So to all the Axe-FX owners, what's...

[daveg62]

Are you cats Ultra, Standard....?? I went with the Ultra, just figured go big or go home

V.

I have the Standard. The only drawback I can see is I can't create elaborate patches or sometimes try patches that people with ultra's create. It's not enough to make me gas for an Ultra though. I can still make patches with compressor, OD, amp, 2 cabs, chorus, reverb, delay, eq, and a few other effects and still not run out of cpu power. It's plenty for my uses.

 

[jlbaxe]

I play through mine more than My 20th X. The 20th isnt going anywhere nore is my Mesa Mk III. I also fought buying into it for about 2 years. Swore I wasnt going to buy something SS and remember the days with Art 2000 and other stuff I didnt like. I have sold off most of my stuff and do not miss it at all. Really nice to just have a 6 space rack, wiring is simple and clean. One cabe in, two out to RT amp, Done. Recording is Simple, Consistent and Great. I use the Ultra and looking at getting the MFC101 and maybe 2 wedge Atomic cabs.

 

[Ola Englund]

After been owning one for a year, and tried around 25 other metal amps during that year I must say that I enjoy a real amp more. Sure I can't get the same amount of options as with the axe fx but just sitting with a good sounding Mark V amp in front of me makes me feel like I was 15 again discovering the best metal tone ever. I still use my Axe fx live and at rehearsal and love it.

Ola, is that because you aren't running the Axefx through a tube power amp and cab? I wonder how it compares like that for enjoyment, just using it as a preamp....that Marsha clip recently was pretty close to the real thing...not quite as good to my ear, but same ball park definitely.

I'd love one for the studio and maybe even some additional amps live, but I'm a sucker for knobs at gigs...hard to fast tweak a menu button! I guess you could get pretty fast at menus, but maybe not while playing a song! You'd also have to save it before switching presets otherwise it would return untweaked, unlike a hardware preamp knob which remains where you left it.

Nah I think it's more the fun of turning the tone knobs rather than spinning the hell out of a parameter wheel...

 

[mentoneman]

i sold mine to get a two rock amp i've wanted for 10 years.
i'm a fan of the sounds in the box, but my impression was more triggering sounds like a keyboard instead of ever believing i was playing one of the amps i was supposedly playing a model of. the sounds of the amps and pedals are the best models i've run across, and the rack effects are the best i've ever owned, so i'd definitely consider owning one again, but i liked the feel of my vox valvetronix better.

i'm sort of banking on a future fractal box that is an all in one floorboard, with an actual usb port and an actual axe-edit official version

 

[Ventura]

i sold mine to get a two rock amp i've wanted for 10 years.
i'm a fan of the sounds in the box, but my impression was more triggering sounds like a keyboard instead of ever believing i was playing one of the amps i was supposedly playing a model of. the sounds of the amps and pedals are the best models i've run across, and the rack effects are the best i've ever owned, so i'd definitely consider owning one again, but i liked the feel of my vox valvetronix better.

i'm sort of banking on a future fractal box that is an all in one floorboard, with an actual usb port and an actual axe-edit official version

Cool. It's good to read that nobody thus far as said it's a so so effects box, as that's the primary reason for my getting it... I can understand how there's a difference between [Ola] sitting in front of a Mesa V with the tubes just glowing insane and the cab hammering at you, there's definitely a connectedness when using tube amps - that's why most of us are here on RT... This is why I never considered the Axe, I thought it was a modeling replacement for the real deal, and that wasn't my schtick. But seeing as no one here or to date has mentioned the fx as getting tired or old or not as good as stomps, or other racks, I'm still quite happy with everything...

Just wish it would show up!! Damn customs...

MTM, nice job on the Two Rock, tasty tasty sounding amps

V.

 

[ctoddrun]

My favorite part is that live its DEAD SILENT.

I could never quite tame the hiss of my Mesa and Diezel rigs over the years.

I'll never go back.

 

[Ventura]

Hmmm, my Diezel is dead quiet...

Mega +1

AGREED!!!

V.

 

[9ball]

just a random question - but how much better if any is the axefx than a rocktron prophesy II and/or a digitech gsp1101?

 

[vchizzle]

I still love mine...had it - shit, I don't remember 1 or 2 years I run mine thru a 2502 and 4x12 live. I've spent so little time with it to learn...I haven't even got my GCP instant access buttons controlling effects yet. I have a GCX in there too, controlling channels on my other amp. I should take a week off work to sit with it and get all my shit straight. I'm just too lazy though

 

[Ventura]

I still love mine...had it - shit, I don't remember 1 or 2 years I run mine thru a 2502 and 4x12 live. I've spent so little time with it to learn...I haven't even got my GCP instant access buttons controlling effects yet. I have a GCX in there too, controlling channels on my other amp. I should take a week off work to sit with it and get all my shit straight. I'm just too lazy though

But it sounds tits, right?? Hence the reason ya haven't had to screw with it, I'm assuming...

V.

 

[Ventura]

just a random question - but how much better if any is the axefx than a rocktron prophesy II and/or a digitech gsp1101?

In the research that led me to go with the Axe - completely against my tube driving, old school, big amp attitude - there is NO comparison to practically "anything" out there currently at this pricepoint.

Anyone feel free to lay the smackdown on my assumption here, but this is why I pulled the trigger. The digitech and the rocktron don't even come close from what I've read and researched....

V.

 

[Audioholic]

Still using mine direct all the time. Its not going anywhere. If you get it, and are not happy with the sounds right away, go buy some killa IR's, load them into your axe (10 slots) and then walla. You get great selected cab IR's that will sound great right in the box, saved and stored.

There are times when I still record my real amp, but for fast and convenience, I usually just plug into the Axe and get great results.

 

[tlingen]

My Axe-Fx Ultra has been my favorite piece of gear for 2 years now It has so many tones it's insane and the effects are the best in the business I do like to keep one head around though.

 

[Ventura]

Still using mine direct all the time. Its not going anywhere. If you get it, and are not happy with the sounds right away, go buy some killa IR's, load them into your axe (10 slots) and then walla. You get great selected cab IR's that will sound great right in the box, saved and stored.

There are times when I still record my real amp, but for fast and convenience, I usually just plug into the Axe and get great results.

Please school me on the acronym of "IR". I've obviously googled this, and I see stuff from "Own Hammer" and stuff like this, but um, correct me if I am wrong here - you're telling me that there's a chance I'm not going to be stoked with a stock loaded Ultra that's bought direct from Fractal, and if this is the case, I need to immediately turn around and fill it with some aftermarket presets?? I hope this isn't the case - it would be a bit weak in my humble opinion.

Furthermore, sure, cab emulations aside, this unit is being used more as an effects unit, THEN as a preamp through my current poweramp/cab (with cab presets OFF), THEN as a DI recording tool (with some experimenting in the cab sims department) and THEN maybe I'll stretch my neck out a bit and see - providing I've exhausted most of what there is to offer in this magic lil' box - what else is out there.

Whole thing is very foreign to me... So I'm just really picking everyone's brains in advance so I don't hijack RT when this thing finally does arrive

Peace,
V.

 

[Shark Diver]

Still using mine direct all the time. Its not going anywhere. If you get it, and are not happy with the sounds right away, go buy some killa IR's, load them into your axe (10 slots) and then walla. You get great selected cab IR's that will sound great right in the box, saved and stored.

There are times when I still record my real amp, but for fast and convenience, I usually just plug into the Axe and get great results.

Please school me on the acronym of "IR". I've obviously googled this, and I see stuff from "Own Hammer" and stuff like this, but um, correct me if I am wrong here - you're telling me that there's a chance I'm not going to be stoked with a stock loaded Ultra that's bought direct from Fractal, and if this is the case, I need to immediately turn around and fill it with some aftermarket presets?? I hope this isn't the case - it would be a bit weak in my humble opinion.

Furthermore, sure, cab emulations aside, this unit is being used more as an effects unit, THEN as a preamp through my current poweramp/cab (with cab presets OFF), THEN as a DI recording tool (with some experimenting in the cab sims department) and THEN maybe I'll stretch my neck out a bit and see - providing I've exhausted most of what there is to offer in this magic lil' box - what else is out there.

Whole thing is very foreign to me... So I'm just really picking everyone's brains in advance so I don't hijack RT when this thing finally does arrive

Peace,
V.

Seems to be the consensus that after market IRs are more to peoples liking. But the fact that you can load other companies IRs is a good thing. It gives you a lot of choices.

 

[Bevosss]

If you get it, and are not happy with the sounds right away, go buy some killa IR's, load them into your axe (10 slots) and then walla. You get great selected cab IR's that will sound great right in the box, saved and stored.

I'd definitely do that. The Ownhammer impulses not only sound the best imo, but you could literally spend $3 (sysex version for Axefx) on say just the Mesa V30 #1 and have an awesome miked sound straight away...$6 and you could have a Mesa on the left and a vintage Marshall or Scumback on the right, all phase/time aligned. That's killer value!

I would try running those direct live also, you'd probably get a better sound then most sound guy's miking! Plus they'd love you for making there job easier, just plug in 2 balanced cables...voila! No spill to worry about. Just a Suhr Iso Line-Out box from your power amp to the Axefx return, would let you try that (although if you were running the Axe's stereo fx as well it would get messy, that would take some thought on routing...but as a standalone direct-to pa box, it's very easy.) You can probably also just use the Axefx Power Amp modelling, although I'm not sure how close it gets to the real thing...worth trying out though. You have separate outputs to run back to amp or to the desk, very handy for live!

Although I will note I prefer the Ownhammer Nebula versions for recording, but you can't run them in Axefx (only Muse Receptor AFAIK)...plus, they're $15 a pop. You Axefx guys get it good...

 

[jlbaxe]

IR = impulse response

You can record speaker, someone else will probably explain it and how. Go to redwirez.com and listen to the IRs. I don't have any downloaded, I'm happy with the cabs in the unit but you can download them for more recording/ FRFR cab options. Just another option with/for the Axe.

 

[Audioholic]

Still using mine direct all the time. Its not going anywhere. If you get it, and are not happy with the sounds right away, go buy some killa IR's, load them into your axe (10 slots) and then walla. You get great selected cab IR's that will sound great right in the box, saved and stored.

There are times when I still record my real amp, but for fast and convenience, I usually just plug into the Axe and get great results.

Please school me on the acronym of "IR". I've obviously googled this, and I see stuff from "Own Hammer" and stuff like this, but um, correct me if I am wrong here - you're telling me that there's a chance I'm not going to be stoked with a stock loaded Ultra that's bought direct from Fractal, and if this is the case, I need to immediately turn around and fill it with some aftermarket presets?? I hope this isn't the case - it would be a bit weak in my humble opinion.

Furthermore, sure, cab emulations aside, this unit is being used more as an effects unit, THEN as a preamp through my current poweramp/cab (with cab presets OFF), THEN as a DI recording tool (with some experimenting in the cab sims department) and THEN maybe I'll stretch my neck out a bit and see - providing I've exhausted most of what there is to offer in this magic lil' box - what else is out there.

Whole thing is very foreign to me... So I'm just really picking everyone's brains in advance so I don't hijack RT when this thing finally does arrive

Peace,
V.

the cabs in the Axe FX are IR's themselves I believe. I personally don't know what you will like or won't like. I use some stock speakers inside, and also loaded in a few IR's from other places, its easy and cheap to do. Its just a different sound, and some of the aftermarket IR's are very good and yes, probably better then stock inside cabs.

Some people just seem to have varying opinions on the AXE, and if your initial impression desires more, then you can experiment with adding outside ir's. Its actually a very good thing.

Some of the Ir's I have loaded in are a bit more open sounding.

 

[degenaro]

Yeah know....IRs is a funny thing I got Recabinet (the original ones and the brandnew ones), I got Redwirez, O got ownhammer and while there are mosdef some fun rides there isn't one in there I prefer to the ones Jay cloned off my Golds and 65s and are stock in the box.

As for other fx boxes out there....
The Eventide Eclipse that was my go to time based box was replaced by the Axe in my rack.

 

[Ventura]

Yeah know....IRs is a funny thing I got Recabinet (the original ones and the brandnew ones), I got Redwirez, O got ownhammer and while there are mosdef some fun rides there isn't one in there I prefer to the ones Jay cloned off my Golds and 65s and are stock in the box.

As for other fx boxes out there....
The Eventide Eclipse that was my go to time based box was replaced by the Axe in my rack.

I looked at the eclipse and realized I wasn't that far off the mark for an Ultra, hence the reason I went Ultra... Seemed to do more, better.

Thanks y'all for the "definition" of I.R. - had me perplexed...

Peace,
V.