Axe-FX (A Love Story?) Rd.1

[paisleywookiee]

Oh, it's definitely functional. Don't get me wrong. It's mainly the way that buttons do different things in different contexts without any indication of what it will be until you memorize each case. Like how clicking the big knob often does nothing; sometimes works like a back button... and enter? It appears to only be "enter" in very limited cases.

Full disclosure, I am a weirdo who likes challenges and puzzles and this sort of madness actually appeals to me. I enjoy conquering things like this and learning them back-to-front. But thinking in terms of sane people who just want to buy a thing and be able to operate it, I can see very clearly where the reputation has come from. It's a scattershot UI of inconsistent controls, menu diving, screen tabbing, context-dependent button functionality (which rarely matches the text above the button)... sometimes the scroll wheel navigates, sometimes the arrow keys navigate... etc.

Consider this horse fully beateth by me. I'm not complaining so much as sharing first-time impressions from a longtime Helix user, new Fractal user.

I agree, and it’s all super valid for sure. Helix got it down the first time, it’s the best UI, IMO. That’s why it’s funny to me when people complain about it not having a touchscreen.

 

[Stone]

Oh, it's definitely functional. Don't get me wrong. It's mainly the way that buttons do different things in different contexts without any indication of what it will be until you memorize each case. Like how clicking the big knob often does nothing; sometimes works like a back button... and enter? It appears to only be "enter" in very limited cases.

Full disclosure, I am a weirdo who likes challenges and puzzles and this sort of madness actually appeals to me. I enjoy conquering things like this and learning them back-to-front. But thinking in terms of sane people who just want to buy a thing and be able to operate it, I can see very clearly where the reputation has come from. It's a scattershot UI of inconsistent controls, menu diving, screen tabbing, context-dependent button functionality (which rarely matches the text above the button)... sometimes the scroll wheel navigates, sometimes the arrow keys navigate... etc.

Consider this horse fully beateth by me. I'm not complaining so much as sharing first-time impressions from a longtime Helix user, new Fractal user.

There certainly are things that I miss in the Helix, main thing is the ease of use of snapshots
Works differently in the FM9and is less intuitive, on the other hand blocks are amazing as are A few other features
Ill keep saying it nothing is perfect always trade offs
Just have to pick what's best for you

 

[SwirlyMaple]

There certainly are things that I miss in the Helix, main thing is the ease of use of snapshots
Works differently in the FM9and is less intuitive, on the other hand blocks are amazing as are A few other features
Ill keep saying it nothing is perfect always trade offs
Just have to pick what's best for you

Yeah man. This is why I'm keeping both. I love the ol' Helix way too much to part with it and I'm at least 95% happy with everything it does (except the JCM and the lack of stock Marshalls). I bought the Fractal for perspective and to be able to compare both without just speaking directly out of my butt

The big thing I hope I didn't lose in the messaging is that both are clearly GREAT. When I'm giving opinions and critiques about either, it's not because I'm trying to say one is bad. I'm stacking up differentiators between two incredibly solid products that are at the top of their league, like comparing elite athletes and their scoring stats.

 

[la szum]

Not like the HX Stomp, which is really easy to use without even looking at a manual.

I know a Bass Player who could put that theory to the test.

In fact, he has, and does.

 

[SwirlyMaple]

I know a Bass Player who could put that theory to the test.

One of my buddies bought a Stomp and struggled with it initially. After a couple days though, it clicked for him. It is a bit harder to operate than the full-fat Helix Floor because of the condensed screen and controls. There's a learning curve with everything but the slope of that curve can vary

 

[la szum]

Yeah man. This is why I'm keeping both. I love the ol' Helix way too much to part with it and I'm at least 95% happy with everything it does (except the JCM and the lack of stock Marshalls). I bought the Fractal for perspective and to be able to compare both without just speaking directly out of my butt

The big thing I hope I didn't lose in the messaging is that both are clearly GREAT. When I'm giving opinions and critiques about either, it's not because I'm trying to say one is bad. I'm stacking up differentiators between two incredibly solid products that are at the top of their league, like comparing elite athletes and their scoring stats.

Laughing in Butt Speak right now.

I keep meaning to get pics at practice, where I plan to put my Fractal next to my friend's
Helix or Headrush Prime. Hell, why not all 3??

The notion that you can't use this or that, or that one thing can't exist in the same space
as another is kind of silly. Ok, not kind of.

 

[la szum]

Modeller Peace Accords.

Thread forthcoming.

 

[OrganicZed]

I agree with a lot of the critiques about the onboard UI of FAS devices. I am proficient on the front panel and make more use of it than the editor. That said, it did take a while to learn the on device navigation. I would gladly welcome a revamped UI on a future product.

A lot of people find the editor to be easier to use and I agree. That makes the on device UI issue less important for most people.

One thing that often gets overlooked in the UI discussion is the foot control interface for live use. In that respect I would argue that Fractal has the best UI available. Their foot controllers are super flexible. Latching / momentary, tap and hold, layouts, layout links, and the list goes on. The switches are robust, well spaced, have custom assignable scribble scripts, and user assignable colors and brightness settings. The only foot controller that offers more that I’m aware of are the RJM offerings which are amazing and very expensive.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I know a Bass Player who could put that theory to the test.

In fact, he has, and does.

Whoa whoa, that’s a completely different topic, bass players. Yeah maybe something like a Sansamp is more their speed.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Yeah man. This is why I'm keeping both. I love the ol' Helix way too much to part with it and I'm at least 95% happy with everything it does (except the JCM and the lack of stock Marshalls). I bought the Fractal for perspective and to be able to compare both without just speaking directly out of my butt

The big thing I hope I didn't lose in the messaging is that both are clearly GREAT. When I'm giving opinions and critiques about either, it's not because I'm trying to say one is bad. I'm stacking up differentiators between two incredibly solid products that are at the top of their league, like comparing elite athletes and their scoring stats.

And whilst I’m mostly in the Fractal wheelhouse, I’m dying to get another Stomp (as soon as my car decides to keep rolling for awhile). It’s such a fantastic device, both in terms of sound and functionality, as well as the killer size. There’s nothing else like it.

 

[Whizzinby]

Success.

Setting up the input block and spamming the enter key to shunt is half the battle. Pretty straightforward from there to build my basic clean patch. Got bold and decided to build a couple scenes. Not terribly bad, just tedious.

It did take a few minutes to figure out how to name the preset.

Current questions

• How do I access my blocks library from the device? I used page to toggle through all the screens for the block and didn’t see anything for the library.
• Is there a way to skip to the first blank preset? I spent probably 5 minutes scrolling to the end of the 300 and something presets to get to the first open one. I didn’t see how to get to the list view of presets which I presumably could use to speed up getting to the end.

Onward to victory

 

[Stone]

For anything Modeling its the only 2, Fractal and Helix, then there's the others
Maybe Bob might disagree lol

 

[SwirlyMaple]

Now that I've done my "cold turkey, no reading of manual" initial impression, I'm digging in more with the (well-written!) manual. Also installed FM9-Edit, which looks great. I'm liking what I'm seeing. A lot of power in this device for a very high degree of customization. Also, the always-on tuner is very nice to have at a glance. Love that.

 

[Stone]

Now that I've done my "cold turkey, no reading of manual" initial impression, I'm digging in more with the (well-written!) manual. Also installed FM9-Edit, which looks great. I'm liking what I'm seeing. A lot of power in this device for a very high degree of customization.

Thats the beauty, you can use it as simple as you wish, tone tab, , or you can tweak it to the Nth degree up to you if you like
I use the quite a few of the deep paraments that are very powerful
And it don't take me long to get where I am
Oh also the blocks are amazing, download Leons blocks load, make some minor tweaks and Bobs your uncle

 

[jellodog]

How do I access my blocks library from the device? I used page to toggle through all the screens for the block and didn’t see anything

I would guess that the thinking here is that if you're using your blocks library, that's stored on your computer; in which case you'd already be connected to your computer if you wanted to load from it, so it's only available in the desktop editor?

 

[Whizzinby]

Now that I've done my "cold turkey, no reading of manual" initial impression, I'm digging in more with the (well-written!) manual. Also installed FM9-Edit, which looks great. I'm liking what I'm seeing. A lot of power in this device for a very high degree of customization. Also, the always-on tuner is very nice to have at a glance. Love that.

Yes! The always on tuner is fantastic. It’s one of those little things that ends up being a big feature.

 

[TSJMajesty]

• How do I access my blocks library from the device?

I don't think you can.

• Is there a way to skip to the first blank preset?

Page rt 3x's and you'll see the list. Then navigate rt. (This is on the Axe III, but I'm pretty sure the FM's work the same way in this instance.)

 

[Whizzinby]

I would guess that the thinking here is that if you're using your blocks library, that's stored on your computer; in which case you'd already be connected to your computer if you wanted to load from it, so it's only available in the desktop editor?

Ahh. I thought it imported them to the device.

Feature request?

 

[jellodog]

Ahh. I thought it imported them to the device.

I mean, I might be wrong - I've never even tried to load the blocks library on the device or expected it to be there. Just guessing!

 

[la szum]

One thing that often gets overlooked in the UI discussion is the foot control interface for live use. In that respect I would argue that Fractal has the best UI available. Their foot controllers are super flexible. Latching / momentary, tap and hold, layouts, layout links, and the list goes on. The switches are robust, well spaced, have custom assignable scribble scripts, and user assignable colors and brightness settings. The only foot controller that offers more that I’m aware of are the RJM offerings which are amazing and very expensive.

Great mention! That versatility still blows me away.