NGD: Axe-Fx II

[spirit7]

Before anyone asks: it's not replacing any of my lovely tube amps, but sadly recent circumstances have dictated that I can't play my Diezels in the apartment (read: unreasonable neighbours who can apparently hear me playing even when it's at speaking volume ). It will never beat tube amps, but I hope it'll get close.

Can anyone recommend the best high gain patches? I play modern progressive metal.

Thanks,

-C

 

[Gjeven]

Congrats! Its a lot of fun messing around with, if your the tweaking type.

The staples are HBE, Cameron and are used for a lot of patches. I like the FAS Modern too.

 

[jcj]

If it's anything like the Standard, make sure to check out the SLO patch, too.

I've always loved that one. Congrats

 

[BYTOR]

Do a search for Gods Cab and download their free Mesa IRs.

Also check out Ownhammer, their Mesa V32 IRs are great as well. You can get them for $10.

You can get very good sounds with the cabs that come with the Axe, but you have 50 user IR slots in the Axe to fill up, so check out the ones I've told you about.

 

[spirit7]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, very useful. Keep 'em coming!

-C

 

[Mizati20]

Ola has a patch he built that's pretty killer for modern metal, I think it has WAY too much bass, but it's a good starting point... check it out, can be found on his Youtube pages...

 

[Ventura]

I obliterated some of the patches in the 370s and started rebuilding new ones based on combos of high gainers... A little delay, a little flange, shit worked out awesome. I've got one that's the Jonez Tonez pretty well nailed for their Lateralus CD, I've nailed Dave Grohl's tone using a couple Vox and Mesa amps in tandem, I've created a beast using the SLO and Cameron heads, and another one using the Uberschall and Das Metal (VH4). They're my go to favourites and man, they are sick. Took me 5 minutes to lay the groundwork, and about 1 hour each to tweak them to where they sounded ace on the cans and monitors.

Peace,
Mo

 

[The Hoff]

Definitely look for IRs, they are a must. I bought the redwirez stuff and don't regret it one bit.

For my high gain stuff:
-Two cabs: one 0in cone the other 1in cone
-Two amps: one for the actual tone/feeling, the other for the low end (tweak each accordingly). Pan each amp just a little (I do balance around 20/-20)
-Separate signal chains for the two cabs/amps after a gate
-Give both signal chains a boost (I typically use the OD808 gain on 0, tone around 3, level at 9/10)
-Just a little reverb (seriously, just a little). I do medium plate, 1.5 sec, 50% mix, -5db level,
-I like the "enhancer" at the very end of the signal chain (right after the reverb) at 85% or so
-Cab blocks: room size at around 5, play a little with the mic spacing, change the low cut frequency (I like it around 20 Hz), play with the "air" setting, I usually like it around 20%.

 

[Mizati20]

Definitely look for IRs, they are a must. I bought the redwirez stuff and don't regret it one bit.

For my high gain stuff:
-Two cabs: one 0in cone the other 1in cone
-Two amps: one for the actual tone/feeling, the other for the low end (tweak each accordingly). Pan each amp just a little (I do balance around 20/-20)
-Separate signal chains for the two cabs/amps after a gate
-Give both signal chains a boost (I typically use the OD808 gain on 0, tone around 3, level at 9/10)
-Just a little reverb (seriously, just a little). I do medium plate, 1.5 sec, 50% mix, -5db level,
-I like the "enhancer" at the very end of the signal chain (right after the reverb) at 85% or so
-Cab blocks: room size at around 5, play a little with the mic spacing, change the low cut frequency (I like it around 20 Hz), play with the "air" setting, I usually like it around 20%.

Jesus, when I had my other Axe-II (other than the one I refuse to open and am trying to sell) I didn't get nearly this deep into ANYTHING... definitely isn't the piece of gear for me LoL...

 

[spirit7]

I obliterated some of the patches in the 370s and started rebuilding new ones based on combos of high gainers... A little delay, a little flange, shit worked out awesome. I've got one that's the Jonez Tonez pretty well nailed for their Lateralus CD, I've nailed Dave Grohl's tone using a couple Vox and Mesa amps in tandem, I've created a beast using the SLO and Cameron heads, and another one using the Uberschall and Das Metal (VH4). They're my go to favourites and man, they are sick. Took me 5 minutes to lay the groundwork, and about 1 hour each to tweak them to where they sounded ace on the cans and monitors.

Peace,
Mo

Mo - I need your help! How on earth do you make high gain patches not sound terrible using cans? Are you using far-field IRs? I simply wasn't able to get an acceptable high gain tone using headphones last night (admittedly, only my first time tweaking the unit). A list of your exact settings would be exceptionally useful.

Thanks,

-C

 

[BYTOR]

Dude go on the Fractal Forums!! People there are extremely helpful.
Introduce yourself, say exactly what you want help with and you'll be off to the races in no time!
It is really easy to get great tones without doing much, once you get over the initial hump.

Your master volume and gain knob are extremely important to your overall tone, as well as the cab. Just like real amps.

The Axe can be as bone simple or as involved as you want it to be.

 

[Ventura]

I obliterated some of the patches in the 370s and started rebuilding new ones based on combos of high gainers... A little delay, a little flange, shit worked out awesome. I've got one that's the Jonez Tonez pretty well nailed for their Lateralus CD, I've nailed Dave Grohl's tone using a couple Vox and Mesa amps in tandem, I've created a beast using the SLO and Cameron heads, and another one using the Uberschall and Das Metal (VH4). They're my go to favourites and man, they are sick. Took me 5 minutes to lay the groundwork, and about 1 hour each to tweak them to where they sounded ace on the cans and monitors.

Peace,
Mo

Mo - I need your help! How on earth do you make high gain patches not sound terrible using cans? Are you using far-field IRs? I simply wasn't able to get an acceptable high gain tone using headphones last night (admittedly, only my first time tweaking the unit). A list of your exact settings would be exceptionally useful.

Thanks,

-C

I'll PM you within the next day. It was a simple process, and I've got decent cans if that makes any difference. I'm used to listening to tracks on headphones, maybe this is why it's ok - they're vastly different from the monitor or FRFR out you'd get. Drier. Less lively. But you get used to it, and once you plug in to an amp-out or FRFR out, it rocks. But ya, I'll fire up a couple of my homemades and send them along

 

[jcj]

Dude go on the Fractal Forums!! People there are extremely helpful.
Introduce yourself, say exactly what you want help with and you'll be off to the races in no time!
It is really easy to get great tones without doing much, once you get over the initial hump.

Your master volume and gain knob are extremely important to your overall tone, as well as the cab. Just like real amps.

The Axe can be as bone simple or as involved as you want it to be.

Wow...things must have changed over at the Fractal forum.....used to be a nut swingers paradise, full of condascending fucks who were really fond of the old standby "RTFM" reply

I couldn't stand that place...even reading it used to annoy me...obviously I stopped

BTW- Always been an Axe fan

 

[cardinal]

I have to use the far-field IRs through headphones. With high gain, i used the 12-65 cab. I've settled on running stereo cabs, both panned to center. One is a far-field set to full volume and the other is a near-field backed off a bit (volume too high sounds harsh and too low sounds boxy or something, to me).

I'm still struggling with headphone tones, but this is somewhat working for me. I think I need to buy some after market near-fields and play with those. Wish there were more far-fields available.

 

[spirit7]

I obliterated some of the patches in the 370s and started rebuilding new ones based on combos of high gainers... A little delay, a little flange, shit worked out awesome. I've got one that's the Jonez Tonez pretty well nailed for their Lateralus CD, I've nailed Dave Grohl's tone using a couple Vox and Mesa amps in tandem, I've created a beast using the SLO and Cameron heads, and another one using the Uberschall and Das Metal (VH4). They're my go to favourites and man, they are sick. Took me 5 minutes to lay the groundwork, and about 1 hour each to tweak them to where they sounded ace on the cans and monitors.

Peace,
Mo

Mo - I need your help! How on earth do you make high gain patches not sound terrible using cans? Are you using far-field IRs? I simply wasn't able to get an acceptable high gain tone using headphones last night (admittedly, only my first time tweaking the unit). A list of your exact settings would be exceptionally useful.

Thanks,

-C

I'll PM you within the next day. It was a simple process, and I've got decent cans if that makes any difference. I'm used to listening to tracks on headphones, maybe this is why it's ok - they're vastly different from the monitor or FRFR out you'd get. Drier. Less lively. But you get used to it, and once you plug in to an amp-out or FRFR out, it rocks. But ya, I'll fire up a couple of my homemades and send them along

That would be much appreciated - you're a hero. If you could include an explanation of the methodology behind your patches I would be even more grateful. I also have decent cans (Sennheiser HD650s).

I'll pick up some decent monitors soon too, but I bought the Axe at least partly for quiet/silent playing as my Herbert is annoying the neighbours

-C

 

[spirit7]

I have to use the far-field IRs through headphones. With high gain, i used the 12-65 cab. I've settled on running stereo cabs, both panned to center. One is a far-field set to full volume and the other is a near-field backed off a bit (volume too high sounds harsh and too low sounds boxy or something, to me).

I'm still struggling with headphone tones, but this is somewhat working for me. I think I need to buy some after market near-fields and play with those. Wish there were more far-fields available.

Ah, I saw your thread on the Fractal Forum and have read through all of it. Will try out the far-field IRs later today (think I'm just using the normal cab settings at the moment). It seems you have almost an identical problem to me (loud Diezel, annoying neighbours!).

Have you tried buying monitors and just playing them with the volume down pretty low? That's going to be my compromise solution I think if I can't get cans to sound decent...

-C

 

[Ventura]

Dude go on the Fractal Forums!! People there are extremely helpful.
Introduce yourself, say exactly what you want help with and you'll be off to the races in no time!
It is really easy to get great tones without doing much, once you get over the initial hump.

Your master volume and gain knob are extremely important to your overall tone, as well as the cab. Just like real amps.

The Axe can be as bone simple or as involved as you want it to be.

Wow...things must have changed over at the Fractal forum.....used to be a nut swingers paradise, full of condascending fucks who were really fond of the old standby "RTFM" reply

I couldn't stand that place...even reading it used to annoy me...obviously I stopped

BTW- Always been an Axe fan

Tell us how you really feel...

FWIW, I still have a hard time going over there. Has it really changed that much?? I'm now intrigued...

Mo

 

[cardinal]

Ah, I saw your thread on the Fractal Forum and have read through all of it. Will try out the far-field IRs later today (think I'm just using the normal cab settings at the moment). It seems you have almost an identical problem to me (loud Diezel, annoying neighbours!).

Have you tried buying monitors and just playing them with the volume down pretty low? That's going to be my compromise solution I think if I can't get cans to sound decent...

-C

I don't have monitors yet. I'm a bit wary to throw down a lot of money on pricey monitors, but I'm not sure if cheap ones will give a fair impression. I've been told over and over again that monitors sound totally different than phones, so maybe I should just bite the bullet.

Another quick bandaid I've found it to set the Voicing knob to "warm" with headphones. Definitely takes away the weird top end that I hear, but kinda muffles the entire thing. Adding in more treble and presence helps a bit.

 

[Chris O]

HN 0101001111010100101110101 AD!!!

 

[mniel8195]

i play my axe through either krk rokit 6 speakers with ownhammer ir or latley ive been playing through a bridged art sla2 through a blackstar 1x10. i just enjoy the cab in the room sound. Especially after playing through a cab for a long time the speaker sims dont sounds great. Its just different i guess. It is nice just to have my axe plugged into my computer then routed to my speakers instead of having a 1x0 speaker laying in my living room with my rack.