Decision- Synergy or Axe fx iii

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sandman

sandman

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I’ve been waiting awhile for the rackmount Synergy stuff i’m interested in to get back in stock. But it’s got me to thinking about Axe fx iii. I like the idea of effects included in an all in one unit also.
I only play at home and need low volume. I have some hearing loss and family doesn’t want to hear my failed attempts at 80’s metal anyway🤣🤣
If I got an Axe fx i would be using poweramp (i have a Fryette ps2) and KSR guitar cab. I hate computers and technology but I guess I could suffer to learn basics.
My question is i’m torn on what to do. Keep waiting on Synergy or bite the Axe fx bullet? Axe fx does have more options. Synergy modules arent cheap and would add up fast cost wise also.
I guess i’m just curious what you Rigtalkers could offer me in advice and for things to think about to help me make a decision.
 
If you hate technology then you might not gel with the AxeFX although I think the PC editor is quite intuitive and easy to use once you get the hang of it.

I like the idea of only being limited to the five controls on an amp to cut down on options and get back to playing but the effects on the Axe kind of negate that. No more pedalboards and cables and power supplies.

I've done a bunch of A/B testing through headphones and monitors with loaded down amps fed into an IR vs the same modeled amp on the Axe and it's very hard to tell the difference at least to my blown out ears.

The Axe sounds great fed into a good power amp into a 4x12. If you buy one new, there's a trial period too. If you don't like it send it back.
 
chumbucket said:
If you hate technology then you might not gel with the AxeFX although I think the PC editor is quite intuitive and easy to use once you get the hang of it.

I like the idea of only being limited to the five controls on an amp to cut down on options and get back to playing but the effects on the Axe kind of negate that. No more pedalboards and cables and power supplies.

I've done a bunch of A/B testing through headphones and monitors with loaded down amps fed into an IR vs the same modeled amp on the Axe and it's very hard to tell the difference at least to my blown out ears
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It’s really that i’m old and lazy and intimidated by technology vs hate it lol
But if i buckled down im sure i could get some good usable tones in no time.
 
Check out Leon Todd's channel. He does a bunch of these five minute tone videos. He gets great sounds in a short time without having to deep dive nto the menus.

 
chumbucket said:
I've done a bunch of A/B testing through headphones and monitors with loaded down amps fed into an IR vs the same modeled amp on the Axe and it's very hard to tell the difference at least to my blown out ears.y
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I've done the same with power amps, tube amp returns and cabs and can't tell the difference.
 
jchrisf said:
I've done the same with power amps, tube amp returns and cabs and can't tell the difference.
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I've found that I like my tone better with a SS power amp into the cab. I leave power amp modeling on and it sounds very good in the room.
Tube amps tended to sound woofy sometimes. I would be able to tweak it in where I liked it and then when I turned up louder things changed too much. A good SS power amp takes care of that.
 
chumbucket said:
I've found that I like my tone better with a SS power amp into the cab. I leave power amp modeling on and it sounds very good in the room.
Tube amps tended to sound woofy sometimes. I would be able to tweak it in where I liked it and then when I turned up louder things changed too much. A good SS power amp takes care of that.
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Yeah, I agree.. my SS poweramp sounds the best with it into a cab.
 
I have both a Synergy Syn-1 & an FM3. You can send the Synergy preamp into the FM3 for cab IRs & effects or effects only. Leon Todd has a video about how to do this with an A/DA MP-1. You can utilize the power amp sim in the Axe FX as well. It scratches the amp itch for me. I do everything on the PC editor as others have said very intuitive
 
No experience w synergy but have had fractals since inception and currently run a fm9 into a pair of clrs
I have tech skills of a chimp
The editor is real good and leon todd videos and rosh roslin axe fx basics series are real good
if you buy one new you can return it
if you buy used you will get most if not all $ back on resale
 
I sold my FM9 MkII Turbo recently because I use my computer software plugins more. I think I'm done with hardware modelers for now, unless something really gamechanging and innovative hits.

If the choice is Synergy vs Fractal, I'd go Fractal which sounds great, and can do nearly everything IMO.

That said, if you have a decent set of studio monitors and audio interface, look at some software plugins...nearly all have trial versions you can try for free. And they often go on sale...

Some of my favorites:

PolyChromeDSP McRocklin Suite - this is my favorite, I can get nearly every sound I want from this plugin. I also purchased their Nunchuck which is based on a JCM800 and mods

Neural DSP Archetypes - I have Petrucci, Henson, Plini, and Mesa IIC++ Suite. If you see X in the plugin name it means it works with their Quad Cortex hardware

BlueCat Audio Axiom - very comprehensive, straightforward in standard mode, but also has advanced toneshaping/sculpting in advanced mode.

There are many more to choose from, and they range from $99 to $300+; many have free updates,...and there are also free plugins - but finding good ones can be time consuming
 
rsm said:
I sold my FM9 MkII Turbo recently because I use my computer software plugins more. I think I'm done with hardware modelers for now, unless something really gamechanging and innovative hits.

If the choice is Synergy vs Fractal, I'd go Fractal which sounds great, and can do nearly everything IMO.

That said, if you have a decent set of studio monitors and audio interface, look at some software plugins...nearly all have trial versions you can try for free. And they often go on sale...

Some of my favorites:

PolyChromeDSP McRocklin Suite - this is my favorite, I can get nearly every sound I want from this plugin. I also purchased their Nunchuck which is based on a JCM800 and mods

Neural DSP Archetypes - I have Petrucci, Henson, Plini, and Mesa IIC++ Suite. If you see X in the plugin name it means it works with their Quad Cortex hardware

BlueCat Audio Axiom - very comprehensive, straightforward in standard mode, but also has advanced toneshaping/sculpting in advanced mode.

There are many more to choose from, and they range from $99 to $300+; many have free updates,...and there are also free plugins - but finding good ones can be time consuming
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So many choices. It triggers my ADD and I get lost lol
 
sandman said:
So many choices. It triggers my ADD and I get lost lol
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you can narrow it down by sounds or players...e.g., if you like Mesa IIC++, then the NeuralDSP Mesa IIC++ Suite is worth trying, etc.

JCM800? then PolyChromeDSP Nunchuck, or the new bad boy:





You'll have a similar overwhelming set of choices with Fractal: amp, cab, mics, mic placement, IRs,...etc., before even looking at the advanced parameters for each.
 
Similar situation to yours, I went Axe Fx and haven't looked back. The software is pretty straightforward once you get used to it, there's lots of tutorials on YouTube. The only real hard part (for me) was settling on what IR's to use since there's a bit too many options out there.
 
Tough call. Depends on how much you dislike editing the AFX it think.

A thought might be for the Quad Cortex simply because its big screen is pretty easy to use compared to the Fractal. But unless you want the Quad Cortex to capture/profile amps, the Factual is IMHO a superior modeler and FX unit.
 
I wouldn't do either, personally. If you want modeling/capturing, the best results you're going to get nowadays will be with Neural Amp Modeler or Tonex. If you need hardware, you could get the Tonex pedal or the Dimehead pedal for NAM.

If you really want an all in one effects unit, you could add something like the Fractal VP4, Eventide H90, etc.

Or you could get a Neural DSP Quad Cortex if you want an all in one unit with modeling, capturing, and effects all together. Its effects aren't going to be on the same level as Fractal or Eventide, but the amp modeling is better, and the capturing tech in it is almost as good as Tonex.


It all depends on what you're willing to compromise on for ease of use, money spent, quality of tones, quality of effects, etc.
 
I've been running the AxeFx and Synergy stuff together in a rig w/ tube power amp and cabs have been doing this for several years now... the Axe is awesome/amazing but for raw amp tones, IMHO, the Synergy stuff is more satisfying and easier to get along with...

With your current setup if you just added a SYN1 or 2 to the Axe you could have the best of both worlds and just loop in the preamp and use the PS2 as the power amp.

Or if you are an at home player and don't need massive volume/headroom and are looking to just go to a straight amp setup, look at the SYN20IR it is a nearly perfect home studio amp.
 
rsm said:
I sold my FM9 MkII Turbo recently because I use my computer software plugins more. I think I'm done with hardware modelers for now, unless something really gamechanging and innovative hits.

If the choice is Synergy vs Fractal, I'd go Fractal which sounds great, and can do nearly everything IMO.

That said, if you have a decent set of studio monitors and audio interface, look at some software plugins...nearly all have trial versions you can try for free. And they often go on sale...

Some of my favorites:

PolyChromeDSP McRocklin Suite - this is my favorite, I can get nearly every sound I want from this plugin. I also purchased their Nunchuck which is based on a JCM800 and mods

Neural DSP Archetypes - I have Petrucci, Henson, Plini, and Mesa IIC++ Suite. If you see X in the plugin name it means it works with their Quad Cortex hardware

BlueCat Audio Axiom - very comprehensive, straightforward in standard mode, but also has advanced toneshaping/sculpting in advanced mode.

There are many more to choose from, and they range from $99 to $300+; many have free updates,...and there are also free plugins - but finding good ones can be time consuming
Click to expand...
I've played some decent amp plug ins over the years but from a convenience standpoint, it takes up more time and tech skills to achieve good results.
I'd rather just plug into a Fractal and pull up my favorite preset and play. Far less time and BS involved.
 
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It really depends on what you are looking for, as they are pretty different experiences. I have a Synergy system and a FM3. I think the Synergy would be better through an amp and cab, while the Axe would be better through a computer with IRs. Synergy is going to give you quicker satisfaction and feel, where the Axe will take a lot more tweaking, and of course all the effects, if that is important to you.
 
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