What's all the hype about Axe Fx?

[roodyrocker]

This thread isn't inspiring me to look into Axe Fx. I have already been through the entire modeling thing. My ears can always hear the difference live. Tube amps throw more air and I... for one.. can feel air live.
Axe Fx I am sure is cool as heck and the ultimate in amp and effect modeling. When Uli Jon or Yngwie or any other of my guitar hero's start using it live I will take notice.
Heck.. I am still trying to get my old Soldano clone back.
I do use modeling at home though. I am a huge fan of modeling. I tried the FRFR rigs self powered and through FR amps and it always sounded too much like the studio/radio/recorded version of what a guitar amp should sound like as opposed to what a live tube amp throwing amps actually sounds like. Somebody on another thread here mentioned how Appetite For Destruction is so good because its not a perfect recording. It sounds like they used tube amps with mic's in front of them when they recorded it. Thats the tone I like.

Thats o.k. not everyone has to like it. However, you should know that these same arguments were brought up on the other forum and there were members who did side by side comparisons with real amps. Many others who claimed they could always tell the difference actually couldn't when it was all said and done

[Leo Chang]

I'm sure these things are great but I'll never buy one.

I use TWO sounds. 1) Balls out gain for rythm. 2) same sound with a smidge of boost and delay for solos. That's it..

I never used a clean or "crunch" channel in my life..I don't wanna!

Would the fact that Jeff Loomis uses it help change your mind?

http://www.fractalaudio.com/artist.html

j/k... play whatever you like, and like whatever you play


- Leo.

[jgcable]

I respect your opinion, but you are overlooking the other advantages to a unit like the AxeFx. There are several people on the Fractal forum only using 3 or 4 patches......do they really need and are they fully utilizing all of the AxeFx's features? No. But why do they do it?

1. Don't have to deal with the issues and inconsistencies of micing.
2. Don't have to deal with the issues and inconsistencies of tubes (if using an FRFR setup or IEM's).
3. Don't have to deal with stage volume issues.
4. To add to #3, you don't have "hot spots". i.e. some crowd members getting their ears melted (for example when in front of a 4x12).
5. With an FRFR setup or IEM's you have the ability to hear EXACTLY what the audience is hearing. Do you want to have awesome tone for yourself or do you want to have awesome tone for the audience? What one hears on the stage is not always the same as what the audience hears. With a setup like this you can MAXIMIZE YOUR TONE FOR YOUR AUDIENCE.
6. Portability. For the 2 to 4 preset guys all you need is the Axe, a small, cheap MIDI preset switcher, and a PA/monitor if going FRFR.
7. Even within "balls out gain for rhythm" and "same sound with a smidge of boost and delay for solos" there are a ton of amps that will fill that need. Some folks change amps like they change underwear. If somebody likes doing that, then fine. With the Axe, you can push a few buttons and twist the knob and have a "new amp day" quite often. Cliff continually adds different amp models.

I'm sure there are other points that could be made, but that's a few I thought of off hand.

I'm glad this thread is inspiring folks to look into an AxeFx. The only downside is that for every purchase, I feel a little less special and unique for owning an AxeFx.

This thread isn't inspiring me to look into Axe Fx. I have already been through the entire modeling thing. My ears can always hear the difference live. Tube amps throw more air and I... for one.. can feel air live.
Axe Fx I am sure is cool as heck and the ultimate in amp and effect modeling. When Uli Jon or Yngwie or any other of my guitar hero's start using it live I will take notice.
Heck.. I am still trying to get my old Soldano clone back.
I do use modeling at home though. I am a huge fan of modeling. I tried the FRFR rigs self powered and through FR amps and it always sounded too much like the studio/radio/recorded version of what a guitar amp should sound like as opposed to what a live tube amp throwing amps actually sounds like. Somebody on another thread here mentioned how Appetite For Destruction is so good because its not a perfect recording. It sounds like they used tube amps with mic's in front of them when they recorded it. Thats the tone I like.

[Matt_B]

Hey, if you don't want or need all that an Axe FX has to offer, go play what ya love and have fun. However, if you're not looking for more tone in less space (and weight), the Axe FX is worth checking out.

[Chad]

I'm sure these things are great but I'll never buy one.

I use TWO sounds. 1) Balls out gain for rythm. 2) same sound with a smidge of boost and delay for solos. That's it..

I never used a clean or "crunch" channel in my life..I don't wanna!

I respect your opinion, but you are overlooking the other advantages to a unit like the AxeFx. There are several people on the Fractal forum only using 3 or 4 patches......do they really need and are they fully utilizing all of the AxeFx's features? No. But why do they do it?

1. Don't have to deal with the issues and inconsistencies of micing.
2. Don't have to deal with the issues and inconsistencies of tubes (if using an FRFR setup or IEM's).
3. Don't have to deal with stage volume issues.
4. To add to #3, you don't have "hot spots". i.e. some crowd members getting their ears melted (for example when in front of a 4x12).
5. With an FRFR setup or IEM's you have the ability to hear EXACTLY what the audience is hearing. Do you want to have awesome tone for yourself or do you want to have awesome tone for the audience? What one hears on the stage is not always the same as what the audience hears. With a setup like this you can MAXIMIZE YOUR TONE FOR YOUR AUDIENCE.
6. Portability. For the 2 to 4 preset guys all you need is the Axe, a small, cheap MIDI preset switcher, and a PA/monitor if going FRFR.
7. Even within "balls out gain for rhythm" and "same sound with a smidge of boost and delay for solos" there are a ton of amps that will fill that need. Some folks change amps like they change underwear. If somebody likes doing that, then fine. With the Axe, you can push a few buttons and twist the knob and have a "new amp day" quite often. Cliff continually adds different amp models.

I'm sure there are other points that could be made, but that's a few I thought of off hand.

I'm glad this thread is inspiring folks to look into an AxeFx. The only downside is that for every purchase, I feel a little less special and unique for owning an AxeFx.

[quiksilver]

Well, I just ordered one (the standard version). Now, I play the waiting game.





Ah, the waiting game sucks. Let's play Hungry, Hungry Hippos.

[jgcable]

I'm sure these things are great but I'll never buy one.

I use TWO sounds. 1) Balls out gain for rythm. 2) same sound with a smidge of boost and delay for solos. That's it..

I never used a clean or "crunch" channel in my life..I don't wanna!

me too. I used to be a sound/effect/tweaking whore.
For almost 3 years now I have basically 2 sounds. Clean with a touch of reverb, delay and chorus and a fairly heavy gain for rhythm. For solos I use a volume pedal. Oh yea.. I use one of my custom made wah's for 2 songs.

[Bert]

Huh... I looked into these when they first came out and decided to pass because all the clips on the site & forum sounded weak. The stuff on YouTube I'm seeing also stinks. Where can I find some decent clips? Of course I just ordered a Pod X3 Pro, so it's not likely I'll be picking one up any time soon... but still curious why all the hype.

[roodyrocker]

Uhhh. Where....?

They pop up for sale on www.thegearpage.net forum in their emporiums as well as on the Axe-Fx forum.
BTW, this whole discussion is way behind the one on the gearpage forum. They have argued the Axe-Fx both pro and con over there to the tune of hundreds of posts, literally!

[horns666]

I'm sure these things are great but I'll never buy one.

I use TWO sounds. 1) Balls out gain for rythm. 2) same sound with a smidge of boost and delay for solos. That's it..

I never used a clean or "crunch" channel in my life..I don't wanna!

[hippietim]

You guys should spend some time reading on the Fractal forum - there is a ton of info over there. There's also a Wiki with lots of good tips and information.

You can download the beta PC editor to play around with it - that gives you a *really* good sense of what the routing and effects capabilities are. This thing is so much more capable than any other effects unit for guitarists.

[hippietim]

YO Dave! or any of you AxeFX guys

Describe how you have this thing hooked up.... Are you using it for any sort of re-amping also? What is your power/speaker setup? It sounds like for now that I am going to be using it for low volumes for the time being and going through a set of M-Audio BX8A's which is what I had my POD going though. But, I hear of a lot of people going though Carvin and QVC amps into full range monitors.

-Nate

http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1249345&postcount=29

[Jack Napalm]

Reading this thread is detrimental to the pocket book. After looking at another setup that would cost close to this I am considering just picking this up.

[MOSHWITZ]

Sup?

I have been running mine strait into my JBL LSR studio monitors(you can see one in the pic I posted above), I have it run into my DAW 2 ways via,,,,,

1),,output 1 on the Axe > ch 1+2 on my Mackie D8B > bussed out through buss 1+2 > input 1+2 RME HDSP96/52 soundcard > DAW then output > JBL's via Spdif
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, ,,,or > mackie return 1+2 > Main digital out via AES/EBU > JBL's

2) AXE-FX Spdif out > Spdif input on the RME HDSP96/52 soundcard > DAW then output > JBL's via Spdif

I did this to hear if there is any noticeable difference between the two,,I have not heard any. I think the difference in time is something like 30'something samples longer routing it through the board than going direct Spdif, so I cannot hear any latency difference, and they sound the same so I don't hear the A/D converters from either unit. When I do some recording with it I'll go direct to the Spdif in just so I can keep the signal digital all the way, as it will only be converted once at the Axe input.

I haven't got around to running it into one of my cabs yet(it just sounds so good like this) but I have the day off today, so I might try that later. as far as re-amping, I haven't tried that yet either, I might give it go later though just for shits and giggles

I think either way, I would like to either pick up a carvin power amp, and an FRFR speaker, or one/two of the powered FRFR's, just cause my studio monitors sound so good, and I can take advantage of all the factory cab sims(and my own cab sims, as you can upload 10 of your own).


MOSHON
DAVE

[nateb]

YO Dave! or any of you AxeFX guys

Describe how you have this thing hooked up.... Are you using it for any sort of re-amping also? What is your power/speaker setup? It sounds like for now that I am going to be using it for low volumes for the time being and going through a set of M-Audio BX8A's which is what I had my POD going though. But, I hear of a lot of people going though Carvin and QVC amps into full range monitors.

-Nate