI): it is a capture of the amp itself without anything else further down in the chain. This allwos for an easy combination with cab sims in the form of IR’S as well as applications where you use a real guitar cabinet further down the line. This is the most versatile option, if you need it

– Full capture (CAB): this is a capture where everything is included already – the amp, the cab and mics used for the capture. No tweaking and works right out of the box as intended.  Less versatile than the DI format, but less of the option paralysis that can come with IR’s

PEDALS

If there is another position after the EQ designation and before the format, it will be the indicative name of a pedal used in the capture. In the example above a Timmy pedal is a part of the chain.

In our experience, DI + IR provides the most realistic and flexible results.
But with the advent of the second version of the ToneX, Cortex and NAM algorythms, there is no note-worthy practical difference in regard to tone. It all boils down to your preferred workflow and how deep you want to go down the tone chasing rabbit hole. DI is most flexible, CAB is the most simple approach and has an advantage for devices that do not offer an IR loader.

Not currently, but this may change in the future.

ToneX
Yes. Free V2 updates for customers who purchased directly from us are trickling down the pipe-line since our new website has launched

NAM
Yes. A1 captures will be updated to A2 over time and will be a free update for existing custoemrs who have bought captures from us directly.

Cortex
Not currently possible due to manual delivery limitations.

You will receive an email notification with a download link Sent to the email address used during purchase.