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

[JiveTurkey]

Grab yourself some block libraries

 

[Frodebro]

My initial 45 minute play through can’t really drive too many opinions, but….

This may sound stupid but the first thing I like is the tuner. I was using the Neural plugs this morning and depending on which plugin the tuner is optimized for a crack head. Looks likes someone taking a polygraph, so you kind of guess. The FM3 tuner is super stable. Good start. lol

I’m using the editor because the device UI looks… interesting. Questions:

• Channels. The blocks all seem to have A-D, I’m assuming I can save custom settings for each block under those channels?
  • Looks like the cab blocks has four channels too, if so that’s badass to have four different settings of different cabs.
• I’ve heard people say “authentic tab” before, but I don’t see it. Is that the “Tone” tab? That seems to be the most basic tab per block, “Ideal” looks like where the fun begins with 37 knobs.
• Can I use the new Cab Lab 4 thing with the Turtle edition?

Tonally way too early, but the dual verb/twin preset is super nice. Chorus tones on it are fantastic. Plexi preset very good. Dove into the dual rec preset because of JT. Very good, very recto, fat booty and all. lol. Found the way to change power amp tubes, sweet love of God that’s badass to be able to change. Swapped to el34’s on the recto. Was fire.

Everything sounds pretty crisp.

Channels: You can have four of the same amp with different settings, or you can have four completely different amps with whatever settings you want. This is true of most blocks, so for the chorus block you can have four different types of chorus, etc. The different channels can be selected via scenes, or you can toggle through them if you decide to go that route.

Authentic/ideal tabs:Authentic is the top menu, it gives you just the exact controls you would find on that specific amp. Ideal gives you additional parameters to tweak. It gets deeper as you move down the list, and very deep if you feel frisky. Want an AC-30 with 6L6s in the power section? you can do that. Or a Twin Reverb with a Plexi tone stack. You can do that, too.

I‘m not sure about the new Cab Lab, as I have been using the Axe 3 more than the FM3 lately and haven’t been following the updates on the FM3 at all.

As far as the editor versus the UI on the unit itself, what helped me considerably was to stick with the editor until I was pretty familiar with everything, then I dug into editing on the unit. The UI on the unit is actually quite intuitive, but there is so much to play with in these things that it feels overwhelming until you get a little time in with it. It’s actually not complicated at all, just deep.

 

[TubeStack]

Definitely try the Cornford MK50 (Cornfed). Ended up being my favourite.

 

[Whizzinby]

Grab yourself some block libraries

I don’t even know what that means yet.

I’m trying to figure out

1. Can I update the device from FM3 Edit, or is it a manual download process
2. Can I run Dyna cabs with the Turtle edition, and if so how
3. Can I run Cab Lab 4 with the Turtle edition, and if so how

 

[Whizzinby]

Channels: You can have four of the same amp with different settings, or you can have four completely different amps with whatever settings you want. This is true of most blocks, so for the chorus block you can have four different types of chorus, etc. The different channels can be selected via scenes, or you can toggle through them if you decide to go that route.

Ok now that’s awesome. I thought the FM3 limited you to one amp per preset. If I can have different amps per channel from that one amp block that eliminates the limitation I thought I’d have.

 

[TubeStack]

I did almost all my editing on the unit and preferred it, overall. Real knobs and buttons FTW. Got to be super fast with it. Only used the editor for preset organizing.

 

[la szum]

I don’t even know what that means yet.

I’m trying to figure out

1. Can I update the device from FM3 Edit, or is it a manual download process
2. Can I run Dyna cabs with the Turtle edition, and if so how
3. Can I run Cab Lab 4 with the Turtle edition, and if so how

Yes to all of the above.



Fractal Bot within FM-Edit is your friend. Can be found under the Tools Tab up top. It will guide you
through the update process.


I suspect it came with Dyna Cabs if it is direct from Fractal. You can select Dyna Cabs in the Cab Block. Legacy

is still the default. Lower left in the Cab Block under type select Dyna.

 

[Frodebro]

Ok now that’s awesome. I thought the FM3 limited you to one amp per preset. If I can have different amps per channel from that one amp block that eliminates the limitation I thought I’d have.

The FM3 allows only one amp block, but within that block is the four channels.

 

[Mongillo19]

The FM3 allows only one amp block, but within that block is the four channels.

And that goes for all blocks, right? Having 4 channels

 

[norminal]

I did almost all my editing on the unit and preferred it, overall. Real knobs and buttons FTW. Got to be super fast with it. Only used the editor for preset organizing.

That’s how I roll on the FM3/Axe-FX III. Aside from preset and IR management, I find it much faster than using a mouse.

 

[Frodebro]

And that goes for all blocks, right? Having 4 channels

I believe so, yes. I don’t recall any amp/effect blocks that don’t have four channels.

 

[Whizzinby]

The FM3 allows only one amp block, but within that block is the four channels.

That’s awesome. I thought you could only have literally one amp per preset. If I can have four via channels then it’s more than I’d ever want in a preset.

 

[DrewJD82]

Grab yourself some block libraries

I was going to suggest this after I saw his post about the chorus. Definitely snag Leon’s block stash and load it up, there’s SO MUCH KILLER SHIT IN THERE!!!!!

 

[paisleywookiee]

As a a related side note; I look forward to the more informed perspective this will give the Modeler Wars episodes

Journalism is best when there are multiple sources to corroborate the information.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I was going to suggest this after I saw his post about the chorus. Definitely snag Leon’s block stash and load it up, there’s SO MUCH KILLER SHIT IN THERE!!!!!

Where's his block stash? Someone pointed me at it, and now I can't find the goddamned post.

 

[DrewJD82]

I don’t even know what that means yet.

I’m trying to figure out

1. Can I update the device from FM3 Edit, or is it a manual download process
2. Can I run Dyna cabs with the Turtle edition, and if so how
3. Can I run Cab Lab 4 with the Turtle edition, and if so how

As LA said, yes to all, however, beta’s won’t pop up via the editor, just the final FW releases. I’ve never actually updated via AxeEdit, so I’m not sure if you need Fractal Bot or not, that’s all I’ve ever used.

 

[DrewJD82]

Where's his block stash? Someone pointed me at it, and now I can't find the goddamned post.

This should be a sticky at the FAS forum- https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/blocks-library-updated-for-2023.187414/

 

[texhex]

That’s awesome. I thought you could only have literally one amp per preset. If I can have four via channels then it’s more than I’d ever want in a preset.

One of the greatest things about the Fractal stuff is the editor. Seriously, it blows everything else away.

If you do nothing else spend a few minutes and watch these two videos.

Watch this:




Then this:

 

[gearJunkie]

Number of blocks and channels...

 

[Will Chen]

Congrats! Have fun.