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Axe FX III
Dec 21, 2019 14:41:26 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by svart on Dec 21, 2019 14:41:26 GMT -6
I just played the Princeton preset (great great sound, just like my buddy's Princeton) and then updated the unit from 11.00 to 11.02. It's absolutely different. Brighter. I need to get used to the idea that the sound of the AF3 is a moving target. It's not a bad thing, but a thing. And to save my configuration per FW release in case I want to roll back. I don't feel the need now but it's good practice. A good thing about Fractal is they don't appear to be adverse to backing out changes if the sound of the unit drifts in an unintended direction. They seem to be very responsive to user feedback. I saved all my banks, etc. When I downgraded, it lost the preset that I was on, but none of the others. I then read that people go to empty presets just in case this happens. |
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 21, 2019 14:51:26 GMT -6
So, I had the Axe-FX III in my cart ready to pull the trigger. Not 100% sure I should. Took one last look on Reverb, just to see. Came across this: reverb.com/item/30740920-fractal-axe-fx-iiiA guy selling his AX3, with a Kemper in the same photo. I asked him what he thought. "Long story short for me is that the Axe would be a single unit powerhouse that is capable on its own to be all that you need. The Kemper works for me only if I build some pedalboard to go with it to cover its deficiency (for me) in flexibility of wet FX and drives. That said, I have more easily attainable amazing clean and edge of breakup tones available that I love on the Kemper. Such a short path to great tone. So, I'm moving toward just using the Kemper with a sliding tray with a couple of my favorite drives and wets on it. I'll give up a huge amount of FX capabilities for things like chorus, pitch shifting, and beyond. You won't go wrong either way. This weekend, I'm running the Kemper in the Axe Loop, so I get all the amazing wet FX and drive pedals from the Axe and the amps from the Kemper. Also, Axe FX wins on the computer interface program. Its money."So I asked him which had the more realistic amp sounds. "Coin toss on realism depending on what amp you're trying to create. I can make the Matchless Chieftain sound almost the same on both systems, but I got there in 1/10th of the time on the Kemper. The Kemper has more amps on it that I like, and they do feel a touch more real to me than the Axe, possibly because I'm not good enough at dialing in what I'm after on the Axe. There are literally millions of combinations of dials to use on the Axe FX. Tweakers paradise. You'll be happy either way I think. Just get one and resell it if you don't love it. You won't lose much. Thats what I did with the Kemper and it won out for me!"Obviously, opinions are like assholes, but I still find a mixed bag of reviews concerning Axe vs. Kemper. Urgh. I want to get this thing in my hands. My rationale brain is telling me the grass isn't always greener. I know I would get lost in the tweaking. I mean, I'm having this much indecision between TWO choices. Imagine hundreds of choices... So, you’ve been on this board for what - 7 years - but this one guy (who I now consider to be touched in the head) has trumped all of that? Pull the trigger and see for yourself. There’s a return policy. Btw - I had every Matchless profile made. None of them. I mean none of them sounded like the two in the Axe FX. I totally get it. And I'm looking for reasons not to drop $2k. I probably weigh those opinions more than I should. Damnit man. |
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Post by svart on Dec 21, 2019 14:51:26 GMT -6
Ok, I took a few bars of me playing on 11.02, then downgraded to 11.00 and reset the first bank of presets since it lost one then played the same chords..
Pretty much the same.
I swore I heard a difference. I would have bet money.
Now I don't hear it with an A/B test at all.
Multiple power cycles were involved but I'm willing to go ahead and say it must've been in my damn head.
A/B don't lie.
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Post by indiehouse on Dec 21, 2019 14:54:46 GMT -6
Sometimes I feel like the Kemper has this compression that I can never get dialed out, and kinda makes things feel a little flat sometimes. Does the Axe have this? Do you know what I mean, or is it just me?
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Axe FX III
Dec 21, 2019 15:32:19 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 21, 2019 15:32:19 GMT -6
So weird. I downgraded to 11.01 to see if I was crazy. Started playing and to my ears, it confirmed what I thought. So then to double check, I went to 11.02 again. Now I don’t hear it as much. I do find I need to tame the top more in 11.02, but maybe that’s just more resolution that I’m hearing. Or maybe the second time updating worked like it was supposed to. Or maybe there was never anything in the first place. matt - the kerrrang is a good way to describe things...I really don’t know how to describe it...but the Kemper doesn’t do it. I just played the Princeton preset (great great sound, just like my buddy's Princeton) and then updated the unit from 11.00 to 11.02. It's absolutely different. Brighter. Maybe less mids too. I think 11.00 had a more "real" presentation of the Princeton that I'm familiar with. In 11.02 I had to turn the amp treble down almost 2dB to get it more like I know it. Dude. Thank you. I’m currently being made fun of at the fractal forum for saying .02 sounds different. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 21, 2019 15:35:52 GMT -6
Ok, I took a few bars of me playing on 11.02, then downgraded to 11.00 and reset the first bank of presets since it lost one then played the same chords.. Pretty much the same. I swore I heard a difference. I would have bet money. Now I don't hear it with an A/B test at all. Multiple power cycles were involved but I'm willing to go ahead and say it must've been in my damn head. A/B don't lie. Doh. Ok. Lol. I still think I’m turning the treble down on .02 more. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 21, 2019 15:36:48 GMT -6
Sometimes I feel like the Kemper has this compression that I can never get dialed out, and kinda makes things feel a little flat sometimes. Does the Axe have this? Do you know what I mean, or is it just me? I kind of described it as not being dynamic. Like, the sound didn’t live and breathe like a real amp. |
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Axe FX III
Dec 21, 2019 15:45:23 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 21, 2019 15:45:23 GMT -6
I read on the fractal forum that some people in the past had reported that an update didn’t sound right until they installed for the second time. Who knows. Can’t remember if I posted this, but I also recorded 11.02 a couple of bars, downgraded to 11.01...and yeah. It sounded the same. But that was the second time I had installed. Anyway...I’m gonna quit obsessing. It sounds great.
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Post by matt on Dec 21, 2019 15:48:53 GMT -6
Sometimes I feel like the Kemper has this compression that I can never get dialed out Yes. I'm going to use another clumsy comparison and call the profiles produced by the Kemper somewhat "2D" to my ears. I interpret what I hear, regardless of the profile, as being of a certain dynamic range, perhaps limited somehow by the profiling process itself, which impacts the tonality in a way that I can never dial out. Is it a lack of responsiveness, of "feel"? I'm not sure, but whatever it is, it bothers me, and leaves me unsatisfied. I also found that if I stray very far from the original profile -say, turn down the gain significantly- the tone is not as satisfying. That's enough about the Kemper; I'll hold off on any more comments about it. It is clearly a very popular device and has thousands of devotees. What works for them, works. And that's what it is all about. |
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Post by dmo on Dec 21, 2019 16:19:04 GMT -6
John,
You're not the first to get flack if your impression goes against the masses on the fractal site, part of why I stopped spending too much time there. Years ago a few folks complained the presets were bass heavy, soon a lot of flaming back and forth, a few folks left the forum permanently. I still find most stock presets bass heavy for my guitar/taste - but not going to argue about it online - I just back it off and enjoy the tone.
One of the things I like about RGO is that here dissenting opinions are usually respected - enjoy your tone search
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Axe FX III
Dec 21, 2019 18:17:52 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by svart on Dec 21, 2019 18:17:52 GMT -6
Ok, I took a few bars of me playing on 11.02, then downgraded to 11.00 and reset the first bank of presets since it lost one then played the same chords.. Pretty much the same. I swore I heard a difference. I would have bet money. Now I don't hear it with an A/B test at all. Multiple power cycles were involved but I'm willing to go ahead and say it must've been in my damn head. A/B don't lie. Doh. Ok. Lol. I still think I’m turning the treble down on .02 more. Man I swear I heard the difference too. I don't know why or how. It was absolutely brighter to me after updating, but later when I did the A/B it didn't sound any different. |
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Post by svart on Dec 22, 2019 14:31:27 GMT -6
I've finally gone through all the presets. Wow this thing can do all kinds of crazy effects.
I built a SVT preset and it's pretty damn close as well.
Now to start using it instead of playing around.
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Post by dmo on Dec 22, 2019 19:27:42 GMT -6
Sharing from the fractal forum - pretty impressive Zepellin tone matching IMO.
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Post by matt on Dec 22, 2019 22:54:12 GMT -6
I've been too stuck on my Marshall quest. Brett Kingman does Keith:
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 23, 2019 8:57:51 GMT -6
I spent $75 (more) on the Austin Buddy Naked Amp presets. It’s kind’ve caught in between because he hasn’t updated all for 11.02...but honestly, I have preferred the Leon Todd and Burg presets you can get free on the Axechange. Gonna go grab that Keith one. That’s killer.
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Post by svart on Dec 23, 2019 10:59:23 GMT -6
What I'd really like is a comprehensive list of the best sims for each amp. It'd be even better if it was a bundle.
Like a pack that had the best ac15/30, best orange rocker, best fender tweed, etc.
I don't want to buy whole packs just for single amps and such.
I guess my only gripe so far is that there's a billion cab sims and they're only slightly different, which is not really enough to make it easy to choose!
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Axe FX III
Dec 23, 2019 11:19:45 GMT -6
via mobile
Post by Johnkenn on Dec 23, 2019 11:19:45 GMT -6
What I'd really like is a comprehensive list of the best sims for each amp. It'd be even better if it was a bundle. Like a pack that had the best ac15/30, best orange rocker, best fender tweed, etc. I don't want to buy whole packs just for single amps and such. I guess my only gripe so far is that there's a billion cab sims and they're only slightly different, which is not really enough to make it easy to choose! Well, that’s incredibly subjective. All the amps are the same amp...although you can tweak it a thousand different ways...Each cab has 20 or so different options that can be combined so thousands of options there. I guess the Austin buddy stuff does do that for you - but it’s his opinion which cab(s) sounds the best. It’s been pretty amazing just cycling through just the three Princeton options and changing cabs. Just an enormous range of sounds you can get. |
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Post by matt on Dec 23, 2019 11:45:39 GMT -6
I guess my only gripe so far is that there's a billion cab sims and they're only slightly different, which is not really enough to make it easy to choose! It’s been pretty amazing just cycling through just the three Princeton options and changing cabs. Just an enormous range of sounds you can get. Yes, IMO the cabinet IR or blend of them chosen makes or breaks the final tone. It's a key element, and for better or worse has the skill and subjective taste of the IR maker built into it. I'm finding that many of the 412 IRs are just too bright but there's so many to audition. As svart says, it's an embarrassment of riches, and cycling through them is a task! And I'm not even blending yet- one thing at a time. I can see why there's an aftermarket for cabinet IRs. This aspect of amp modeling has the art of recording guitar cabinets embedded in the results. Golden eared engineers who perfect the IR snapshot process will get my business. I may try one of the latest York Audio packs just to see what's what. |
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Post by BenjaminAshlin on Dec 25, 2019 4:33:46 GMT -6
It’s been pretty amazing just cycling through just the three Princeton options and changing cabs. Just an enormous range of sounds you can get. Yes, IMO the cabinet IR or blend of them chosen makes or breaks the final tone. It's a key element, and for better or worse has the skill and subjective taste of the IR maker built into it. I'm finding that many of the 412 IRs are just too bright but there's so many to audition. As svart says, it's an embarrassment of riches, and cycling through them is a task! And I'm not even blending yet- one thing at a time. I can see why there's an aftermarket for cabinet IRs. This aspect of amp modeling has the art of recording guitar cabinets embedded in the results. Golden eared engineers who perfect the IR snapshot process will get my business. I may try one of the latest York Audio packs just to see what's what. This is one area where the Helix software fell flat. The stock IRs were poor. Luckily there are a lot of good IRs out there. Its also not hard to make your own. |
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Post by Tbone81 on Dec 26, 2019 14:09:23 GMT -6
Hey guys, you all got me really drooling for this. I have a pretty detailed question about routing for ya'll though.
Q) Can you route post fx to a different pair of outputs, along with the DI, and amp sim outputs, each getting their own discreet outs? For example could I do the following:
Output 1: Guitar (post amp/cab sim)
Output 2: DI
Output 3&4: Delay and reverb (fx being fed from the amp/cab sim)
So the signal would be guitar -> amp/cab -> reverb & delay
But each would have its own output.
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 26, 2019 15:51:08 GMT -6
Hey guys, you all got me really drooling for this. I have a pretty detailed question about routing for ya'll though. Q) Can you route post fx to a different pair of outputs, along with the DI, and amp sim outputs, each getting their own discreet outs? For example could I do the following: Output 1: Guitar (post amp/cab sim) Output 2: DI Output 3&4: Delay and reverb (fx being fed from the amp/cab sim) So the signal would be guitar -> amp/cab -> reverb & delay But each would have its own output. Pretty sure all that can be done. Here’s a quote from the fractal forum in a thread about the Austin buddy presets. So the idea is: Out1 - main out, to FOH and/or stage monitors Out2 - secondary main out, in case you need to split monitors out from FOH out. You can mirror Out1 to Out2, or use Global GEQ to adjust Outp2 if to on-stage gear. You could also use this for In-ears Out3 - for power amp/cab. This does tap directly off the amp before the cab and any wet effects, so it is not going to sound like I designed it exactly (cabs are half the sound) but it IS a built-in option and you can use the GEQ on a per-preset basis to adjust for your own power amp/cab setup Out4 - extra signal out, could use for In-ears. |
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Post by matt on Dec 27, 2019 16:13:17 GMT -6
There is another beta AF3 firmware release out: AF3 firmware 11.02 beta 3Fractal Admin comments that the preamp modeling has been rolled back to 11.01 version. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Dec 27, 2019 17:01:58 GMT -6
There is another beta AF3 firmware release out: AF3 firmware 11.02 beta 3Fractal Admin comments that the preamp modeling has been rolled back to 11.01 version. Wonder if they figured out it didn’t sounded too brite? Lol |
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Post by matt on Dec 27, 2019 17:14:04 GMT -6
There is another beta AF3 firmware release out: AF3 firmware 11.02 beta 3Fractal Admin comments that the preamp modeling has been rolled back to 11.01 version. Wonder if they figured out it didn’t sounded too brite? Lol Yeah, no doubt. Most likely an unintended effect. I imagine it's a pretty complex thing to get right. |
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Post by askomiko on Dec 30, 2019 10:41:21 GMT -6
I also got an Axe3 to replace my Axe2 recently. I didn't have them side by side for A/B, but I feel the feel is improved. Of course it is, since this has more lights and is bigger. But other than that, the new i/o possibilities and connections are great. The only thing limiting my sounds is me and my imagination. And perhaps guitars too. This thing is sensitive, it hears the player and guitar, and doesn't make everything sound the same like lesser modelers. Tweak your guitar, pick attack, string gauge, etc...
The new floor pedal is a breeze to program too. I'm too lazy to take advantage of 10% of what it can do though...
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