PatchMemo GX vs Tone Trace
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
PatchMemo GX
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Which patch was that again? What's this one even for? — Every multi-effects user knows the struggle. PatchMemo GX puts an end to "patch confusion." PatchMemo GX is a companion app for recording and managing your BOSS GX-1 patch settings. The official app shows you a list of patch names, but names alone aren't enough to remember what's what. Record your effect chains, gear setups, notes, and tags — and instantly find "that sound you made that time." ◆ Patch Management Supports all user patches from U01 to U99. Record settings for every effect block: PREAMP/CAB, OD/DS, FX1–3, DELAY, REVERB, and more. ASSIGN matrix notes included. Tags and search help you find any patch in seconds. ◆ Setlists Log the order of patches used for each gig or practice session. Look back anytime to see "what did I use at that show?" ◆ Library A unique feature that lets you save your favorite amp + cabinet combinations as Rigs. You can also record guitar, pickup, and output routing combinations. Load them as templates into patches to speed up your workflow. ◆ Anytime, Anywhere No Bluetooth or cable connection needed. View and edit your patch info on your phone — at the studio, at home, or on the go. ◆ More ・5 languages (日本語・English・Deutsch・한국어・Português) ・Dark mode UI ・Fully offline (no cloud required) ・All data stored on your device Privacy Policy: https://dev.nishimoto-learning.jp/apps/patchmemogx/privacy Terms of Use: https://dev.nishimoto-learning.jp/apps/patchmemogx/terms This app is not affiliated with or endorsed by Roland Corporation. BOSS and GX-1 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Roland Corporation.
Tone Trace
This app helps guitarists and bassists optimize their pedalboard signal flow. It audits pedal order, buffer placement, and more, providing a real-time chain score and a troubleshoot wizard to fix issues like hum and tone suck. It's designed for musicians with multiple pedals who want their rig to sound its best.
- Drag-and-drop pedal chain builder
- Real-time signal flow scoring
- Symptom-driven troubleshoot wizard
- Signal map for documentation
- FX loop routing awareness
- Clone artist rigs
- Set list creation and sharing
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Tone Trace is the rig analyzer for guitarists and bassists who want their pedalboard to sound right — not just look right. Drag pedals onto a chain canvas, and Tone Trace audits your signal flow as you build. The chain score grades pedal order, buffer placement, FX-loop routing, and gain staging in real time. When something is off, the troubleshoot wizard walks you through the actual fix — tone suck, hum, high-pitched whine, impedance mismatch — by symptom, not by guesswork. Built for the gear-forward player who already owns three or more pedals and is tired of static pedalboard layouts that don't tell you whether the rig actually works. KEY FEATURES • Chain Builder — drag-place pedals on a grid canvas; signal lines auto-route between cells. • Chain Score — quantitative grade of your rig's signal flow with sub-score bars for order, FX loop, gain staging, and impedance. • Troubleshoot Wizard — symptom-driven diagnostic cards walk you from "my rig sounds bad" to a specific fix. • Signal Map — annotated read-only flow diagram for documentation, screen-share, or repatch reference. • FX Loop Aware — the chain layout knows which side of the amp's effects loop each pedal belongs on. • Artist Rigs — clone curated rigs from the artist library, then tune to your gear. • Walkthroughs + Lessons — guided onboarding and concept lessons (gain staging, true bypass vs buffered, 4-cable method) without leaving the app. • Set Lists — build a set list with rigs attached, print or share the call sheet. • Share + Export — export a rig diagram or set list as a PDF/PNG; share via the system share sheet. WHO IT'S FOR Guitarists and bassists with three or more stompbox pedals — bedroom, gigging, and worship-team players. Especially useful for Line 6 Helix / HX Stomp users wrangling 4-cable method routing, and stereo-pedalboard builders chasing tone-suck culprits. WHAT IT'S NOT Tone Trace is not an amp or FX simulator. It does not generate audio. It is a rig planner, auditor, and diagnostic tool — the layer above the simulator and below the soldering iron. Drag a pedal in. Watch the chain score react. Fix what the score flags. Save the rig. TERMS AND PRIVACY Tone Trace Pro is a one-time purchase — there is no subscription and nothing auto-renews. Payment is charged to your Apple ID at purchase confirmation. You can restore your purchase anytime from the app's paywall. Privacy policy: https://www.remnantworkshop.com/privacy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Tone Trace at fortnightly against PatchMemo GX's every 4 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. PatchMemo GX sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.49 per month and Tone Trace sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
PatchMemo GX ships an update every 4 months, Tone Trace fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | PatchMemo GX | Tone Trace |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 2 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 72 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Takashi Nishimoto | Remnant Workshop, Inc. |
In-app purchases
PatchMemo GX
- Pro (Monthly)$2.491 Month
- Pro (Lifetime)$22.99
Tone Trace
- ToneTrace PRO Monthly$4.991 Month
- ToneTrace PRO Yearly1 Year trial$49.991 Year
- Unlock PRO forever$0.99








