I’ve been using pen displays in one form or another for a long time now, with my favorites being the ones which come with customizable buttons which help you access crucial hotkeys quickly and easily.

Button clicks aren’t always the best option in some cases. Sometimes rotating a dial to adjust your brush size, turn the canvas or advance an animation is much more intuitive.

I recently reviewed the Huion Kamvas 16 (Gen 3) which is one of the first pen displays I’ve used which has two dials.
Initially I thought this was wonderful, but the layout didn’t completely work as my arm would catch the lower dial as I worked.

I guess with a device like a pen display you are restricted as to where you can put the buttons and dials, but with a separate remote this isn’t an issue.

I’ve used many remotes, keypads, consoles however you want to refer to them, over the years, for both the desktop and iPad. The Mini Key Dial from Huion is a good option but quite rigid with its design. The PenTips PenPad works well with the iPad, but it lacks a dial.

My current favourite is the Xencelabs Quick Keys remote which is quite linear, but it comes with a dial and an OLED display.

TourBox is a brand that has been on my radar for a while, but because I use the Quick Keys remote, I never felt the need to try one. To be honest, they always looked a bit strange to me, more like a game controller or a child’s toy, than an art tool, so I was unsure whether to invest in one if I ended up not liking it.

It always felt a bit of a gamble so I never took the leap, but fate stepped in and TourBox reached out to me and asked if I would like to try one, I eagerly said yes and couldn’t wait for it to arrive.

So, are the TourBox creative consoles just another weird looking keypad, or does its unique design make it an essential tool for any digital content creator?

Read on to find out…

The TourBox Family

Before we dive in and focus on the Elite Plus, lets look at some of the other TourBox consoles available, just in case after the review you like the sound of them, but the Elite Plus is a bit out of your price range.

There are currently four different options for you to choose from.

The TourBox Elite Plus, which is £297 and this is the one we I will be reviewing.
Next is the TourBox Elite at £268.
We then have the TourBox NEO, which is £169.
And finally, the cheapest option at £95, the TourBox Lite.

Both elite models offer dual channel wireless connectivity via Bluetooth, which gives you the ability to swap between two computers. The Plus model also allows you to connect to an iPad and there is a TourBox app which lets you configure the device to work with any iOS app too. All models can connect using a USB-C cable too, but with the NEO and Lite this is the only option.

The Elite models also offer haptic feedback too which is something I wasn’t sure I needed until I used it and then tried the dials without it. Its so nice to get the click as you turn them.

In terms of button options, the Elite Plus, Elite and NEO have the same layout, so the only difference between these three are Bluetooth and haptic feedback.

The TourBox

I had seen the TourBox Elite Plus in photos and in other video reviews, but when I removed it from the box it seemed smaller than I thought it would be, which was a pleasant surprise. For some reason I assumed it would be bigger.

It’s a solid, well-built device and its heavy too, but this along with the rubber feet on its base help to keep it sat on the desk while in use.

On the back is a USB-C port but this isn’t for charging the device. You can use this to connect it to your computer directly rather than using Bluetooth.

There are seven main buttons plus four which form the d-pad. In addition to this you also have three dials, and each can be clicked too which effectively adds a further three button options.

So, you have fourteen buttons and three dials.

Each control is a different shape and size which makes it easier to feel for the button or dial you want, so you don’t have to look away from the screen.

The buttons are quite clicky though, similar to a mouse click, and when turned on the Elite and Elite Plus offer haptic feedback too, which gives you both a physical and audible response with each turn of a dials.

The haptic feedback can be reduced or even disabled though if you or your coworkers find it annoying.

You can see an example of the noise the buttons make here - TourBox Clicking

On the front there is a small light which shows you when the TourBox is in pairing mode, and how it is currently connected. This changes between orange and green if opting for a Bluetooth connection, but changes to white if you connect it using a USB-C cable.

On the back you have the battery compartment, and next to this is the power switch. This is only used when using Bluetooth though. Above this is the main Bluetooth control button which allows you to pair the device and swap between the two channels.

It’s important to note that the TourBox Elite Plus is not a rechargeable device, it instead uses two AA batteries, if using it wirelessly.
These are said to last for a couple of months though, if using it daily, so you won’t need to change them very often. Alternatively, you have the option to connect it directly with a USB-C cable.

TourBox Console - Desktop

To setup your TourBox you first connect it to your desktop via Bluetooth or using the USB-C port. You then download and install the TourBox Console software which should then recognize the device and update the firmware if needed.

Once done you are then given a quick guided tour of the software, and this points out the main areas like the preset list, the settings, and an introduction to the HUD.

The first thing you should do is check to see if there are already any presets for the apps you use, and as you can see there are lots to get you started.

What’s great is you can easily import presets that other people have taken the time to create so if you can’t see it here, use the buttons highlighted above to quickly find one to get you started. You can also access these directly on the TourBox website and share your own with the community.

If you want to, and you have the time, you can go through and create your own preset from scratch or edit an existing one to get your perfect setup.

To make customization easier, each time you click a button or rotate a dial the app will jump directly to the options for you. Showing you what its currently set to do, and allowing you to change it if needed.

Next to some of the buttons are icons and you can use these to adjust the haptic feedback, so it can be reduced or even turned off for that control.

You can also adjust the rotation speed of the dials too.

Under the Show Combinations drop down section you can see all the button combinations that have been defined, plus you can add your own shortcuts when multiple buttons are pressed too.

The customization goes even further with you being able to dictate when the command is run depending on how you interact with the button.
So when its pressed, or as its released, or even held down.

Down at the bottom you have a section where you can create a custom action too when a combination of buttons is pressed, or a button is double clicked.

The level to which you can customize the TourBox is crazy, it’s so deep.

With some key apps, like Photoshop, the app will give you a list of all the available hotkeys, which is super useful. I’ve spent too much time in the past setting up remotes and having to track down different hotkeys for simple commands, so it’s a great time saver having them all already listed.

You can also assign a mouse click, or a modifier like the Alt, Control and Shift keys.

Under the FN Built-In section there are even more relevant tools and options preconfigured for you to choose from and quickly assign.

If all that isn’t enough you can also create a custom menu, called the Tour Menu, which you can assign to a button and call when needed.
This operates much like a right click menu but personalised to you.

Wait, there’s more, you can go even deeper with macros which will run a specific set of commands in a row. This would be useful if you perform the same repetitive task over and over again, something which involves a few steps. You maybe have an action in Photoshop for example and that could be converted to a macro and run with the click of a button.

Finally, you can disable the haptic feedback globally with a simple toggle at the bottom of the UI, and up at the top you have two HUD toggles.

The first is as the general HUD overlay which shows you a list of what each button is set to, to help you remember if you are new to the preset.

The next is the D-Pad HUD, and this serves as a reminder of what the four buttons are set to.

You can also access some functions directly from the tray icon in Windows, just right click and you can quickly toggle the HUD overlays or bring up a handy quick guide.

TourBox Console - iPad

When it comes to connecting the iPad, you first pair the TourBox using Bluetooth. Unfortunately, you can’t connect it to the iPad using a USB-C cable, but maybe this will change in a future update.

Next, download the free TourBox Console app from the app store.
Its as simple as that, the iPad will recognize the TourBox when you run the app and begin the setup process.

The app will first run through a recalibration process, which is used to setup simulated gestures.
This is helpful when trying to get the buttons to work as gestures like rotating or zooming, something you would normally touch the screen to do.

Once done you can then start with a predefined preset or start to build your own with the Custom option, and the process is very similar to the desktop application.

You click a button on the TourBox and the app will open its current settings allowing you to update them.

If you are editing an existing preset, like Procreate, you will have access to all its hotkeys which are already added. You can also use a button to operate a system command like adjusting the volume or specify a custom shortcut key.

So, you have lots of options to choose from, although having the UI a little smaller would have helped with navigation. The selection buttons are quite big.

The only thing I felt was missing was direct access to a library of community presets, like you get with the desktop app. Having an option alongside the main window to browse and import presets made by other users would be so much easier. Yes, you can download and import them manually but it’s quite a clunky process.

I also feel more default presets could be added for key apps on the iPad, like Photoshop, Fresco and Nomad Sculpt. I know you can easily make your own but it’s nice to have a head start and this would be something that future users would want to see.

Annoyingly you can’t export the preset from Windows for example and import it onto the iPad. They have different file extensions for a start, but this functionality would’ve been useful.

I appreciate Photoshop on Windows and Photoshop on the iPad might be setup differently too.

The TourBox in Use

From the first time I placed my hand on the TourBox I could tell the design had been well thought out. It fit perfectly in my palm with every finger being able to access a button or a dial with little effort. I’m not sure how it would feel for a left-handed person though, using my right hand didn’t feel as natural to me, but I guess you could turn the console around to try and make it work.

I think that’s the key point with the TourBox, it feels more like an extension of your arm than a usual keypad. I found that I was using all my fingers whereas with other remotes I only ended up using one or two. Plus, I got to a stage where I wasn’t glancing down to see where my fingers were, I could feel what buttons they were close too, which meant I could stay focused on my work.

The big issue I had, and this isn’t specific to the TourBox, was learning to use a new controller. It takes time, especially when you’re used to using something else, but eventually your muscle memory kicks in, and it becomes second nature.

With the TourBox it didn’t take me as long as I thought it would, but maybe this is down to its unique design?

There was also the configuration, both on Windows and the iPad. Having presets already made on Windows gave me a head start, and I found over time I just needed to change the odd button or dial. Like rotating the canvas for instance, by default the dial is setup adjust the selected parameter, so I swapped this to canvas rotation, which took all of about five seconds to do.

Once I was setup, I did also love having the ability to move from the desktop to the iPad and have the TourBox work pretty much the same with both. So, I could work on something, share it to the cloud, and then continue working on the iPad out of the office.

Now this does work better if your desktop app is also available on iOS, but you get the general idea. At the end of the day, you are in full control, so even if the apps are different, you can configure the TourBox to work the same.

Should You Invest?

I wasn’t expecting to love the TourBox as much as I did. It looks strange but it’s the perfect example of function over form, where how it is used is prioritised over its looks.

Like any keypad in this space, you will need to invest your time as well as your money to get the most out of it. This not only involves getting the perfect button mapping, which you will be constantly revising as you work, but also learning to use those fingers which would have normally been sat dormant.

The problem I have, is now I’ve been introduced to the TourBox it’s going to take a lot for me to move away from it. It’s become a permanent part of my setup, and I am already looking forward to experimenting with it in other apps, like Maya, ZBrush and Nomad Sculpt.

If the Elite Plus is a little out of your price range and you only work on a desktop, then I would urge you to try the NEO, it’s a lot cheaper and you would get the same functionality as the Elite Plus, you would just miss out on the haptic feedback and the Bluetooth.

However, if you jump between working on a desktop and an iPad, or work primarily on a iPad, the Elite Plus is the way to go.

TourBox Elite Plus

Although TourBox supplied the Elite Plus for me to test, the opinions offered in this review are my own.