What is up with the AX8?

[maddnotez]

Is this any good?

I have heard awesome tones come from this thing on youtube that have made me reconsider my setup but I also have heard complete crap.

Hard to say without being able to play one myself but I found this video where this kid goes through dozens of amps on the AX8 and every single one of them sounds the same. (he has a 3 video series, linked below)

It is almost as if it is the same amp over and over but with different settings and eq. Just different variations of the same awful tone.

I also worry about accuracy as this guys example of Cameron and Bogner sound nothing like the real amp, not even close.

So what is the verdict? Is this just a horrible video from someone who doesn't know what he is doing or is this thing any good? How is the accuracy and how is the diversity?

 

[cardinal]

It's the AFXII in a pedal with less memory for building complex effects chains, right? So it'll sound just like the AFXII, for better or worse. It can be made to sound terrible and it can be made to sound pretty cool.

IME not all of the amp models are very accurate. Never played a Cameron, but the AFX really struggled with Diezels and Fryette amps. The standard Marshall, Fender, and Recto sims were cool enough. I thought the Bogner sims sounded fine, but given the ability to quickly hot-rod the Marshall sims, I never used the Bogner models.

 

[RandyVanMartini]

Some people love em...some people hate em.

I would just get one and try it for yourself. They do have a 15 day money-back satisfaction guarantee.

 

[BYTOR]

So what is the verdict? Is this just a horrible video from someone who doesn't know what he is doing

bingo

I'm sure you have heard completely crappy tube amp clips as well.......

 

[RedB4Black]

I liked the Axe FX, but I never thought it sounded as good as a real amp when played through power amp/cab set-up. I always ended up with patches that sounded the same regardless of the amp model I used. Probably because I always dial things the way I like to hear them. So having 100s of amp models was useless to me. I would like to get another rack version mainly for effects though. I got my coupon for the AX8 earlier this year, but ended up not buying it.

 

[maddnotez]

I always ended up with patches that sounded the same regardless of the amp model I used.

This is what I was worried about. Even if the video I posted was just a bad example, why do all of the amps sound the same?

To my ears it sounds like I am only hearing the guitar. Different amp models = the same thing apart from frequency changes. Same voicing over and over? Does not make sense to me.

I guess I just need to try one for myself.

 

[ejecta]

To my ears it sounds like I am only hearing the guitar. Different amp models = the same thing apart from frequency changes. Same voicing over and over? Does not make sense to me.

I felt the same way about these demos and it's real amps.

I now have an AX8 and it sounds good... it works for it's intended purpose that I purchased it for. You have let go of the idea that the Kemper, AxeFX, Helix etc are going to play and sound exactly like a real amp. Some claim they do but they don't and that's not necessarily bad... it's just different. Units like these really make for a more easy experience when moving the gear from gig to gig over a more traditional rig that's for sure.

I guess I just need to try one for myself.

That's the only way to really find out and like I said IMHO you have to let go of the idea that'll be exactly like playing a traditional rig.

 

[maddnotez]

To my ears it sounds like I am only hearing the guitar. Different amp models = the same thing apart from frequency changes. Same voicing over and over? Does not make sense to me.

I felt the same way about these demos and it's real amps.

I now have an AX8 and it sounds good... it works for it's intended purpose that purchased it for. You have let go of the idea that the Kemper, AxeFX, Helix etc are going to play and sound exactly like a real amp. Some claim they do but they don't and that's necessarily bad... it's just different. Units like these really make for a more easy experience when moving the gear from gig to gig over a more traditional rig that's for sure.

I guess I just need to try one for myself.

That's the only way to really find out and like I said IMHO you have to let go of the idea that'll be exactly like playing a traditional rig.

Interesting video there, I agree.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Well I've been to ampfests where we had 20 amps jammed in a room and when each amp is on the same cab...there's not a world of difference. Sure a Blues Junior isn't going to sound like a Recto but Bogners, High gain Mesa's, Diezel's, not a world of difference on the same cab with the same guitar.

And look at a Pro like George Lynch. He goes through gear like water and still sounds like him.

I think the AX8 is great. I'm glad I bought one,

 

[ejecta]

Well I've been to ampfests where we had 20 amps jammed in a room and when each amp is on the same cab...there's not a world of difference. Sure a Blues Junior isn't going to sound like a Recto but Bogners, High gain Mesa's, Diezel's, not a world of difference on the same cab with the same guitar.

And look at a Pro like George Lynch. He goes through gear like water and still sounds like him.

I think the AX8 is great. I'm glad I bought one,

Very true. What amps are you liking in the AX8?

 

[thiswaythatway]

Well I've been to ampfests where we had 20 amps jammed in a room and when each amp is on the same cab...there's not a world of difference. Sure a Blues Junior isn't going to sound like a Recto but Bogners, High gain Mesa's, Diezel's, not a world of difference on the same cab with the same guitar.

And look at a Pro like George Lynch. He goes through gear like water and still sounds like him.

I think the AX8 is great. I'm glad I bought one,

Very true. What amps are you liking in the AX8?

Trying to keep it simple and start slow. Euro Blue which is the Blue Channel from the XTC, and IIC++, and a Recto Red. Experimenting with cabs. I'm only playing it through my small KRK monitors but it sounds good.

I tried 4CM with an amp and it was HUMM city. I guess I have to try those humbuster cables. But I A/B the effects in the AX8 to some pedals I was really happy how well the Fractal effects sound.

 

[ejecta]

Well I've been to ampfests where we had 20 amps jammed in a room and when each amp is on the same cab...there's not a world of difference. Sure a Blues Junior isn't going to sound like a Recto but Bogners, High gain Mesa's, Diezel's, not a world of difference on the same cab with the same guitar.

And look at a Pro like George Lynch. He goes through gear like water and still sounds like him.

I think the AX8 is great. I'm glad I bought one,

Very true. What amps are you liking in the AX8?

Trying to keep it simple and start slow. Euro Blue which is the Blue Channel from the XTC, and IIC++, and a Recto Red. Experimenting with cabs. I'm only playing it through my small KRK monitors but it sounds good.

I tried 4CM with an amp and it was HUMM city. I guess I have to try those humbuster cables. But I A/B the effects in the AX8 to some pedals I was really happy how well the Fractal effects sound.

I've not tried it 4CM because I don't have a tube head right now... I will say in the past I've not had much luck using Fractal gear 4CM and not having noise issues. I'm running it into a Quilter Mini 101 and 3rd Power 2x12 cab and it sounds pretty dang good. I also run it FRFR through a Yamaha DXR12 for one gig situation that I have to go direct and low volume but it's by far not my favorite way to play a guitar rig though. Running it through the Quilter get's me close enough to a traditional rig that right now that I'm in no hurry for a tube amp. I'll keep looking around for the right one at the right deal though. Amp model wise I've been liking the 1987x 50 watt model with and without some boosts. With the IR's I've had more luck with the Ownhammer and Redwirez but the stock cabs aren't bad.... I hate the IR hunt though. Like you said the FX are nice and I've augmented mine with a Strymon Mobius and Eventide H9 which has made for a nice sounding rig. The AX8 is nice and I have to say now I like the AX8 tones a bit better than I did the Helix but the Helix does sound very good..... they are like tube amps in that modelers have have their signature flavor.

 

[mudf00t]

I have both the AX8 and the Helix. I much prefer the Helix for a few different reasons. A huge one is that the Helix can be used as an audio interface and the AX8 cannot. The Helix is also a lot easier to use without the editor. The AX8 Editor is a must pretty much if you want to do anything without having a freaking degree. I do like the amp models a bit better on the AX8... but the Helix can get just as close, IMHO and just has a giant list of features that the AX8 does not have.

I will likely sell my AX8. The bad news is that I bought it for more than retail because the freaking waiting list was insane. The good news is the waiting list is still insane.

 

[ejecta]

I have both the AX8 and the Helix. I much prefer the Helix for a few different reasons. A huge one is that the Helix can be used as an audio interface and the AX8 cannot. The Helix is also a lot easier to use without the editor. The AX8 Editor is a must pretty much if you want to do anything without having a freaking degree. I do like the amp models a bit better on the AX8... but the Helix can get just as close, IMHO and just has a giant list of features that the AX8 does not have.

I will likely sell my AX8. The bad news is that I bought it for more than retail because the freaking waiting list was insane. The good news is the waiting list is still insane.

The Helix is great piece of gear. More user friendly, the scribble scripts are awesome, and I feel it plays better with outboard gear like real amps and stomp boxes for sure. Right now I'm just preferring the AX8.... in the future that may change. On the wait list thing.... that's weird because I had no problem buying one from their site and the times they were out of stock weren't long at all.

 

[BYTOR]

Lowering XFormer Match opens up the amp tones a lot in the AFX2, so it would be the same in the AX8.

In the AFX2 editor click on the amp block, go to the speaker tab & lower XFormer Match to around .780 or lower & you'll really hear the amp become less compressed/more open. Especially for any amp that you have the master vol pretty high...like the marshalls etc..

Not sure if it's in the same exact location in the AX8 editor, but it's definitely in the amp block somewhere.

 

[rsm]

Using digital modelers for the last several years as my main rig; I found I'm happier with modelers if I listen to what the models sound like rather than what they are supposed to be modeling. I start with a handful of models I think I may like, and create blank patches with just the amp/cab and tweak the controls to see what they do, I rarely go into deep editing in the first round. Rinse and repeat until I find about 5-10 models I like; then I do the same process with effects.

 

[ejecta]

Lowering XFormer Match opens up the amp tones a lot in the AFX2, so it would be the same in the AX8.

In the AFX2 editor click on the amp block, go to the speaker tab & lower XFormer Match to around .780 or lower & you'll really hear the amp become less compressed/more open. Especially for any amp that you have the master vol pretty high...like the marshalls etc..

Not sure if it's in the same exact location in the AX8 editor, but it's definitely in the amp block somewhere.

I wonder why those aren't lower by default?

 

[BYTOR]

I wonder why those aren't lower by default?

Yeah....I don't know, but for me it really can make a big difference for sure.

Everybody should at least experiment with lowering the XFormer Match & find their personal sweet spot for certain amp models...

 

[thiswaythatway]

Well I've been to ampfests where we had 20 amps jammed in a room and when each amp is on the same cab...there's not a world of difference. Sure a Blues Junior isn't going to sound like a Recto but Bogners, High gain Mesa's, Diezel's, not a world of difference on the same cab with the same guitar.

And look at a Pro like George Lynch. He goes through gear like water and still sounds like him.

I think the AX8 is great. I'm glad I bought one,

Very true. What amps are you liking in the AX8?

Trying to keep it simple and start slow. Euro Blue which is the Blue Channel from the XTC, and IIC++, and a Recto Red. Experimenting with cabs. I'm only playing it through my small KRK monitors but it sounds good.

I tried 4CM with an amp and it was HUMM city. I guess I have to try those humbuster cables. But I A/B the effects in the AX8 to some pedals I was really happy how well the Fractal effects sound.

I've not tried it 4CM because I don't have a tube head right now... I will say in the past I've not had much luck using Fractal gear 4CM and not having noise issues. I'm running it into a Quilter Mini 101 and 3rd Power 2x12 cab and it sounds pretty dang good. I also run it FRFR through a Yamaha DXR12 for one gig situation that I have to go direct and low volume but it's by far not my favorite way to play a guitar rig though. Running it through the Quilter get's me close enough to a traditional rig that right now that I'm in no hurry for a tube amp. I'll keep looking around for the right one at the right deal though. Amp model wise I've been liking the 1987x 50 watt model with and without some boosts. With the IR's I've had more luck with the Ownhammer and Redwirez but the stock cabs aren't bad.... I hate the IR hunt though. Like you said the FX are nice and I've augmented mine with a Strymon Mobius and Eventide H9 which has made for a nice sounding rig. The AX8 is nice and I have to say now I like the AX8 tones a bit better than I did the Helix but the Helix does sound very good..... they are like tube amps in that modelers have have their signature flavor.

In the past I used a Mesa 2:90, a 4x12, and an Axe standard and it sounded good. I have issues with volume now because my basement isn't finished and my upstairs jam/PC room is next to our bedroom so I can't use anything past moderate TV levels when my wife and kids are home.

I went with the AX8 over the Helix because of the huge list of amps and cabs, and I trust them more than Line 6. Some of the models are pretty accurate. I've miced a decent amount of cabs and heard what various speakers sound like miced and when I hear the cab sims in the Ax8 I'm like, "shit yeah!" That's what I remember those speakers or cabs sounding like. The EVM 12L sounds damm close, the V30 Recto cabs sound good, and the Greenback sims sound like Greenbacks.

Ola did a video with the Ax8 with his Fortin Satan amp hooked up with 4CM and he's not getting any buzz. If I can get it to work with no humm I'll never need a board full of pedals ever again.

And as far as lack of audio interface, direct USB out, headphones, etc. I don't need that. That's what my Focusrite is for.

 

[maddnotez]

So I found this Ola video, pretty awesome.

Made me think yeah this is awesome and that one guy just didn't dial it in right. Made me also think wow, a $1,400 pedal board. I could get those 4 effects he used for a fraction of the price.

Then I saw an Axe2 tone matching video and was pretty impressed. Is that also on the AX8?

Ola was matching tones from his old YouTube videos. That's as far as it went so can someone tell me about this.

I could find any guitar clip online and the Axe will match that? Also does it have to be only guitar clips to match?