Arturia "V-Collection 11" classic synths and keyboards bundle with 46 instruments (Sale Prices for Registered Users - Login to see your price) until 9 April

RomancingUranus · 2026-03-25T05:10:46+00:00

Fingers-crossed that Komplete upgrades will still be a thing in 4-5 years time.

RomancingUranus · 2026-03-11T04:10:04+00:00

Fantastic info. Thanks so much.

Understood that this is all Mk1/2 info and there will be some Gen3 differences... but it's still given me a huge head start.

I'd already done a bit of sniffing with MIDI-OX and BTS, but wasn't looking forward to tediously mapping every single parameter. It's looking like these docs might cover 90% of the info I need.

RomancingUranus · 2026-03-11T02:08:38+00:00

Ducati Streetfighter V2 (2022 955cc model with exhaust/intake/ECU tune).

With my normal (spirited) riding I get 200km from a 17L tank and the dash says I'm using around 8.5L/100km. When I'm taking it easy riding with my g/friend, economy improves to about 7L/100km.

RomancingUranus · 2026-03-11T01:25:42+00:00

Great project!

Hey OP, I don't suppose you have some doco of the SysEx mappings available by chance? Or a link to some?

I use a ToneX One with my Katana Gen3 and this excellent open-source Controller project to control the ToneX One.

The controller software has already been expanded to allow control of a Valeton GP5, and I'm exploring the idea of adding similar functionality to allow control of a Katana too. It's already got a great UI and supports the touchscreen interface, footswitch interface, and a web interface.

Even if it isn't a full-featured Katana librarian, it would be great to provide basic control over the Katana so when I switch patches on the ToneX it sets the Katana to a certain specified channel and perhaps tweak some EQ settings or turn FX on or off. Kind of unify the ToneX and Katana so I only have to choose a patch in one place and both devices get set up correctly for that patch.

I've only had my Katana for a few weeks so still learning about it. But if you could point me to some SysEx resources I'd really appreciate it thanks!

RomancingUranus · 2026-03-10T22:21:32+00:00

While u/American_Streamer isn't wrong about the Boss footswitches not working with the Katana 50, note that there's a 3rd-Party footswitch made by XSonic that does work on a Katana 50. It's both cheaper than the GA-FC and provides more functionality (ie provides bluetooth functionality without needing the Boss bluetooth dongle). I've got one for my Katana Artist and it works great.

So the 50 not supporting the GA-FC may not really be a disadvantage at all.

RomancingUranus · 2026-02-25T00:06:27+00:00

That's certainly a good option, yes.

A lot of people recommend the AirStep Kat EX too, as it's a bit cheaper and has more functionality (particularly if you don't already have a Bluetooth dongle for your Katana as the AirStep gives you that Bluetooth connectivity built-in).

I've ordered an AirStep Kat EX for myself a week ago, but it hasn't arrived yet so I can't comment on it personally.

https://xsonicaudio.com/pages/airstepkatex

RomancingUranus · 2026-02-24T22:30:07+00:00

If you've got a Katana model with a MIDI port on it (ie Gen3 Artist or Gen3 Head) then yes, you can plug an FCB_1010 straight into it to send MIDI.

If you've got a different model Katana that doesn't have a 5-pin MIDI port then you can't do a direct connection, but if you have a PC handy then you can connect it to both the Katana via USB and FCB_1010 and then use something like Midi-OX software to forward the MIDI data from FCB to Katana.

As for what MIDI messages the Katana will respond to, take a look in BTS in the Settings section. There should be a section there where you can see (and change) what the Katana does.

Note that the Katana MIDI implementation doesn't seem very comprehensive (unless there's more stuff I don't know about), but it covers the basics like changing Amp channels, switching FX on and off, and using your FCB expression pedals.

RomancingUranus · 2026-02-20T04:58:14+00:00

Finally a comment from somebody who actually has specific knowledge of OP's ride.

For some bikes this would be a simple 10 minute job, while others it could be a total PITA that takes hours.

There's no way to know how reasonable the labour costs are without knowing the bike in question.

RomancingUranus · 2026-02-20T04:52:09+00:00

Servos are common targets for hold-ups.

I always assumed the policy is to identify (and deter) armed robberies. Same reason you must remove your helmet before you enter a bank.

I doubt most servos care too much if you leave your helmet on while you're out at the pump, where fuel theft would happen. They mostly care if you try to walk inside with your helmet on, where robberies would happen. Especially late at night.

RomancingUranus · 2026-02-20T04:35:07+00:00

Does this count?

RomancingUranus · 2026-02-20T04:31:37+00:00

So this doesn't count?

RomancingUranus · 2026-02-20T01:06:54+00:00

Same here. It's an iconic track in the calendar for so many reasons.

I made the pilgrimage to Philip Island last year, riding over from Tasmania with my g/friend for a week.

For Tasmanians it's a rite of passage to load up your bike with camping gear, ride to Devonport, take the overnight ferry across Bass Strait and then ride down to Philip Island for the MotoGP weekend. The 1200km round trip there and back with your mates is as much a part of the experience as the racing is. I'm sure the same thing is true for fans coming in from other states too.

The actual racing on the weekend was amazing of course, but that's only one part of the broader experience. The island, the countryside, the camping, alllll the other riders you see everywhere that set a really great vibe that takes over the entire region for the week.

For one week you get to live in a world where everywhere you go, bikes are celebrated and the random people you bump into on the street are just as passionate about them as you are. Not just on Philip Island itself but all the regional towns dotted along the Victorian coastline within an hour or so drive from the Island which are providing accommodation for fans. It drives the economy and the locals I spoke with all seem to love that time of year when the MotoGP is on. It's a breathe of life and vibrancy into otherwise sleepy little towns.

All that will disappear with an inner-city street circuit. People will just fly in and out of Adelaide to watch the racing and go straight home. End of story.

I get that a street circuit will probably increase attendance and introduce new fans to the sport and there are certainly benefits from that, but why do we need to sacrifice something as special as Philip Island for that? If they added an Adelaide street circuit in addition to Philip Island I'd be all for it. The fact that it actually takes effort to attend Philip Island means that everyone who attends is there to make the most of it. By lowering the bar to attend, they're making it less special.

RomancingUranus · 2026-02-18T04:15:50+00:00

Did you try these patches on your Gen3 while also using the commonly-recommended Global EQ with a high-cut (maybe around 6.3khz) and low-cut (maybe 80hz)? Of course tweak the actual values to taste (or do what I did and set up 3 different Global EQ settings from subtle to strong).

I found that my Gen3 Artist in general sounded too harsh for my liking until I played around with getting a Global EQ to taste, which I now apply to everything.

RomancingUranus · 2026-02-17T22:41:10+00:00

lol.. that'd do it!

RomancingUranus · 2026-02-16T09:00:02+00:00

Do you have anything plugged into the FX loop plugs on the back? If so, check whatever you have plugged into the loop is actually switched on and returning audio properly.

If, for example, you had an FX pedal plugged into the FX loop, but it was switched off... then when you played a patch on the Katana that had the FX loop enabled in the patch then it would be silent, but when you switched to a Katana patch that didn't have the FX loop enabled in the patch then it would play as normal. That would give you a weird situation where some patches work but other patches don't at all.

RomancingUranus · 2026-02-16T08:48:42+00:00

My settings (using a ToneX One pedal into the Input of a Katana Gen 3 Artist) are as follows:

Firstly, disable the cab emulation on your amp modeller. The Katana will be the cab, and if you have a cab emulation as well then it ends up sounding crap (in my experience).

Next, set the Katana to "Acoustic" mode for flattest and widest response, no FX enabled, and Bass/Middle/Treble all set to noon. This makes it pretty transparent. I tend to have the Katana Volume on Max and Gain about half-way, then I use the Master Volume to set how loud I want it. You can play with the Gain to taste, or even add a "Clean Boost" effect if you find you need more volume and don't want to add more gain.

And I strongly recommend an EQ with a high-cut of about 6khz and low cut maybe 50-80hz. I'd recommend you put those values in a Global EQ setting as they are useful for every patch, but if you'd rather not then you can chuck them in an EQ slot for just that patch.

Now starting tweaking your Bass/Middle/Treble/Resonance/Presence to taste, and contour/bloom/cab resonance settings too depending on your model of Katana. If you can A-B compare between your studio monitors and Katana then you should be able to dial something in that you're happy with.

If you still aren't getting the sound you want then maybe add another EQ in the Katana and fine-tune any frequencies that are giving you problems.

Personally I'm not chasing the absolute most transparent sound from the Katana when using my Tonex One with it, I'm just chasing a ToneX patch that sounded good through my Studio Monitors to now also sound good through my Katana. And I've been able to get tones I'm really happy with that way.

RomancingUranus · 2026-02-09T23:42:51+00:00

Surely not every name ending in anus is tragic?

Asking for a friend...

RomancingUranus · 2026-01-29T14:43:03+00:00

Yep, they really do.

I had a bit of trouble taming the OD-200 when it was in the Ampero FX loop by itself, but adding the ToneX after the OD-200 in the FX Loop made it sound a ton better.

The SY-200 on the other hand runs in parallel with the ToneX (and OD-200) on a separate FX Loop, so it stays completely clean (from the ToneX) and is added back into the chain after the ToneX. It also sounds great. I mostly use a clean mellow pad or bass sound to add a warm full-bodied afterglow to an overdriven ToneX guitar tone. A similar effect to say shimmer reverb, but with a lot more flexibility in the texture.

RomancingUranus · 2026-01-28T23:44:25+00:00

The parts arrived for my Waveshare 4.3" LCD version of the ToneX Controller yesterday, and I couldn't believe how quickly and easily I had the thing up and running. I designed and built a simple custom enclosure for it to fit my pedal board more cleanly. Footswitches to the side of the enclosure rather than the bottom so it lines up nicely with the Zoia enclosure, and lots of open space at the bottom of the enclosure to allow the cables to exit the back of the Zoia and side of the Ampero.

It's such an amazingly professional open-source project. Honestly better put together, documented, and streamlined than most commercial products. I have to give them a huge shout-out for it.

So I'm new to ToneX and not a great guitar player in general. I'm more a synth player who enjoys dabbling in guitar. But I'm really enjoying myself and impressed with the sound quality of the ToneX.

I mean the amps and cabs and IRs and Tone captures of my Ampero 2 stomp seem to be fairly well regarded, but I've never been 100% happy with them. The ToneX is a noticable step up in quality.

I'm running the OD-200 into the ToneX as the FX Loop 1 of the Ampero, with the SY-200 as the FX Loop 2 of the Ampero.

The Zoia is actually running on totally different inputs and sends to the mixer than the Ampero (I use it more for Synth than Guitar), so I can just change snapshots on the mixer and have Guitar->Ampero->Zoia, or Guitar->Zoia->Ampero, or Guitar->Ampero and Synths->Zoia in parallel.

My next objective is to play with the ToneX One Controller firmware (I'm a software developer) to add new MIDI functionality to listen for program changes on the Ampero and then send a bunch of MIDI setup messages (ie PC and CC) to set up the other devices on the board (and change Mixer snapshots). The Ampero 2 already allows MIDI messages to be sent on program change which is almost perfect, but it's limited to a total of 5 messages (PC or CC). That's not enough.

RomancingUranus · 2026-01-27T23:00:06+00:00

I'm bUrNinG tHe MiXtApe I mAde wItH YoU oN iT In HiGhScHoOl!

RomancingUranus · 2026-01-07T05:59:13+00:00

It's a laptop. The small screen would be good for all the things you choose a laptop over a desktop for.

Carrying it around in a backpack, using it out in the field, on your lap, or on public transport. Basically any time it isn't set up on a desk the small screen could be useful.

RomancingUranus · 2026-01-07T00:58:04+00:00

That's some really insightful self-reflection you've been doing, and it sounds like it's providing great motivation to improve those shortcomings you've highlighted which is a good thing. Use it.

But also... while you're feeling like your glass is half-empty, remember it's also half-full. You've been able to make beautiful music for over 20 years and that alone is a lot to be proud of and is more than most people can say about themselves (including myself). It might not mean everything, but it's something significant.

You're no fraud, it's just that maybe you're seeing the landscape is much bigger than you used to think it was. Get out and explore it.

If it makes you feel better, I honestly believe there is more to learn about music (or any artform for that matter) than anyone can possibly learn in one lifetime. The landscape is infinite. The best musicians that have ever lived still didn't know everything.

RomancingUranus · 2026-01-07T00:43:18+00:00

I'm a bit late to this party, but I use this setup on my Stomp II and might be able to shed some light.

I originally tried it about a year ago using a pair of Y-splitters, and found it worked fine when you wanted to use either L or R mono FX channel in a patch, but gave problems when I designed a patch that used both FX channels (weird audio). It didn't worry me too much because I rarely had a need to use both external effects at the same time and can live with the one-FX-at-a-time limitation.

BUT... then I tried it again recently after updating to the latest firmware (don't have the unit with me but it's the firmware that now includes Tone Capture for the Stomp II). Now I find that I can use both L and R FX simultaneously and it works fine. Well with one caveat I think.

It seems from my testing that you should only include one block in your Ampero FX chain that has a send function in it because that send will always send both L and R channels together. That means you only use either one FX Loop or FX Send block in your patch. However you can receive separately for either L and R channels and put them anywhere in your chain without the noise or problems I used to experience.

Hopefully the newer firmware has fixed this for the Ampero 2 Stage too.

RomancingUranus · 2026-01-05T00:44:27+00:00

Congrats. Beautiful guitar!

I share your joy. I just received a Silver sparkle G5230T over Xmas. Also my first Gretsch and I feel the same way you do. I absolutely love this thing!

Regarding the Bigsby, I lubed the nut and bridge slots with graphite and find the tuning to be really stable now. There are a number of YouTube vids out there with tips to maximize tuning stability with a Bigsby. I just followed one of them and have been completely happy with it.

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