@King Loudness uses some modelling gear when he records at home.
anyone using effects/amp modelling units?
i just bought an axefx2 xl+ about a month ago. I will say that yes it was expensive but it is by far the best investment i have made for my guitar. the sound is incredible with so many different amps, cabs and effects built in. Plus there is hundreds of presets available for download that are truly amazing. even the ones that come with the unit are incredible and usable. I can't say enough about this unit, it totally amazes me every time i turn it on.
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I did... heh. Sold my Axe FX a couple of months ago as I was just looking for a change, and I started doing most of my guitar work through my '78 Fender Champ and my nano board for at-home use. I do have a couple of Strymon digital pedals on my large gig board, but as far as my day to day, things are 90% analog these days (save for my Strymon Flint; love that thing). Still, the Axe/Kemper route is definitely a worthy consideration for anyone on their tone quest; they really do have a vibe that has come into their own.@King Loudness uses some modelling gear when he records at home.
W.
I've got a couple of Boss units I screw around with. The factory presets are mostly terrible, but if you build patches like you would assemble your gear, and keep it simple, they are very good.
I currently have an RP1000, Helix, and AX8. Helix gets most of the use. Been playing direct for over a decade now. Love the versatility.
I have an AXE FX Mk I and a Fractal FX8. I recently recorded guitar tracks for a pop song using the AXE and the producer/vocalist was very happy. The fact of the matter is that there were almost no set up time and within a few hours, it was completed. All of this done by email as well. The technology is awesome and only going to get better.
I like the Fractal stuff, but I have limited experience with it. I had a POD HDsomething for a bit, but couldn't dial it in to my liking. I use GarageBand on my mac to record demos. The tones are useable and the pre-programmed drum loops are great for keeping things together. I'd like an FX8 to mess around with, but it's pretty low on my priority list right now.
A buddy of mine cut a whole indie rock album on Garageband. He went all Foo Fighters style and played all the instruments himself and cut the whole album in his living room in his spare time.I like the Fractal stuff, but I have limited experience with it. I had a POD HDsomething for a bit, but couldn't dial it in to my liking. I use GarageBand on my mac to record demos. The tones are useable and the pre-programmed drum loops are great for keeping things together. I'd like an FX8 to mess around with, but it's pretty low on my priority list right now.
I picked up an 11rack, great piece of gear. Mostly use it for at home practice. Lots of great tones although it could have more amps and effects it's pretty good for the 400 bucks I paid. Need to pick up a foot controller at some point in the future. Super user friendly as I've only looked up info on how to record with it. Apparently the earlier units only record at 48k not 44k which is the default protools setting. Love the fact they have a variac plexi model for early VH stuff aside from their other plexi model.
I have an 11r also and its great. I scored a Behringer midi footboard here in the EE with a chip (I think it's called a uno chip), which made it a plug and play affair. I'm curious about the Fractal stuff, but wonder if it's really going to be best for heavily distorted stuff (which is all I've heard it used for). With my 11r, I usually just find a Fender or other cleanish amp and then turn all or most of the effects off, leaving it with just a bit of overdrive. So I'm pretty simple like that. I can't see what stepping up to a Fractal would do for me. Though the sound quality, even the amp models in 11r are excellent. I'm sure that the leading edge modellers today are really amazing.
My only amp is the Amplifire. It's a lot of fun and more than enough for my needs.
Clean and high gain are the easy things to model. Clean is clean and a square wave is a square wave - easily duplicated and repeatable.I'm curious about the Fractal stuff, but wonder if it's really going to be best for heavily distorted stuff (which is all I've heard it used for). With my 11r, I usually just find a Fender or other cleanish amp and then turn all or most of the effects off, leaving it with just a bit of overdrive. So I'm pretty simple like that. I can't see what stepping up to a Fractal would do for me. Though the sound quality, even the amp models in 11r are excellent. I'm sure that the leading edge modellers today are really amazing.
It's that lightly broken up, low gain distortion that modelers still can't quite get right, IMO. They are better all the time, but they know they aren't there because they keep introducing new, improved versions of hardware and software/firmware. The way tubes work with the variable dynamics of the input is very hard to duplicate with algorithms. There seems to be some variation in the way a tube pre and power amp work together, and work with the subtle picking dynamics and guitar volume adjustments, that the by-design repeatable nature of processors and software can't quite get. Too predictable, compared to tube amps, in that low to mid gain area.
All that to say, yea, I think the Axe or Kemper or Helix will do a better job of that type of tone - and the next version of each of those will do even better. I think you will hear a more noticeable improvement in that type of tone over the clean and high gain tones between those modelers and your 11R.
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