ToneDexter II Support
FAQs

Notes About Selecting the Best Mic for Training…

• A small diaphragm condenser (capacitor) mic is recommended. Large diaphragm mics can also work well but may be more finicky about placement due their response coloration.
• Dynamic mics such as common vocal mics, can yield good results, though generally will not have as much high frequency information, and tend to be quite colored. However, that might just be the sound you’re after!
• Tube (valve) mics, due to their high non-linearity, are not recommended but may yield good results nonetheless.
• Both cardioid and omni-directional pickup patterns will give excellent results. Using an Omni mic can often get a more balanced sound quicker.
• Ribbon mics may also be used. Passive ribbon mics may be used so long as they can tolerate 48V phantom power. If using a passive ribbon mic, consider either plugging in the mic first before powering up the unit, or first disabling 48V phantom power.

All the mics on this list have quite flat frequency responses which helps get the best WaveMaps from your instrument with the least fuss. It doesn’t need to be expensive. What works best for studio recording is not necessarily optimum for training as the requirements are different.

Uni-directional Cardioid Mics
A more focused view, for homing in on your instrument’s sweet spot.

• Shure SM81
• sE Electronics sE8 or sE7
• Slate ML-2
• Rode NT5
• Line Audio CM4
• Marshall MXL-600
• Sterling ST-31

Omni-directional Measurement Mics
Provide a larger view of the instrument’s sound, much like our ears. Self-noise doesn’t matter to the training process, so low-cost mics are fine.

• Behringer ECM8000
• Dayton Audio EMM-6
• PreSonus PRM1

Guitarist Doug Young shows how ToneDexter II can be used to modify the sound of the WaveMap for live gigs including anti-feedback.

Audio Sprocket’s Josh Bennett shows how ToneDexter II preamp can ‘learn’ the sound of your guitar, or any stringed instrument, and apply that sound to its piezo pickup for live performance by creating a WaveMap®. Josh illustrate examples with a guitar, mandolin and violin.

ToneDexter II WaveMaps are built by comparing the mic sound with your pickup, so the resulting WaveMap will depend on both the mic’s response and most importantly on the mic position as you train ToneDexter.

A small diaphragm condenser mic is recommended. Large diaphragm mics can also work well, but may be more finicky about placement. Dynamic mics, such as common vocal mics, can yield usable results, though generally will not have as much high frequency information and will have the 5KHz region exaggerated. Tube (valve) mics, due to their higher non-linearity, are not recommended but may yield good results nonetheless.

Both cardioid and omnidirectional pickup patterns will give excellent results. Inexpensive omnidirectional measurement mics, even those with high self-noise, can give excellent results because the microphone noise doesn’t matter at all to the training. With an omni, you’ll have a more balanced perspective on what the instrument sounds like to a listener, and sometimes this can be advantageous.

Active ribbon mics may also be used. Passive ribbon mics may be used so long as they can tolerate 48V phantom power. If using a passive ribbon mics, consider turning off the 48V phantom power on the Training page.

If you are using a uni-directional mic such as a typical cardioid, you can train in your living room, in your kitchen, and yes even in your car. (Never train and drive and the same time!)

The point is that you don’t need a refined acoustic space because the WaveMap picks up very little of the room sound. An omni-directional mic, will pick up more of the room sound, so if using an omni it’s best to avoid overly live rooms. A typical bedroom or living room will work just fine.

Yes. The automatic level setting and training itself have both been improved to streamline and speed up the process.

Yes. Careful listening will reveal the extra high frequency detail, refined but not harsh, and the lack of ‘fizz’—an artefact that produced an unnatural fizzy tail effect from an impulsive hit to the bridge as the sound died away. This makes the WaveMaps suitable even the most percussive style of playing, such as flamenco.

Guitarist Doug Young shows how ToneDexter II can be used to modify the sound of the WaveMap for live gigs including anti-feedback.

Notes About Selecting the Best Mic for Training…

• A small diaphragm condenser (capacitor) mic is recommended. Large diaphragm mics can also work well but may be more finicky about placement due their response coloration.
• Dynamic mics such as common vocal mics, can yield good results, though generally will not have as much high frequency information, and tend to be quite colored. However, that might just be the sound you’re after!
• Tube (valve) mics, due to their high non-linearity, are not recommended but may yield good results nonetheless.
• Both cardioid and omni-directional pickup patterns will give excellent results. Using an Omni mic can often get a more balanced sound quicker.
• Ribbon mics may also be used. Passive ribbon mics may be used so long as they can tolerate 48V phantom power. If using a passive ribbon mic, consider either plugging in the mic first before powering up the unit, or first disabling 48V phantom power.

All the mics on this list have quite flat frequency responses which helps get the best WaveMaps from your instrument with the least fuss. It doesn’t need to be expensive. What works best for studio recording is not necessarily optimum for training as the requirements are different.

Uni-directional Cardioid Mics
A more focused view, for homing in on your instrument’s sweet spot.

• Shure SM81
• sE Electronics sE8 or sE7
• Slate ML-2
• Rode NT5
• Line Audio CM4
• Marshall MXL-600
• Sterling ST-31

Omni-directional Measurement Mics
Provide a larger view of the instrument’s sound, much like our ears. Self-noise doesn’t matter to the training process, so low-cost mics are fine.

• Behringer ECM8000
• Dayton Audio EMM-6
• PreSonus PRM1