Reasons To Buy An AxeFX II XL+ or Kemper

[MistaGuitah]

So as some of us have been discussing the whole AxeFX v Kemper v Headrush v Amplifire v Helix topic in a few threads so I wanted to chip in some of the things I have learned and why I decided to go the Fractal route instead of the Kemper route. It seems like there are a lot of questions on this subject but I am aware that my own opinion is not anything definitive. It's just the way I see things so I'm not trying to be authoritative or anything.

To begin with I eliminate the Headrush early on as it did not have the quality of processing near Fractal and Kemper. It's a real sweet and cool looking unit but sounds like an Eleven Rack. It does not respond like a real amp nor does it have the same body of a good processor. Then I eliminated the Helix and Amplifire because I think they're on the edge of getting that kind of quality but not quite on that level. The Helix being above the Amplifier by the way.

Probably if I spent more time with the Helix, I could have achieved similar quality tone but I think it's still a notch below overall in sound and I don't trust the quality of Line6 as much as Fractal and Kemper. Let me tell you the Fractal and Kemper stuff are military grade units.

By the way I spent probably the last 2 months running through all of these devices multiple times.

The AX8 did note have a straightforward way to use headphones which I personally think sucks about it. It has the controller and enough processing power that there's no reason why its not adequate for 95% of the population probably. I would have gone that route but since Fractal has the AxeFX II XL+ on clearance then it's a better deal in my mind. The drawback is that you have to buy a $700 foot controller and that sucks very badly. It's not so much the price but the fact that they only offer one monster size controller. I would be so much better if they offered a smaller footswitch for us mere mortals. I want to kick Fractal in the ass for that to be honest.

I have never been a modeling guy but tube amps are getting so damned expensive and no matter what you buy there always seems to be another amp you wish you could have gotten, then you end up flipping gear and wasting a small fortune. That pushed me into the modeling realm very recently and I am very glad it did because I never would have thought Fractal and Kemper could be so amp like, full bodied, responsive, dynamic, and simply amazing.

I used 4 setups for every device except the Kemper which I could go straight through a guitar cab.

1. Straight into active monitors
2. Straight into a 35w portable PA
3. Powered Kemper straight into a 2x12
4. AxeFX & Kemper into the FX return of a micro amp
4. AxeFX & Kemper headphone out into desktop computer speakers

Most impressive was how easy it was to plug the Kemper into a guitar cab and get an amazing sound. It made me want to buy the unit right away because it was that good. It REALLY does seem like a real amp. Everything you can do with your pick dynamic and guitar knobs works just like a tube amp. It blew me away totally. Then I was like well I need to compare it to the AxeFX very badly because I was already itching for one.

There is when I plugged in an AxeFX into a micro amp with an FX loop. I could actually get a very low volume sound straight into a guitar cab from the AxeFX but muffled and not loud enough even for practice but I digress. The AxeFX had all the right ingredients to make an amazing sound. It's extremely amp like and it's really really hard to discern which I liked better.

Here's what threw me though. As I played around with them, I noticed something about the Kemper that did not happen to the AxeFX. You see the AxeFX you can tweak any which way and it does not affect the tone. Kemper on the other hand does not sound as good when you adjust things more than a little bit. For example, if you use a lower gain then it loses something. Another example is if you scoop the mids then it's like it loses whatever it originally had.

It makes me thing that you probably need to do several profiles of the same amp to achieve different sounds without losing anything because it seems to capture whatever settings the amp had when it was profiled. The AxeFX does not do this as it seems to have a more overall picture of the amp tone somehow. The Kemper is kind of like a snapshot.

There must also be something else the Kemper is capturing because I noticed something undesirable when I switched different guitars. It's like it wants the same setup that you used when you profiled the amp originally. For example if you used high output pickups then it won't be as spectacular unless you're feeding it with high output pickups. That was how it seemed to me but I could have been doing something wrong. The sales guy did not know much to help but he said that Kempers pick up EVERYTHING in the signal from pickups to microphone so if he is right then that would make sense.

Back to the AxeFX, it was amazing just through that little microamp with a preamp tube power section. It was formidable for a little 5w amp through a 2x12. There was some tweaking needed and it was different between Kemper and Fractal. One of them had to do with the sag or something and the other had to turn off power modeling. The AxeFX was a little more intuitive to operate as if it's laid out in a straight line one section at a time or something.

There is very good software but I touched none of it so I don't know the advantages. All I know is that for all of my trouble the AxeFX was it for me. I think if I knew more about the profiling then the Kemper would be 100% as great as Fractal but it seems like too much hassle to mess around with profiling so the AxeFX makes it so easy and the tone is good no matter if you change things.

I hope this is helpful. If you are experienced in this technology then you are welcome to correct me or explain things or concur. Lastly there is a video I came across last night of patches made on the AxeFX that to me are scary good, particularly the Joe Satriani Revelation, EVH, and Metallica sounds.

This is lengthy and I apologize for it. I am already working on some patches of my own. The AxeFX is really pretty easy to get a hang of. When I have developed some good sounds then I will follow up with some audio.

 

[maddnotez]

Congrats,

While it is an awesome unit I disagree that it is amp like. Does not feel the same to me unless you have power tubes going into a guitar cab which for me, defeated the purpose.

But yeah they are otherwise awesome IMO and can get way more sounds than any tube amp.

 

[Racerxrated]

I just grabbed an AX8, and to solve the headphone issue I have a pair of tiny studio monitors with a headphone out. Works perfectly.
Still deciding on a SS power amp or a larger FRFR monitor for jamming.

 

[RedB4Black]

I just grabbed an AX8, and to solve the headphone issue I have a pair of tiny studio monitors with a headphone out. Works perfectly.
Still deciding on a SS power amp or a larger FRFR monitor for jamming.

Buy a pair of these for a little more than $500 (using a 15% sale from MF)...

https://www.altoproaudio.com/products/ts212

I have a pair and they sound every bit as good as the Atomic CLRs they replaced and saved a lot of $.

 

[Bishop5150]

I have the Kemper and AX8 and just sold my XL to fund the Axe-Fx III. I love both brands. Can get killer sounds out of either but I prefer Fractal.

 

[MistaGuitah]

I just grabbed an AX8, and to solve the headphone issue I have a pair of tiny studio monitors with a headphone out. Works perfectly.
Still deciding on a SS power amp or a larger FRFR monitor for jamming.

Buy a pair of these for a little more than $500 (using a 15% sale from MF)...

https://www.altoproaudio.com/products/ts212

I have a pair and they sound every bit as good as the Atomic CLRs they replaced and saved a lot of $.

That is indeed what I am planning. Playing the AxeFX thorough the FX return of an amp is really great but it doesn't need a tube power amp. It has something more to the tone than other modelers do. It has a full bodied sound on its own. That's not the brand I had in mind but a powered PA sounded really good and very loud. You could power a pretty sizeable gig with a smaller pair I think. $1000 for a CLR to me is too expensive. People say its good but I can't see how it can be even better than it sounds with a tube amp or PA.

I have the Kemper and AX8 and just sold my XL to fund the Axe-Fx III. I love both brands. Can get killer sounds out of either but I prefer Fractal.

Lucky you. I had to buy mine pre-owned. The AxeFX 3 is around the $2500 mark from what I hear.

 

[napalmdeath]

I've pretty much come to the conclusion that Fractal is the class of the field. Buying anything else would just make you wonder what you're missing.

 

[Monkey Man]

The sales guy did not know much to help but he said that Kempers pick up EVERYTHING in the signal from pickups to microphone so if he is right then that would make sense.

You invited us to clarify stuff, MG, so I'll correct the sales guy's statement.

The Kemper Profiles the entire chain, but pickups aren't included in that. The Profiling signal after all is generated by the Kemper.

The only difference guitar and pickup types and configurations can possibly make is that when setting an amp up for Profiling (tweaking the sound to taste), the guitar and pickups you're playing will determine to a great extent where you set the gain and EQ knobs.

So, if you play roughly the same guitar and pickup selection as those used by the Profile maker, you should get roughly the same sound he or she did. Simple as that.

That's not to say you can't plug a Les Paul into an amp tweaked for a Strat and not get good sound; a tweak of the gain and EQ stack should in theory be all that's required, and the Kemper allows this. In fact, the EQ stack (not the parametric and graphic EQ's) is super-effective and musical-sounding to my ears and to those of many others.

One more thing: The fact that you can adjust the pick level, sag, definition (my favourite), amp compression, tube bias and so on means that you can take a good Profile of an amp you like with the settings you like and enhance it further than you could in real life. I think Andy Sneap said something about loving this aspect of it in the early days of Kemper.

Anyway, HTH, mate. It's too late now for this to have any influence over your decision as you'd already made it before creating the thread, but you invited clarifications, so there you have it. So glad you're a happy camper (not Kemper!) with the unit you chose, man; that's all one could ask for, really.

 

[stratjacket]

Nice write up and sounds like you’re wrapping a good journey to come to that conclusion. Probably a lot of fun.

I was a Line 6 fan from early 2,000’s up to the XT Live, then Fractal Ultra and I’ve had the original Mk II since it was launched. I got in on the waiting list early morning Jan 29 for the III. All this to say, I’ve never felt the urge to try a Kemper, Helix, Headrush or X. I’m sure they’re great systems, but don’t feel the need. To Napalm’s point, I bet I would feel the urge if I didn’t have an Axe.

And I run it in various ways. Straight into a Mission Enginering Gimini II. Also use it with my Amps from the output of a Suhr Reactive Load for Cab IR’s and effects. So many possibilities and they all sound good.

 

[Racerxrated]

I just grabbed an AX8, and to solve the headphone issue I have a pair of tiny studio monitors with a headphone out. Works perfectly.
Still deciding on a SS power amp or a larger FRFR monitor for jamming.

Buy a pair of these for a little more than $500 (using a 15% sale from MF)...

https://www.altoproaudio.com/products/ts212

I have a pair and they sound every bit as good as the Atomic CLRs they replaced and saved a lot of $.

THAT is good to know, if they do the trick then that's a done deal. I've been leaning toward the more expensive options but since you've had them both and compared, no reason to overspend.

 

[MistaGuitah]

The sales guy did not know much to help but he said that Kempers pick up EVERYTHING in the signal from pickups to microphone so if he is right then that would make sense.

You invited us to clarify stuff, MG, so I'll correct the sales guy's statement.

The Kemper Profiles the entire chain, but pickups aren't included in that. The Profiling signal after all is generated by the Kemper.

The only difference guitar and pickup types and configurations can possibly make is that when setting an amp up for Profiling (tweaking the sound to taste), the guitar and pickups you're playing will determine to a great extent where you set the gain and EQ knobs.

So, if you play roughly the same guitar and pickup selection as those used by the Profile maker, you should get roughly the same sound he or she did. Simple as that.

That's not to say you can't plug a Les Paul into an amp tweaked for a Strat and not get good sound; a tweak of the gain and EQ stack should in theory be all that's required, and the Kemper allows this. In fact, the EQ stack (not the parametric and graphic EQ's) is super-effective and musical-sounding to my ears and to those of many others.

One more thing: The fact that you can adjust the pick level, sag, definition (my favourite), amp compression, tube bias and so on means that you can take a good Profile of an amp you like with the settings you like and enhance it further than you could in real life. I think Andy Sneap said something about loving this aspect of it in the early days of Kemper.

Anyway, HTH, mate. It's too late now for this to have any influence over your decision as you'd already made it before creating the thread, but you invited clarifications, so there you have it. So glad you're a happy camper (not Kemper!) with the unit you chose, man; that's all one could ask for, really.

I wasn't trying to say it literally means you're profiling the pickups. The point is that everything that goes into the amp being profiled becomes a factor. As far as I can tell, when you change some settings beyond mild adjustments, it loses something in the process. I absolutely loved the Kemper with factory presets and at first didn't notice the issue because I was only making small adjustments. It wasn't until I wanted to tweak some parameters that I started to notice that you probably have to profile your amp in several of your favorite settings. This is only a logical assumption but other people seem to be saying similar things so I think I'm just noticing the same thing.

It doesn't matter as I would have been very happy with the Kemper if I could find a powered model in my budget. Who knows because maybe later on down the road I might pick one up. For now I'm really impressed with the AxeFX and that's something I never really dreamed that I would say.

 

[napalmdeath]

The sales guy did not know much to help but he said that Kempers pick up EVERYTHING in the signal from pickups to microphone so if he is right then that would make sense.

You invited us to clarify stuff, MG, so I'll correct the sales guy's statement.

The Kemper Profiles the entire chain, but pickups aren't included in that. The Profiling signal after all is generated by the Kemper.

The only difference guitar and pickup types and configurations can possibly make is that when setting an amp up for Profiling (tweaking the sound to taste), the guitar and pickups you're playing will determine to a great extent where you set the gain and EQ knobs.

So, if you play roughly the same guitar and pickup selection as those used by the Profile maker, you should get roughly the same sound he or she did. Simple as that.

That's not to say you can't plug a Les Paul into an amp tweaked for a Strat and not get good sound; a tweak of the gain and EQ stack should in theory be all that's required, and the Kemper allows this. In fact, the EQ stack (not the parametric and graphic EQ's) is super-effective and musical-sounding to my ears and to those of many others.

One more thing: The fact that you can adjust the pick level, sag, definition (my favourite), amp compression, tube bias and so on means that you can take a good Profile of an amp you like with the settings you like and enhance it further than you could in real life. I think Andy Sneap said something about loving this aspect of it in the early days of Kemper.

Anyway, HTH, mate. It's too late now for this to have any influence over your decision as you'd already made it before creating the thread, but you invited clarifications, so there you have it. So glad you're a happy camper (not Kemper!) with the unit you chose, man; that's all one could ask for, really.

I wasn't trying to say it literally means you're profiling the pickups. The point is that everything that goes into the amp being profiled becomes a factor. As far as I can tell, when you change some settings beyond mild adjustments, it loses something in the process. I absolutely loved the Kemper with factory presets and at first didn't notice the issue because I was only making small adjustments. It wasn't until I wanted to tweak some parameters that I started to notice that you probably have to profile your amp in several of your favorite settings. This is only a logical assumption but other people seem to be saying similar things so I think I'm just noticing the same thing.

It doesn't matter as I would have been very happy with the Kemper if I could find a powered model in my budget. Who knows because maybe later on down the road I might pick one up. For now I'm really impressed with the AxeFX and that's something I never really dreamed that I would say.

Where did you find one used? Reverb doesn't have too many good used prices. Most are asking the same as new, some even MORE than $1699! Buying used on Reverb is a waste of time, anymore. People are nuts!

 

[MistaGuitah]

The sales guy did not know much to help but he said that Kempers pick up EVERYTHING in the signal from pickups to microphone so if he is right then that would make sense.

You invited us to clarify stuff, MG, so I'll correct the sales guy's statement.

The Kemper Profiles the entire chain, but pickups aren't included in that. The Profiling signal after all is generated by the Kemper.

The only difference guitar and pickup types and configurations can possibly make is that when setting an amp up for Profiling (tweaking the sound to taste), the guitar and pickups you're playing will determine to a great extent where you set the gain and EQ knobs.

So, if you play roughly the same guitar and pickup selection as those used by the Profile maker, you should get roughly the same sound he or she did. Simple as that.

That's not to say you can't plug a Les Paul into an amp tweaked for a Strat and not get good sound; a tweak of the gain and EQ stack should in theory be all that's required, and the Kemper allows this. In fact, the EQ stack (not the parametric and graphic EQ's) is super-effective and musical-sounding to my ears and to those of many others.

One more thing: The fact that you can adjust the pick level, sag, definition (my favourite), amp compression, tube bias and so on means that you can take a good Profile of an amp you like with the settings you like and enhance it further than you could in real life. I think Andy Sneap said something about loving this aspect of it in the early days of Kemper.

Anyway, HTH, mate. It's too late now for this to have any influence over your decision as you'd already made it before creating the thread, but you invited clarifications, so there you have it. So glad you're a happy camper (not Kemper!) with the unit you chose, man; that's all one could ask for, really.

I wasn't trying to say it literally means you're profiling the pickups. The point is that everything that goes into the amp being profiled becomes a factor. As far as I can tell, when you change some settings beyond mild adjustments, it loses something in the process. I absolutely loved the Kemper with factory presets and at first didn't notice the issue because I was only making small adjustments. It wasn't until I wanted to tweak some parameters that I started to notice that you probably have to profile your amp in several of your favorite settings. This is only a logical assumption but other people seem to be saying similar things so I think I'm just noticing the same thing.

It doesn't matter as I would have been very happy with the Kemper if I could find a powered model in my budget. Who knows because maybe later on down the road I might pick one up. For now I'm really impressed with the AxeFX and that's something I never really dreamed that I would say.

Where did you find one used? Reverb doesn't have too many good used prices. Most are asking the same as new, some even MORE than $1699! Buying used on Reverb is a waste of time, anymore. People are nuts!

Believe it or not I got it at Guitar Center. Some guy traded it in relatively still brand new in the box and all. I was trying out the Kemper and started talking about how I wish I had an AxeFX to compare it to, then it so happened that another sales guy was passing by and asked if I'd been shown the AxeFX that was brought in the previous day. It seemed like the salesman had planned to buy it himself. They brought it out and I played with it for a long time then bought it for $1200.

 

[GtarLover]

If you’re looking to buy a used unit, the Fractal forum has XL’s and XL+‘s popping up for sale as people get ready to make the jump into the AxeIII, due out this month.

Honestly, the Fractal site still is selling Brand New XL+ for $1699, that’s a great price with warranty.
Just saying, if you aren’t in the market for the best and brightest, the XL+ is an amazing unit as is!!!

That said, I’m in the same boat as victim5150, I own a Kemper, let my XL go recently, and still use my AX8 live. I’ll grab a III when it’s available, yet I’m assuming a bit of a learning curve there before it will be ready for prime time live use.
The Kemper is a great tool for exactly what has been said earlier, a snapshot of any amp with “those” particular settings. It actually excels there. LOVE some of the profiles I’ve made and others I have acquired. For me, the Fractal gear is more versatile and has much more tweak-ability, which I like.
Of course, YMMV

 

[Monkey Man]

The Kemper Profiles the entire chain, but pickups aren't included in that. The Profiling signal after all is generated by the Kemper.

I wasn't trying to say it literally means you're profiling the pickups. The point is that everything that goes into the amp being profiled becomes a factor.

Yeah, but there's no guitar going into the amp during Profiling, hence my bolded statement above.

Anyway, as I said earlier, I'm very happy for you that you're happy for now, MG.

 

[MistaGuitah]

The Kemper Profiles the entire chain, but pickups aren't included in that. The Profiling signal after all is generated by the Kemper.

I wasn't trying to say it literally means you're profiling the pickups. The point is that everything that goes into the amp being profiled becomes a factor.

Yeah, but there's no guitar going into the amp during Profiling, hence my bolded statement above.

Anyway, as I said earlier, I'm very happy for you that you're happy for now, MG.

Hey man no problem. You weren't being a snide or authoritative at all. I appreciate your enthusiasm for my happiness. Don't worry because I made this purchase thoughtfully and won't need to flip it any time soon like you implied. Since you went through all the trouble to correct me and follow up 4 days later and all that, I don't want to take up more of your time, so I'll let you be on your way now. Goodbye.

If you’re looking to buy a used unit, the Fractal forum has XL’s and XL+‘s popping up for sale as people get ready to make the jump into the AxeIII, due out this month.

Honestly, the Fractal site still is selling Brand New XL+ for $1699, that’s a great price with warranty.
Just saying, if you aren’t in the market for the best and brightest, the XL+ is an amazing unit as is!!!

That said, I’m in the same boat as victim5150, I own a Kemper, let my XL go recently, and still use my AX8 live. I’ll grab a III when it’s available, yet I’m assuming a bit of a learning curve there before it will be ready for prime time live use.
The Kemper is a great tool for exactly what has been said earlier, a snapshot of any amp with “those” particular settings. It actually excels there. LOVE some of the profiles I’ve made and others I have acquired. For me, the Fractal gear is more versatile and has much more tweak-ability, which I like.
Of course, YMMV

I don't want to spend so much on version III. It seems like that's for real professional recording studios and all that. The II XL+ is so awesome that I can't imagine needing more processing power.

 

[Monkey Man]

I appreciate your enthusiasm for my happiness. Don't worry because I made this purchase thoughtfully and won't need to flip it any time soon like you implied. Since you went through all the trouble to correct me and follow up 4 days later and all that, I don't want to take up more of your time, so I'll let you be on your way now. Goodbye.

Hey, it's my pleasure, man. No trouble at all.

I wasn't implying you'd need to flip it, BTW; I was only wording that, I thought, for accuracy's sake, given what you said earlier:

" Who knows because maybe later on down the road I might pick one up. For now I'm really impressed with the AxeFX and that's something I never really dreamed that I would say."

 

[napalmdeath]

The Kemper Profiles the entire chain, but pickups aren't included in that. The Profiling signal after all is generated by the Kemper.

I wasn't trying to say it literally means you're profiling the pickups. The point is that everything that goes into the amp being profiled becomes a factor.

Yeah, but there's no guitar going into the amp during Profiling, hence my bolded statement above.

Anyway, as I said earlier, I'm very happy for you that you're happy for now, MG.

Hey man no problem. You weren't being a snide or authoritative at all. I appreciate your enthusiasm for my happiness. Don't worry because I made this purchase thoughtfully and won't need to flip it any time soon like you implied. Since you went through all the trouble to correct me and follow up 4 days later and all that, I don't want to take up more of your time, so I'll let you be on your way now. Goodbye.

If you’re looking to buy a used unit, the Fractal forum has XL’s and XL+‘s popping up for sale as people get ready to make the jump into the AxeIII, due out this month.

Honestly, the Fractal site still is selling Brand New XL+ for $1699, that’s a great price with warranty.
Just saying, if you aren’t in the market for the best and brightest, the XL+ is an amazing unit as is!!!

That said, I’m in the same boat as victim5150, I own a Kemper, let my XL go recently, and still use my AX8 live. I’ll grab a III when it’s available, yet I’m assuming a bit of a learning curve there before it will be ready for prime time live use.
The Kemper is a great tool for exactly what has been said earlier, a snapshot of any amp with “those” particular settings. It actually excels there. LOVE some of the profiles I’ve made and others I have acquired. For me, the Fractal gear is more versatile and has much more tweak-ability, which I like.
Of course, YMMV

I don't want to spend so much on version III. It seems like that's for real professional recording studios and all that. The II XL+ is so awesome that I can't imagine needing more processing power.

Let us know your thoughts on it. I'm still looking at an AX8.

 

[MistaGuitah]

The Kemper Profiles the entire chain, but pickups aren't included in that. The Profiling signal after all is generated by the Kemper.

I wasn't trying to say it literally means you're profiling the pickups. The point is that everything that goes into the amp being profiled becomes a factor.

Yeah, but there's no guitar going into the amp during Profiling, hence my bolded statement above.

Anyway, as I said earlier, I'm very happy for you that you're happy for now, MG.

Hey man no problem. You weren't being a snide or authoritative at all. I appreciate your enthusiasm for my happiness. Don't worry because I made this purchase thoughtfully and won't need to flip it any time soon like you implied. Since you went through all the trouble to correct me and follow up 4 days later and all that, I don't want to take up more of your time, so I'll let you be on your way now. Goodbye.

If you’re looking to buy a used unit, the Fractal forum has XL’s and XL+‘s popping up for sale as people get ready to make the jump into the AxeIII, due out this month.

Honestly, the Fractal site still is selling Brand New XL+ for $1699, that’s a great price with warranty.
Just saying, if you aren’t in the market for the best and brightest, the XL+ is an amazing unit as is!!!

That said, I’m in the same boat as victim5150, I own a Kemper, let my XL go recently, and still use my AX8 live. I’ll grab a III when it’s available, yet I’m assuming a bit of a learning curve there before it will be ready for prime time live use.
The Kemper is a great tool for exactly what has been said earlier, a snapshot of any amp with “those” particular settings. It actually excels there. LOVE some of the profiles I’ve made and others I have acquired. For me, the Fractal gear is more versatile and has much more tweak-ability, which I like.
Of course, YMMV

I don't want to spend so much on version III. It seems like that's for real professional recording studios and all that. The II XL+ is so awesome that I can't imagine needing more processing power.

Let us know your thoughts on it. I'm still looking at an AX8.

I went into it thinking the same thing a lot of people probably think which is that I'll run it through a tube power amp. As it turns out, there is no need for one. Yes I did try it but it is pretty warm on its own. The Kemper does too. In fact I ran it through several outputs such as a pair of studio monitors, powered stereo speakers, and a Presonus interface.

The software is easy to use for basic things but there are a ton of parameters and if you really know your stuff from amp internals all the way to recording processors then you can tweak all day long. I don't know what they're all for yet so I just use the most basic features and leave the rest.

Then there was apparently a software update some revisions back that included this tone matching thing where you can play guitar audio through it and it will give you a pretty good rendition of the tone. I've played with some patches that people have made and some are very good and the other half kind of suck. It adds this tone match block in the software. I don't know how it works exactly but it doesn't seem like you can compare settings before and after. I'm just a newb so I don't know how to fully use that feature yet.

The actual tone is extremely good but the truth is that it's not that easy just to add an amp, cab, and pedal and adjust the EQ to your liking. The dynamics, feel, and gain will be off so you have to figure out which parameters to tweak to get it right. Many of the amp models can be difficult to work with like the Mark IV. It's full of gorgeous clean tones. It really shines with clean tones. Not all of the amp models are that great. That's where the Kemper seems to have an advantage perhaps. However, there are so many good amp models that it doesn't matter I guess.

Another concern I had with the AxeFX is something I ran into with the Line6 POD HD. I wanted to love that thing but to get real rig tones you would have to use amps or other gear that the artists didn't even use. If you wanted to cop a Metallica sound or Gary Moore tone then you couldn't just line up all their gear the way they used it. The AxeFX is pretty true so you can recreate someone's rig virtually and get a very convincing sound. I don't know how well the Helix models gear in comparison as I only played the presets. Comparing presets with the Helix and AX8 though I would pick the AX8 if I were you.