My gig at The House of Blues running direct with the AX8

[Bishop5150]

Had an amazing show over the weekend at the House of Blues Houston. I play in an Ozzy Osbourne tribute band called OZZ and this was our 3rd gig there in the last year but the first with my Fractal gear. The last 2 shows there I've run 2 5153 halfstacks in stereo with a G-System. This time around I ran direct using the AX8 and ran Out 2 to a Matrix power amp and my EVH 4x12 cab for a little amp/ cab feel onstage. You can see the green screen of my Axe-Fx XL glowing in the rack case on top of my 4x12 cab as my backup just in case of an emergency. The AX8 sounded great. I got lots of compliments on my sound. Several of my fellow EVH 5153 friends and users who are tube amp purist we're blown away when I told them I was running direct to FOH with the AX8. They are now Fractal believers. I had pro video being shot from the soundbooth with a direct feed from board into the camera. I'll post some once I get it. In the mean time here is some cell phone video so you can check out how the AX8 sounded.

 

[cecilbag]

Well it's official. I'm getting a Fractal. Sounds huge man. Love the tone

 

[snorkel54]

Dig it! Really nice tone you got there

 

[Racerxrated]

Sounds good! But, how did it sound next to you on stage? That's the issue I have with these(Axe, Kemper). I know direct they sound amazing. But when I played through a friends on his set break a few years ago, while it sounded killer through the PA it sounded bad on stage....not just average, but bad..he had a power amp and a cab, said his cab sims were off..

 

[Bishop5150]

Sounded great. Soundguys had me pumped through my front monitor and I EQ'ed the signal I send to the Matrix and cab to sound like I want while on stage.

 

[Racerxrated]

Sounded great. Soundguys had me pumped through my front monitor and I EQ'ed the signal I send to the Matrix and cab to sound like I want while on stage.

Cool! Maybe someday I'll try one. I do have a nice tube power amp in the Strategy 400, although ive heard that solid state is best. Either way you guys sounded great!

 

[LP Freak]

Sounded great. But your singer sounds nothing like Ozzy... He actually sings in key.

 

[BYTOR]

Sounded great. Soundguys had me pumped through my front monitor and I EQ'ed the signal I send to the Matrix and cab to sound like I want while on stage.

You are going to freak out the "it's only tube amps that can sound & feel good live" crowd

All these guys know they can't question your experience when it comes to playing live with real deal tube amps..........so how can they possibly come to terms with the fact you dug the sound & feel of a modeler? Blasphemy

 

[VoodooChild24]

Sounds massive man! Would you want to share the patch that you used?
I love the tones I'm getting from my AxeFx.

 

[Steinmetzify]

Sounded fantastic man. Would love to see the pro vid too.

 

[Bishop5150]

Until recently I thought it was blasphemy myself. This was only my second gig with the AX8. I've had an Axe-FX and a Kemper. Up until now I thought they couldn't cut it live. For me anyway. I know it was user error though cause I've heard them sound amazing live. I decided to give it another shot when I got the AX8. I transferred over my Axe-Fx patches to it and took it to practice and hooked it up to our PA. I hadn't tried the Axe since the new Quantum firmware came out. I was blown away. It sounded like my 5153 rig mic'ed up. I'm a convert now.

 

[Bishop5150]

Sounds massive man! Would you want to share the patch that you used?
I love the tones I'm getting from my AxeFx.

Sure. You can find it for the XL and AX8 on page 2 of this thread in the Fractal forum.
http://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/m ... 004/page-2

 

[gibson5413]

Awesome brother! Sounds great and the playing was tight!!

 

[MrDowntown]

That's was so bad ass.
As the crowd singing along?

AWESOME.

 

[thiswaythatway]

A good soundguy is key here. You're really at his/her mercy.

 

[Bishop5150]

A good soundguy is key here. You're really at his/her mercy.

I would agree. I spoke with him after the show and he didn't touch anything EQ wise in my channel. Left it totally flat. What was coming in was exactly what was coming out the FOH.

 

[nevusofota]

Well shit. Guess I'm ordering an AX8 now.

Your RR playing is on point.

 

[Stramm8]

A good soundguy is key here. You're really at his/her mercy.

Exactly. Your run of the mill sound guy could easily fuck this up. Sounds great though. I want one.

 

[tripstan]

That is legit. From the recording I would have never guessed it wasn't a tube amp.

 

[guitarobert]

Awesome tone and phenomenal playing! Well done.