Axefx Ultra after 2 hours of plugging in...

[roodyrocker]

One more advantage to the Axe Fx------> This coming Saturday night my band is playing out but the stage is pretty cramped. We are a 5 piece band and my other guitar player is thinking of leaving his half stack (Hughes &Kettner head/Marshall 4x12 cab) at home in favor of a 2x12 cab and his small rack. I will likely take my Axe Fx into a QSC powered monitor. With no amp on my side of the stage, the QSC is pole mounted, that should save some room This will be a change from my latest setup the Rhoads 100W Marshall halfstack with Attenuator to make the volume manageable. The pedal board will also be left at home in favor of a simple Behringer pedal which is much smaller in order to switch Axe Fx patches.

[emperor_black]

^ cool! Let us know how it sounds Rudy. Good luck!

[roodyrocker]

^ cool! Let us know how it sounds Rudy. Good luck!

This is not the first time I've used it live, I know how it sounds Thanks for the well wishes, I can always use good luck Mine is a few updates behind but I try not to mess with it before a show. After Saturday's gig I need to update it to the newest Axe Fx Ultra revision.

[MOSHWITZ]

This is not the first time I've used it live, I know how it sounds Thanks for the well wishes, I can always use good luck Mine is a few updates behind but I try not to mess with it before a show. After Saturday's gig I need to update it to the newest Axe Fx Ultra revision.

Holy shit,,,? Wait till you are using rev. 9.00 things got even better, you'll have to tweak your presets a little though ,,but its not that hard of an adjustment. It only took me about an afternoon of jamming on it to get all my stuff tweaked out.
Just saying that things sound "More Real or Organic " would be kind of generic, and doesn't really do it justice,, more Alive ,,Yes, more Expressive,,,,yep, I could go with that too, but its hard to explain,, Its just Better, as hard as that is to believe

Cliff also redid the Bogner Ecstacy models to the 20th Anniversary head he acquired, so they would be accurate to those channels.
EURO 1 20th Anniversary Bogner Ecstasy Blue Channel
EURO 2 20th Anniversary Bogner Ecstasy Red Channel

And that is another thing that sets Fractal apart,,this guy is always on it, always working. Hell, when I ordered mine, my software was loaded on Memorial day. If there is something that Cliff(and at times users via the Wish List) feels will make it better and is do-able,,it gets done

MOSHON
DAVE

...here are the ver.9 release notes for anyone interested..

9.00
Improved preset switching times.

Changed log tapers in Volume block to more accurately model actual audio taper pots. Also changed Amp block tone control tapers accordingly.

Improved power amp modeling. Power amp compression is now more apparent but also more natural, especially with high Master and/or Sag settings. Improves note clarity and touch sensitivity.

New pre-amp modeling accurately simulates “cold-biased” stages. Models using this will now have much more “crunch”. Even when playing light an underlying crunch will be evident. This also has the desirable side-effect of making some high-gain models feel “tighter”.

Euro 1 & 2 models have been totally reworked.

Tweaked Depth frequency of Fryette models.

Corrected incorrect coupling capacitor value in Plexi 1 and Plexi 2 models.

Reworked CAA models and corrected incorrect bright cap value in CAA 3+ LD model.

Reworked X99 models and corrected math mistake on bright cap for Rhy model.

Fixed incorrect treble peaker value on Boutique 1&2 models. Also tweaked tone- stack for these models.

New Rotary Cabinet algorithm. New algorithm has independent motors for LF and HF rotors along with separate time constants. The LF rotor will change speed slower than the HF rotor. Rate control now goes to 0.0 allowing “braking” of the rotors. Virtual microphone positions have been changed to 90 degrees (previously 180 degrees). The new algorithm results in a more realistic and intense effect.

Added Horn Length control to Rotary block. This parameter adjusts the length of the virtual HF horn. Larger values increase the amount of doppler shift and result in a more intense effect.

Added ability to chose realtime sysex messages sent: None, All, Tuner Only or Tempo Only.

Reverb block has been reworked. Separate pre-delay and tail delay controls now allow precise control over the delay of the initial reflections and tail portions of the reverb. The reverb “tank” algortihm has been rewritten to provide a more natural sound. The new reverb algorithm has also been ported to the standard Axe-Fx.

The following parameter changes have been made to the reverb block:
- “Early Delay” parameter has been removed.
- “Pre Delay” now controls time to initial reflections and is adjustable
from 0 to 250 ms. Default value varies with type
- “Reverb Delay” sets the start of the decay portion of the reverb relative
to the initial reflections. Range is 0 to 250 ms. Default value varies
with type.
- “Echo Density” sets the density of the decay portion of the reverb. Range
is 2 to 8. Lower values result in a more sparse and coarse sounding tail. Higher values give a smoother sound.

The Spring type has been removed and replaced with a “Cathedral” type. The Vintage type has been renamed to Spring.

Fixed bug in Vintage (now Spring) reverb corrupting global vector.

***NOTE***: Presets created with firmware prior to 9.00 are incompatible with the new algorithm so the reverb block is reset upon recall. The preset will sound similar but many of the parameters will be reset by necessity. You should audition your presets carefully after upgrading as unexpected changes can occur.

Reworked Phaser block and particularly the Vibe mode. The Freq. control in the Phaser block now controls the center frequency of the sweep range (as opposed to the start frequency previously). The range of this parameter has been changed accordingly. Existing presets will probably sound the same but auditioning them is recommended.

A new Vibe algorithm has been written and accurately models the classic Univibe sound. A new parameter, BULB BIAS, has been added to the Advanced menu. This parameter allows you to control the quiescent current of the virtual light bulb used in the algorithm. Real Univive pedals have an internal poteniometer to control the quiescent bulb current. Varying this parameter controls how “lumpy” the frequency sweep beahves. Unlike a real Univibe, the Axe-Fx compensates so that the center frequency doesn’t change with the bias (the bias affect on the center frequency parameter is calculated and removed) allowing easier control of the sweep range. This parameter has no effect in the normal phaser modes.

***NOTE***: Existing presets will need to be auditioned as the sound of the Vibe mode has changed significantly. Furthermore, the LFO type is required to be SINE for the vibe mode (previously it was EXP). You can use other LFO types for the vibe mode but it will not replicate the vintage effect then. When selecting the Vibe type the LFO is automatically changed to SINE. You can override the LFO type afterwards, if desired.

[hippietim]

jgcable - I fully understand your concerns about being at the mercy of the sound man.

This is where the Axe-FX kicks ass in particular for a live rig. Tell the sound man to run you flat and that's it. No mics. No bullshit with bleed through from the drums. No compressor. No EQ. Etc.

We use our PA almost everywhere we go so we control our mix. But I always have my own on stage amplification - I use an FBT Verve 12ma which is a FRFR powered speaker. It can fill the room if necessary - fortunately I've never had to but it's got the nuts if it comes down to it.

[roodyrocker]

jgcable - I fully understand your concerns about being at the mercy of the sound man.

This is where the Axe-FX kicks ass in particular for a live rig. Tell the sound man to run you flat and that's it. No mics. No bullshit with bleed through from the drums. No compressor. No EQ. Etc.

We use our PA almost everywhere we go so we control our mix. But I always have my own on stage amplification - I use an FBT Verve 12ma which is a FRFR powered speaker. It can fill the room if necessary - fortunately I've never had to but it's got the nuts if it comes down to it.

This is exactly what I plan to do tomorrow night. We have our own PA and light system. I plan to run my QSC powered monitor on stage and one mic cable from Axe Fx Ultra to the board. We will set it and leave it as far as PA is concerned.

[sevser]

I have been following this unit both here and on the official forum...I even downloaded the latest editor.

The only thing to investigate further is the sound delivery.

If this unit was made to accurately simulate a tube feel...Why are they making a tube powered monitor for it? Isn't that kind of defeating the purpose? Not that I am doubting this unit...Just curious.

Also...There seems to be a consensus on the best SS FR monitors...is there a consensus on how much power these monitors should have, say, for gigging in clubs? Is 12" speaker size still the preferred size or does it make sense to go bigger...like 15"?
At last nights gig I told the guys I was going to sell my shit and get one…They all said the same thing…”So you won’t have a stack behind you???” hahaha! That’s the hardest part for everyone! I’ll get a fucking cardboard cut out of one….or two, or three for that matter!
I’m just so tired of trashing my Rubicon with all this equipment…shit, I am at work today and still have two cabinets in the jeep!

If I can sell my XXX, G-Flex 212, and a guitar or two...YCV 80 can go to! That should get me there!

[Matt_B]

If this unit was made to accurately simulate a tube feel...Why are they making a tube powered monitor for it? Isn't that kind of defeating the purpose? Not that I am doubting this unit...Just curious.

Probably for the same reason some audiophiles like tube powers for their home stereo - it sounds better when it clips, even just the tiniest bit.

If I can sell my XXX, G-Flex 212, and a guitar or two...YCV 80 can go to! That should get me there!

Dude, I sold 18 spaces worth of rack gear (which was all my amp related gear) and was able to get (2) Ultras with the cash from it...and I had a little bit left over.

[nateb]

I think why people use tube power amps is a matter of taste. I had a QSC Amp and a VHT amp. The QSC seemed wider application space wise but, since I was mostly into the hardcore stuff, I liked the VHT punch more. But, this could also be because I was really green when it came to the whole power amp section of the Axe-FX. By going with the VHT, I basically chickened out and bypassed that whole feature my setting the poweramp sims to off. Now that I got my head around everything else, I might have to look at it again.

I am really curious about the FBT Verve 12ma. I am thinking of trying the FRFR Speaker setup again.

-Nate

[sevser]

"I basically chickened out and bypassed that whole feature my setting the poweramp sims to off."

Yeah...thats what i was getting at...I run my XTLive into a tube power amp as well...This makes a huge differance, for the better. BUT...This AXE FX has a Power amp sim...so???

Anyhow...not a big deal...I can't help but trust many of the owners here. After listening to you guys for over 10 years...this unit seems to have been given the 'green light' by more tone gurus than I have ever seen before.

[RacerX]

Dude, I sold 18 spaces worth of rack gear (which was all my amp related gear) and was able to get (2) Ultras with the cash from it...and I had a little bit left over.

Matt, why 2 Ultras?



Hippietim, have you been selling lots of your gear because of the Axe-FX also?

[Matt_B]

Matt, why 2 Ultras?

Because 1 is none and 2 is one.

All I have for gear (besides guitars) is (2) Ultras and a little Marshall 15 watt practice amp. If for some reason an Axe-FX needs to be serviced, I have a back-up. I also have practice areas set-up on both floors of the house so there's no need to move them around.

[MOSHWITZ]

Cool. Wasn't Godsmack's Awake album recorded with a Bogner Uberschall? his present gear shows only Diezel amps. Any of those riffs would be awesome!

Sup?
sorry it's not any of the Godsmack riffs,,and probably not the best example,, but I had a little free time tonight and threw this Uber patch together I use the stock "Metal" cab(Engl w/V30's IIRC) with this one. Its a little raw and loose, the drums were done quickly in S2.0 M.F., and I didn't really do any post. Although it can change radically just by adjusting some of the advance parameters or swapping out different cabs and such,this sounded pretty good for what it is on my JBL LSR's and Just kinda threw it together so you could get a rough idea of the sim, but I don't have a real Uber here to go by(as that would make it a whole lot easier),, cause there are a thousand different things you can do to the patch to change its tone, tightnes, feel, etc,, so,, it is what it is.

anyway try that on..http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8699636

MOSHON
DAVE

[Hellbat]

Sounds killer! Great playing too!

[VitaminG]

I have no idea how close to an Uber that sounds, but it sounded great to me, Dave!!