TourBox Elite - This Editing Controller for Capture One Blew My Mind
You might already have a solid photo editing routine, like I do.
But what if I told you there's a device that can streamline your workflow even further and make it more enjoyable? In this article, we’re going to be learning how a little editing controller really changed the way I work on my images.
If you’re a regular viewer of my videos you know how much I care about efficiency and productivity when photo editing.
My workflow constantly evolves since I’m always open to experimenting with new things. In one of my previous YouTube videos, for example, I discussed how much I love the Speed Edit concept in Capture One, and that’s an amazing feature I’ve never found in any other software in the market.
But, I think I found a new way to take my creative process a step further.
1. Introduction
A few weeks ago people at TourBox reached out to me if I would be interested in reviewing their controller that promises to speed up my editing workflow.
I have to be honest. Initially, I was pretty skeptical. The design of this device is, well, quite unusual. It’s kind of weird. So, I wasn't entirely sure how I could incorporate it into my workflow. But I was super curious, so I thought, …Alright, let’s give it a shot.
Let’s take a quick look at this little guy.
2. Design and Ergonomic Features
Here's the TourBox Elite – This is the special edition Modern Smoke-black translucent version, but it's also available in two other color choices: the classic matte black and ivory white.
It’s a compact device that fits in the palm of your hand and it features a variety of buttons and dials that you can customize to perform different functions in almost any software. It is designed to deliver an intuitive editing experience for photographers, filmmakers, audio editors, and so on.
As you can see, the buttons and dials are set up in a kind of strange way, but once I started using it, I immediately realized how this controller was very thoughtfully designed. Everything just clicked and made sense right away.
Image credits: TourBox
The build quality is really solid – it's made of plastic, but it's sturdy and doesn't feel cheap. It’s heavy enough that it doesn’t move when you use it, but light enough to throw into a bag when taking it on the go.
The ergonomics is surprisingly great. I feel really comfortable working on complex editing for hours, and the buttons and dials have a fantastic tactile feel.
We find 3 different "wheel" types, some positioned to be operated with your middle or ring finger, and others using your thumb and index finger.
There are 11 buttons in total – one on the side and the rest on the top panel. Each button has a distinct feel, so you can easily identify each one by touch. The so-called TALL button, for example, has ridges, and the SHORT is slightly smaller. They all have a very different shape.
From a tactile point of view, these subtle differences allow you to sense each button without looking.
3. Setup and Connectivity
To power it up, the TourBox Elite requires two double A batteries.
Once you've installed the TourBox Console software, connecting the Elite controller via Bluetooth is a breeze. You need to power up the Elite, press the base button for a few seconds until the front LED flashes green, and you're all set to dive into the configuration and customization panel.
You can connect the TourBox to your computer using either the USB-C cable or the dual-channel Bluetooth. The Bluetooth feature is fantastic not only for keeping my studio desk organized but also when you want to take the TourBox with you while traveling.
I never experienced any lag in actions or any drops out or wireless signal issues, and there's no real difference whether you're connected with the USB-C cable or using Bluetooth.
4. TourBox Console Features
This is the TourBox Console. Here you can customize the functions of each button and dial to suit your needs, and I found it super easy and intuitive to use, which is pretty neat.
Right off the bat, you’ll find a variety of presets for Capture One, Lightroom, Photoshop, and others, and with the Auto Switch mode turned ON, they seamlessly switch to the appropriate preset based on the software you're using. You can also import, export, or create your own preset.
I noticed that the Capture One preset is quite good as it is, even if it includes only the fundamental controls. However, I did make quite a few customizations to match my own way of working, which is a bit more sophisticated. We'll cover these changes as we explore the buttons.
The interface is pretty simple, but it’s important to point out that it took me a bit of time and experimentation to customize everything exactly the way I wanted it. I've probably put in a couple of hours to play around with all the controls and find the best arrangement.
Over on the main window, you've got the core of the Console. This is where you can assign and link each button and dial to specific controls.
For example, the Temperature slider is set up as the combination of the TALL button with the central KNOB. With the SHORT button, plus the KNOB, I can adjust the Tint. Then if I hold the TALL button plus the SCROLL wheel I can adjust the Brightness. Then holding the SHORT button and the SCROLL I control the Saturation level.
A double-click on the SIDE button allows me to fine-tune the Crop. During my editing sessions, I often flip my images upside-down. That's why I've set up the SIDE + TALL button to rotate the image to the left, and SIDE + SHORT to rotate it to the right.
Another feature that I use extensively in Capture One is Layers. Local adjustments are a fundamental part of all my edits. So, to speed up the process of creating and adjusting layers I linked the combination TALL button with the C1 or C2 buttons the create a New Empty or Filled Adjustment layer.
Then I mapped the combination SHOT + C1 button to Delete the Selected Layer, and SHORT + C2 to toggle a layer on/off.
These are some examples of how effectively and thoughtfully you can customize this device with whatever function or control you find useful to streamline your editing process.
Let's say we want to assign the SCROLL dial and SHORT button combination to the Saturation slider in Capture One. It’s very straightforward. Just head over to the Built-in Functions panel, select Capture One, toggle the Exposure folder, and choose Saturation. And there you have it! Now you can adjust the Saturation intensity using this button combo.
Unfortunately, here in Capture One, I can't map the Color Editor like in Lightroom. I guess is something related to the Capture One APIs. Anyway, not a big deal at all, but I hope to see this option available in the next software update.
How you choose to configure the TourBox Elite is entirely up to you. You have the flexibility to customize everything and arrange it according to your preferences, tailoring it to fit seamlessly into your workflow.
5. Introduction to WonderFlow Feature
The big update that comes with the new TourBox Console 5.0, is the introduction of a new feature called WonderFlow, which is really cool.
This clever function is designed to streamline the process of creating custom panels for convenient tool access. You can choose which functions or tools to include in the menu, as well as their order and layout.
It's essentially a series of customizable DynamicPanels that significantly reduce the time spent on searching and navigating through the different modules in Capture One.
To navigate through these panels, all you have to do is click one of the D-Pad buttons to call out the associated panel. Then, you need to use the SCROLL dial to move between the different parameters and the KNOB to fine-tune the intensity of the adjustment. It’s a quicker and newer way to access a wider range of controls.
I’ve been using the default settings for the D-Pad. On the UP button, we have a list of all the parameters to control stuff like White Balance, Exposure, Contrast, Brightness, and others. So, basically, all the sliders we find in the Exposure and High Dynamic Range modules in Capture One.
The RIGHT button is mapped to control the parameters in the Color Balance module for color grading our images.
Then we have the DOWN button to adjust the Sharpening and Noise Reduction. Lastly, the LEFT button controls parameters like Clarity, Dehaze, and Vignetting.
Remember that, any of these panels can be customized to match your preferences. You can add, remove, mix up the order of the parameters, and assign the panel to a different button. So, you’re in full control of almost any control customization.
For example, to get to the menus, click on the button or combination you want to set up. Then, go to TourMenu and pick one of the pre-made panels. Here's a custom panel I made for mapping the Levels tool, and by clicking the Edit icon, I can change the list of commands. Just hitting the "+" button here I can add more shortcuts or functions I may need.
It's worth noting that these DynamicPanels also work seamlessly with layers.
Of course, some types of adjustments like the Color Editor, Luma Range, Curve Tool, or Local Adjustments, just to name a few, need the mouse, and that's completely okay.
The idea behind this product is not to fully replace your mouse and keyboard. It's more about simplifying your work, making it flow better, creating a more relaxing experience, and allowing you to keep your focus on your image without constant back-and-forth between different panels, sliders, and the keyboard. And that, for me, is really nice.
There are a bunch of other great settings I haven’t mentioned yet, that enhance the customization and user experience even further. The movement of each rotating control is customizable to add haptic feedback and rotation speed.
The Haptic feedback is a feature that I really enjoy using. It provides tactile feedback when you interact with the device. When activated you can choose between the “weak” or “strong” mode. I prefer using the weak mode.
This can help you to know what you are doing and to make more precise adjustments without having to look at the screen.
On the other hand, the Rotation Speed lets you manage how quickly the dials rotate. I find this particularly handy for fine adjustments. For instance, I've configured a Slow rotation speed for the combination that controls scrolling through images in the browser. The default Fast setting is a bit too rapid, causing the selection to go all over the place.
Another setting I didn’t mention before, is the UP mode which triggers the command after releasing the button. For example, I've set up the Luma Range tool to activate once I release the two buttons TALL + SHORT.
The Smart HUD is another extra feature of the TourBox Console 5.0 software that allows you to see the names of the functions and tools that you can use with your TourBox device on your screen.
It is an intelligent screen interaction and visual guidance system that dynamically displays relevant function names based on different case scenarios. The Smart HUD also has an independent switch and an intelligent avoidance feature that lets you turn it on or off and avoid blocking your cursor.
Lastly, one of the features that I’m still exploring is Macros. So far, I've been satisfied with making shortcuts, but with Macros, you can string together actions that involve both keystrokes and mouse movements.
6. Final Thoughts
I believe the TourBox Elite is an incredible device. I’m quite impressed, to be honest. It takes a bit of time to get accustomed to, but in my case, I quickly got the hang of it.
It’s well built, it’s compact, it's quite intuitive, and right from day one, you'll be able to operate it with your hand without looking at the device. The controls themselves are smooth and feel great to the touch.
I've also integrated the TourBox to edit my YouTube videos in Final Cut Pro, and it’s an amazing timesaver, making the editing process incredibly enjoyable and much less stressful.
Improvements-wise, I’m not really sure if this is a true improvement or is just one of my stupid crazy ideas, I was pondering whether relocating the DIAL to the top-right-hand corner and employing the same style of wheel as the SCROLL dial could be an intriguing solution. The DIAL is nice and it works well, but occasionally its placement makes it feel a bit less practical to reach.
Anyway, I love this device and it’s now part of my studio tools. What do you think? Do you use any devices other than a mouse and keyboard for editing your photos? Let me know in the comments.
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOPS
Want to improve your photography?
Join me in one of my photography workshops:
