IK Multimedia Launches TONEX Board: An Entire AI-Powered Guitar Rig in One Pedalboard

IK Multimedia Launches TONEX Board: An Entire AI-Powered Guitar Rig in One Pedalboard

IK Multimedia is taking its TONEX platform considerably further with the launch of the TONEX Board, a new all-in-one guitar and bass processor designed to replace much of the equipment musicians would normally carry between the studio, rehearsal room and stage.

Instead of functioning primarily as an amp-capture pedal, TONEX Board combines AI-powered amp and pedal modeling, effects, dual signal chains, advanced routing, touchscreen controls and extensive connectivity inside one pedalboard.

The idea is simple: give guitarists and bassists enough processing power to build a complete digital rig without needing several separate pedals, processors and amplifiers.

TONEX Board launches at $999.99 before tax and sits at the top of IK Multimedia’s TONEX hardware lineup.

What Is TONEX Board?

TONEX Board is essentially IK Multimedia’s attempt to turn the TONEX ecosystem into a complete performance platform.

At the center of the system is IK’s AI Machine Modeling technology.

Instead of relying only on traditional digital amplifier simulations, TONEX can capture the sound and response of real amplifiers, cabinets and drive pedals and recreate those characteristics digitally.

TONEX Board can run up to four Tone Models simultaneously across two independent signal paths.

That opens the door to configurations such as:

• Dual-amplifier stereo rigs
• Wet/dry guitar setups
• Parallel effects chains
• Two-instrument configurations
• Separate guitar and bass processing paths
• Complex studio-style signal routing

Players can then combine those Tone Models with as many as 12 Tone Model and effects slots inside a preset.

That is a significant jump from simply loading a captured amplifier sound onto a pedal.

The TONEX Board is designed to behave more like an entire digital guitar rig.

76 Effects Are Built In

Amp modeling is only part of the package.

TONEX Board includes 76 studio-grade effects across nine categories.

The collection consists of:

51 effects from AmpliTube

These bring many of IK Multimedia’s established guitar-processing effects directly into the pedalboard.

15 TONEX effects

These are processors already developed specifically around the TONEX platform.

10 completely new effects

IK has also added ten new guitar and bass processors specifically for the TONEX Board, with additional effects expected through future updates.

The result means players can build a signal chain containing everything from amp models and cabinets to compression, distortion, modulation, delay, reverb and other creative processing.

For many musicians, that could eliminate the need for a traditional pedalboard altogether.

You Can Run Two Independent Guitar Rigs

One of the most interesting features is TONEX Board’s dual-signal-path architecture.

Rather than forcing everything through one fixed chain, musicians can split and combine signals in different ways.

For example, a guitarist could run one amplifier model through the left side and a completely different amplifier model through the right side.

Or one signal could remain relatively dry while another receives delays and reverbs.

Because the system supports as many as four simultaneous Tone Models, musicians can create combinations that would normally require considerably more equipment.

That flexibility should be particularly useful for studio musicians, touring players and guitarists running directly into a venue’s PA system.

There’s a 5-Inch Touchscreen

Powerful guitar processors can become frustrating when musicians have to navigate several layers of menus just to adjust something simple.

IK Multimedia appears to be trying to reduce that problem.

TONEX Board includes a 5-inch high-resolution color touchscreen along with six push-and-turn physical controls.

The touchscreen provides visual control over presets and signal chains, while the physical knobs allow musicians to make adjustments without relying completely on touch controls.

There are also three main performance modes.

Preset Mode

Allows musicians to quickly switch between complete rigs.

Scene Mode

Multiple settings within a preset can be changed simultaneously.

A player could, for example, switch from a clean verse sound to a louder lead sound without loading an entirely different rig.

Stomp Mode

Individual effects can be turned on and off from the footswitches much like traditional guitar pedals.

That combination makes TONEX Board useful both as a deep editing platform and as something musicians can operate quickly during a live performance.

IK Multimedia Packed It With Connectivity

TONEX Board is also designed to work with several different types of guitar setups.

Connectivity includes independent stereo outputs, including balanced XLR connections, alongside MIDI and expression control.

Players can connect the system to:

• Traditional guitar amplifiers
• FRFR speakers
• Studio monitors
• Recording systems
• Venue PA systems
• Front-of-house mixers

There’s also an assignable stereo effects loop.

External pedals can therefore remain part of the system instead of musicians being forced to abandon existing equipment.

The loop can even be divided into two independent mono paths.

Four-cable-method support is included as well, allowing the TONEX Board to integrate more deeply with conventional guitar amplifiers.

USB Audio Interface Support Is Coming

One feature won’t be available immediately.

IK Multimedia says a free firmware update scheduled for October 1, 2026 will activate 4-input/2-output USB audio interface functionality with configurable routing and direct monitoring.

That will make it possible to use TONEX Board as part of a computer recording setup without necessarily buying another audio interface.

For home studios in particular, that makes the device considerably more interesting.

You Get 2,000 Premium Tone Models

A high-end modeling pedal isn’t particularly useful without good sounds to load into it.

IK Multimedia is addressing that by including 2,000 Premium Tone Models with the TONEX Board.

These cover everything from classic vintage amplifiers to modern high-gain setups, pedals and other captured gear.

IK also says the board ships with more than 230 ready-to-play presets, including guitar and bass configurations.

So users don’t necessarily have to begin building tones from scratch.

They can load an existing preset, modify it and gradually create their own collection.

ToneNET Makes the Library Much Bigger

Those 2,000 included models are only part of the ecosystem.

TONEX Board can connect to ToneNET, IK Multimedia’s community-driven platform containing more than 60,000 Tone Models and presets from IK, artists, tone creators, brands and users around the world.

That could become one of the Board’s biggest advantages.

Instead of treating the pedal as a fixed collection of amplifier models, musicians can continue downloading new sounds.

It also gives independent tone creators an opportunity to build and distribute specialized capture collections.

Starting October 1, 2026, ToneNET is expected to support sharing and downloading complete TONEX Board presets as well.

The Software Ecosystem Matters Just as Much

TONEX Board isn’t intended to operate as an isolated hardware product.

It’s part of a larger software ecosystem.

Owners receive access to tools including:

TONEX Modeler

This allows musicians to capture their own amplifiers, pedals, cabinets and complete rigs and convert them into Tone Models.

TONEX Software

Used for playing, downloading, organizing and editing Tone Models on a computer.

TONEX Board Editor

This handles transferring presets and Tone Models between the computer and the pedalboard.

TONEX Player 2.0 Beta

TONEX Board owners also receive access to TONEX Player 2.0 Beta, which supports dual-path rig creation and all 76 Board effects.

Full real-time editing inside TONEX Board Editor is planned for Q4 2026.

The key advantage here is continuity.

Someone already using TONEX software or other TONEX hardware can move existing presets into the new Board instead of rebuilding everything from zero.

Why TONEX Board Matters

The guitar-processing market has been moving steadily toward all-in-one digital rigs.

Musicians increasingly have the option of carrying one processor instead of transporting an amplifier, cabinet and large collection of pedals.

TONEX Board pushes IK Multimedia much further into that market.

The company’s previous TONEX products focused heavily on capturing and reproducing the characteristics of real amps and pedals.

TONEX Board expands that idea into something much closer to a complete digital performance environment.

The important change isn’t simply that it contains more effects.

It’s that IK Multimedia is bringing together several parts of its ecosystem — TONEX, AmpliTube, ToneNET, AI Machine Modeling and computer editing — into one piece of hardware.

Who Is TONEX Board For?

At nearly $1,000, this clearly isn’t an inexpensive beginner guitar pedal.

It makes considerably more sense for musicians who would otherwise spend money on multiple pieces of equipment.

Gigging musicians

A single pedalboard could replace several pedals, amplifiers and other processing equipment while allowing the musician to send a direct signal to front of house.

Studio musicians

The extensive routing options and upcoming USB interface functionality could make TONEX Board useful as both a recording processor and central guitar rig.

TONEX users

People who have already built libraries of TONEX presets and captured amps have probably been given the most obvious upgrade path.

Guitarists with large pedalboards

Musicians who want to simplify their rigs without sacrificing routing flexibility may also find the system attractive.

Beginners who only need a few amplifier sounds and basic effects, however, probably won’t need everything the TONEX Board provides.

Aqyreon’s Take

TONEX Board looks less like another guitar modeling pedal and more like IK Multimedia’s attempt to create its own complete digital guitar platform.

Four simultaneous Tone Models, dual processing paths, 76 effects, 12 flexible processing slots, extensive I/O and more than 60,000 additional community sounds give the system enormous potential.

The $999.99 price puts it firmly into professional and enthusiast territory, so value will depend heavily on how much of the system a musician actually uses.

For a guitarist who only needs a convincing amp model and a few effects, TONEX Board may be excessive.

But for touring musicians, producers and serious guitarists currently combining multiple pedals, processors and amps, the calculation changes.

One device potentially handling amps, cabinets, pedals, effects, routing, MIDI, recording and direct-to-PA performance could simplify an otherwise complicated setup.

The bigger story is also what happens next.

IK Multimedia is treating TONEX as an evolving ecosystem rather than a finished hardware box. ToneNET sharing, USB audio functionality, editor improvements and future effects are already scheduled or planned.

If IK continues expanding those capabilities, TONEX Board could become one of the company’s most important guitar products yet.

Price: $999.99 before tax
Availability: Available now from IK Multimedia and authorized dealers
October 1 update: USB audio interface functionality and TONEX Board preset sharing through ToneNET
Q4 2026: Full real-time TONEX Board Editor functionality planned