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

[Mongillo19]

I wonder how it can sound spot on.... because no one has ever been able to make a Fuzz Factory
sound the same two times in a row.

I'd love to hear it, though.

Hence why I have the real life pedal now. I believe the setting was for Muse specifically

 

[Whizzinby]

Swirly FM9 Day Two Update:

• Familiarized myself with the onboard UI. Usable now, and efficient enough for most things, once you already know what you're looking for and where to find it. Still find myself occasionally hitting buttons that take me to places I didn't intend to go, though.
• FM9 Edit is great. I think for newbies like myself, starting with it is best, so you learn what is available and how the system is laid out. Then learn the onboard UI so you have a mental context of all the pieces, and you just need to build a mental map of where it lives onboard.
• I wish there were more DynaCab options. There are so many amp models, but many of them don't have matching DynaCabs, and there isn't a ton of speaker+cab variety in the current DynaCabs either. Compare this to Helix, where every amp has DyncaCab-equivalent models for its matching stock cab.
  • This is a pretty glaring hole to me, considering how much of an amp's characteristic sound comes from its cab. The legacy IR library isn't a ton of help, because it has some holes too, and you only get a handful of mic types/positions from discrete IRs.
• Still impressed with the hardware and build quality, feel of the knobs and footswitches, etc. (I think Helix Floor and the FM9 are pretty equal here. My Helix fell sideways on a hardwood floor from 4 ft up and it did absolutely nothing to the Helix except take a little paint off the corner. The floor didn't fare so well though!)
• Drives, choruses, delays, etc. sound good, as expected. Helix still edges it out in variety, though, and I'm not yet hearing a significant tonal difference here vs. the Helix that would make me prefer the FM9.
• As someone who occasionally plays surf music, I really want those new spring reverb models in the FM9. They sound great from the Leon Todd demo. Nothing in the FM9 currently comes close.
• Amp modeling quality: for me, this is the key differentiator between the FM9 and Helix. After hours of use, I'm hearing what I expected to hear from the FM9, based on all the blind comparisons I've listened to over the years: with amp distortion, there is both a harmonic clarity and smoothness in the distortion with the FM9 that sounds more natural than some of the older Helix models. For Marshalls in particular, which is what I use most of the time, it's that last little 5% that makes a big enough difference to make you want to use the FM9. The higher gain Marshalls like the JCM800 just sound great. It has that smooth, lush, bright metallic clash like you expect to hear, with good frequency separation in the distortion without the upper harmonics hashy-mashing together.
  • I think the Helix is capable of a similar level of quality based on its newer models. It's the older ones that fall short. I wish Line 6 would take their current modeling expertise and re-master their older amp models to bring them up to par with the newest ones.
• Overall, so far, I think it's a great unit. The build quality and tones are there. Fractal's amp modeling is the benchmark for others. Comparing it to my Helix, if we were weighing all factors (UI, amp modeling, pedals/effects, build quality, etc.), I'd put them on an equal tier. The FM9 is better in some regards; the Helix better in others.

Lastly, I like making my own presets from scratch, but many of the stock ones in the FM9 are quite nice, like the Interstate Love Song preset ("Stone in Love"). A little out of practice on this one, but using the neck pickup on a strat:

Im digging your thoughts coming at it from a Helix perspective. I haven’t gone into Helix land beyond the HXFX. I’m primarily coming at it from Neural World. (QC - Plugs) Maybe I need to dig into a Helix variant to end this for once and all.

I spent some time today with the QC to give Control a spin, after spending the week with the FM3.

Interestingly I think amp modeling is a big advantage for Fractal, but not purely from some quality perspective. Some of the Neural models are really good. I was messing with Marshall’s primarily on it, and they didn’t really jump out to me as some clearly inferior models. (There is a touch of cut and clarity with Fractal I really dig) Where Fractal really edges them though is the sheer amount of amps, and the ridiculously high quality they all have. Consistency is fantastic. The Neural models are somewhat inconsistent in quality. I think that’s largely a remnant from a rushed launch, though they’ve gone back and selectively updated some of the clear misses.

Where Fractal absolutely destroys the QC is in effects. Not marginally either. Like, bend over and grab your ankles, this will not be fun, I am not your king. I spent a little time today with a clean patch on the QC and while there are some functional effects, they are not anywhere close to as impressive and immersive as almost anything on the FM3. Fractal you can sort of throw a dart and get something awesome. (And I’ve done very little with Fractal effects other then adjust mix)

I could see though where the effects disparity is marginal or non existent to someone with the Helix. (Though I wasnt blown away by my time with the HXFX, but I also didn’t spend a ton of time trying to squeeze all the juice out of it)

If we could just port all the code from the Fractal into the QC form factor and UI, we’d have the perfect device to rule them all. That said, I’m coming around to the fact that the UI isn’t enough to ignore the general advantages the Fractal has where it counts, tones.

 

[la szum]

Hence why I have the real life pedal now. I believe the setting was for Muse specifically

Yeah, those fuckers are insane. The pedal, that is.

 

[DrewJD82]

Not to mention paying money for presets = you learn nothing about how to navigate and build your own.

I fully expect someone to take issue with that statement and quibble with me over that conclusion.

LET'S QUIBBLE!!!!

It depends.

I spent over $100 on Austin Buddy's, but not because I need help dialing in presets, but if anything, seeing his routing method helped me figure out how I could route the FM9. I mostly paid for convenience in having all the amps already paired with a cab and organized all nice and neat. The organization alone is worth the price of admission for me.

 

[Foxmeister]

I spent over $100 on Austin Buddy's, but not because I need help dialing in presets, but if anything, seeing his routing method helped me figure out how I could route the FM9

I didn't really like any (ok, many!) of the stock presets on the FM3/FM9 so bought the Austin Buddy Live Gold pack because 8d heard good things about it

I found every one I tried was usable out of the gate and served as a jumping off point for creating my own presets.

I also bought Cooper Carter's Masterclass for the FM9, which I also found extremely useful.

Sometimes spending a little extra cash on presets additional to a $2000 purchase is an expedient way to get you to where you want to go, but not an end point in and of themselves.

 

[SeeD]

Im digging your thoughts coming at it from a Helix perspective. I haven’t gone into Helix land beyond the HXFX. I’m primarily coming at it from Neural World. (QC - Plugs) Maybe I need to dig into a Helix variant to end this for once and all.

I spent some time today with the QC to give Control a spin, after spending the week with the FM3.

Interestingly I think amp modeling is a big advantage for Fractal, but not purely from some quality perspective. Some of the Neural models are really good. I was messing with Marshall’s primarily on it, and they didn’t really jump out to me as some clearly inferior models. (There is a touch of cut and clarity with Fractal I really dig) Where Fractal really edges them though is the sheer amount of amps, and the ridiculously high quality they all have. Consistency is fantastic. The Neural models are somewhat inconsistent in quality. I think that’s largely a remnant from a rushed launch, though they’ve gone back and selectively updated some of the clear misses.

Where Fractal absolutely destroys the QC is in effects. Not marginally either. Like, bend over and grab your ankles, this will not be fun, I am not your king. I spent a little time today with a clean patch on the QC and while there are some functional effects, they are not anywhere close to as impressive and immersive as almost anything on the FM3. Fractal you can sort of throw a dart and get something awesome. (And I’ve done very little with Fractal effects other then adjust mix)

I could see though where the effects disparity is marginal or non existent to someone with the Helix. (Though I wasnt blown away by my time with the HXFX, but I also didn’t spend a ton of time trying to squeeze all the juice out of it)

If we could just port all the code from the Fractal into the QC form factor and UI, we’d have the perfect device to rule them all. That said, I’m coming around to the fact that the UI isn’t enough to ignore the general advantages the Fractal has where it counts, tones.

Fractal Audio have been changing and tweaking the amp models a lot through the years, I`ve seen and heard it with my own eyes/ears. Adding a parameter and adding another one, then taking some away, then adding more, and with this the model changes, and it broke a lot of my presets all the time. I remember we had 2 ampeg bass models, and by the last breath of my Axe Fx II Fractal for some reason changed the order or flipped this two, and a lot of my bass presets were clipping, I was like.. why?? The levles of the amp models have been going up and down all the time to.

It might seem like the endless tweeking is getting better, and that is a good thing. Buying presets for the Axe FX II was a nightmare in the old days, as it could just take 1 mounth untill the presets broke.

But the Fractal is a GOOD sounding machine, and has a lot of things in it, and Cliff is a mad one and always making it better and better


I think that NDSP have really good sounding amp models, and if an amp is missing I can then Capture it, same with the drives. But it is lacking in the effects, and I hope that they get the QC up to speed soon, but I use Boost, drive, amp, cab, mod, some delay, and reverb and it just works for that

Best of bout worlds Quad Cortex + FM3 =
Happy that you finally got your hands on a Fractal unit!

 

[Stone]

I did and will Occasionally buy presets/patches because I'm a noob and want to see how its routed and what settings are used I find it has helped me learn about chains and settings, although i ended up always tweaking them to my tastes but it was a good learning tool for me

 

[mikah912]

Swirly FM9 Day Two Update:

• I wish there were more DynaCab options. There are so many amp models, but many of them don't have matching DynaCabs, and there isn't a ton of speaker+cab variety in the current DynaCabs either. Compare this to Helix, where every amp has DyncaCab-equivalent models for its matching stock cab.
  • This is a pretty glaring hole to me, considering how much of an amp's characteristic sound comes from its cab. The legacy IR library isn't a ton of help, because it has some holes too, and you only get a handful of mic types/positions from discrete IRs.

Just out of curiosity, what's missing for you?

For me, it's no Creamback G12H-75 speakers (and I'd prefer to have them in both a 2x12 and a 4x12), no Bogner Uberkab, no K100 for Diezel amps, no Eminence whatsoever.

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

[…] For me, it's no Creamback G12H-75 speakers (and I'd prefer to have them in both a 2x12 and a 4x12), […]

You have good taste, sir.

 

[Foxmeister]

Best of bout worlds Quad Cortex + FM3 =

Personally, if I still had an FM3 and I wanted to add captures, I'd add a ToneX pedal.

I think the Quad Cortex is mature enough to stand on its own now!

 

[la szum]

LET'S QUIBBLE!!!!

It depends.

I spent over $100 on Austin Buddy's, but not because I need help dialing in presets, but if anything, seeing his routing method helped me figure out how I could route the FM9. I mostly paid for convenience in having all the amps already paired with a cab and organized all nice and neat. The organization alone is worth the price of admission for me.

View attachment 12508

The couple of ABs in the Factory Presets were all too bassy/tubby/dark for my tastes. Sorry, Mr. Buddy.

But I am midrange Wh*re and think a lot of modern guitar tones are dialed in way too dark and bassy.

 

[la szum]

Just out of curiosity, what's missing for you?

For me, it's no Creamback G12H-75 speakers (and I'd prefer to have them in both a 2x12 and a 4x12), no Bogner Uberkab, no K100 for Diezel amps, no Eminence whatsoever.

I bought a York Audio Creamback IR, because the Creambacks are my favourite modern speakers.

 

[mikah912]

I bought a York Audio Creamback IR, because the Creambacks are my favourite modern speakers.

Me too! I use the one in their Zilla 2x12 all of the time. I also bought their Eminence D77 to fill in that gap I rarely see in other cab selections.

 

[Los-D]

Im digging your thoughts coming at it from a Helix perspective. I haven’t gone into Helix land beyond the HXFX. I’m primarily coming at it from Neural World. (QC - Plugs) Maybe I need to dig into a Helix variant to end this for once and all.

I spent some time today with the QC to give Control a spin, after spending the week with the FM3.

Interestingly I think amp modeling is a big advantage for Fractal, but not purely from some quality perspective. Some of the Neural models are really good. I was messing with Marshall’s primarily on it, and they didn’t really jump out to me as some clearly inferior models. (There is a touch of cut and clarity with Fractal I really dig) Where Fractal really edges them though is the sheer amount of amps, and the ridiculously high quality they all have. Consistency is fantastic. The Neural models are somewhat inconsistent in quality. I think that’s largely a remnant from a rushed launch, though they’ve gone back and selectively updated some of the clear misses.

Where Fractal absolutely destroys the QC is in effects. Not marginally either. Like, bend over and grab your ankles, this will not be fun, I am not your king. I spent a little time today with a clean patch on the QC and while there are some functional effects, they are not anywhere close to as impressive and immersive as almost anything on the FM3. Fractal you can sort of throw a dart and get something awesome. (And I’ve done very little with Fractal effects other then adjust mix)

I could see though where the effects disparity is marginal or non existent to someone with the Helix. (Though I wasnt blown away by my time with the HXFX, but I also didn’t spend a ton of time trying to squeeze all the juice out of it)

If we could just port all the code from the Fractal into the QC form factor and UI, we’d have the perfect device to rule them all. That said, I’m coming around to the fact that the UI isn’t enough to ignore the general advantages the Fractal has where it counts, tones.

I think it’s time to put that best in class editor in a floor modeler and take no prisoners!

Sorry for the mad pbrush skills but Bing wouldn’t cooperate.

 

[OrganicZed]

I think that FM edit would need a lot of UI reworking to be usable with a touch interface, but it would definitely cause a big fuss in the market if Fractal made that happen.

 

[Los-D]

I think that FM edit would need a lot of UI reworking to be usable with a touch interface, but it would definitely cause a big fuss in the market if Fractal made that happen.

Absolutely. Perhaps an Edit view (with necessary adjustments for the screen) and a Performance view for live playing as well?

 

[Whizzinby]

I think it’s time to put that best in class editor in a floor modeler and take no prisoners!

View attachment 12559

Sorry for the mad pbrush skills but Bing wouldn’t cooperate.

 

[mikah912]

I think that FM edit would need a lot of UI reworking to be usable with a touch interface, but it would definitely cause a big fuss in the market if Fractal made that happen.

Since Fractal uses a similar "lots of parameters > page and tab for more parameters" UI as BOSS, why wouldn't something like this work?

 

[SwirlyMaple]

Since Fractal uses a similar "lots of parameters > page and tab for more parameters" UI as BOSS, why wouldn't something like this work?

Try setting up different effects with that app. You will quickly find that it is one of the worst, if not THE worst, editors ever made.

 

[mikah912]

Try setting up different effects with that app. You will quickly find that it is one of the worst, if not THE worst, editors ever made.

I liked it a ton, but I used the GT-1000 version of the Tone Studio - not the WAZA Air. Had zero problems getting it to do anything I wanted it to do.