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These have been gnawing at me for a while. They seem to be around to stay and are constantly improving. More tellingly, there have been a few examples of great videos lately that aren't the metal tonez that were so prevalent after it first appeared. ? And they sound wonderful...

Partly it's the need for want for more processing power and the promise of better tone/feel. However the real practical advantage for me would be the ability to process electric, piezo and even modelled bass/high strung sounds - simultaneously in one unit, which means that everything is a lot more unified (tempo synch between elements, realtime control without needing two floorboards, ability to have different elements share reverbs, etc.).

It would also free up rack space, replacing 4U of rack gear and two large stomps (Adrenalinn II and Aura DI) with one single 2U unit. It would also free up a pair of mixer inputs which I would like to use for vocals.

The only problems are:
R30K + by the time I factor in a floor controller. :'( That basically means selling everything I currently use that isn't welded into the rack (walls, floor) and still paying in more than a third of the purchase price. Then downtime while I wait for delivery, learn to use it and set up and tweak a usable set of sounds.

Must think on this (and start saving up, methinks).

BTW: Some of the vids that started me thunking:

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    you do know they have an "upgraded" axe fx ii now as well with more inputs or sumin?
      Yeah - The XL. More memory locations and connectivity and a few other small things. None of which I really need.
        I got the II in January. It is staggering the improvements they made in just the past 3 firmwares updates (not to mention the upgrade over the first generation Axe-fx) and there is a new one due at the end of this week.

        I don't like hyping up a product. When people ask my opinion of the Axe-fx II, I just rather tell them to come over sometime and give it a whirl and then they could decide for themselves. All I know, I've been grinning from ear-to-ear the entire week testing out these Metallica patches a fractal forum member made ( http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-ii-preset-exchange/83050-metallica-tonematches-patches-extravaganza-v2-0-a.html ). By no means do I want Metallica's exact tones for my own playing, but its quite exhilarating flipping through the tones that inspired you when you first started out, with one piece of equipment at normal music listening volumes.

        Its such a shame that it is so difficult to test one out anywhere except in the US, but I would recommend anyone to check them out if the get the opportunity.

        I for one, am actually relieved that the XL is a minor upgrade, as the Ultra was to the Std. When I bought my Ultra, they announced the II a few weeks after, which was very disappointing.
          But...does it "feel" and respond like a valve amp?
          I never noticed the difference between valve amps and something like my BOSS-GT8 before... But as I play more and improve I find that they react differently to different things I do... if that makes sense?
            I think it does well enough. A lot of traditionalists would beg to differ, luckily I and many high profile guitarists couldn't be bothered with their opinions.

            If you were to compare both side to side you could easily tell by just turning down your guitar's volume pot how much differently they respond (I use a GT8 as my foot controller).
              Scorched wrote: I think it does well enough. A lot of traditionalists would beg to differ, luckily I and many high profile guitarists couldn't be bothered with their opinions.

              If you were to compare both side to side you could easily tell by just turning down your guitar's volume pot how much differently they respond (I use a GT8 as my foot controller).
              The volume drop thing is where I notice the difference the most... I also notice that changes in my attack produce different results between the valve amp and GT8... Mmmm... Much more versatility in the GT8 though... most of which I rarely use...lol

              I am guessing something like the Axe-Fx will be a lot better than my GT8 tho...
                I am gassing hard for an Axe Fx/Kemper.

                Alan, why would you go for an Axe over a Kemper?
                  My experience with the Axe-FX (i have the standard tho) is that it definately never feels like im playing through a guitar amp... but I dont really care about that, cause the sounds that i am recording and playing back sound great.

                  its kind of like any digital emulation - like digital and soft synths - damn some of them sound amazing, but does it feel like you are playing a moog modular with pure analog waveforms firing out decibels, not a chance.

                  its possibly mostly psychological, which means with the right therapist, this could be overcome ? 8)
                    Danny B wrote: Alan, why would you go for an Axe over a Kemper?
                    They are different things. Quite simply the architecture is better suited to me and the way I work - I'm a tweaker/geek with a studio engineer's approach to FX. Consider that I regard my current live rig (which takes up six channels on a mixer) as a compromise - Guitar Rig is the only thing that lets me do some of the stuff I want. ...and then I still try do things that make a powerful audio optimised PC fall over. ?

                    Each has a different approach (convolution with a side order of modelling vs. modelling with a side order of convolution) and each approach has its own pros and cons. I've looked into both extensively (to the point where I have repeatedly read and digested both their manuals, read their white papers, etc.). Best way to describe it for me is to compare them to keyboards: the Kemper is like a sampler - able to take a near perfect snapshot of a sound and replicate it exactly, then apply some tweaking to manipulate that sound. The Axe-Fx is like a synthesizer where the sounds are built from the ground up, offering slightly less realism in tone and feel, but a far higher degree of tweakability.

                    To be Francis for a moment, a Kemper would replace my Eleven Rack and take my electric sounds to a new level of realism, but I'd still be forced to use my additional (four) effects units to do what I want to do. Sure (as has already been mentioned to me via PM) I could add in a second Kemper for the piezo chain, but that's overkill and I'd still be short on FX (and floorboard). Plus that's 6U and I'd have to use one floorboard to control more than one unit (as I'm doing now).

                    The Axe Fx would replace my entire rig (bar guitar synth) with one 2U rack unit. Plus I'd have another two inputs so I could split off the modelling side from my GR-55 and process that in the Axe too, leaving all the fx processing power in the GR for the synth voices. And it's not that there is a tonal trade-off either - the current firmware is more than close enough for rock and roll - a couple of steps up from where I am now.

                    Not that the Kemper is any slouch either - If I was creating studio tones with a variety of amps, fx, mics and mic pres and I wanted to gig those exact tones, the Kemper would be a no-brainer. Similarly if I wanted to use an awesome pedalboard but have access to a range of high quality amps live, it would also be well worth looking at.
                      Would you still be using your G-System with the Axe-fx?
                      Hypothetically speaking, of course ?
                        Scorched wrote: I got the II in January. It is staggering the improvements they made in just the past 3 firmwares updates (not to mention the upgrade over the first generation Axe-fx) and there is a new one due at the end of this week.

                        I don't like hyping up a product. When people ask my opinion of the Axe-fx II, I just rather tell them to come over sometime and give it a whirl and then they could decide for themselves. All I know, I've been grinning from ear-to-ear the entire week testing out these Metallica patches a fractal forum member made ( http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-ii-preset-exchange/83050-metallica-tonematches-patches-extravaganza-v2-0-a.html ). By no means do I want Metallica's exact tones for my own playing, but its quite exhilarating flipping through the tones that inspired you when you first started out, with one piece of equipment at normal music listening volumes.

                        Its such a shame that it is so difficult to test one out anywhere except in the US, but I would recommend anyone to check them out if the get the opportunity.

                        I for one, am actually relieved that the XL is a minor upgrade, as the Ultra was to the Std. When I bought my Ultra, they announced the II a few weeks after, which was very disappointing.
                        How much was it in total for the II?
                        I have an Ultra, absolutely LOVE it!
                        Also have an MFC-101.

                        Want to saved up for a II in the future.
                        Just curious what the import costs are, etc


                        Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
                          Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
                          Danny B wrote: Alan, why would you go for an Axe over a Kemper?
                          They are different things. Quite simply the architecture is better suited to me and the way I work - I'm a tweaker/geek with a studio engineer's approach to FX. Consider that I regard my current live rig (which takes up six channels on a mixer) as a compromise - Guitar Rig is the only thing that lets me do some of the stuff I want. ...and then I still try do things that make a powerful audio optimised PC fall over. ?

                          Each has a different approach (convolution with a side order of modelling vs. modelling with a side order of convolution) and each approach has its own pros and cons. I've looked into both extensively (to the point where I have repeatedly read and digested both their manuals, read their white papers, etc.). Best way to describe it for me is to compare them to keyboards: the Kemper is like a sampler - able to take a near perfect snapshot of a sound and replicate it exactly, then apply some tweaking to manipulate that sound. The Axe-Fx is like a synthesizer where the sounds are built from the ground up, offering slightly less realism in tone and feel, but a far higher degree of tweakability.

                          To be Francis for a moment, a Kemper would replace my Eleven Rack and take my electric sounds to a new level of realism, but I'd still be forced to use my additional (four) effects units to do what I want to do. Sure (as has already been mentioned to me via PM) I could add in a second Kemper for the piezo chain, but that's overkill and I'd still be short on FX (and floorboard). Plus that's 6U and I'd have to use one floorboard to control more than one unit (as I'm doing now).

                          The Axe Fx would replace my entire rig (bar guitar synth) with one 2U rack unit. Plus I'd have another two inputs so I could split off the modelling side from my GR-55 and process that in the Axe too, leaving all the fx processing power in the GR for the synth voices. And it's not that there is a tonal trade-off either - the current firmware is more than close enough for rock and roll - a couple of steps up from where I am now.

                          Not that the Kemper is any slouch either - If I was creating studio tones with a variety of amps, fx, mics and mic pres and I wanted to gig those exact tones, the Kemper would be a no-brainer. Similarly if I wanted to use an awesome pedalboard but have access to a range of high quality amps live, it would also be well worth looking at.
                          Fair answer.

                          I won't elaborate. ?
                            DrGonzo wrote: Would you still be using your G-System with the Axe-fx?
                            Hypothetically speaking, of course ?
                            Nope. Not hypothetically or otherwise. ?
                              b1scu1t wrote: How much was it in total for the II?
                              I have an Ultra, absolutely LOVE it!
                              Also have an MFC-101.

                              Want to saved up for a II in the future.
                              Just curious what the import costs are, etc


                              Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
                              I went to the US in January. So no import charges. The total was R24k. Which was painful as I paid R14k for my Ultra in 2011 and the II was just $200 more on the retail price, but I blame Zuma for this. ?

                              I would love a MFC-101 but that is a big chunk of cheese for a foot controller. I'm considering the FCB-1010 route but they are quite rare to find in South Africa and unfortunately I didn't have the money to bring one back from the US. I do however get by with my GT8 and its midi capabilities seeing as I'm not gigging at this stage.
                                You wont regret a cent of what you spend Alan.

                                Had mine for about 12 months now but using a Rocktron midi controler with it as the 101 cant justify the price.

                                Next time you are in Cape Town you can come for a play .

                                  Alan Ratcliffe wrote: =
                                  Little wing was great, brothers in arms too, but Homage was absolutely freaking faaaaaantastic! What a song, what a player!
                                  I am impressed by the Axe, but not $3000 odd impressed.
                                  It definitely has its place though.
                                    I've already discovered a few limitations, going through the manual with my exact application in mind. Things like only two instances of certain effects. Nothing that's a deal-breaker though...

                                    One potential deal-breaker is the fact that if anything goes wrong there is no local representation. Shipping to and from the US will be prohibitively expensive and time consuming.
                                    selbydoodl wrote: You wont regret a cent of what you spend Alan.
                                    Good to know. Thanks C.
                                    Had mine for about 12 months now but using a Rocktron midi controler with it as the 101 cant justify the price.
                                    How does the Rocktron compare?
                                    Next time you are in Cape Town you can come for a play .
                                    Thanks! I might just do that - although everyone's application is different.

                                      I think rather focus on just getting the Axe FX unit, dont worry about getting it as well as the MFC... that thing is STUPIDLY over priced...
                                      R15000 for a midi foot controller... You have got to be kidding me.

                                      I think it is only beneficial if you are doing serious love tours and need something really integrated..

                                      but if you have understanding of MIDI which you most definitely do, you can program any midi foot controller to do basic FX stomping and patch changes with any competing midi controller and save yourself a Stack of Doh while you at it.
                                        DrGonzo wrote: I think rather focus on just getting the Axe FX unit, dont worry about getting it as well as the MFC... that thing is STUPIDLY over priced...
                                        R15000 for a midi foot controller... You have got to be kidding me.
                                        Half that ($749), and it does some stuff I doubt other controllers will (plus I already have some quality Ethercon cables Tomcat made for me). But yeah, still very steep. At that price it's almost worth hanging on to my G-system just as a controller. ?

                                        Still, realistically speaking, I don't use my guitar footcontroller extensively - my feet are busy enough as it is. So yeah, maybe a smaller footcontroller is the way to go. At least at first.