Offical Axe-Fx Q&A thread!

[mattofvengeance]

Any of you Axe dudes using an Orange? I'm GASin for one pretty bad.

[maccayoung]

Originally Posted by JohnIce

Q: Does the Axe-Fx really sound like a tube amp?

This is the clip that sold me on how realistic the axe can get. No super saturated effects laden sounds. Just the volume knob and a bit of reverb.

[Prydogga]

Bastard John, jsut as my GAS for the Axe Fx had subsided a little bit, you had to make this damn thread. Now I MUST get it, but thank you for making me a little less hesitant about going Standard, I'll have plenty of saving time to decide which.

[maccayoung]

I'd be interested to know what poweramps (if any) people are using with their axefx. From what I've read most people are going VHT for tube and Art for solid state.

[Soopahmahn]

Originally Posted by JPhoenix19

Q: Is there any delay in switching patches? If so, is there a difference between the Standard and the Ultra?

From the Wiki:
What is the patch change time for the Axe-Fx?

Preset switching time is around 20-25 ms with delay spillover off. With delay spillover on, it's around 25-30 ms.



So: no.


Maccayoung, people are using all kinds of amps. The two you mentioned are very popular. Carvin, QSC, Crown, and Engl are other popular choices. See the Wiki here.

[Syrinx]

I'm using a Mesa 2:90 with mine but I'm seriously thinking about selling it to get something smaller and cheaper like the ART.

[Soopahmahn]

Originally Posted by Syrinx

I'm using a Mesa 2:90 with mine but I'm seriously thinking about selling it to get something smaller and cheaper like the ART.

The Fractal Wiki has a section on a good trick to emulate the "deep" setting on a 2:90. I'm pretty sure I'm going to order a Carvin DCM1000, 2U instead of 1U but a bit cheaper.

[JJ Rodriguez]

Just look at power ratings for you guys buying the DCM power amps. Make SURE you have enough headroom when you connect it to your cab. The DCM1000L seems like it would be a good deal....until you factor in it's only 1000W bridged at 4 ohms. Up that to 8, and it's 700W, up it again to 16 ohm and it's 400W. 400W is getting dangerously close to something I wouldn't want to use to gig/jam with a drummer. I was looking at getting back into using the Axe as a pre-amp again, and looked at the DCM1000L, but my cab is 16 ohm...and I want a minimum 500W headroom (general rule is 5 times the wattage of a tube amp to get the same clean headroom).

400W will do you 90% of the time, but when jamming, I don't want to have it maxed out. If your cab is 8 ohm, 700W is more than enough for anything.

[Soopahmahn]

Originally Posted by JJ Rodriguez

Just look at power ratings for you guys buying the DCM power amps. Make SURE you have enough headroom when you connect it to your cab. The DCM1000L seems like it would be a good deal....until you factor in it's only 1000W bridged at 4 ohms. Up that to 8, and it's 700W, up it again to 16 ohm and it's 400W. 400W is getting dangerously close to something I wouldn't want to use to gig/jam with a drummer. I was looking at getting back into using the Axe as a pre-amp again, and looked at the DCM1000L, but my cab is 16 ohm...and I want a minimum 500W headroom (general rule is 5 times the wattage of a tube amp to get the same clean headroom).

400W will do you 90% of the time, but when jamming, I don't want to have it maxed out. If your cab is 8 ohm, 700W is more than enough for anything.

That's a good data point man, thanks! I've only ever used tube amps - 80-120w is all one ever needs - and I just used 400w as a reasonable number since 300-400 seems to be what most serious solid state heads come equipped with. I have a 2x12 8ohm cab and 700 seems like more than enough. Most FRFR cabs are 8 ohm right?

Anyway that's why I didn't want the SLA-1 or SLA-2, plus the Carvin is a bit cheaper, has a good warranty and reputation and is built in the US instead of China, and I don't want to go with class D (though a 10 lb. amp would be nice...)

[JJ Rodriguez]

I'm sure you'd get away with 400W.... I'm just of the mind better safe than sorry. It also has to do with how much it costs to ship stuff to me in Canada, and how much of a pain in the ass it would be to return it for a 1540L, which is what I opted for the first time.

I know 200W wouldn't do me any good. When I got my 1540L and was jamming with my drummer, I had the 1540L up about half way.

[BrainArt]

Originally Posted by Prydogga

Bastard John, jsut as my GAS for the Axe Fx had subsided a little bit, you had to make this damn thread. Now I MUST get it, but thank you for making me a little less hesitant about going Standard, I'll have plenty of saving time to decide which.

This. Though, I think I'll still go with an Ultra, because c'mon, Ultra is such a swanky word.

[Andii]

Can you load your own impulses onto these? If so what are the details/requirements/restrictions on that?

I think I remember hearing that there is not usb on these devices. Maybe that was referring to it not acting as an interface like the pod(most likely). What kind of wire is used to connect it to a computer if it isn't USB?

[TomAwesome]

Originally Posted by Andii

Can you load your own impulses onto these? If so what are the details/requirements/restrictions on that?

Yes. It requires trimming it down to 1024 samples (I think) and converting it to the proper format. There's a tool for this that's probably on the wiki.

Originally Posted by Andii

I think I remember hearing that there is not usb on these devices. Maybe that was referring to it not acting as an interface like the pod(most likely). What kind of wire is used to connect it to a computer if it isn't USB?

MIDI

[Soopahmahn]

Ordered my Carvin DCM1000. For the record, they're discontinuing them and will only have the lightweight DCML series Class D amps, so the DCM1000's are on a hefty sale and won't be back.

[JJ Rodriguez]

Personally I'd shell out the extra coin for the light weight ones. Nothing beats having a 6u rack case you can carry in one hand. I miss those days, now I have a ....ing 82 lbs rack case

[Soopahmahn]

Originally Posted by JJ Rodriguez

Personally I'd shell out the extra coin for the light weight ones. Nothing beats having a 6u rack case you can carry in one hand. I miss those days, now I have a ....ing 82 lbs rack case

I absolutely hear you on the weight issue. My problem is that I've yet to see an amp with a switching power supply manage to make a low-distortion high-frequency signal. As subwoofer amps they're amazing, but getting into the midrange frequencies and beyond their output is ratty. I've listened to hi-fi brands like Rotel and their Class D amps just don't cut it compared to a good old-fashioned Class A/B design. This would be much more important when run into an FRFR system which will create the airy 10kHz+ overtones, which I plan to do in the future. Guitar cabs aren't making much output by 10kHz.

My God, I'm no better than a common tube whore I expect that as the power supply switching freqency increases from ~120kHz up to say 300kHz or better, they'll sound much nicer. That day will come but I don't think it's here yet. My rack will be <50 lbs I estimate...

[Customisbetter]

damn i gotta weigh my rack when i get home.

[Soopahmahn]

Back to the spirit of the OP, I have a real question.

Axe-FX Wiki on Ultra vs. Standard features
Axe-FX Wiki comparison of MIDI footcontrollers

Standard does not have "10-tap delay," "10-tap rhythm-tap delay," and according to the Fractal product page it calls these "rhythmic delays."

The MIDI footcontrollers chart also has a row for "Tempo Tap/Indicator."

1. Does the Standard allow you to program the tempo of delay repeats, ala a Boss DD-5 etc.? You set it to be in eighth-notes, eighth-note triplets, quarter notes etc., then tap the controller to set the tempo. Delay time is thusly set. Actually I'm not even clear on whether the Ultra does this.
2. Does the MIDI footcontroller have to score a "Yes" on the "Tempo Tap" row of the chart to be able to send this information to the Axe-FX? Or can any button be programmed to set tempo in a delay block?

[JohnIce]

Originally Posted by Soopahmahn

Back to the spirit of the OP, I have a real question.

Axe-FX Wiki on Ultra vs. Standard features
Axe-FX Wiki comparison of MIDI footcontrollers

Standard does not have "10-tap delay," "10-tap rhythm-tap delay," and according to the Fractal product page it calls these "rhythmic delays."

The MIDI footcontrollers chart also has a row for "Tempo Tap/Indicator."

1. Does the Standard allow you to program the tempo of delay repeats, ala a Boss DD-5 etc.? You set it to be in eighth-notes, eighth-note triplets, quarter notes etc., then tap the controller to set the tempo. Delay time is thusly set. Actually I'm not even clear on whether the Ultra does this.
2. Does the MIDI footcontroller have to score a "Yes" on the "Tempo Tap" row of the chart to be able to send this information to the Axe-FX? Or can any button be programmed to set tempo in a delay block?

1. Yes, you can do that on the Standard.
2. This one I don't know, as I'm yet to use the Tap function. I think you can program any button to do anything but don't quote me on that.

[mattofvengeance]

Originally Posted by JohnIce

1. Yes, you can do that on the Standard.
2. This one I don't know, as I'm yet to use the Tap function. I think you can program any button to do anything but don't quote me on that.

I haven't used the tap function either, but if I recall correctly, this video talks about how to assign that function into one of the preset banks.

[Soopahmahn]

Would anyone here consider going with relatively high-power/flat speakers such as the EVM-12L, Celestion Classic Lead 80 or Eminence Legends as replacements for the V30's in a Mesa Recto cab? My thought is the more neutral the speakers are, the more the different amp sims will sound instead of taking on too much color from the cabinet.

I feel like it would be easier to add in some "V30 crunch" via parametric EQ for heavy tones than it would be subtract the same quality when I'm trying to cop a Hendrix sound. Obviously, compared to an FRFR setup, the cab is a big coloration on the tone, but this would be halfway between the two solutions, no?

[TomAwesome]

Eh, I'd say pick one or the other. I don't imagine trying to do what you're describing would work very well.

[Andromalia]

Money is getting nearer so I'm gonna start asking my useful noob questions.

My rack is currently way too big for a home studio: I have a 2U preamp, a 1U poweramp, a 2U speaker emulator, a 1U...blablablah.
I'm tempted to go axe-fx just to have a 4U with the axe and my sound interface.
I'm pretty worried about it being able to reproduce my current mesa pre+mesa 20:20 tone though. If it can do that I'll likely be sold. Most of the clips I've heard are of "modern" metal of non metal related at all.

And given my current job etc, any live application wouldn't be a worry for me for quite some time.

[BigPhi84]

Originally Posted by Andromalia

I'm pretty worried about it being able to reproduce my current mesa pre+mesa 20:20 tone though. If it can do that I'll likely be sold. Most of the clips I've heard are of "modern" metal of non metal related at all.

Which Mesa Pre?

[Soopahmahn]

Originally Posted by TomAwesome

Eh, I'd say pick one or the other. I don't imagine trying to do what you're describing would work very well.

So you'd rather have V30s in a Recto cab than say EVM-12L's? Other than weight, what do you think the downside would be? Cabinet muddiness? I have one in my open-back MkIV combo and LOVE it.