Advanced usage of inTone and interFX

What is stored in an inTone or interFX program?

Both inTone and interFX have some parameters stored in programs and some independent on programs.
All the values adjusted in the rack window (Effect Unit) are independent on programs. So the input and output volumes, the general bypass and the operating mode are not affected when program is loaded.
The parameters you set in the Program Editor window (EDIT button in inTone) are saved in programs, The same applies to the interFX Mixer window. The only exception is the input and output channels selection, which is always saved to the program, but it is retrieved only if the Individual Channel Settings checkbox is on.
So inTone and interFX are quite consistent - they save just and only the contents of the Program editor to the program.
This has the following consequence: You can set the volume for all the programs using knobs on the rack unit. Or you can adjust an individual level for each program, for instance, if you need to balance the level for programs with less or more gain applied by effects, in the program window.
Note: In GT Player and RT Player, some parameters controlled in the rack window were stored in programs. Programs imported from these applications may have different input and output levels than originals, because the levels are not present in the inTone saved programs and they are not imported.

Mute empty chains

Our new XML format for data storage allows to load programs of one variant in another variant of inTone. For instance, you may load the Express programs in the corresponding Pro variant.
However, this has one consequence: If the application where you open the program has more insert chains than the application where the program was created, some unwanted clean signal may pass through the empty chains. We have added a "Auto Mute" function in version 1.0.8, allowing to automatically mute the empty chains.
Use the automatic muting if you are processing sound with effects, this is the standard behavior.
If you are using intone as a patchbay, so you need to route clean signal from certain inputs to certain outputs, disable the "Auto Mute" function.
If you need to combine these modes, turn the automatic muting off and save all programs with the mute buttons properly set on/off according to the desired channel routing.
If you are using an older version of inTone, be careful to mute the unwanted empty chains.

The MODE button of the inTone Pro versions - focus on effects and instruments

The Pro versions of inTone have an extra section with an arrow cross and a button, allowing to access 3 modes.
The "Program" mode. Arrows select a program, if you click SELECT, instead of popping a menu, the selected program loads immediately. Use this procedure when playing on stage, when you need to prepare a program and load it quickly. So you prepare a program to be loaded and clicking SELECT you load it just at the time when you need it.
The "Effect" mode. The Left-Right arrow pair browses through all the loaded plug-ins and their parameters, the Up-Down arrow pair sets the parameters or loads presets of plug-ins. It is useful when you don't want to see plug-in interfaces. The operation is the same as on a hardware effect processor, the left and right arrows select the "pages" of the inTone display.
The "1 - Plug-In" mode. Sometimes you want to have only one plug-in in your scope. In this mode, the arrow cross selects plug-ins in all the chains one by one, so you see just one plug-in in the center of your display. The Left-Right arrows select chains, the Up-Down arrows select a plug-in in the selected chain. The selected plug-in ID is visible on the inTone display.
In all modes, the arrow cross on the upper rack corresponds to the arrow keys on your keyboard.

Quick access to the saved programs

Use the numeric keypad of your computer keyboard or a special standalone numeric keypad to quickly control all the inTone racks. Click "/" and "*" to activate racks or modes, use "." to access the program menu.
Use F1 - F10 keys to instantly load the first 20 programs (11-20 holding the Shift key).

Mac: Hit dot ".", type the program number and hit Enter to load a program. For instance, type ". 012 Enter" or ". 12 Enter" to load program 12.
Please refer to the complete list of keyboard shortcuts.

Mac windows - visibility and layering

If the rack windows overlap the effect windows, click the dock icon to bring the effect windows to the front.

Some windows have special behavior:
The playlist window is always on top to allow dragging tracks from Finder or other applications
When another applications are in front, inTone rack windows are functional without activating them, but the effects are automatically hidden.

The magic channel checkbox

Program Editor has a checkbox labeled "Individual Channel Settings". It allows all the variants to be used as patch-bays and also to store some preferred channel layouts. The principle is simple: Channel settings are always saved in programs but they are read only if this check box is on. So if you need variable channel settings in each program, check it.

Furthermore, if you need to save a complex channel layout (e.g. in the Matrix variant), save the layout to a program with a new name, for instance "My Channel Layout". Later you will need this channel settings to be applied to the program "My Complex Effects".

- Load the "My Channel Layout" program with individual channel settings ON.
- Uncheck the individual channel settings switch
- Load the "My Complex Effects" program

The desired channel layout loaded in the first step is not affected in the third step

Editing XML

Do you need to batch rename all the programs? Do you need to change a plug-in contained in many programs for another one: Edit the XML files directly.

Always create backup before editing XML afxbank files
PC: Navigate to the Banks folder. Open the files in a text editor
Mac: If you have installed developer tools, use the Plist Editor application.

Running two instances of inTone

Mac: You may run two inTone applications on one computer. If you want to run one variant of inTone, you need to duplicate the application file. Otherwise, just launch inTone 1 and inTone 2 (e.g. Guitar and Keys).
You may use any combination of sound interfaces for the audio input and output (e.g. both the applications may have the same output device but different input devices.
You may also use MIDI interfaces in any combination when using multiple instances of inTone. If you need to distinguish which MIDI data should be routed where, use different MIDI channels in each running instance (inTone Preferences, the MIDI pane for program changes, MIDI Route window for control and software instruments).
Windows: This is not generally possible with ASIO drivers, some newer drivers may support it.