Tips & Tricks

Input Gain & Trim

All captures were made so that 0 dB feels and responds closest to plugging straight into the amp. That said, every setup is different, so don’t be afraid to experiment. Try adjusting between -2 dB and +2 dB to see what feels best for your playing style and rig.

If you’re using ToneX software, I highly recommend making these adjustments within the software itself for more precision. On the ToneX One, a tiny turn of the knob makes a big difference, so be subtle with your adjustments.

Getting More (or Less) Headroom

My go-to clean sound might be someone else’s edge of breakup. If you find a capture you love but wish it had just a little more headroom, try rolling back the gain slightly on the capture itself. This can help keep the feel intact while giving you more dynamic range to work with.

EQ is Your Friend

A little EQ adjustment can go a long way. The EQ within ToneX is actually pretty musical and useful, so don’t hesitate to tweak it to fit your mix or playing style. Some amps naturally cut more low or high end than others, so rolling off some lows on a darker capture or taming highs on something more aggressive can help everything sit better in a mix.

Phase & Stereo Pairing

Most of these captures are in phase with one another, but there are a few exceptions. If something sounds off—thin, hollow, or just a little weird—it’s worth checking phase alignment.

• How to Check & Fix Phase:

  • Listen in mono – If your sound suddenly loses body or feels scooped, phase might be the issue.

  • Flip the phase – Many audio interfaces or DAWs have a simple phase invert button.

  • Use a DI box with phase control – I personally use the DISO+ from Pinstripe, which lets me flip the phase instantly to find the sweet spot.

Experiment & Make It Your Own

These captures were made to be plug-and-play, but every player and setup is different. Whether it's adjusting input gain, stacking pedals in front, or tweaking EQ and phase, trust your ears and tweak as needed. Hope you dig 'em!