Fractal Talk

[Mongillo19]

I wouldn't be that shocked if there wasn't a next gen

 

[LP59]

100% there have been some big improvements one of the biggest game changers to me was the Speaker Impedance curves , that can drastically alter the feel and how the low end behaves , so that one and a bunch of subsequent update dealing with non linear behaviour kind of made an impact and the models breathe for lack of a better word

I agree about impedance. But that was a long time ago. The modeling changes from the past few years added together don’t add up to a significant difference imho. That’s no knock on fractal. They’ve just gotten so good that they’re in a phase of diminishing returns for their efforts. There are always things fractal could improve in the modeling, but at some point those improvements are so insignificant that it’s better to work on some of the many good wishes people have asked for instead. IMHO that’s where we are now.

 

[jellodog]

There are always things fractal could improve in the modeling, but at some point those improvements are so insignificant that it’s better to work on some of the many good wishes people have asked for instead. IMHO that’s where we are now.

It's not like they aren't doing any UI work at all. DynaCabs was a big UI improvement and involved a huge amount of effort. That was only added last year to address complaints and wishes concerning the IR-picking section of the UI.

And it's not like all the other improvements are just amp modelling either. Significant upgrade to the reverb algorithms was also fairly recent. (Spring, Place, Echoverb). And before that, another round of improvements to the drives and compressors which were also to address wishes and complaints AFAICT. And it was worth it!

But of course, the UI can be improved.

 

[James Freeman]

Standard: 2006
Ultra: 2008
II: 2011
II: XL: 2014
III: 2018
III: Turbo: 2021

Average span between major releases is 3 years.

2024 - 2021 = 3

Just sayin.........

Timbuchilles.
I would hold off until 2525... if mankind still alive.

 

[DrewJD82]

How are you using these two Pitch blocks?

Hmmm, I can’t remember now. My presets are pretty much always in a liquid state. I’m assuming the first Pitch block is a VIrtual CApo and the 2nd might be a Whammy? Not sure why I’d have it after the cab block, I probably had a reason when I did it, though!

 

[DrewJD82]

Hmm Ok i think your onto something here

View attachment 20168

I start off all my 5150 presets with everything on 6, too!

 

[DrewJD82]

Haha! Exactly! Which is why I said that. In jest.

I do see we dial in an 800 in radically different ways.

Always options for radical differences in the pit of sameness.

Including the guitar, the level of hotness (or lack of) related to the pickups, and
those phalanges you seem to be insinuating also play a role.

Not to mention my platform being a totally inferior Fractal.




(I am baked so I am using all the emojis for some reason.)

Dude, by 9pm last night I no longer had motor functions over my eyelids, I could only communicate in emoji with the bottom half of my face.

 

[laxu]

Standard: 2006
Ultra: 2008
II: 2011
II: XL: 2014
III: 2018
III: Turbo: 2021

Average span between major releases is 3 years.

2024 - 2021 = 3

Just sayin.........

IMO the iterative products don't really count. We take those out, and get:

Product	Release date	Years between generations
Axe-Fx Standard	2006	-
Axe-Fx II	2011	5
Axe-Fx III	2018	7

The Axe-Fx II happened because the Std/Ultra ran out of firmware space. The Axe-Fx III came about because the Axe-Fx II processor was discontinued.

For next gen, it seems neither is the case, but there are memory limitations which prevent e.g more mics for Dyna-Cabs, or fitting 3rd party Dyna-Cabs.

I'd say 2025-2026 are reasonable predictions but I'd be surprised if a new gen launches this year when they just released the FM9 Turbo.

 

[iaresee]

Hahahahah laying claim to an SD-1 boosted 800 is like laying claim to an 808 boosted Dual Rec or 5150, that's public domain, man.

And not that crazy at all, it's almost as if..........almost..........alllllllmooooooosttt.....

It's the Orville w/ the Aldrich.

View attachment 20158
View attachment 20159
View attachment 20160

I am not great with Marshalls so any time someone who dials in what I generally regard as great tones says "this is a rocking Marshall sound" I like to try it out. And...I'm like batting a 1000 here for being utterly unable to use these tones.

The problem is undoubtedly me.

Tried this setup out and the high content is was so shrill I thought my wah block was engaged. It wasn't. And I'm using an ultra-dark sounding guitar here in my all mahogany Standard 24 with Abraxas pickups. Strings are old on it as well, so I can't even say it's bright, new strings.

Is this what I should be aiming for if I want to rock a Marshall in a live context though?

Maybe we should take this to it's own thread? "Fix iaresee's inability to dial in and use Marshalls for rock tones" or something like that?

 

[Achilles]

I'd say 2025-2026 are reasonable predictions.

So freaking hard to believe that we're already a quarter ways through the 21st century.

Nevermind an Axe with a touch screen, shouldn't we have flying cars by now???

 

[DrewJD82]

I am not great with Marshalls so any time someone who dials in what I generally regard as great tones says "this is a rocking Marshall sound" I like to try it out. And...I'm like batting a 1000 here for being utterly unable to use these tones.

The problem is undoubtedly me.

Tried this setup out and the high content is was so shrill I thought my wah block was engaged. It wasn't. And I'm using an ultra-dark sounding guitar here in my all mahogany Standard 24 with Abraxas pickups. Strings are old on it as well, so I can't even say it's bright, new strings.

Is this what I should be aiming for if I want to rock a Marshall in a live context though?

Maybe we should take this to it's own thread? "Fix iaresee's inability to dial in and use Marshalls for rock tones" or something like that?

Well, a big part of that is because I have that preset dialed in to sit in a mix with as little post EQ as possible, so it IS bright as hell. It was also dialed in using a Les Paul w/ a Suhr Aldrich, which isn’t the brightest pickup in the world.

Hearing the isolated tracks for “No More Tears” really changed my perspective on dialing in Marshalls. I’d imagine if I heard this tone in person without ever knowing of the song itself, I’d absolutely hate it.

 

[laxu]

I am not great with Marshalls so any time someone who dials in what I generally regard as great tones says "this is a rocking Marshall sound" I like to try it out. And...I'm like batting a 1000 here for being utterly unable to use these tones.

The problem is undoubtedly me.

Tried this setup out and the high content is was so shrill I thought my wah block was engaged. It wasn't. And I'm using an ultra-dark sounding guitar here in my all mahogany Standard 24 with Abraxas pickups. Strings are old on it as well, so I can't even say it's bright, new strings.

Is this what I should be aiming for if I want to rock a Marshall in a live context though?

Maybe we should take this to it's own thread? "Fix iaresee's inability to dial in and use Marshalls for rock tones" or something like that?

I get tones that work for me from almost any Marshall-based amp if I turn down bass, turn up mids and treble to about 6, adjust presence to taste for some sizzle to help cut through. Marshall EQ's aren't particularly effective.

 

[Achilles]

Just checked, the Jetsons was set in 2062.

@DrewJD82 assuming the 82 in your username is your birth year, you could still be around at the ripe old age of eighty!

Maybe you'll get to see flying cars after all!

 

[Achilles]

“No More Tears”

What an AWESOME solo, but is it just me or is his timing kind of all over the place during it?
Would love to sync it with a click track to see.

Never noticed the little clam before at 4:59.

 

[LScottK]

I love Cliff’s relentless pursuit of perfecting modeling. My first modeling amp was a Line 6 AX2, which was later updated to the Axsys212. Or was the Axsys212 updated to the AX2? It was the late 90s, so I don’t remember and I’m too lazy to look it up. This upgrade cost $99 and involved replacing an eprom chip on the system board. I got some great tonez out of that rig. But I wouldn’t call them authentic.

At this point I’m primarily a weekly church player, and getting the “perfect” sound doesn’t matter to me. I just like the adventure of seeing what Cliff cooks up next. So, for me, I enjoy each incremental update that makes everything a little more “realer”.

As Cliff improves realism, we’re left with a choice. Go on the ride with Cliff, or stay with the status quo because we don’t want to adapt to what’s new. IMHO there’s no right or wrong answer. It comes down to personal preference.

In the end, I think the art of creating music is more important than anything. And using the tool that works best for my creative process, be that the tone, the form factor, or the UI is what is most important. IMO, voicing opinions expressing a preference about any of these things is legit. But when in Cliff’s mad-scientist domain, I’m cool following Cliff as he creates, and adapting to what he comes up with next. If I were a touring pro, and I had everything dialed in just so, then I wouldn’t upgrade to new FW until I had time to dial everything in again.

Where I get a bug up my nose is when people come on the Fractal site and start proclaiming their opinions as “Truth”, and start bitching that Cliff should do things according to their opinions. I think that’s self-centered and disrespectful. I’m not talking about people expressing opinions, for example, like expressing an opinion that spending more time on UI improvements would be more beneficial than small, incremental improvements on tone. While that doesn’t reflect my perspective, there’s room for everyone to have a voice and an opinion. And wanting a better UI is just as legit a perspective as liking small incremental tone improvements. There is no “right”. It’s just personal preference. And, IMHO, each perspective is valid. It’s just a different focus and opinion about what would most enhance the creative process.

I have a tough time relating to some of the discussions that elevate into arguments about which tool is “the best.” If we were talking about painting, and artists were arguing about paint brushes, what brand is best, what brush is best, what material the the brush is made of, whether oil or acrylic paint is best, how to prep the canvas, what frame works best… I think it’s easier to see how arguing that one perspective is better than another often is just a distraction from being creative. And being creative is an individual process that is different for each of us.

Voicing opinions about what would best support my creatives process is good info to pass along. I also like hearing other opinions because I can learn and grow from exposure to other perspectives. Then Cliff filters the mish mash of perspectives and decides what he wants to do. At that point I get to decide if I want to go along for the ride.

Of course this is just my opinion. YMMV

 

[DrewJD82]

What an AWESOME solo, but is it just me or is his timing kind of all over the place during it?
Would love to sync it with a click track to see.

Never noticed the little clam before at 4:59.

Eh, a solo as timeless as that I can't perceive as anything but perfect. That's just feel, the southern drawl of guitar playing and letting those notes last as long as they need to. That was the hardest part of the solo to get and why I feel I only got it about 80% after spending 2 weeks on it, Zakk can hang out and let a note ride without even worrying about where he's going next, I don't even take my shoes off to get comfy.

I think what you're hearing at 4:59 is the doubled guitar coming in and it's not perfect with the main lead track.

 

[Achilles]

Oh I get it.
Ever seen the video where Beato tries quantizing Bonham?

 

[la szum]

Dude, by 9pm last night I no longer had motor functions over my eyelids, I could only communicate in emoji with the bottom half of my face.

Haha!!

Man, I stumbled onto those Live Rosin Bubble Hash Infused Gummies that are complete
destroyers of all sense and sensibility. They taste horrible..... but....

 

[TSJMajesty]

Haha!!

Man, I stumbled onto those Live Rosin Bubble Hash Infused Gummies that are complete
destroyers of all sense and sensibility. They taste horrible..... but....

"Stumbled"

Cool band name though! A bit long..., but maybe ROSIN HASH GUMMIES would work. haha

 

[Stone]

Well, a big part of that is because I have that preset dialed in to sit in a mix with as little post EQ as possible, so it IS bright as hell. It was also dialed in using a Les Paul w/ a Suhr Aldrich, which isn’t the brightest pickup in the world.

Hearing the isolated tracks for “No More Tears” really changed my perspective on dialing in Marshalls. I’d imagine if I heard this tone in person without ever knowing of the song itself, I’d absolutely hate it.

A lot of guitar tones are designed to work in the Mix