Review: TourBox Neo from TourBox Tech

[ Read my product disclosure for product reviews here.]
[Updated Jan. 17, 2023, with connectivity corrections.]

TourBox is a control surface for a wide variety of media software. It’s designed to replace the mouse for navigation as well as provide an intuitive and comfortable range of buttons for common keyboard shortcuts.

Recently, TourBox Tech sent me a unit for a couple of weeks to review.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TourBox was founded in California in 2016 to create hardware tools to make working with creative software less complicated and more efficient. Their first product is TourBox NEO.

TourBox NEO connects via USB-A and can be used stand-alone, with a mouse or with a graphics tablet. It contains three rotary wheels and 11 buttons, ergonomically designed to fit either hand – though it is somewhat biased toward right-handers.

UPDATE: The TourBox NEO only connects via USB-A. The recently-released TourBox Elite connects via either Bluetooth or USB-A.

Used in conjunction with the TourBox Console software, which runs on both Windows and Mac, it supports all major audio, video and graphics software tools. It ships with four default presets, while a free download adds presets for other tools.

The unit is well-built from what feels like heavy aluminum with a matte black finish. It sits on four rubber feet that keep it positioned on the desk with minimum slipping. It’s about the size of two decks of cards stacked on top of each other. It’s small enough to travel easily anywhere.

The Console allows us to modify existing keyboard shortcuts, create new templates, create macros, and create new folders. I found the Console to be especially well-thought-out.

The only negative about the unit is its size. If you have thick fingers, the closeness of the buttons may make using this awkward.

I found the TourBox to be well-built, the Console easy to use and well-designed and the operation of the unit – once you get comfortable with learning a new arrangement of buttons – to be fast and intuitive. If you are looking for something that goes beyond a mouse to add speed and control to your editing system, the TourBox is well worth your consideration.

Manufacturer: TourBox Tech
Website: www.tourboxtech.com/en/product.html
Store: store.tourboxtech.com/?rfsn=6720183.ad9b04
Product: TourBox Neo
Price: $169 (US)

INSTALLATION

Took just a couple of minutes. Very clear installation instructions on their website. You’ll need to grant appropriate security settings for the device to control your system.

The unit ships with initial presets for:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Lightroom
• Adobe Premiere Pro – editing
• Adobe Premiere Pro – color grading

SUPPORTED SOFTWARE

While TourBox can be configured to support virtually all software on Mac or Windows that provides keyboard shortcuts, the graphic above shows all the currently available presets. (Remember, you can create presets on your own using the TourBox Console.)

Supported languages include:

• Chinese (both Mainland and Taiwan)
• Korean
• Japanese
• German
• English
• And maybe others that I didn’t initially see

Each preset supports one application in one language. There is no limit to the number of presets you can download. Installation of presets is as easy as importing a text file.

Presets are selected, renamed, imported, exported or removed using the Preset List in the Console.

HELP FILES 

(Click to see larger image.)

I want to especially applaud the quality of the online help screens and tutorials. These are easy to access, clearly written and extremely helpful.

Help is generous, well-integrated into the software and also includes extended video tutorials on installation and operation.

TOURBOX CONSOLE

(Click to see larger image.)

While the desk unit is what you use, the heart of TourBox is the Console. This software utility connects the hardware to your software and provides a way to program all the different buttons, wheels and presses with keyboard shortcuts.

• The left upper sidebar determines which preset is active.
• The lower left sidebar is a “map” of all the different keys and buttons on the unit.
• The right side lists each control point and allows programing it with a keyboard shortcut.

NOTE: Available keyboard shortcuts are determined by the application itself.

Press a button on the unit and the corresponding button lights up in the map in the Console.

At the same time, the appropriate setting lights up on the right side. Wheels have two settings:

• What happens when you turn it.
• What happens when you press it.

You can set different shortcuts for both.

NOTE: Buttons have three states:

• • When you press it
  • When you release it
  • When you long-press it

Each can be assigned a different shortcut.

(Click to see larger image.)

To change a keyboard shortcut, double-click the object – for example the Top button. This opens the “Create Shortcut” panel. Here, you can search through existing shortcuts, then apply the one you want to the selected button.

NOTE: If the host application doesn’t provide a shortcut, you can’t create a new one in TourBox.

The Console is controlled from this menubar menu.

In addition to assigning shortcuts to TourBox buttons, you can create Macros and TourMenus.

• Macros include keyboard shortcuts, mouse actions, delays, text input, file and folder opening and URL links. Macros can be stored in groups with different groups for different tasks.
• TourMenu is a contextual menu, such as when you right-click something on screen. A TourMenu could be assigned to every button. Actions include shortcuts, built-in features and major commands.

By default there are no macros or TourMenus configured for the unit. These advanced functions can be added by you when you find yourself doing the same series of tasks over and over.

LIMITATIONS

While I’m impressed with the TourBox, there are three inherent disadvantages to the unit.

1. It’s size. If you have large hands or fingers, the close proximity of buttons and small size of the knobs could be a challenge.
2. If you are used to the large knobs of a DaVinci control panel, or Contour Designs Shuttle Pro, these knobs are tiny. The central knob and left-hand wheel have no significant resistance, which means they are easy to twist or bump. It would be nice for TourBox to add some friction to these in future hardware revisions.
3. If you are comfortable working with a mouse and have memorized the keyboard shortcuts you need, working with something this different takes getting used to. This has always been my challenge with any control surface. I tend to have one hand on the mouse and the other on the keyboard. Learning something new always feels awkward as I get started.

SUMMARY

I’ve learned that every editor prefers to edit in their own way. If you have trouble remembering all the keyboard shortcuts you need, and are frustrated dragging a mouse around, it’s time to look at a different way to work.

The TourBox is a well-built, well-thought-out combination of hardware and software. It is highly flexible, easily customizable, and small enough to fit anywhere.

If you are looking for ways to improve your productivity – and your fingers are not the size of sausages – the TourBox is worth a place on your desktop.

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