Two notes GENOME 2.0 - New Amps, AmpNet and an iPad Version in One Package
Two notes has made a move you rarely see on the market: the Two notes GENOME 2.0 software, valued at 129.99 euro, now comes free with the purchase of any qualifying piece of the brand's hardware. This is not a stripped-down demo or a limited-time promo, but a full tone-shaping environment for guitar and bass that you get together with a load box, attenuator or preamp.
It sounds like pure marketing, but in this case the value is real. Below we break down exactly what you get, which gear qualifies for the offer, and which caveats are worth knowing up front so there are no surprises.
Table of Contents
What GENOME is and who it is for
GENOME is an all-in-one tone workstation for guitar and bass: emulation of amplifiers, cabinets, pedals and studio effects in a single window. You plug your instrument into an audio interface, open GENOME as a plugin in your DAW or as a standalone app, and build a full signal chain without a single physical device in the path.
Historically, Two notes is known not for software but for hardware - the Torpedo load boxes and attenuators that many studios treat as the reference for capturing a tube amp without a microphone. So the part of GENOME responsible for cabinet emulation (the DynIR technology) is backed by years of company expertise, not an attempt to enter someone else's territory from scratch.
One thing to make clear right away: GENOME is a tool for guitarists and bassists. If you work mainly with synthesizers, keyboards or mixing in general, this is not the software for you.
What is new in version 2.0
Version 2.0 is not a cosmetic update but a noticeable expansion of the platform. The key additions:
New TSM-Ai amplifiers. Seven models have been added, built on the circuits of legendary units:
- Eldorado100 - inspired by the Soldano SLO 100
- Tanger Rock - inspired by the Orange Rockerverb 100 MK3
- Gemini '64 - inspired by the Fender Twin Reverb
- Foxy30 - inspired by the Vox AC30
- FlatBack MKV - inspired by the Mesa Mark V
- FlatBack Dual - inspired by the Mesa Dual Rectifier
- Peggy '76 - inspired by the Ampeg SVT
The range covers almost everything: from clean American voicings, through British chime, to modern high-gain and full-range bass.
Two notes Capture Studio. A separate, free application that lets you capture a profile of your own amplifier and load it into GENOME. You can create a static profile in the NAM (Neural Amp Modeler) format, or a so-called multi-parametric AmpNet profile.
PARADEX and AmpNet. This is the most interesting technical part of the release. An ordinary amp profile is a snapshot of one knob setting. AmpNet captures how the amp behaves across the full range of its controls, which means that after capturing it you can turn the gain and tone as if a live unit were in front of you, not a frozen preset. These profiles are played back by the new PARADEX component. The technology is described as an industry first.
Global Transpose. A system-wide pitch shift of plus/minus 24 semitones in real time across the whole rig. Handy if you play in different tunings or adapt to a vocalist without re-tuning the guitar.
GENOME on iPad. For the first time the platform has moved beyond the computer. According to Two notes, this is not a cut-down mobile version but a full port with the same functionality.
On top of that come smaller but practical improvements: up to 24 component slots in a single rig, the MIXFIT module for refining your tone from input to output, a sizeable update to the CODEX engine, and a rebuilt rig manager.
Which Two notes hardware unlocks the free GENOME
A free GENOME license goes to registered owners of the qualifying hardware: Two notes Torpedo Captor (in 4, 8 and 16 Ohm versions), Two notes Torpedo Captor X+, Two notes Torpedo Reload II, Two notes OPUS, Two notes ReVolt Guitar and Two notes ReVolt Bass.
One point worth highlighting: those who already held a GENOME license get the 2.0 desktop update for free. There is no upgrade fee to pay.
Caveats that are not printed in large type
To keep the picture honest, a few things that are easy to miss behind the word "free":
The hardware comes with GENOME, not GENOME Suite. This is stated directly in the official Two notes FAQ. GENOME is the middle edition, fully usable and capable, but the largest arsenal of amplifiers, pedals and cabinets is only unlocked by Suite, which requires an extra payment.
iOS is a separate platform. A desktop license does not carry over to the iPad automatically. To use your components on both computer and tablet, you need an Access Pass, purchased separately.
Capturing your own profiles takes resources. Two notes recommends running profile training in Capture Studio on an Nvidia graphics card. It works on the CPU too, but more slowly.
The launch was not without hiccups. On release day some users reported the app crashing, likely due to server load during license verification. For mature software this is a typical launch-day teething issue, but it is worth being aware of.
GENOME Intro, GENOME and GENOME Suite - the differences
Alongside the 2.0 release, Two notes launched a free version, GENOME Intro, which you can download without buying any hardware, simply by creating an account. To keep the editions straight, here is a short comparison:
| Parameter | GENOME Intro (free) | GENOME (with hardware) | GENOME Suite (paid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSM / TSM-Ai amplifiers | 4 | expanded set | 40+ |
| Pedals | 14 | expanded set | 54 |
| DynIR cabinets | 5 | expanded set | 50 |
| Studio FX | 4 | expanded set | 20 |
| PARADEX and Global Transpose | yes | yes | yes |
| In-app upgrade path | none | - | - |
The main thing to understand: GENOME Intro and the GENOME that ships with hardware are different products. Intro has no built-in upgrade path to the higher editions - moving up is done as a separate purchase on the website.
Who this actually makes sense for
The offer makes sense if you record at home or in a studio and want a ready signal chain without fussing with microphones and physical cabinets. Especially if you were already eyeing a Two notes load box or attenuator - in that case the software worth 129.99 euro in the bundle makes the purchase noticeably more worthwhile.
If, on the other hand, you only need the plugin, with no hardware, it makes more sense to look at the free GENOME Intro or go straight for a full edition - buying a hardware unit just for the software is not worth it.
FAQ
Is GENOME 2.0 really free?
For registered owners of qualifying Two notes hardware, yes - the license for the desktop version of GENOME is provided at no extra cost. Existing license holders get the update to 2.0 for free as well.
Which version do I get with the hardware - GENOME or GENOME Suite?
According to official Two notes information, the hardware comes with GENOME. Suite is a separate, paid upgrade with the largest component set.
Does GENOME work on iPad if I got it with hardware?
Desktop and iOS are separate platforms. The license does not carry over automatically, and the iPad needs its own Access Pass.
How does AmpNet differ from an ordinary amp profile?
An ordinary capture fixes one set of settings. AmpNet stores the amp's response across the full range of its controls, so after capturing it you can change gain and tone like on a live unit.
What do you need to run GENOME?
A Two notes account, a modest computer by today's standards (Intel i5 or equivalent, 4 GB RAM) and, for plugin use, any common DAW.
Summary
Two notes GENOME 2.0 is a genuinely useful offer for those who are already looking at Two notes hardware or already own it. You get a working environment for emulating amplifiers, cabinets and effects, with genuinely new capabilities such as multi-parametric AmpNet profiles and an iPad version.
At the same time it is worth keeping the real picture in mind: the hardware ships with the GENOME edition, not Suite, iOS is paid for separately, and your own amp profiles are best captured on a machine with an Nvidia card. With those caveats, the value stays real rather than something drawn up in a press release.
You can pick the right Two notes unit and ask any compatibility questions at the Wired Tunes showroom in Warsaw (Nowogrodzka 6A/102), where you can test the gear before buying. You will find the full Two notes catalog on our website.
