The Axe-FX Ultra - Duplicating some famous drive pedals - Part I

[RasbyRasby]

I remember, when first solid state amps start comming up to big market, a lot of guitar players start sell their tube amps for to buy solid state.... and after use a SS amps , guitarists started to feel that something missing in sound quality and feeling of play.So they start to sell Solid State amps to return to Tube amps! ;-)

I think that Fractal is very comfortable - all in one.No rare pedal chains, connections...

But to my taste,few high quality pedals and copuple good tube amps is enough.

[prinspatrick]

@RasbyRasby: indeed nothing wrong with a good tube amp and some pedals. Beside the fact that the axe-fx is the best all-in-one solution, it has the advantage that there's no interference of a loud amp on stage. We use inears and ATM only our drummer plays acoustic. Bass, guitar, synths are all 'digital'. That makes it a lot easier to perform in small rooms

[dbacks4life]

The Axe FX comes close - but I can still hear a little bit of a digital sounding "fuzz" when I hear it right after the real thing.

[squirttilithurts]

I purchased the Axe Fx and returned it (15 day trial period). The Axe amp models are ok, but do not compare to a quality tube amp like the Diezel Herbert or the Vox AC30. Some effects are good, but you can find better quality in units that are much cheaper. I just purchased a TC G Major 2 NEW for $375. The chorus is better on the TC stuff. The good thing about the Axe is the convenience and a few other effects that most units don't have (example: crystals, etc).

[racetra123]

I just had the OCD, Suhr Riot & Koko Boost Fulltone RTO, as well as some other Very High end boutique effects, All adding up to about $2000. They are all siik pedals. The problem was thats all I was gonna get. They are all gone and the Axe Ultra is on its way. I get all that and about $4000+ more.

[84eugenie]

Sounds chic, but clearly it still sounds digital, high gain very digital, I think rocktron prophesy is less digital in high gain, the rest is better.

[leoseanster]

amazing...the difference between the fractal and the real thing is almost inaudible. I can see why guys like Chris Broderick use it.

[squirttilithurts]

@leoseanster

I sent the Axe back. Don't be fooled by the hype. The amp models do not compare to the real thing (unless you listen to vids on youtube that aren't sampled high). My Diezel Herbert destroys the Axe Fx. The main selling point for the Axe is convenience. It does not sound as good as your tube amp... unless you have shitty tube amp. Another problem is the latency of the whammy effect is horrible. Also, the chorus on TC units is way better than the Axe Fx.

[leoseanster]

@squirttilithurts point well taken friend.

[jemesp]

great unit, but you better put it to really god use for $2k. Next time you need to show the actual units as compared, the sounds are amazing almost too good.

[prinspatrick]

@jemesp : thanks! good tip btw. I'll will show them next time side by side!

[ameliorate2695]

this unit officially jumped to the top of my wish list

[Rizzy55]

Here's an emulation of the pedal through the Axe Fx...and here's the Axe FX. Here's a picture of me naked..and now a picture of me with no clothes on.

[sammetal91]

@Rizzy55 I lol'd 

[hobazzz]

next time, would u please make a video showing that u really played with all those stuff ! ... because, u know, it's hard to believe even after seeing the video :)

[prinspatrick]

@hobazzz: thanks for the nice words!

good tip! maybe I will do that next time!

[hedrasramoslive]

the ultra tra tra tra tr tr t t ....

[elliotalfaro]

Are there any good audio demos of the AxeFx? So far for the last 2 yrs every demo I've listened to sounds worse than my Line6 Vetta.

[Shredderoftelecaster]

@elliotalfaro Try the entire Periphery album, audio-wise, it will do everyone justice.

[immortalsoloist]

@elliotalfaro What are you talking about there are some great samples. And just go listen to Periphery's album it's all recorded direct with the Axe Fx Ultra in to the computer all the guitar sounds are the through the Axe Fx Ultra in it. It shall really make you hear the power of the Axe Fx Ultra.

[StanAlekseev]

hehe really nice !

[aledeville]

Second one always sounds sharper - but I have absolutely no clue which one the real and which the digital one is.

[lenmetallica]

@aledeville the second on is the original i believe. and yea you can definitely hear the difference, for the T-rex atleast.

[pjrs78]

Not impressed

[knikk77]

@UncleJoey12 Do you think the price-jump from the 11rack to axe-fx is proportional to the quality-jump?

[knikk77]

Try using sharp distorted preamp/pedal-sounds to compare. Like a rectifier or even a Boss ds-1. I bet you will then hear alot of difference because of the nature of the distortion being digital and the amp/cab simulator not being perfect. You will probably still have alittle of that fizzzy type of sound that you get if I took plug a Boss DS-1 or similar direct to the mixer. In about 10 years maybe they have a advanced algorithm to simulate a speaker. It has taken years to sim preamp distortion.

[murisv]

@knikk77 They use IRs.

[PapaKenny777]

I dont think this review is honest, the only way I would believe is if he taped himself with the pedals to show he actually has them and is using them through the axe fx, come on now!

[krameugal]

I do think that as with line6, on single notes the tone is good but on chords there is a hint of unmusical mush compared to the real thing. On a valve amp when you strike an overdriven chord the seperate notes sing out. Thoughts?

[audiobuttmaster]

If the title didnt mention the axe-fx, you wouldnt listen to these clips and think: " hmm there is a hint of mush". Its all in the head. Also the Axe Fx can hardly be compared to Line6 gear.

[Alexkvx10]

depends a lot on the settings that are used, the drive etc. but there could be a bit of difference in the clarity of chords

[jamiesea]

I'm thinking the same. I have my eye on the Egnater Tourmaster and running it through it's cab sims for direct recording using a Hot Plate so I can disconnect the speakers and still drive the amp.

However for live, I'd probably go with an Axe FX or... use the cab sim out of the Tourmaster and a Hot Plate so I'd only need the head and perhaps a couple of pedals like Eventide, Damage Control, etc.

[gantman]

Everyone also overlooks the fact that if you throw these guitars into a song mix, the possibilities of knowing the difference become even more....impossible

[jamiesea]

Are these patches available for download or for sale?

Thanks!

[jhuggins27]

first, second, second, first, first real ones? someone should do this with 9.0 firmware

[audiobuttmaster]

second, second, first, first, first,second, first, first, second, second second, first, second, first, first real ones! Anybody?

[dobrome]

Sounds like a processor to me....

[eventhoriz0n]

Which ones? Point out which tones do not sound legitimate.

[sandermeijer]

like you can judge that from a youtube video..

[jamiesea]

Have you played an Axe Fx? Looking into one heavily or the Mesa Boogie Mark 5

[dobrome]

Ｉ　ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｉｔ　ｄｅｐｅｎｄｓ　ｏｎ　ｗｈａｔ　ｙｏｕ　ｗａｎｔ　ｏｎｅ　ｆｏｒ．　Ｉ＇ｖｅ　ｕｓｅｄ　ｐｒｏｃｅｓｓｏｒｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｒｅｃｏｒｄｉｎｇ to great effect.

Ｍｅｓａ　Ｂｏｏｇｉｅｓ　Ｍｋ　５，　ｎｏｔ　ｓｅｅｎ　ｏnｅ　ｙｅｔ　ｂｕｔ　Ｉ have a a 5:50 Express and its a wonderful thing.

[hiladelphia]

@dobrome Lol wtf why u write like that and how u do it??

[fitzwilliamcobra]

my zoom is way better

[bgtocak]

TC Electronics nail this thing. Although TC it's just effects, no amp cabinet distortion and overdrive.

[drivenad66113355]

just bought this unit. If you ever get a chance to play one do it! I had no problem selling my mesa rig and stupid stompboxes for one of the funnest most powerful preamp/processors made. so worth it!

[MojoPenguin]

Dammit, turn the reverb off, it mushes everything. The Axe fx sounds good, not as well as analog, but better than digital, I guess a good compromise.

[blakhaus]

The Axe-Fx is digital!! DUH!!

[zitek82]

Haha.How can you compare the pedals plugging them to a cab simulation? PLUG THE AXE-FX and real OCD to a REAL TUBE AMP and you WILL HEAR the BIG difference in everything(dynamic range,tone).Then, try to turn your guitar volume pot down a half to hear how AD converter from AXE-FX add quantization noise and can't handle your picking dynamic range.Finally lower the signal a little bit more and your AXE-FX will react as a cheap noise gate because you have already reached the limits of DA converter.

[zitek82]

Sorry ... AD converter .. :)

[searchlight31]

I'm wondering if you've had a chance to play an Ultra, or even been around the thing in real life. If you have played through it, not just listening to it on youtube which is known for "exellent sound quality," you would realize that the Axe-FX does respond to your vol. pot just like any tube or analogue pedal. I use both the axe and analogue pedals in my set up and I can tell you that your assessment above is not true. Perhaps on a line6 you would be correct, but not on the Axe. Sorry.

[eventhoriz0n]

I'm sure your ears are much better and finely tuned than the ears of hundreds of people who have sold off their tube amps, effects and cabinets and replaced it with this. No really. I'm certain of it.

Do people like you have nothing better to do than to shit all over a unit just because it's digital? Maybe you should stop pushing your bigotry and start using your ears, and I don't mean on YouTube. I dare you to knock this thing after you've heard it in real life.

[zitek82]

Guys! The Axe Fx is a great thing and I don't want to "shit over a unit just because it's digital" as eventhoriz0n said. I meant that you will hear a big difference when you plug this thing as a modeled stompbox if front of tube amp and compare it to analog (drive for example).

[eventhoriz0n]

The importance lies not in the numbers, but in the actual, real-life difference in tone from the original to the analog equivalent. If you select a party of say, 50 audiophiles, and put to work several analog amplifiers and effects, and then compare them, through the same speakers, to the sound the Axe-FX produces and a significant number of them notice little, if any, difference or loss, then I would say the product has achieved its goal. A rough version of this is being done here, but blind.

[zitek82]

I have nothing against modeling because it gives you great variety of decent quality sounds without

carrying all that heavy amps, pedalboards etc. but it doesn't change the fact that digital = latency, quantization noise and whatever sample rate and bit depth is you get a lower dynamic response than analog units.

[eventhoriz0n]

Lower, yes, but to what degree? It seems to me that Cliff (the inventor) has gone to painstaking lengths to nail the sounds he is modeling with this, and he has done it to such a degree that tone purists the world round have decided it replaces their equipment with negligible sacrifice in quality.

In fact, it gives you even more options with the parallel signal paths and routing to any endpoint, and for far less money and hassle than the analog equivalents.

[Vercingetorix]

That was surprising. I could only hear slight variations bewteeen the two, and I mean very slight.

So the FX modelling on this unit is very good.

I would like to hear its amp modelling capabilities next to the real thing though. Anyone know of any YouTube vids showing this?

[JPAULMUSIC]

haha

good job

that thing is on my checklist of purchases

[jamesands]

wats that song at 2:04

[prinspatrick]

AC DC - Hells Bells

[AvyScottandFlower]

can anyone tell me if this unit is great for heavy&modern european metal tones?

..kinda tired of so many bell-like fx, U2 tone & eventide verb reviews..

well, not really... but still :D

[hum1]

killer

[showmelight]

Can someone please tell us the cons of Axe-FX?

[sleighte]

there are no cons

it is pretty much perfect

[cowcrusher]

The only one I can think of is you might need to use the manual to setup patches if you aren't too knowledgeable on some aspects of guitar effects/settings

[prinspatrick]

right into the computer useing digi 002

[ScorchinBeats]

Holy shit. I need this. Btw, can the Axe-Fx do metal and hi-gain rock stuff too?

[ZeppelinRules]

Yes it can.

[symphonicmind87]

Of course, dude! Get it and love it!

[wildmorphlaw]

This is a great video. Dang the axe is awesome.....

[PapaKenny777]

this is fake, the tones are exactly the same... nice try!

[prinspatrick]

Thank you! Best compliment I ever could get :)

[KingTabor]

LOL!

[strmopizdin]

If this is true, these sounds from pedals and Axe-Fx sound the same (to me, on youtube's audio quality)! I mean, I'm sold! How much is this unit in Europe? Standard and Ultra...? Damn, this thing could easily make my studio work easy as a breeze...

[adamp2]

yes GReat JoBBBB  :O)

[mwc2112]

Awesome vid! My hat's off to anyone who could definitively identify the pedals vs the AxeFX. Just shows how super flexible the unit is. :-)

[wolfiewylde]

Nobody will. Until prinspatrick tells us which is which, and then they'll come out of the woodwork "Oh, yeah, I could tell right away, that one's too digital, blah, blah, blah..."