One big problem pros still run into is all the cabling in a big in-ear system. There’s a few YT videos of bands’ setups and the racks aren’t just ridiculous, there’s a minimum of 50 cables in there between their modelers, playback devices, in-ear monitor systems, and mixer to front of house.
Imaginary scenarios and criteria he made up in his head.
You should go read the history of BlackBerryFAS doesn’t have to win the UI wars, they just need to have enough modern conveniences to keep letting the tones do the talking. Build in wireless so we can use a tablet editor, do wireless updates and cloud sharing, then add the file space/structure for on-device favorites/defaults.
Then integrate plugins.
From what I remember, the reason why only the Axe-Fx 3 uses the C66x was that the TI chips needed a lot more extra hardware around them, which meant the Analog Devices based FM3/FM9 made more sense.
That was a standalone DSP. These parts are SoCs with display controllers, USB integrated, etc.
We will see. But if you think it’s just about running more effects at once or that modeling has gone as far as it can go…
Fractal has a huge laundry list of low hanging fruit improvements in their wishlist threads. Anything from "Sort the Amp block impedance curve list alphabetically" to "Let me assign something useful to the large knob's push function."
I don’t think that at all but we’ve long passed the point of diminishing returns. Models can only be AS accurate as the things being modelled. Where do you think we are? I’d say 96-98%. Should the next 10 years be focused on the last 2 percent? Or maybe is it time to keep working on that but not make it the entire focus. At least if they aren’t going to change the UI start making completly new and interesting effects instead of Cygnus X4, X5 , etc etc. Blind text comparisons between fractal and fractal are just as valid as fractal to amps. Fractal fans will argue endlessly that nobody can pass a blind test between the models and the real amps. To that effect nobody could pass one between fractal current firmware and one from 3 years ago. There are differences but they are very minute.
It’s amusing in 2025 seeing claims that modeling can’t improve from where we are. That claim has been around since POD and AxeFx days and yet here we are in 2025 with ever more accurate and responsive models. You’d think we’d learn that lesson by now.
The problem with that statement is most other forms of tech don’t have an end game. Modelling is trying to replicate existing hardware and while you’re correct, it’s a mature tech now, there won’t be leaps and bounds like you mentioned, same as phones and computers have been for a while. The only way past that point is creating completely new amps that couldn’t or haven’t existed in the real world. That’s been tried by pretty much every company including FAS and basically nobody uses or talks about them. So sure, it can be improved, but Cliff is already modelling pretty much every single component of the amp already, sounds like Line 6 is doing the same on their new engine. They are just electrical circuits, not magic, the math is the math. More processing power will let more of those components run more data points and oversample further but it’s not like there’s some undiscovered breakthrough that’s left untapped.
Big agree here. I’d absolutely love a spatial solution. IMO that’s the next step.
There is no “problem” with the statement I made. My assertion was that advancements are still happening in modeling. I made no claim of huge or even significant advancements.
I don’t hear Fractal fans here arguing anything. Just you trolling and trying to start an argument.
While all-in-ones are cool, I don't think the form factors really support it. For perspective, BluGuitar says that their Amp 1 is about the minimum viable size for their amp tech. It's similar size to a VP4.
