Joining the Axe-Fx camp

[Hellbat]

With all the recent JCF jeans-creaming over this unit (!) in the last few months, you'd think it's a brand new product!

I think the first few iterations of the firmware on it were probably less intuitive to use or something. I've been keeping my eye on it for a long time and I remember early a lot of people were flipping theirs because they couldn't wrap their heads around setting up their own presents. Plus the fact that he's been improving the sound quality at the same time with more accurate models.

I wanted one when I saw the quote that he wasn't modelling by analyzing the output of the amp but was modelling each component. I knew it would be a pretty big step in modelling tech, but it is also infinitely harder to get right.

[lerxstcat]

If they or anyone else could have done it, they would have done it by now as the Axe-FX has been out for around 4 yrs now.

I didn't realize that, because all the buzz about it has been in the past several months. I don't think I saw it referred to, even here, before that.

So perhaps it hasn't crossed their radar as yet.

And Tim, I saw your post and you may well be right. Behringer seems to have been focusing on their sound reinforcement gear and their Bugera amps the most lately anyway. Then again, maybe it's just taking them a long time to crack the processor chip to copy, or make a reasonable facsimile of. Why copy a POD XT if this is gonna make them obsolete?

I can't help but notice that nobody who quoted my post wanted to address the other part of it - what if this guy drops dead or loses interest for whatever reason? Who's even capable of repairing them?

[hippietim]

I can't help but notice that nobody who quoted my post wanted to address the other part of it - what if this guy drops dead or loses interest for whatever reason? Who's even capable of repairing them?

I don't know. How's that?

[marcus]

Then again, maybe it's just taking them a long time to crack the processor chip to copy, or make a reasonable facsimile of. Why copy a POD XT if this is gonna make them obsolete?

I doubt that Behringer, or anybody else is trying to do this. It is actually legal to reverse engineer hardware, but:

1) doing this for an advanced integrated circuit like the processor in the Axe-FX is exceedingly difficult
2) these processors are generally available anyway, they are not proprietary
3) I am dubious that it would actually be cost effective vs. buying the chip

I would say that copying the software is the key to cloning this unit. This is quite illegal, however, and this may be why they aren't doing it. In any case, I believe it is just a matter of time before more digital modeling amps use the same approach as the Axe-FX. And as technology improves, the price of these devices will come down as the amount of power and number of features goes up.

[MOSHWITZ]

I can't help but notice that nobody who quoted my post wanted to address the other part of it - what if this guy drops dead or loses interest for whatever reason? Who's even capable of repairing them?

Well, if Cliff was to drop dead, I think it would just be a case of the product never advancing beyond where it is when it happens as he obviously cant develop the code any further,,but for repairs and such I suppose they would just just keep assembling them for new customers, and repair/ replace the ones that come in for service, Cause I'm sure Marty and Tom, have some sort of vested interest in the company itself.

I doubt that Behringer, or anybody else is trying to do this. It is actually legal to reverse engineer hardware, but:

1) doing this for an advanced integrated circuit like the processor in the Axe-FX is exceedingly difficult
2) these processors are generally available anyway, they are not proprietary
3) I am dubious that it would actually be cost effective vs. buying the chip

I would say that copying the software is the key to cloning this unit. This is quite illegal, however, and this may be why they aren't doing it. In any case, I believe it is just a matter of time before more digital modeling amps use the same approach as the Axe-FX. And as technology improves, the price of these devices will come down as the amount of power and number of features goes up.

Yeah,, that's the main thing right there...... "The Code". Anyone can buy the chip but the code is what make it what it is.

MOSHON
DAVE

[Rupe]

Welcome to the club!

I have a hard time understanding the price complaints when you consider what you're getting for $2K (even less for the Standard). Comparable effects alone (T.C. or Eventide) would cost this much...and that's before you take the amp models and IRs into consideration. This thing is actually a steal at the current price. If you don't want to pay what it takes to get pro-level gear, there's always the 11-Rack

As for the question on shipping times, I had mine in 3 days after I ordered it back in Sept.

[jgcable]

what if the batteries go dead?

[Hellbat]

Just so I am clear, I don't have any price complaints. I just wanted to state my belief that if they could somehow get them to the $1000 price point it would probably signifigantly impact sales. I really want to buy one. I probably shouldn't have bought my amp and just kept saving for the axe-fx, but I'm a horrible impulse buyer and when I have the extra cash on hand I tend to just spend it.

I still love my amp and it's perfect for me for a tube amp, but I also am a believer in modelling and I think the lure of a rackmount box that does everything internally will win out in the end. I'll probably end up flipping my amp for some smaller FRFR speakers because I want to be able to run stereo for ping pong delays.

If it was a grand I'd already own one. 2 G's means I need to make sure all my ducks are in a row before I pull the trigger.

[TTripp]

Where are these presets at? Have you downloaded any of them and tried them on your Axe Fx? After the Axe Exchange went down I'm not really aware of any one area where we can get patches from. Or are you getting these from the Axe Fx forum?

The AxeChange stuff is now part of the Axe Editor. You have to use the Editor, hooked up to the Axe-Fx, to get them.

[roodyrocker]

Just so I am clear, I don't have any price complaints. I just wanted to state my belief that if they could somehow get them to the $1000 price point it would probably signifigantly impact sales. I really want to buy one. I probably shouldn't have bought my amp and just kept saving for the axe-fx, but I'm a horrible impulse buyer and when I have the extra cash on hand I tend to just spend it.

I still love my amp and it's perfect for me for a tube amp, but I also am a believer in modelling and I think the lure of a rackmount box that does everything internally will win out in the end. I'll probably end up flipping my amp for some smaller FRFR speakers because I want to be able to run stereo for ping pong delays.

If it was a grand I'd already own one. 2 G's means I need to make sure all my ducks are in a row before I pull the trigger.

Also, to be clear. I'm not saying the Axe-Fx is superior to a tube amp. I'm one of those people who love both my Axe Fx and my tube amps. I'm not replacing my amps with it but it does have some advantages for certain applications. And also, for those who think it can't hang with a "real" tube amp I say yes it can.
At $1000 I'm sure it would sell better than at $2000. $500 would be better still but only Cliff knows at what point is it worth the hassle of manufacturing and making a decent profit while not sacrificing quality. I sold off a bunch of MXR vintage pedals to fund most of the price of my Axe-Fx Ultra purchase at the time.

[lerxstcat]

what if the batteries go dead?

What if it used batteries you couldn't get anywhere else, and that company folded?

I wasn't trying to be a party pooper, but doesn't anyone remember when ADA folded? Sure, the ADADepot evolved at some later point, but how long did that take, and how many people had gear go bad with no avenue to repair it for awhile? I don't think it was an unreasonable question to ask, considering there is a similar analogue in actual gear history.

And once someone actually addressed it instead of just joking about it, I appreciated the answer and it makes sense.

[maltomario]

I also have an AxeFX (ultra) and i love it. Been gigging it non-stop about 1-2x per week since April 2009 with no problems whatsoever.

I am in an 80's rock band that plays mostly covers so this thing is a godsend for me.

Here's a clip of a van halen preset I like and use live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWEKoo4Yd3c

I have mine setup to use a sweepable filter as a wah, so i was able to just use a single midi controller w/ built in CC pedal to run everything - simplifies setup. here's a song showing the wah sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjbfvC4KAOc

[jgcable]

I also have an AxeFX (ultra) and i love it. Been gigging it non-stop about 1-2x per week since April 2009 with no problems whatsoever.

I am in an 80's rock band that plays mostly covers so this thing is a godsend for me.

Here's a clip of a van halen preset I like and use live:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWEKoo4Yd3c

I have mine setup to use a sweepable filter as a wah, so i was able to just use a single midi controller w/ built in CC pedal to run everything - simplifies setup. here's a song showing the wah sound:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjbfvC4KAOc

The good old Tarry Lodge!!!!!!

[Robert Burns]

If Cliff were to die...i could be happy for 10 years with the latest revision!

[Rupe]

No doubt. Here's a quick solo that I did for a compilation jam over at Rig Talk. I just used a BFP Jem into the Axe ("Brown" Plexi model) using a slightly tweaked version of my live lead patch and then straight to a Boss BR1600. Took me about 15 minutes start to finish...try that with the traditional speaker mic'ing process. To my ears, you can't hear anything fake or digital about it.

http://www.soundclick.com/billrupert