Axe-FX II Purchased: Any Suggestions for a First Time Modeler?

[JubileeMan 2555]

Wow, I just did what I thought I'd never do. I layed down some serious cash for a rack unit device that has NO tubes!

...I'm a vintage amp guy. I can't remember the last time I bought gear newer then 1978. Since i love my current rig, I figured I could take a chance with something high-tech and innovative to see what it might do for me. Since I'm in a cover band, something like the Axe-FX could be a great fit.

Do you guys have any suggestions for a first time user? Ways of easing into the experience, or things I should try? Its going to be here Friday, and I'll be able to bring it along to my casino gigs this weekend. I won't play it at the gig, but I'll bring Headphones along and be able to play around with it on my off time during the weekend...

[Count_Chocolat]

RTFM.
RTFW.

Go though the first 50 presets, choose 4 or 5 you like best and play those for a while until you get a feel and reference for the unit. Keep those as your meat and potatoes tones until you feel more comfortable making your own.

Build your own patch from scratch and experiement.

RTFM Again
RTFW Again

Build your own patch from scratch and experiement some mo.

Oh yes, play, play and play...

[JubileeMan 2555]

lol...ok I get "RTFM"....but whats "RTFW"?

[Tony Foran]

Originally Posted by JubileeMan 2555

Wow, I just did what I thought I'd never do. I layed down some serious cash for a rack unit device that has NO tubes!

...I'm a vintage amp guy. I can't remember the last time I bought gear newer then 1978. Since i love my current rig, I figured I could take a chance with something high-tech and innovative to see what it might do for me. Since I'm in a cover band, something like the Axe-FX could be a great fit.

Do you guys have any suggestions for a first time user? Ways of easing into the experience, or things I should try? Its going to be here Friday, and I'll be able to bring it along to my casino gigs this weekend. I won't play it at the gig, but I'll bring Headphones along and be able to play around with it on my off time during the weekend...

Tyler, I was just using your down the hall Super Reverb clip looking for someone to tone match it. I would love to see how close you can get with the Axe. Have fun!

[ptgold]

IMO dont make your first experience with it be headphones. I have a great pair of headphones and only use them when absolutely necessary (3 am )

If you have the luxury of also getting a pair of really good Near Field Monitors besides an FRFR PA...get them.

NF Monitors is the best way to get the true sound out of the AXE2 when youre trying out patches at home volumes (less than 90-85 dbs).

[JubileeMan 2555]

Originally Posted by Tony Foran

Tyler, I was just using your down the hall Super Reverb clip looking for someone to tone match it. I would love to see how close you can get with the Axe. Have fun!

Huh... never thought of that... very cool.

Yeah, that video has created a lot of headaches for me. So many people want that tone, but don't realize its a unique accident on how it was recorded. I used a ZOOM H4 recorder, but I had accidentally swiveled the chair it was on so it recorded way off axis which gave the amp a big bold sound. It always DID sound good in person, but not to the level of that video. Post some clips of the matching when you get a chance. curious how YOU get it to turn out...

[JubileeMan 2555]

Originally Posted by ptgold

IMO dont make your first experience with it be headphones. I have a great pair of headphones and only use them when absolutely necessary (3 am )

If you have the luxury of also getting a pair of really good Near Field Monitors besides an FRFR PA...get them.

NF Monitors is the best way to get the true sound out of the AXE2 when youre trying out patches at home volumes (less than 90-85 dbs).

I'll take the sound with a grain of salt using headphones. I know that won't be how it sounds for real, but its worth a shot to at least play with the new toy

Monitors are on my list of things to get. But, whats good is my computer is setup at home with a great receiver and Boston Acoustic T930 tower speakers so the tone of the amp through that setup might be just as good as NF monitors...but hard to say.

[mpr]

Originally Posted by JubileeMan 2555

lol...ok I get "RTFM"....but whats "RTFW"?

Yeah, never seen it before. I'd assume what it says here:
http://www.acronymfinder.com/RTFW.html

"RLIN Terminal for Windows"?

[Zer0th]

Originally Posted by JubileeMan 2555

lol...ok I get "RTFM"....but whats "RTFW"?

'W' for wiki, here:
http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2

Other suggestions...

Download the editor:
http://www.fractalaudio.com/p-axe-edit-software.php

Download the latest banks:
http://www.fractalaudio.com/support.php

Obviously Axe-Edit wont make any sound sans Axe-Fx II but you can peruse the bank presets, examine how they're constructed... note the plethora of parameters and scare yourself half to death in the face of the near infinity of possibilities.

[Gasp100]

Originally Posted by JubileeMan 2555

Huh... never thought of that... very cool.

Yeah, that video has created a lot of headaches for me. So many people want that tone, but don't realize its a unique accident on how it was recorded. I used a ZOOM H4 recorder, but I had accidentally swiveled the chair it was on so it recorded way off axis which gave the amp a big bold sound. It always DID sound good in person, but not to the level of that video. Post some clips of the matching when you get a chance. curious how YOU get it to turn out...

I love it... that type of unique stuff happens all of the time in the recording process. Here you have people trying to tone match an accident, great stuff.

Oh, for the II. I would simply start on the first couple of patches and disable the delay and reverb. Then maybe click on the cabinet and scroll through some of the cabinets available in the device. Start slow, take your time.

[stratzrus]

Originally Posted by JubileeMan 2555

Do you guys have any suggestions for a first time user? Ways of easing into the experience...

Originally Posted by ptgold

I
If you have the luxury of also getting a pair of really good Near Field Monitors besides an FRFR PA...get them.

NF Monitors is the best way to get the true sound out of the AXE2 when youre trying out patches at home volumes (less than 90-85 dbs).

I think FRFR monitors or Near Field make sense if you will be recording a lot or if you plan to gig with it in places where the audience will primarily be hearing you through the FOH but if you plan to use it for playing primarily at home, or without sound reinforcement when playing out, a proper power amp and appropriate traditional cab may be a better choice and will certainly be simpler and quicker to get up to speed on.

I'm currently using a tube power amp and a 2x12 speaker cab and my rig sounds great at "home volumes" and even 3:00 a.m apartment volumes. If you go this route it's important to use speakers that have a solid and tight bottom end and are detailed and articulate. One of the most popular speakers is the EVM 12L. I'm using a VHT/Fryette Fat Bottom with Eminence P50Es and am quite pleased with the results.

Amplification is an important consideration regarding how happy you will be with the overall result and how you plan to use it should be a major consideration when deciding which route to go. Many home players have been dissatisfied with using a FRFR monitor exclusively for home use due to hiss and that fact that they are less conducive to getting the legendary "amp in the room" tone as opposed to "amp mic'd and going through the PA" tone.

With that said, if you will be mostly using it for recording, near field monitors make sense, and if you are gigging at places with sound reinforcement, a quality FRFR monitor will provide you with consistency of tone and is probably the better choice, so there's no "one size fits all" answer.

Good luck no matter what you decide.

[JubileeMan 2555]

Holy Hell... just downloaded the manual... 189 pages?! sheesh...

[MaxTwang]

Originally Posted by JubileeMan 2555

lol...ok I get "RTFM"....but whats "RTFW"?

Don't forget RTFRN - Release Notes come with each firmware upgrade, short but they'll get you going quick.

Headphones are fine if you have good headphones. The first 50 presets are designed for use with minimal/no tweaking. Have some fun with these and don't worry about tweaking until there's something in the sound you're looking for or need to get rid of. Just enjoy the Axe.

[Tony Foran]

Originally Posted by Gasp100

I love it... that type of unique stuff happens all of the time in the recording process. Here you have people trying to tone match an accident, great stuff.

Yea, lots of echo but you can still hear the basic tone. Instead of tone match, how about just dialing in a big SRV type tone like Tyler's? It might be around but I haven't heard it.

[JubileeMan 2555]

Originally Posted by Tony Foran

Yea, lots of echo but you can still hear the basic tone. Instead of tone match, how about just dialing in a big SRV type tone like Tyler's? It might be around but I haven't heard it.

...btw, thats one of my personal goals. I know right away the AXE-FX can and will do that liquid Marshall Gain tones without skipping a beat, but I'm going to make it a personal goal to attempt to make the unit copy/mimic my SRVish tones I've chased for so many years (As a hobby). I'm very skeptical that the unit will come through as good as I will want, since I'm picky, but I'll post clips and such when the time comes...