Originally Posted by
Eric
Hi all,
Been doing some reading recently, and I was wondering what you think something like Axe-FX will do to amp modeling. It seems to receive almost universal praise from those who have one, most notably (on here, anyway) Plank. I'm very curious about the whole amp-modeling movement in general, and this seems to be a very large leap forward in the technology.
I don't own any high-end gear, so an $1800 modeler is obviously out of the question for me, but do you think some of the things implemented by Fractal Audio will be picked up by other manufacturers? What lessons do you think the industry learned as a whole? What is it that makes Axe-FX so much more effective than other modelers, anyway?
Curious for your input on the subject.
The Axe FX set a new benchmark in sound quality and life like amp response for modelers. It is a very large leap in modelling technology. Fractal Audio invested a lot of time and money getting it right. The Axe FX also offers tweakable parameters that just aren't available with other modelers. Their approach is not to model an amp per se, but to let the user build his own amp within a patch with the ability to change such parameters as output transformers and speaker sim impulse response. I think this is what really sets the Axe FX apart from the herd. Fractal is also listening carefully to its customers and is continually improving and releasing new firmware, so the Axe Fx never really gets old.....it's a continuously improving product. Their customer support is beyond repproach - Cliff, the owner and designer, handles a lot of it personally and is sincerely behind his products.
Fractal raised the bar high, but it's a very competitve industry that I'm sure will respond to it.
Guitars: 2008 Gibson SG Classic, 2006 Gibson Les Paul Standard LE, 2002 Gibson SG Supreme, 2001 Gibson Les Paul Studio Plus, 1996 Les Paul Studio Gem, American Deluxe Double Fat Strat, Bluesville "Super" Strat Copy, MIK Fender "Limited Edition" Tele, JD Bluesville "Night Pilot", Yamaha AES 820, Steinberger Spirit GT Pro, Taylor 355CE, Ovation 1897 Adamas, Ovation CC057 Celebrity
Amps: Axe FX centered rack rig, Mesa 4x12 cab. Germino Club 40, Johnson JM150 Millennium, Johnson JM250 Millennium, Gibson Titan Medalist Frankenstein.
Effects: Tonebone Trimode, EH Holy Grail, Boss CH-1, Dunlop Crybaby Classic, Framptone Amp Switcher, THD Hot Plate, Yamaha AG Stomp Acoustic Processor, Boss BCB-60 Pedal Board.