Fractal Axe-FX?

[jack butler]

I guess being apart of the rack gear mania of the late 80's I learned that if your looking for the sound of a tube amp, there is no digital emulation that will satisfy you. Although I haven't tried the Fractal product, which I'm sure is far better than the Digitech, ART, Rocktron, and ADA stuff of the late 80's early 90's. Having owned or test driven all of the afore mentioned products, I'm very skeptical about these type of products. What I'm really shocked about is the fact that the units are backoreder @ $1750.00, maybe people are buying them soley as an effects unit, but I have a hunch people are hoping this will supply their entire sound. I was looking through an old Guitar Player magazine and they had all of these giveaways for these huge rack setups, you know "THE ULTIMATE DREAM RIG" 20 years later you can't give away the "GIVEAWAY". I'm probably completly jaded from my rack gear days, I used to think the guys using tube amp were doing out emulation or tradition, but now I understand the magic of tube amps. I'm not trying to slam AXE-FX if it works for you great. I just feel when these type of products come along they're popular for a few years, and then you take a huge hit when you sell it to buy the "NEXT GREATEST THING" when you would've been better off invetsing in the thing you're trying to emulate, a quality tube amp, which should hold it's value much better. Again, I'm not bashing the AXE-FX I've not tried the unit, I basing this on speculation,and prior expirience with like products. Great tube amps and in the recording field, analog do something digital cannot emulate at this point. This is purely ment as food for thought, I hope I'm not coming off as negative, that is not my intention. Dave

 

[bstaley]

I just got on the list today. I'm not planning on using the amp models since I have both a Egnater M4 and a Triaxis but if they sound good enough to help me do some late night recording then its a bonus. I'm looking for top quality effects that can be routed any way I want them.

 

[fearhk213]

I understand your point and I didn't take you for negative. Let me throw a different angle at you. The current technology is light years beyond that old stuff and the other current all-in-one boxes. I mean with some of that old stuff guys were talking about how to deal with rediculously long dropouts between presets and with the Axe-Fx guys are trying to figure out how to make the best cabinet IR's to upload in their presets.

There's never going to be that "be all end all do it all in one box" unit, because technology is always advancing. However, the technology is to the point were it really can cop that tube feel while sounding as good as the tube amp next to it. Many are selling off their stuff and gigging and recording with just the Axe-Fx and not feeling like they're missing anything. That's got to say something. But that's the difference between this and the other units. I'd also go as far to say while it has models it probably makes more sense to think of the Axe-Fx as an amp. Some will prefer the Axe-Fx to "X" brand tube amp and vice-versa, but it's no longer a sacrificing tone for ease and portability.

Many said the same about all the "other" stuff, so I guess you just have to play it

 

[mctallica1]

I guess being apart of the rack gear mania of the late 80's I learned that if your looking for the sound of a tube amp, there is no digital emulation that will satisfy you. Although I haven't tried the Fractal product, which I'm sure is far better than the Digitech, ART, Rocktron, and ADA stuff of the late 80's early 90's. Having owned or test driven all of the afore mentioned products, I'm very skeptical about these type of products. What I'm really shocked about is the fact that the units are backoreder @ $1750.00, maybe people are buying them soley as an effects unit, but I have a hunch people are hoping this will supply their entire sound. I was looking through an old Guitar Player magazine and they had all of these giveaways for these huge rack setups, you know "THE ULTIMATE DREAM RIG" 20 years later you can't give away the "GIVEAWAY". I'm probably completly jaded from my rack gear days, I used to think the guys using tube amp were doing out emulation or tradition, but now I understand the magic of tube amps. I'm not trying to slam AXE-FX if it works for you great. I just feel when these type of products come along they're popular for a few years, and then you take a huge hit when you sell it to buy the "NEXT GREATEST THING" when you would've been better off invetsing in the thing you're trying to emulate, a quality tube amp, which should hold it's value much better. Again, I'm not bashing the AXE-FX I've not tried the unit, I basing this on speculation,and prior expirience with like products. Great tube amps and in the recording field, analog do something digital cannot emulate at this point. This is purely ment as food for thought, I hope I'm not coming off as negative, that is not my intention. Dave

\


If I were you, I wouldn't buy one.

Seems like you are pretty happy with what you have and have no real desire to put past experience (with completely different tools) aside. Given that, I would pass. No negative meant by that...but I think if you go into ANYTHING without an open mind, you should just not do it. Not worth the hassle.

FWIW, if you buy via the waiting list, the price is $1400. Still not insignificant, but you do get a discount for some patience.


I am in line for my second unit. Couldn't be happier. Certainly don't expect others have the same happiness with the unit though....

 

[FUZZboat]

I guess being apart of the rack gear mania of the late 80's I learned that if your looking for the sound of a tube amp, there is no digital emulation that will satisfy you. Although I haven't tried the Fractal product, which I'm sure is far better than the Digitech, ART, Rocktron, and ADA stuff of the late 80's early 90's. Having owned or test driven all of the afore mentioned products, I'm very skeptical about these type of products. What I'm really shocked about is the fact that the units are backoreder @ $1750.00, maybe people are buying them soley as an effects unit, but I have a hunch people are hoping this will supply their entire sound. I was looking through an old Guitar Player magazine and they had all of these giveaways for these huge rack setups, you know "THE ULTIMATE DREAM RIG" 20 years later you can't give away the "GIVEAWAY". I'm probably completly jaded from my rack gear days, I used to think the guys using tube amp were doing out emulation or tradition, but now I understand the magic of tube amps. I'm not trying to slam AXE-FX if it works for you great. I just feel when these type of products come along they're popular for a few years, and then you take a huge hit when you sell it to buy the "NEXT GREATEST THING" when you would've been better off invetsing in the thing you're trying to emulate, a quality tube amp, which should hold it's value much better. Again, I'm not bashing the AXE-FX I've not tried the unit, I basing this on speculation,and prior expirience with like products. Great tube amps and in the recording field, analog do something digital cannot emulate at this point. This is purely ment as food for thought, I hope I'm not coming off as negative, that is not my intention. Dave

Ditto

I remember those GP ads, LOL !!


The day axe-fx, line6, or whoever comes out with software that
can "99.8% indentically" deliver my fave amp tones


Splawn
Jcm800
Cameron's
Bogner XTC
Mesa MK IV



I'll buy it !


My current feelings are if you take away the "spectacluar" effects & filters of axe-fx and just use it to emulate straight amp tones it doesn't seem to be much better than Line 6, Vox, Boss/Roland, etc.


FWIW, I still think Line 6 had the right thought with their Pod 2.0 JCM800 sim (although it lacked a little in gain) It definitley had that slight JCM800 breakup sound !

Too bad line 6 changed it and it never sounded the same !


I'd love to hear some axe-fx clips trying to cop some of fave tones to prove me wrong - anybody ??

I thought the sound clips on the axe-fx forum were really good (especially the FX) but all the HI-GAIN amp tones sounded pretty much the same.

Thats "the problem" I have with all the SW modellers.

Too Generic sounding HI-GAIN amp tones

 

[timbo]

I have the Ultra. The greatest advantage for myself with the AxeFx is that I don't need to take a wall of amps with me to a gig. Like I've said before I'm pretty anal about my tone. Since I'm in covertune band I want each covertune I play to have the tone close or spot on to the original. There's nothing more I hate than seeing a guitar player trying to "lounge" every tune with the same amp or fiddling with dials or changing guitars every 4 songs. Funny............I guess I was hating myself too. Turning around, fiddling with my Marshall JVM, throwing on the Strat or the Axis or the Les Paul for this song or that. I'm sure the people dancing hated it and moreover the bar/venue owners I'm sure despised it. Oh well, all is good now with the Ultra, just hit a midi pedal and keep on goin.

Being in a trio I have a pretty elaborate rig to try to bulk the sound. I use the AxeFx Ultra along side a Roland VG-99 and Roland Fantom XR sound module. Control it all with a Roland FC-300 controller. Sound goes out to a Carvin TS-100 tube poweramp and then out to (2) Marshall MC212 cabs in stereo. I friggin LUV IT! The sound is HUGE. The VG-99 is really only used for synth, Fantom XR synth module control and alternate tunings. The AxeFx Ultra on the other hand is the workhorse. Powerful tube sound, Eventide quality effects and a perfect blank canvas for creating the tones of your dreams. It's funny, I think I'm starting to sound like Scott Peterson over at the TGP but I'm tellin ya, this ain't no Line 6 or Digitech crap and it's not even in the same league as racks from the 80's. And people gotta get over this "its a rack" bullshit anyway. So what? Build a case around it like any other traditional amp chassis and call it a head if ya want. It's that good. The thing just plain kicks ass. And the bitching about the price, I don't get it? 7 or 8 quality pedals equals the cost of the basic AxeFx Standard which offers tons of effects and so much more. Try one for 15 days, it costs nothing to do so. Just don't rely on internet clips or your jaded rack past experiences. The thing is from a different planet. You need to hear it live for yourself. I really ought to sell my JVM halfstack but it just looks so fuggin cool to have around.

 

[mctallica1]

[/quote]



Ditto

I remember those GP ads, LOL !!


The day axe-fx, line6, or whoever comes out with software that
can "99.8% indentically" deliver my fave amp tones


Splawn
Jcm800
Cameron's
Bogner XTC
Mesa MK IV



I'll buy it !


My current feelings are if you take away the "spectacluar" effects & filters of axe-fx and just use it to emulate straight amp tones it doesn't seem to be much better than Line 6, Vox, Boss/Roland, etc.


FWIW, I still think Line 6 had the right thought with their Pod 2.0 JCM800 sim (although it lacked a little in gain) It definitley had that slight JCM800 breakup sound !

Too bad line 6 changed it and it never sounded the same !


I'd love to hear some axe-fx clips trying to cop some of fave tones to prove me wrong - anybody ??

I thought the sound clips on the axe-fx forum were really good (especially the FX) but all the HI-GAIN amp tones sounded pretty much the same.

Thats "the problem" I have with all the SW modellers.

Too Generic sounding HI-GAIN amp tones [/quote]



I lived through all that crap too.

All I can say is the Axe is the best tone tool I have ever owned. Perfect? Hell no...no such thing.

I have no issue with other opinions on the Axe or any other gear, but when I find something good, I like to share with others.

When I bought my Axe, I was fully expecting to be let down when I got it. I had very high expectations based on what I read from a few folks that I respect their opinion on tone. Interestingly...I was let down when I got it. It took me a couple days to get my head around the simplicity available in this complex (at least to me) unit.

I am using it to generate all my tone.

Don't miss any of the great tube amps I have owned (VHT's, Engl's, Elmwood, Cameons, Mesa's, Rivera's, Soldano, etc, etc, etc)...if I did, I would have dropped it in a heartbeat. Folks around here know I have no problem selling gear


One thing I will point out: I don't use hardly any effects and play almost exclusively high gain tones/metal.

My signal chain on almost every patch is:

Drive (boost pedal)----Amp-----Graphic EQ----out to power amp.


Interestingly, this is pretty much the same chain I use with "real" amps.


I certainly don't expect others to agree with me, but for those who are open minded enough to give it a whirl, I think most will be very pleasantly surprised. And if they aren't the unit can be returned no questions asked or sold to one of the many people waiting.


From a marketing perspective, I think Fractal may have been better served marketing this thing as an effects unit on par with the big boys (which i am told it is...I have no experience with Eventide, etc...not an effects guy) and letting folks figure out how great the amp models are on their own. Saying it is a modeler automatically brings to mind Line 6...which is a lot less expensive and to my ears isn't even close in the amp tone department ( I have tried many times and always felt like I was "settling").


Again, I don't expect anyone to agree with me, but it does seem like most who have actually played the unit are happy.


The best thing I can say about my Axe is: It sounds and feels like an amp. Period.

 

[Digital Jams]

The one thing I do not get is that one of the BIGGEST fans of the Axe-fx on TGP is going nuts waiting for his Sig-X to show up..........if that unit is sooooooooooooo good why is he dumping $2000+ for a tube amp?

For dicking around I am happy with my PODXT Pro - VHT 2/50/2 setup, good enough for my slop.

 

[timbo]

The one thing I do not get is that one of the BIGGEST fans of the Axe-fx on TGP is going nuts waiting for his Sig-X to show up..........if that unit is sooooooooooooo good why is he dumping $2000+ for a tube amp?

Hmm, who knows? Well, I'll be shocked if he sells his AxeFx after all his praise of it, i really will. But if he gets the Sig-X and keeps the AxeFx I can understand that because man, I'd love to have a 5150 III rig but I just can't justify it. I don't really guess I can justify having a JVM halfstack either anymore because I'm not using it. But it's just gonna be hard to let go of. It was my first big tube amp since my many years hiatus from gigging. Hell, I rarely turn it on anymore. And a 5150 III would be for nothing but personal home cranking wankage because I'm joyfully locked into my current rig because it's so versatile tonewise and it works so well for live gigs.

 

[mctallica1]

The one thing I do not get is that one of the BIGGEST fans of the Axe-fx on TGP is going nuts waiting for his Sig-X to show up..........if that unit is sooooooooooooo good why is he dumping $2000+ for a tube amp?

For dicking around I am happy with my PODXT Pro - VHT 2/50/2 setup, good enough for my slop.

No idea who you are talking about.

But one thing I don't get, in general, is why does it have to be Axe Fx OR something else.

Just because I love my Axe doesn't negate the love I have for other amps.....this has confused me for a while

 

[Digital Jams]

The one thing I do not get is that one of the BIGGEST fans of the Axe-fx on TGP is going nuts waiting for his Sig-X to show up..........if that unit is sooooooooooooo good why is he dumping $2000+ for a tube amp?

For dicking around I am happy with my PODXT Pro - VHT 2/50/2 setup, good enough for my slop.

No idea who you are talking about.

But one thing I don't get, in general, is why does it have to be Axe Fx OR something else.

Just because I love my Axe doesn't negate the love I have for other amps.....this has confused me for a while

First.....not a hater but just observing others

This "person" has been stating for months that the axe-fx has replaced everything in his arsenal so he has set himself up for some bashing. He has also laughed about people comparing the axe-fx to "inferior garbage Vox and POD devices" yet randyvansykes posts a smoking Tonelab clip and he silently slinks away.


It is the fans of the axe-fx that set it up for some ridicule....just enjoy the thing and stop saying it will replace my MK IV or JVM Stop stating it burys the holy trinity of effects Eventide. TC, and Lexicon and just enjoy the box.

Peace

 

[Shiny_Surface]

This "person" has been stating for months that the axe-fx has replaced everything in his arsenal so he has set himself up for some bashing. He has also laughed about people comparing the axe-fx to "inferior garbage Vox and POD devices" yet randyvansykes posts a smoking Tonelab clip and he silently slinks away.


It is the fans of the axe-fx that set it up for some ridicule....just enjoy the thing and stop saying it will replace my MK IV or JVM Stop stating it burys the holy trinity of effects Eventide. TC, and Lexicon and just enjoy the box.

Peace

Scott Peterson's massive "this thing is a monster" thread on TGP generated massive hype and helped spawn off all these copycat posters IMO...

 

[mctallica1]

The one thing I do not get is that one of the BIGGEST fans of the Axe-fx on TGP is going nuts waiting for his Sig-X to show up..........if that unit is sooooooooooooo good why is he dumping $2000+ for a tube amp?

For dicking around I am happy with my PODXT Pro - VHT 2/50/2 setup, good enough for my slop.

No idea who you are talking about.

But one thing I don't get, in general, is why does it have to be Axe Fx OR something else.

Just because I love my Axe doesn't negate the love I have for other amps.....this has confused me for a while

First.....not a hater but just observing others

This "person" has been stating for months that the axe-fx has replaced everything in his arsenal so he has set himself up for some bashing. He has also laughed about people comparing the axe-fx to "inferior garbage Vox and POD devices" yet randyvansykes posts a smoking Tonelab clip and he silently slinks away.


It is the fans of the axe-fx that set it up for some ridicule....just enjoy the thing and stop saying it will replace my MK IV or JVM Stop stating it burys the holy trinity of effects Eventide. TC, and Lexicon and just enjoy the box.

Peace

Even though I quoted you, my question wasn't really direted to you specifically, but rather the whole scene.

It seems like many who own an Axe do the whole Axe or nothing thing and people who don't do the same but opposite.

I just don't get it...I think it is a great unit, but that certainly doesn't make any of the amps I have owned less great

 

[tweed]

I guess being apart of the rack gear mania of the late 80's I learned that if your looking for the sound of a tube amp, there is no digital emulation that will satisfy you. Although I haven't tried the Fractal product, which I'm sure is far better than the Digitech, ART, Rocktron, and ADA stuff of the late 80's early 90's. Having owned or test driven all of the afore mentioned products, I'm very skeptical about these type of products. What I'm really shocked about is the fact that the units are backoreder @ $1750.00, maybe people are buying them soley as an effects unit, but I have a hunch people are hoping this will supply their entire sound. I was looking through an old Guitar Player magazine and they had all of these giveaways for these huge rack setups, you know "THE ULTIMATE DREAM RIG" 20 years later you can't give away the "GIVEAWAY". I'm probably completly jaded from my rack gear days, I used to think the guys using tube amp were doing out emulation or tradition, but now I understand the magic of tube amps. I'm not trying to slam AXE-FX if it works for you great. I just feel when these type of products come along they're popular for a few years, and then you take a huge hit when you sell it to buy the "NEXT GREATEST THING" when you would've been better off invetsing in the thing you're trying to emulate, a quality tube amp, which should hold it's value much better. Again, I'm not bashing the AXE-FX I've not tried the unit, I basing this on speculation,and prior expirience with like products. Great tube amps and in the recording field, analog do something digital cannot emulate at this point. This is purely ment as food for thought, I hope I'm not coming off as negative, that is not my intention. Dave

Bah, I still have my Digitech GSP21Legendpro thingy from the early 90's with pedalboard in my rack.

 

[mentoneman]

I just got on the list today. I'm not planning on using the amp models since I have both a Egnater M4 and a Triaxis but if they sound good enough to help me do some late night recording then its a bonus. I'm looking for top quality effects that can be routed any way I want them.

i can't wait for your review of this thing.

personally, if a small stereo rack rig was my goal, i couldn't think of a better choice right now than a M4 loaded w/ twin/vox/cod/sl2 to cover all real core amp family tones, and an axe-fx into a vht 50/50. triaxis would just be icing on the cake...


....but you do realize however, without the middle dry, you could never be considered a legitimate rack enthusiast.

 

[bstaley]

I just got on the list today. I'm not planning on using the amp models since I have both a Egnater M4 and a Triaxis but if they sound good enough to help me do some late night recording then its a bonus. I'm looking for top quality effects that can be routed any way I want them.

i can't wait for your review of this thing.

personally, if a small stereo rack rig was my goal, i couldn't think of a better choice right now than a M4 loaded w/ twin/vox/cod/sl2 to cover all real core amp family tones, and an axe-fx into a vht 50/50. triaxis would just be icing on the cake...


....but you do realize however, without the middle dry, you could never be considered a legitimate rack enthusiast.

According to the email I got today, the wait is going to be 3-4 months.

I'm looking forward to being able to use EQ's going into the front of my Egnater to be able to sculpt the modules tones even more. They sound killer as is but take a module like the EG5 for example and you could make it sound like a few different amps depending on how you drove the front of it.

 

[DannyM]

Lime Light was done with the Axe-FX, maybe the others too, I'm not sure.
http://www.experimentalreality.com/defa ... page=Music

 

[bstaley]

Lime Light was done with the Axe-FX, maybe the others too, I'm not sure.
http://www.experimentalreality.com/defa ... page=Music

It's a nice tone...not so much a clone of Limelight but nice nontheless.

 

[mentoneman]

I'm looking forward to being able to use EQ's going into the front of my Egnater to be able to sculpt the modules tones even more. They sound killer as is but take a module like the EG5 for example and you could make it sound like a few different amps depending on how you drove the front of it.

you read my mind, again this is why i am really looking forward to your slant on this device.

i'm really getting a great deal of tonal satisfaction stuffing the front end of my eggie TOL 100 ch.3 and 4 w/ a xotic bb preamp.
it gives me that extra 20% of tone sharpening on the meaner sounds in the eggie.

i wonder if runing the preamp of the axe fx in front of the m4 is better than m4 out to axefx preamp in....?

 

[bstaley]

I'm looking forward to being able to use EQ's going into the front of my Egnater to be able to sculpt the modules tones even more. They sound killer as is but take a module like the EG5 for example and you could make it sound like a few different amps depending on how you drove the front of it.

you read my mind, again this is why i am really looking forward to your slant on this device.

i'm really getting a great deal of tonal satisfaction stuffing the front end of my eggie TOL 100 ch.3 and 4 w/ a xotic bb preamp.
it gives me that extra 20% of tone sharpening on the meaner sounds in the eggie.

i wonder if runing the preamp of the axe fx in front of the m4 is better than m4 out to axefx preamp in....?

It wouldn't be a preamp or amp model I would be running in front of the M4. I'm thinking of something like this...

Guitar >>
>> Axe-FX In for some pre gain processing (graphic EQ, stompboxes, etc.)
>> Egnater M4 or Triaxis
>> Axe-FX EQ'ing (if needed)
>> Axe-FX time based effects (reverb/delay/chorus/etc..)

I would then send 2 lines to my VHT 2/90/2/Recto Cab and hopefully it will let me send another 2 lines to the PA using amp and cabinet emulation.