For years, my creative process was a chaotic dance between my right hand on a mouse or stylus and my left hand contorted over a keyboard. Whether I was scrubbing through a 4K timeline in Premiere Pro, meticulously adjusting brush sizes in Photoshop, or colour grading a batch of photos in Lightroom, my left hand was always playing a frantic game of Twister across a sea of QWERTY keys. The constant mental load of remembering dozens of shortcuts—Ctrl+Z, Shift+Alt+Click, “[” and “]” for brush size—was a persistent, low-level drain on my creative energy. It’s a friction every digital artist, editor, and photographer knows intimately. You’re in the zone, the ideas are flowing, and then you’re yanked out of it by the clumsy mechanics of the tools. I knew there had to be a better, more tactile, and more ergonomic way to interact with the software that is so central to my work. This search led me to a class of devices designed not to replace my graphics tablet or mouse, but to liberate my other hand from the tyranny of the keyboard. The goal was simple: to make the digital feel analogue, and to turn complex commands into simple, intuitive gestures.
- TourBox NEO is wired version. Not support wireless connection. Only compatible with [ macOS and Windows ]. NOTE: the following models (Elite, Lite and NEO) do not support iPadOS or AndroidOS devices,...
- ENTRY-LEVEL CREATIVE SOFTWARE CONTROLLER: Speed up and elevate content creators' experience in drawing, photo retouching and color enhancement, and video editing with color grading. It simplifies the...
What to Consider Before Buying a Creative Controller
A creative controller, like the TOUR BOX NEO Creative Console Customisable Editor, is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for reclaiming time and reducing physical strain in any screen-based creative profession. Its main benefit is workflow acceleration. By mapping frequently used tools, shortcuts, and complex macros to dedicated physical buttons, dials, and knobs, it transforms repetitive, multi-step actions into single, fluid gestures. This not only saves seconds on every action, which accumulate into hours over a project’s lifespan, but also significantly reduces the risk of repetitive strain injury (RSI) associated with awkward keyboard hand positions. It allows you to keep your eyes on your canvas or timeline, not on your keyboard, fostering a deeper state of creative flow and concentration.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who spends several hours a day working in creative software like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro, or digital art programs like Clip Studio Paint. They are professionals or serious hobbyists who feel their speed is being limited by their keyboard and mouse setup. They value efficiency and ergonomics and are willing to invest a little time upfront to configure a device that will pay dividends in productivity later. Conversely, this might not be the right tool for casual users who only occasionally dabble in photo editing or drawing. If your workflow doesn’t involve a high volume of repetitive commands, the time saved may not justify the initial setup. For those just starting out, mastering the software’s native shortcuts on a keyboard is a more logical first step.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: These controllers are designed to sit beside your keyboard or drawing tablet, so desk space is a real consideration. The TOUR BOX NEO has a compact footprint, but you need to ensure you have a comfortable spot for it where your non-dominant hand can rest naturally. Its design is for one-handed operation, so think about which side of your primary input device (mouse or tablet) it will live on.
- Capacity/Performance: Performance here isn’t about processing power, but about the depth of customisation and software compatibility. Does the controller’s software support your specific applications? Can it automatically switch profiles when you switch between programs? The TOUR BOX NEO excels here, offering deep integration, powerful macro support, and application-aware profile switching, which are critical performance metrics for a seamless workflow.
- Materials & Durability: A creative controller is a tactile tool you’ll be touching for thousands of hours, so build quality is paramount. Cheaper devices may use lightweight plastic that feels hollow and slides around your desk. We looked for a solid build, satisfying tactile feedback from buttons and dials, and a durable finish. As one user noted, there’s a concern about coatings on some devices wearing over time, so a robust, quality material is a key indicator of longevity.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: While all controllers have a learning curve, the software interface is the deciding factor. An intuitive, visual configuration tool makes the initial setup a creative exercise rather than a frustrating chore. Long-term maintenance is minimal, usually just requiring dusting and cleaning, but the initial time investment in customisation is the “maintenance” you need to be prepared for.
After carefully customising the device, the efficiency gains we experienced were undeniable, making the initial setup time a worthy investment.
While the TOUR BOX NEO Creative Console Customisable Editor is an excellent choice for supercharging your workflow, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. It works in tandem with a primary drawing surface, and choosing the right one is equally important. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- 【Widely Application】UGEE M708 graphic drawing tablet, features 10 x 6 inch large active drawing space with papery texture surface, provides enormous and smooth drawing for your digital artwork...
- 【PASSIVE and ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY PEN】-- It is a battery-free stylus which adopts the most advanced passive technology, no battery and no charging required. This environment-friendly pen, allows...
- One by Wacom Medium: Graphics tablet with an active area of 8.5 x 5.3 inch (21,6 x 13,5 cm) – Perfect digital drawing pad with a variety of possibilities: whether digital sketching, photo-editing,...
Unboxing and First Impressions: A Compact Powerhouse
The experience of unboxing the TOUR BOX NEO Creative Console Customisable Editor immediately communicates a sense of quality. It arrives in a surprisingly premium, sturdy zip-up case, which is a fantastic inclusion for portability and protection. Inside, the console itself sits snugly in a custom-moulded recess. Picking it up for the first time, its weight is the most striking feature—at just over 1kg, it feels dense and substantial. This isn’t a flimsy plastic toy; it has a solid, planted feel that ensures it won’t be sliding around your desk during intense editing sessions. The matte black finish is sleek and resistant to fingerprints, and the various buttons, dials, and wheels all have distinct shapes and textures. This thoughtful design isn’t just aesthetic; it’s a core part of the ergonomic experience, allowing you to develop muscle memory and operate the device without ever looking down. The included USB-C cable is braided and of high quality. Setting it up was as simple as plugging it in and downloading the TourBox Console software from their website.
Advantages
- Incredibly deep and intuitive customisation via the TourBox Console software.
- Excellent build quality and ergonomic design that feels substantial and comfortable.
- Significant workflow speed increase across various creative applications.
- Powerful Macro functionality and application-aware profile switching.
Drawbacks
- Requires a significant time investment to customise for your specific workflow.
- Wired connection only (Bluetooth is available on the more expensive Elite model).
Deep Dive: The TOUR BOX NEO Creative Console Customisable Editor in Action
A tool like this lives or dies by its performance in real-world scenarios. It’s not enough to have a lot of buttons; they need to integrate seamlessly into a fast-paced, demanding creative workflow. We spent weeks putting the TOUR BOX NEO through its paces, primarily within the Adobe Creative Suite (Premiere Pro, Photoshop, Lightroom) and Clip Studio Paint, to see if it could truly live up to its promise of being a workflow accelerator.
The Art of Customisation: Deconstructing the TourBox Console Software
The heart of the entire experience is the TourBox Console software. Without good software, this device would be a mere paperweight. We are pleased to report that the software is not just good; it’s brilliant. Upon launching, you’re presented with a visual representation of the controller, and assigning a function is as simple as clicking on a button and choosing the desired shortcut, tool, or macro from a menu. One of its most powerful features is the ability to create and auto-switch profiles. We created distinct profiles for Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and general web browsing. The moment we clicked on the Photoshop window, the TOUR BOX NEO instantly loaded our Photoshop preset, with the knob controlling brush size and the dial controlling opacity. When we switched to Premiere, the same controls automatically remapped to zoom the timeline and scrub through footage. This seamless transition is a game-changer, eliminating any need to manually switch profiles.
The customisation goes incredibly deep. Each button can have different functions for a single press, a double press, or a long press. Furthermore, you can create combinations, like holding the “Tall” button while turning the knob to adjust brush hardness, while just turning the knob on its own adjusts size. This layering of commands means the handful of physical controls can manage literally hundreds of functions. As one user aptly put it, they “spent the afternoon that I opened it assigning keyboard shortcuts but it compensates for all the time it saves me now.” This mirrors our experience perfectly. The initial setup is an investment, but it’s a one-time cost that pays back with interest on every single project. The built-in Macro function is also exceptionally robust, allowing us to chain together over a dozen commands, including mouse movements and clicks, into a single button press—perfect for automating boring, repetitive tasks. For anyone looking to truly tailor their tools, the depth of its software customisation is a major selling point.
Ergonomics and Tactile Feedback: A Hands-On Workflow
The physical design of the TOUR BOX NEO is a masterclass in ergonomics. It initially looks a bit strange, an asymmetric collection of controls, but once your hand rests on it, the logic becomes clear. Every button is within easy reach of your fingers without stretching, and more importantly, each control feels unique. The top buttons are shaped differently, the side button has a distinct click, and the D-pad provides a familiar directional input. This tactile diversity is crucial for building muscle memory. Within a few days, we could navigate our most-used commands by feel alone, our eyes never leaving the screen.
We shared the concern of one user who worried about ergonomics, but found it to be “much more comfortable than my keyboard.” We can emphatically confirm this. The natural resting position it encourages is far superior to the cramped “claw” shape your hand often makes on a keyboard. The three main rotary inputs—the Knob, the Dial, and the Scroll wheel—are the stars of the show. The Knob is large and smooth, perfect for analogue-style adjustments like zooming the canvas or changing brush size. The Dial is smaller with a satisfying detent click, ideal for incremental changes like stepping through frames on a timeline or adjusting exposure in Lightroom. The Scroll wheel functions just like a mouse wheel but is perfectly positioned for your index finger, making timeline scrubbing or document scrolling effortless. The overall build quality contributes to this premium feel; every click is positive and every turn of a dial is precise. It’s a device that feels like a professional instrument, not a peripheral.
In the Trenches: Real-World Performance in Video and Photo Editing
In Adobe Premiere Pro, the TOUR BOX NEO completely transformed our editing process. We mapped the scroll wheel to scrub the timeline, the knob to zoom in and out of the timeline, and the dial to jump between edit points. This combination alone made navigating complex projects dramatically faster and more fluid. The D-pad was set to nudge clips up, down, left, and right. For colour grading in the Lumetri Color panel, we mapped the various dials to control exposure, contrast, shadows, and highlights. Making these fine adjustments with a physical dial instead of dragging a tiny slider with a mouse felt more precise and intuitive, akin to using a dedicated colour grading surface that costs many times more. As one user working with Premiere noted, their “workflow immediately accelerated, despite not being fully accustomed to it yet.” This immediate impact is a testament to its intuitive design.
Switching over to Adobe Photoshop, the benefits were just as profound. The single-knob control for brush parameters is genius. A simple turn adjusts size, pressing down and turning adjusts hardness, and holding a side button while turning adjusts opacity. This consolidated the three most common brush adjustments into one fluid motion on a single control. We assigned other buttons to our most-used tools—healing brush, clone stamp, selection tools—and complex Actions were mapped to single macro buttons. For photographers working in Lightroom, the experience is similar. Culling images becomes a rapid-fire process: we used the dial to cycle through photos and the main buttons for flagging, rating, and rejecting. In the develop module, every slider can be mapped to a dial, allowing for a “hands-on” editing experience that makes you feel more connected to the image you’re crafting. This device truly shines by turning abstract software sliders into tangible, physical controls, and you can see its full list of compatible software and features here.
What Other Users Are Saying
Across the board, user feedback confirms our own positive experience, highlighting a consistent theme: the initial time investment in setup is quickly dwarfed by the long-term productivity gains. One user, who was looking for a hardware solution for video and photo editing, noted that the size, functionality, and price of the TOUR BOX NEO were the interesting factors that led them to choose it over larger or more expensive alternatives. They specifically chose the wired NEO model because they didn’t require Bluetooth and found the price-to-performance ratio compelling.
Another reviewer praised the “excellent and ingenious device ideal for speeding up and improving the workflow in the photographic video field,” which succinctly captures the core value proposition. The sentiment that it makes work “more natural” and less fatiguing on the hand is a common thread. However, the feedback isn’t without its critiques. One Italian user, while praising the intuitive software, pointed out the setup can feel “a bit chaotic” because you have to analyze and assign functions key by key, as there aren’t many pre-made presets for complex workflows. This reinforces our finding that you must be prepared to build your own custom profiles from the ground up to get the most out of the device. This is not a plug-and-play solution, but a powerful customisation tool that rewards the effort you put in. To explore what other creatives are achieving with it, you can check out more detailed user testimonials and project examples.
How Does the TOUR BOX NEO Creative Console Customisable Editor Compare to the Alternatives?
It’s important to understand that the TOUR BOX NEO is not a drawing tablet itself, but a companion device that enhances the use of a tablet or mouse. The alternatives listed below are primary input devices, and the choice depends on what part of your creative toolkit you’re looking to acquire or upgrade.
1. Wacom Intuos M Bluetooth Drawing Tablet
- Wacom Intuos Medium: Black, wireless graphics tablet with an active area of 8.5 x 5.3 inch (21,6 x 13,5 cm) – Perfect digital drawing pad with a variety of possibilities: whether photo-retouching,...
- Pen included: Thanks to the included battery-free Wacom Pen 4K with 4,096 pen pressure levels, your Wacom drawing tablet ensures maximum precision and natural feeling. Additional 3 standard Wacom...
The Wacom Intuos M is one of the industry’s most respected and popular entry-to-mid-level drawing tablets. If you are a digital artist who doesn’t yet own a pen tablet, this is your starting point. It provides the essential drawing surface and pressure-sensitive pen input that are fundamental to digital art and photo retouching. Someone would choose the Wacom Intuos M over the TOUR BOX NEO if they need the primary tool for drawing. In a complete setup, a creative would use both: the Wacom tablet for drawing strokes with their dominant hand, and the TOUR BOX NEO for shortcuts and adjustments with their non-dominant hand. The Wacom is the canvas; the TourBox is the ultimate palette and tool switcher.
2. XP-Pen Artist 12 (2nd Gen) 11.6″ Pen Display X3 Elite Stylus
- Battery-free X3 Elite Stylus - Powered by X3-Smart-Chip technology, the upgraded version of Artist 12 - Artist 12 (2nd Gen) drawing monitor will dramatically enhance your sensory experience,...
- Four Vibrant Color - The new Artist 12 graphics tablet is available in four vibrant colors, choose your color, personalize your style, and show your unique creativity. Coming with 6 customizable...
The XP-Pen Artist 12 (2nd Gen) takes the concept of a drawing tablet a step further by incorporating a screen. This is a pen display, meaning you draw directly onto the surface where the image appears, offering a more natural and intuitive experience with less hand-eye disconnect. A user would choose the XP-Pen Artist 12 over the TOUR BOX NEO if their priority is to upgrade from a non-screen tablet to a pen display. It’s a fantastic budget-friendly option for those who want that direct drawing experience. Again, these two products are not direct competitors but powerful collaborators. Pairing the XP-Pen Artist 12 with the TOUR BOX NEO creates a highly efficient, professional-grade setup without the screen being cluttered by UI elements.
3. PicassoTab A12 12″ Drawing Tablet
- COMPLETE DRAWING LEARNING PACKAGE: The A12 is more than just a tablet – it’s a full-featured digital art learning solution. It includes the tablet, a precision stylus, essential accessories, and...
- PORTABLE AND DRAW ANYWHERE: Designed to be lightweight and compact, the A12 offers unmatched portability, allowing you to take it anywhere and create whenever inspiration strikes. Whether you're at...
The PicassoTab A12 represents a completely different category: it’s a standalone drawing tablet. It runs its own operating system (a version of Android) and does not need to be connected to a Mac or Windows computer to function. This is the ideal choice for artists who want maximum portability and a self-contained digital sketchbook they can take anywhere. You would choose the PicassoTab A12 if your primary need is drawing on the go, without being tethered to a desktop setup. The TOUR BOX NEO is incompatible with this device, as it is designed specifically as a controller for macOS and Windows creative software. The choice here is between a portable, all-in-one solution (PicassoTab) and a powerful accessory for a dedicated computer workstation (TOUR BOX NEO).
Final Verdict: Is the TOUR BOX NEO Creative Console Customisable Editor Worth It?
After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the TOUR BOX NEO Creative Console Customisable Editor is a truly transformative piece of hardware for any serious digital creative. It is not a gimmick. It is a thoughtfully designed, robustly built, and incredibly powerful tool that directly addresses a core point of friction in digital workflows. Its primary strengths are its exceptional software, deep customisation, and excellent ergonomics. It successfully bridges the gap between digital software and physical, tactile control, making the entire creative process feel more natural and efficient.
The only real drawback is the very nature of its strength: its customisability requires a patient and deliberate setup process. This is not a device for the casual user, but for the professional or dedicated hobbyist who is willing to invest a few hours to build a tool perfectly tailored to their needs. If you are a video editor, photographer, digital illustrator, or 3D artist who feels constrained by your keyboard and is looking for a way to speed up your work and improve your ergonomic health, we give the TOUR BOX NEO our highest recommendation. It is an investment that pays for itself in saved time and reduced frustration. Ready to revolutionize your workflow? You can check the latest price and availability to get started.
Last update on 2025-11-16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API