AxefxIII vs Neural plugins (in general)

[Bruce]

After extensive completely unscientific testing and listening, I like the fractal better for sound quality.
I do think the Neural stuff is good and some of the presets are inspiring.
I also think the JP2C model in the axefxIII next to the Petrucci Neural plugin is a bit better, but either will get you in the ballpark of that sound. The fractal is just more real and seems to have a bit more complexity to the sound. Even using the neural cab on the fractal and comparing the 2, I still like the fractal just a bit more.
Really comes down to form factor. You want a 99 dollar plugin? Get the neural. You want a 2299 dollar rackmount unit that’ll serve as an interface you can gig with and include well over 100 amps and dozens of fx? Get the fractal.

 

[Whizzinby]

I’ve gotten some really good tones from NDSP plugs, particularly the cleans from Plini and high gain from the Granophyre (KT66 version) and SLO. It’s pretty simple to dial in some usable tones, which I think is ultimately what they are going after. Simple + Visually sharp.

I wouldn’t expect a Neural plug to compete with the AXE FX though. It’s like bringing a water balloon to knife fight.

 

[DrewJD82]

Last year I checked out the Gojira and Parallax plugins, they were both cool and I totally get why people dig them, but the "Here's your tone" thing doesn't really excite me. If I didn't already have an AxeFX I'd most likely be using them because they felt a little better to play than Amplitube 5 when I was using that. As it is I have a bunch of Brainworx sims I haven't even tried yet that come along with my Plug-In Alliance subscription.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Ewww N........evermind.

 

[Jarick]

To me they seem opposite ends of the spectrum. Neural is highly curated and fairly limited in terms of tweaking, although it sounds really good, and obviously heavily focused on visuals. Fractal is much more wide open with a million options, also sounds really good, and obviously no focus on visuals.

My biggest complaint with Neural is that you can't mix and match their plugins. I have a few of them and like them, and I'd probably buy more, except I hate running multiple instances of them. On the flip side my biggest complaint with Fractal is that for me anyway there's more fussing around to get the tone.

And honestly...I kind of like the Neural visuals. It focuses my brain a little more than the tons of knobs and settings approach.

 

[ejecta]

“How’s the new FAS firmware?”

 

[Lysander]

NDSP plugins sound stellar, but besides some particular rarer items (Omega Granophyre, Tone King MKII, Darkglass Ultra), all those sounds are easily achievable by any other of the top modelling names out there.

Pretty much all Archetypes are small variants of Fender Clean - Marshall Crunch - SLO/Mesa high gain. Even the effects sound identical from one suite to the other.

 

[Mongillo19]

NDSP plugins sound stellar, but besides some particular rarer items (Omega Granophyre, Tone King MKII, Darkglass Ultra), all those sounds are easily achievable by any other of the top modelling names out there.

Pretty much all Archetypes are small variants of Fender Clean - Marshall Crunch - SLO/Mesa high gain. Even the effects sound identical from one suite to the other.

Yeah I wish they wouldn't do archetypes tbh. I enjoyed when they just did amp models

 

[Los-D]

Yeah I wish they wouldn't do archetypes tbh. I enjoyed when they just did amp models

The Fortin Cali plugin sounds insane! The Cameron CCV on FAS sounds better (to me). YMMV.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I wouldn’t say there’s any difference in quality of tone - if you like to tinker with deep parameters, fractal has an advantage, but the lack of a plugin and separate amp models for each mode/channel mean the Neural plugins can be a lot faster and more familiar to dial in. I didn’t like Abasi but every other plugin they’ve released is dead on to my real amps.

 

[TSJMajesty]

My experience comparing the JPIIC model in the Axe to the Archetype Petrucci plugin:

I have/had an ongoing love/hate relationship with how the 'fizz' component of the distortion in high-gain amps like the JP sound in the Axe, at low-ish volumes, through headphones, even with an EQ-correction curve applied using the Global EQ, in that that 'fizz' seemed to "float" on top of the notes, especially on lower strings, and as such it was really annoying at times.

In the plugin, I immediately noticed that wasn't the case (same monitoring.) And yeah, I tried high cuts in the cab block, but they seemed to only reduce it, while cutting high end. So in that respect, I actually preferred the plugin. Plus, I like the simplicity of how you dial in effects.

However, since getting the Gift of Tone Petrucci Rig 2023 preset, it's what I live on. Somehow it just sounds better. But overall, to my ears, they are both excellent.

 

[Bruce]

My experience comparing the JPIIC model in the Axe to the Archetype Petrucci plugin:

I have/had an ongoing love/hate relationship with how the 'fizz' component of the distortion in high-gain amps like the JP sound in the Axe, at low-ish volumes, through headphones, even with an EQ-correction curve applied using the Global EQ, in that that 'fizz' seemed to "float" on top of the notes, especially on lower strings, and as such it was really annoying at times.

In the plugin, I immediately noticed that wasn't the case (same monitoring.) And yeah, I tried high cuts in the cab block, but they seemed to only reduce it, while cutting high end. So in that respect, I actually preferred the plugin. Plus, I like the simplicity of how you dial in effects.

However, since getting the Gift of Tone Petrucci Rig 2023 preset, it's what I live on. Somehow it just sounds better. But overall, to my ears, they are both excellent.

Try rolling back the volume on your guitar knob and comparing the 2. IMO thats where the fractal shines more. More realistic. The plugin doesnt do that well at all.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Try rolling back the volume on your guitar knob and comparing the 2. IMO thats where the fractal shines more. More realistic. The plugin doesnt do that well at all.

Roll back high gain????? I don't know how to do that.

 

[Bruce]

Roll back high gain????? I don't know how to do that.

I agree when they’re both wide open there is little difference. When my boss was product testing the plugin, he asked me about this when he rolled back his volume. When I compared it to the AxeFXIII, the Fractal just did it better. Now in Neural’s defense, Mesas dont do this well either
Best amp for this I have experienced has been the Friedman BE100. Goes from nearly pristine clean to all out high gain all with the guitars volume knob.

 

[Gearzilla]

Spoiler

Fractal is King™