I Might Just Go Digital

  • Thread starter Thread starter BeZo
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BeZo

BeZo

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I started a new sludge band along the lines of Neurosis, Isis, Cult of Luna, or Yob. The bassist in the band wants me to use fuzz, but I love amplifiers. We settled on a Marshall or Matamp style amps, and I bought a Stiletto. Cool.

Now I have to build a new pedalboard. I don't want to buy more pedals and all the stuff for that. So, I am thinking of just going digital with my effects. I've been looking at the Fractal FX8 for effects. My main thinking was not only for the effects, but for utility also. I can go stereo with another amp and it will work, and even have switching to change channels on both amps. Has anyone else used the FX8 in stereo like that? Is it worth it?
 
DanTravis62 said:
The convenience of all those fx in one spot is probably the best feature of digital for me with one exception..fuzz.


Ymmv
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The fuzzes in the HX Effects work well IMO; I use the fuzzface, octavia and big muff.
 
For clarification I use the Helix to play at home and was playing bass in a doom/sludge band before work and school made that impossible. Using a rat into my interface yielded way better results than the line 6 options.

I'm friends with the guitarist from Buzzoven on fb and he told me he was using a ds-1. Which surprised the hell out of me cause they actually made it sound killer. Check out their cover of ELO's don't bring me down
 
I use the Fractal FX8 for my Mesa Mark IV going 4CM and it is great. Be sure to look for the Mark II if you go that route, as that one has the relay switchers. I did have Redco build me a nice snake for it which is super convenient. I had them add in a couple of humbuster type cables which eliminated all noise. This is the first time in 25+ years that I don't use any rack gear.

That said - I did pick up the Fractal FM9 recently and just love the sound and convenience.

Best of luck in your search.
 
The Helix recently added the black Russian big muff in the last update. I like that one but I use the Mesa eq after it to tighten it up a bit.
 
I think the FX8 is great for your intended purpose. I’ve had it setup to run a stereo rig. For me the FX do what I need them to and control both rigs. Admittedly though, I’ve not used the fuzz pedals so I can’t comment on that.
 
Emg77 said:
I think the FX8 is great for your intended purpose. I’ve had it setup to run a stereo rig. For me the FX do what I need them to and control both rigs. Admittedly though, I’ve not used the fuzz pedals so I can’t comment on that.
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I guess the big selling point for me is the relays and the stereo option. If I run two amps, I can use it to split and switch both heads. How well does it work in stereo? Have you used it in both effects loops?
 
The HX Effects was on the list too, but I decided against it. I am familiar with the Effects, layout, and quality, but the stereo options for the FX8 has me leaning that way.
 
Effects-wise, if it was my setup, I'd buy a real fuzz pedal and route that right after the guitar, then use the Fractal for all my other effects and routing.

Digital units physically cannot get fuzzes right in the same way they can get other effects right, even Cliff Chase has explained it himself. The digital conversion process necessary for modeling disrupts the direct interaction between the fuzz and pickup which is required for fuzz to do its thing.

Modelers can get close, and under certain circumstances they can emulate the way fuzz manipulates a wave form under specific settings, but modelers can't really do the dynamic volume rolled down super chimey clean thing you can get out of analog fuzz pedals.
 
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BeZo said:
I guess the big selling point for me is the relays and the stereo option. If I run two amps, I can use it to split and switch both heads. How well does it work in stereo? Have you used it in both effects loops?
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I have. It work’s extremely well. The only caution I ll add is using humbuster cables to minimize the noise.
 
I'm probably going to lean more on real amp distortion, rather than fuzz. I'm really interested in controlling two amps and all my effects with one device. I'm more curious about the FX8 for stereo delays and utility. Can it be used as an AB-Y?
 
Emg77 said:
I have. It work’s extremely well. The only caution I ll add is using humbuster cables to minimize the noise.
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I have no problem making cables for my snakes. I already looked into it, and I understand why.
 
Duuuuuuuuude. Fuzz is fun. I have like 8 fuzz pedals, and they all do something different.
There is some overlap. I have 2 Tone Benders, 2 Big Muffs, and the Warm Audio Foxy Tone & Wilson Knuckle Dragger both sound huge and gnarly. The Knuckle Dragger is a trip man.
There are so many great options out there for Sludgy Stoner Doom tones. No way I'd go digital on fuzz. Even leaning on amp dirt, in fact some good crunch as a base sound is preferable, a good fuzz can take you tonal places you can't get any other way. It's a fun rabbit hole to go down.
 
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