TourBox notes

Summary

I have been using a TourBox regularly since July 2021. It has become a required piece of equipment in my digital art workflow. I have multiple drawing workstations, and each one has its own TourBox device attached.

Adjustment time

I originally purchased the TourBox NEO in November 2020. I used it for about a month and then stopped. It was very difficult for me to remember to use the device. I often fell back to my normal keyboard shortcuts. After a few weeks, I put it back in its box and left it there untouched for about four months.

A few months later, I felt bad about spending so much money on a device I never used. I tried to use the TourBox one more time. Again, after a few weeks I gave up in frustration as my hand kept moving to the keyboard instead of using the TourBox.

About six months after the original purchase and after a particularly frustrating drawing session where I had to rely heavily on keyboard shortcuts, I committed to retraining myself to use the TourBox. I brought it out of storage and made a concerted effort to make it part of my workflow.

• I forced myself to not touch the keyboard

• I read the user manual

• I learned how to customize it

• I tweaked the shortcuts in my drawing application to make it easier to use the TourBox for some tasks.

After about three additional months of forcing myself to use the TourBox, my brain was finally fully trained to use the TourBox instead of relying on keyboard shortcuts.

Ultimately, it took nine months for me to feel comfortable with the device. That investment of time was well worth it because it made me much more productive.

I am not saying 9 months will be typical for all people. What I am saying is that for some of you I expect that adjusting to it will not come easily and will require persistence and dedication on your part - especially if you want to get maximum value out of the device.

What I like about the TourBox

Productivity

It has made me more productive simply by letting me stay in flow without looking at the keyboard or remembering an obscure shortcut.

The TourBox Console app

The accompanying TourBox Console application is very user-friendly. It is very easy to configure the device and create settings for specific applications.

A great feature of the application is its auto-switching option, which you can enable or disable. This is important because when you switch between windows, the TourBox uses the right configuration for that application. You do not have to switch profiles manually.

The software is also updated quite frequently.

Connectivity

The TourBox NEO supports only a wired USB connection.

The TourBox ULTRA supports both wired and Bluetooth connections. One downside for me is that it uses regular non-rechargeable batteries. It is a bit irritating to replace them every so often.

Importing / Exporting configurations

I have two machines, each with its own TourBox. One nice feature of the TourBox Console app is that it lets me export a configuration for a specific app and then import it on another machine.

What could be better

Force to movie wheels and dials

I wish the dials and wheels had a little more resistance. I have one scroll wheel set to control brush size. Sometimes I accidentally brush against it, change my brush size, and do not notice until later. I do not use the large spinning dial at all. I originally set it to rotate the canvas, but I kept rotating the canvas by accident. So now I do not use that dial.

Profile syncing

It would be nice if the TourBox software could automatically sync all my TourBox devices so they share the same configuration without requiring export and import.

Limitations with Microsoft store apps

There is also an interesting limitation on Windows. It affects apps like Concepts, which are Microsoft Store apps rather than traditional Windows applications. Apparently, these applications are built differently, and the TourBox cannot assign a profile to them. Concepts is one example. I really enjoy sketching with it, but the TourBox cannot bind to it. That means I cannot have an application-specific configuration for it. I do not know whether this limitation comes from the TourBox software, Windows, or a combination of both.

How I configure my TourBox

Partial setup for Clip Studio Paint