AXE FX III - has been announced

[bste328]

Axe Fx 3 has been announced, along with a new line of MIDI foot controllers (now in different sizes http://www.fractalaudio.com/iii/


and now let the digital war begin

 

[John4021]

Shoot,
I probably haven't used anywhere near the processing
power in my II XL+. 4 or 5 amps. Couple scene set ups.
Run a Purple VHT 2150 power amp and two 4x12's.
I'd loose my mind with this new one.

 

[bste328]

Shoot,
I probably haven't used anywhere near the processing
power in my II XL+. 4 or 5 amps. Couple scene set ups.
Run a Purple VHT 2150 power amp and two 4x12's.
I'd loose my mind with this new one.

Agree. I see that there is a major opportunity in the ease of use department...

People right now are preferring Helix/etc because of their relatively easier UI, usability and learning curve.

I mean: to deep dive and being able to customize is fun, but playing is more fun.....and I sold my axe fx because I spent more time editing than playing....

I hope that they will listen the 95% of the customers not the 5% (I'm making up fake numbers but just to make the point). Because if they listen only they're actual customer they are speaking to just the 5% of players and sooner or later the thing will just become more complicated than ever....

like this :

 

[JMP2203]

i dont know what to say other than i love tubes

 

[bste328]

i dont know what to say other than i love tubes

me too!! you can see that from my signature, but these tools are nonetheless practical and sounds great!!

Just for the sake of having a full backup of my rig or to save on the real estate of a gigantic 4cm rig it will probably worth the money.

 

[romanianreaper]

I still have my Axe-FX II. I know eventually the support is going to run it's course but I wouldn't hesitate to get another one down the road. I had tube amps off and on for years but really can't justify it now. I do a ton of recording and really convenient to go straight into my computer. Plus I don't gig anymore and have had two hernia operations. LOL! Who knows, I could end up getting another one down the road. Would just have to stick to a 2x12 and head.

 

[romanianreaper]

Doesn't look cheap either. LOL! I paid a decent amount for my first Axe-Fx II when I got it but worth every penny. Will be funny watching everyone selling theirs when these come out. Will see a ton of "Used in a smoke free home" messages.

 

[BYTOR]

$2499....available early March....waiting list!

It's been 6-7 years since the AxeFx2 came out to replace the Axe Ultra......

 

[stratjacket]

Cool, I signed up on the list. But not sure if I'll make the plunge right away or wait. I had the Ultra and went right for the original MkII and still have it. But soon after, there were the "improved" versions of the Mk II that came out. Plus I have so much other gas right now...

 

[ejecta]

$2499....available early March....waiting list!

It's been 6-7 years since the AxeFx2 came out to replace the Axe Ultra......

Thanks Scott.

 

[blackba]

Shoot,
I probably haven't used anywhere near the processing
power in my II XL+. 4 or 5 amps. Couple scene set ups.
Run a Purple VHT 2150 power amp and two 4x12's.
I'd loose my mind with this new one.

Agree. I see that there is a major opportunity in the ease of use department...

People right now are preferring Helix/etc because of their relatively easier UI, usability and learning curve.

I mean: to deep dive and being able to customize is fun, but playing is more fun.....and I sold my axe fx because I spent more time editing than playing....

I hope that they will listen the 95% of the customers not the 5% (I'm making up fake numbers but just to make the point). Because if they listen only they're actual customer they are speaking to just the 5% of players and sooner or later the thing will just become more complicated than ever....

like this :

I think the real challenge with digital gear is to make the gear customizable and flexible as possible, but also easy to do. Its a real challenge for the developer.

The complexity and price so far have kept me away.

 

[Spaceboy]

I have beeen teetering back and forth on the idea of a Helix or going for my fourth Axe FX for traveling, instead of the lunchbox amps and other options I’ve been looking into lately... this is perfect timing, I’m getting on board.

 

[Webb]

I thought Cliff said very recently that there was no Axe FX III on the horizon anytime soon?? Now I see why Fractal dropped the price significantly on the II.

 

[cardinal]

I realize this is dumb but I’m not likely to buy a modeler without some type of easy to use iOS editor.

 

[jkdsteve]

I honestly thought only the AX8 needed an upgrade in the CPU dept....

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

I like the UI... color, much better looking... hopefully easy to use and edit settings.

I'll get one.

I figured this was coming when they cut all the prices on the XLII and AX8.

 

[Metlupass2]

Remember when the II came out and there was a ton of people bitching to Cliff and threatening to sue him since they just bought an ultra.

 

[Wizard of Ozz]

Remember when the II came out and there was a ton of people bitching to Cliff and threatening to sue him since they just bought an ultra.

... that will be those peeps that just bought the XLII for $1750 last month and this month. If they thought the price cut was Fractal being nice, holiday spirit, bs... they thought wrong. It's business. Move out they old dated crap before the new unit is release. It's business.

 

[dirtyfunkg]

The whole modeler thing reminds me so much of the videogame console wars. It's awesome because comptetitors keep pushing each other to get the leg up.

Early on you had disparate competitors, it eventually evolved into two major competitors: Nintendo (Line 6) and Sega (Digitech) with Boss and Zoom somewhat lagging. Then Sony (Fractal) dropped the Playstation (Axe FX Standard), and Digitech (Sega) kind of fell by the wayside. Microsoft jumped in with X-Box (Kemper), then Line 6 was just like, hold my beer, and came out with Helix (Wii), the user friendly modeler for those with lower attention spans (like me), except that really started to cut into the other competitors markets. So now Fractal is like, screw this, we can make ours look nice too, but it's way more powerful than your pithy Wii technology, and BOOM, out comes PS3.

Your move, Kemper. Where's your XBox 360?

 

[romanianreaper]

$2499....available early March....waiting list!

It's been 6-7 years since the AxeFx2 came out to replace the Axe Ultra......

Wow, that is a few hundred cheaper than what I paid for the AxeFX-II!! Of course I paid more to get it right away and not have to wait.

Everyone is different with their needs and type of tones they want, etc. All I know is that since 1986, I bought a new amp nearly every year. I had solid state, tube, modeling, complete stacks, combos, etc. When I got the AxeFx-II back in 2012 I haven't even craved getting another amp. I used to swap amps based on what kind of tone mood I was in for a few months. If I was on a Metallica kick, I'd want a Mesa and then I'd listen to some classic hard rock and want a Marshall. It never ended. Now I turn some knobs depending on how I feel.

Nothing beats the sound of a tube amp but it is always a balance between convenience, needs, etc. My ADD is too strong to own anything other than a modeler at this point. LOL!