Fractal Axe II or 8

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MrDowntown

MrDowntown

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Victim's videos have gotten me rather excited about what Fractal can do....plus having seen a couple fractal artist in a live set...i'm impressed.

Though he (Victim5150) is a KILLER player, and has the FXIII...i have neither the skill set, nor the budget (most importantly) to justify a FXIII.

So... AX8 can be found used pretty reasonably,... as can the FXII? There is a used FXII local for about 1K...latest firmware updates.

thanks for any input!

MDT
 
The FX8 is pretty awesome. I had one for awhile when they first came out to replace my G-System when I was still using amps.
The fx were incredible and the routing flexibility was great.
Guess it would depend on your needs. With an Axe II you would have to keep it in a rack and still need some sort of foot controller for it whereas the FX8 is a self contained unit on the floor.
 
victim5150":2klseop1 said:
The FX8 is pretty awesome. I had one for awhile when they first came out to replace my G-System when I was still using amps.
The fx were incredible and the routing flexibility was great.
Guess it would depend on your needs. With an Axe II you would have to keep it in a rack and still need some sort of foot controller for it whereas the FX8 is a self contained unit on the floor.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind the FX8 is effects only designed to be used with a seperate preamp/amp. If you are looking for the all-in-one (i.e. effects and amp modeling, etc...) the AX8 is the one you want (although they no longer make them, they can be had used)
 
gregmusi":2yaqr45m said:
victim5150":2yaqr45m said:
The FX8 is pretty awesome. I had one for awhile when they first came out to replace my G-System when I was still using amps.
The fx were incredible and the routing flexibility was great.
Guess it would depend on your needs. With an Axe II you would have to keep it in a rack and still need some sort of foot controller for it whereas the FX8 is a self contained unit on the floor.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind the FX8 is effects only designed to be used with a seperate preamp/amp. If you are looking for the all-in-one (i.e. effects and amp modeling, etc...) the AX8 is the one you want (although they no longer make them, they can be had used)
Click to expand...

yea...sorry about that... i was talking about the amp mod board vs the rack unit. so the ax8 vs the axII
 
I just picked up an ax8 and Im really impressed with the tones. Im running it with a Fryette Powerstation through a traditional cab as well as through my PA. All are great. I have had the Kemper and Helix and for me the Ax sounds best. As far as what you should get depends on your needs. If you want a portable easy solution and need switching options for live use. The Ax8 is the way to go. If you are going to be using it at home and don't necessarily need switching options get axII you can add the MFC foot controller but from what seen those go for a few hundred dollars.
 
Depends if you want to carry a rack and foot controller with the AXII that gives you more bells and whistles or want an ultra compact all in one floorboard that has less features (still WAY more than a lot of folks will ever use). I have the AX8 and it's perfect for a gigging guitar player who has to carry his own shit. :lol: :LOL:
I drop the AX8 on the floor, run one XLR to PA, another to my monitor and that's about it. All fits in one bag. If I want to use a tube amp, it's easy to set it up 4CM. You really can't go wrong with either one.
 
gregmusi":1xrzxjny said:
victim5150":1xrzxjny said:
The FX8 is pretty awesome. I had one for awhile when they first came out to replace my G-System when I was still using amps.
The fx were incredible and the routing flexibility was great.
Guess it would depend on your needs. With an Axe II you would have to keep it in a rack and still need some sort of foot controller for it whereas the FX8 is a self contained unit on the floor.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind the FX8 is effects only designed to be used with a seperate preamp/amp. If you are looking for the all-in-one (i.e. effects and amp modeling, etc...) the AX8 is the one you want (although they no longer make them, they can be had used)
Click to expand...

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
I have the axe FX ii rack unit and it’s great. Great effects and great amp models.

In my opinion the last firmware update finally put it on par with my tube amps. The last update supposedly was the ‘ares’ update which gave it some of the enhancements the axe FX iii had at the time. Before that update I was playing my tube amps more often than the axe FX, but since that update I’ve only played them maybe 5 or 6 times. I’ve also stopped the constant tweaking.

I don’t think the AX8 got that final update like the axe FX ii did, and at this point, probably won’t.

If I were looking to buy a modeler today, I’d either get a used axe FX ii or wait for the FM3 to come out.
 
Honestly as much as I’d like to play out, with buddies or something...it never happens. So this would be for home studio stuffs.
 
I just picked up an AX8 and am not impressed with it at all, it sounds lifeless compared to my real amps, I've been directly a/bing them with the same impulse responses, the Fractal isn't close. It does give you a decent impression of what the modelled amps actually sound like, but the sound and feel are both off. It'll be sold before long.

They obviously have their place and some people may like them but just my 0.02c...
 
I thought the AX8 was awesome.

Afaik, the main difference is that the axe can combine 2 amps at once or something along those lines. Maybe has a more powerful processor if im not mistaken.

Otherwise similar
 
Wait for the FM3. The AX8 was such a pain in the ass to tweak unless you drag around a laptop to access it with Axe Edit. PLus with the AX8 when you add some effects it would often run out of memory and would cut off the reverb or delay. It had no headphone jack and wasn't a USB interface, it was a bit long in the tooth. While the AX8 sounded better than the Helix IMHO the Helix was soooo far ahead in every other area and it sounds about as good after you use 3rd party cab IR's.
 
If you are expecting it to match your tube amps it won't. But, I found for the best feel/tone you had to run the AX8 through a tube power amp and a 4x12. Didn't like it at all through FRFR...just way too fake in every way. For the money thought the AX8 is a good deal, and you have plenty of options/effects with that unit. No need for the bigger versions if you are looking for great FX and presets. But my experience was that it's really not that close to a tube amp, at all. But it does sound really good for a modeler/processor.
 
I'm a huge Fractal fanboy and feel guilty because ever since I got my Friedman JJ Jr., I haven't touched my Axe-Fx II. To be honest though, I was always using the Friedman emulations anyway.

I always said that if my Axe-Fx II broke down, I'd get a "III" but I just don't know if I can justify it now. I know I'd love the tones, etc. but I've gone a bit simpler with tones these days.
 
Diezel123":3q4dtx9m said:
I just picked up an AX8 and am not impressed with it at all, it sounds lifeless compared to my real amps, I've been directly a/bing them with the same impulse responses, the Fractal isn't close. It does give you a decent impression of what the modelled amps actually sound like, but the sound and feel are both off. It'll be sold before long.

They obviously have their place and some people may like them but just my 0.02c...
Click to expand...
You should try to a/b them both through a PA system. AX8 direct to the board and your amps and cabs mic’ed up and through the PA. It’s a more accurate comparison.
 
victim5150":po67801c said:
Diezel123":po67801c said:
I just picked up an AX8 and am not impressed with it at all, it sounds lifeless compared to my real amps, I've been directly a/bing them with the same impulse responses, the Fractal isn't close. It does give you a decent impression of what the modelled amps actually sound like, but the sound and feel are both off. It'll be sold before long.

They obviously have their place and some people may like them but just my 0.02c...
Click to expand...
You should try to a/b them both through a PA system. AX8 direct to the board and your amps and cabs mic’ed up and through the PA. It’s a more accurate comparison.
Click to expand...

I have an aby splitter running to the AX8 and one amp being fed through one of the two notes to the pc. Both into the same interface. Only other real variable is the two notes.. otherwise identical signal chain. I compared it against all 4 of my amps... the AX8 is just not close. It's definitely better when running into the FX loop of one of the amps out through a cab but I don't see the point in doing that, may as well just use the real amp.
 
Racerxrated":13mok6tq said:
If you are expecting it to match your tube amps it won't. But, I found for the best feel/tone you had to run the AX8 through a tube power amp and a 4x12. Didn't like it at all through FRFR...just way too fake in every way. For the money thought the AX8 is a good deal, and you have plenty of options/effects with that unit. No need for the bigger versions if you are looking for great FX and presets. But my experience was that it's really not that close to a tube amp, at all. But it does sound really good for a modeler/processor.
Click to expand...


This is why I haven't moved yet. When I record, I go direct with sims in the box. The end results are better than I could get with a mic on my amps, but I can't stand the feel. I actually ended up splitting the signal and running one to my real amp, just to have that sound and feel. I love the youtube videos of watching guys use them, it sounds awesome, but that feel, it's just off.
 
I think the Fractal Audio Axe FX II or III is a great amp & cab simulations/effects processor! You'll have to take the time to program & dial in your presets through a mixer to make it sound good live and there's a learning curve to it which requires reading the owners manual. Most guys I know who use this type of set up also have the powered FRFR cabs for live playing. As for me, I prefer using tube amp heads or combos and the Fractal Audio FX-8. I just want effects that are pre & post amp along with control over the amp's channel switching via MIDI or the relays on the FX-8, and not using the FX-8 solely as a MIDI controller over the whole guitar rig. I wanted to eliminate the guitar rack and seperate MIDI controller that I've been dealing with for years.

Guitar George
 
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