What is a 'mature' modeler?

[yeky83]

Had to....

View attachment 171

 

[JiveTurkey]

 

[Jack Burton]

 

[Big Dave]

You sexy beast

 

[jellodog]

I love you too.

 

[Bob Zaod]

You sexy beast

I assure you, my sexy left about 25 years ago.

 

[Shredder777]

For me it's a modeler that:
-has its features implemented so well that I couldn't think of a better way to do it more efficiently or conveniently.
-has a big variety of effects and models and a versatile routing chain to create complex tones.
-has intricate, customizable and fast control over everything via footswitches.
-has no cut corners when it comes to core amp tone shaping.
-is bug free and reliable, software and hardware.
-has great and solid long term support and service for hardware and software.
-I know it will be usable years and years after its EOL.

I'm partially describing both AxeFx and Helix here, but it's because they are what I consider as mature modelers.

What is in your opinion a mature modeler?

A mature modeler is one that has never crashed during anyones performance, and doesnt have ticky tack shit going on, like patch copies corrupting parameters.

It is also one that incorporates new features and design elements instead of pretending that the lead they had a decade ago will carry them in 2024, even though their interface and or tones are substandard.

 

[Mongillo19]

A mature modeler is one that has never crashed during anyones performance

Well unfortunately I don't think that criteria is true for any piece of gear

 

[norminal]

A “mature modeler” is one that has the UI of Dos Shell and requires a $200 “master class” in order to learn.

 

[laxu]

A mature modeler is one that has never crashed during anyones performance, and doesnt have ticky tack shit going on, like patch copies corrupting parameters.

That would already rule out the FM3, Axe-Fx 3 and Helix Floor for me since I've been able to crash all of them.

Though admittedly the only performance that was ruined was my important gig at Madison Square Bedroom. A short reboot later all were back in business.

For me it's a modeler that:
-has its features implemented so well that I couldn't think of a better way to do it more efficiently or conveniently.

This would also rule out Fractal for me, as even the cheap ass Hotone runs circles around it for usability in many areas.

-has a big variety of effects and models and a versatile routing chain to create complex tones.

Agreed, but honestly for routing I don't feel there needs to be super complicated options. 99% of the routing I use is just a straight up series of fx blocks, and any parallel stuff is gravy on top.

-has intricate, customizable and fast control over everything via footswitches.

While the footswitching customization on my Hotone A2 Stomp is kinda crap, it's also kinda good enough even though it's millions of miles away from Fractal or even Helix. If I was a pro musician I might find it just that little bit limiting and need MIDI to make up for it.

-has no cut corners when it comes to core amp tone shaping.

I'll disagree on this a bit and say that "good enough" works. If I can get tones/feel I'd be happy using, it's good enough even though it might not pass null tests, comparisons to top dogs that cost 3-5x more etc.

-is bug free and reliable, software and hardware.

This is pretty much never true of software products, but I agree it should reach a "good enough" standard here where you aren't worrying about if it will work or not. FM3 was iffy for me since it could boot with faulty footswitches or garbled audio, until that was fixed with firmware updates.

-has great and solid long term support and service for hardware and software.
-I know it will be usable years and years after its EOL.

Agree with these. But I think even modelers from Boss or Hotone that tend to be more "dump it on the market, don't do that much for updates" are still likely to run for the next few decades, just vastly surpassed by newer products just like first gen Axe-Fx. I recently saw a busted as hell Yamaha DG-Stomp for 20 € in Japan and was tempted to buy it because I was pretty sure it still worked and would likely sound more than decent.

What is in your opinion a mature modeler?

I'd say when it's in that territory where you feel like it doesn't need more amps, effects and whatnot, and it is usable enough to work live or in the studio without too much compromise.

This is not a particularly high bar, because I think you could make a few Boss custom models, or the limited selection in a Fender Tone Master Pro work well enough if you put your mind to it. After all for most real amp rigs you realistically need what, maybe 2-3 amp sounds + some fx?

As you can probably surmise, my outlook on modelers has been changed a good bit by the Hotone Ampero 2 Stomp. I'd never put it on the same level as Fractal, Helix or QC, but it holds its own in that "more than good enough" category.

Which opens up a "when is it good enough?" discussion. For some it won't be good enough until the amp modeling absolutely nails their favorite tube amp(s), for some it won't be good enough until the fx compare to the finest boutique pedals or rack units, for some it won't be good enough until it's as easy to use as real amps and pedals etc. For others it will be good enough when you don't actively hate using it, like how it sounds and find it practical.

 

[Dave Lewis]

A old bloke that builds Airfix kits

 

[Frodebro]

A mature modeler is one that has never crashed during anyones performance, and doesnt have ticky tack shit going on, like patch copies corrupting parameters.

It is also one that incorporates new features and design elements instead of pretending that the lead they had a decade ago will carry them in 2024, even though their interface and or tones are substandard.

You dug up a zombie to post THIS??? Dude…

 

[ragingplatypi]

A mature modeler is me, two years from now, yelling at the AI generated preset “No, that is absolutely not David Gilmour’s signal chain on Delicate Sound of Thunder’s ‘One of These Days’!” as my aggravated stomping makes the button crack through the plastic chassis.

 

[Shredder777]

You dug up a zombie to post THIS??? Dude…

Sorry. It was a recommended thread, I didn't see the date.

 

[Antipodes]

Had to....

View attachment 171

So Ian Drury went Kemper at some stage?

 

[Alex Kenivel]

You dug up a zombie to post THIS??? Dude…

This forum is like what, 2 years old?

 

[PLX]

This forum is like what, 2 years old?

Happy B-Day MF'ers !

 

[FuzzyAce]

You dug up a zombie to post THIS??? Dude…

This forum is like what, 2 years old?

1 forum year = 10 human years.

 

[norminal]

 

[PLX]