Who is going to be on top on this next gen MFX?

[Gaetano Capuano]

This is going to be interesting, looks like Line 6 is starting off first, but this definately does not mean they will have the "greatest yet.

 

[fakeox]

Barring a huge early unexpected release by some other co, It's all Line6 in the lo to middle market. It's theirs to keep or lose but 'till others step up..

 

[solo-act]

I voted other because your list is all large corporate manufacturers who will never choose the lower profit margin that Fractal has chosen and thus will always fall short on processing, coding, and components.

So I predict Fractal will remain above the competition for some time to come. The big boys haven't dumped their units for any of the recent "innovations", and I don't see that happening with anything that'll be coming out from the list you have because their stuff is inevitably going to be cheaper, and there's no way to do Fractal on the cheap -- Cliff already is doing it lower/cheaper than any corporation wants to.

I think Fractal represents a positive trend in the American business credo: "Make a profit, not a killing, and America will be better off."

 

[fakeox]

Hi end for sure is still the axe. this gen. I'm guessin' the reason it isn't on the poll is for its price it kind of stands alone. Next gen? I think they are gonna get caught.

 

[Julia343]

best most popular. Fractal doesn't fit here because the price keeps it out of range of most people who would use it. So i'll go with Line 6, unless Digitech steps up and comes out with a major update for the GSP and RP stuff.

 

[fakeox]

Hopefully by the gen after this Fractal will have a product in the<$700 range..

 

[desdinova]

I see that Digitech is not scoring that high yet. To tell the truth, the GSP with the latest firmware is the current hands-down winner in the price/performance ratio. It even incorporates advanced features like IRs in the latest firmware incarnations.

Since it's (I believe) the only available twin processor product in the market today, I guess Digitech could further improve on the technology (DNA3 chip or whatever) and take advantage of the ideas and implementations of the "beta" firmware, to produce a new rack (2U?) that would place in the same spot occupied by the 11R and the Axe-Fx Standard today.

I am not familiar with the capabilities of the DNA2 chip, in fact I would appreciate if someone knew more about those... But it's a big company with a huge history in modelling processors and I expect them to move forward in this direction.

 

[bmi]

If they want they can. (Boss)

 

[padavis]

If they want they can. (Boss)

I second this opinion. I love the Boss stuff... the newest ME is pretty nice... next gen who knows!

 

[speedyone]

I say whoever can get rid of that digital fizz/hissiness hidden in high gain settings wins, hands down. (for my applications at least.)

So far, no one has this beat yet. Well, maybe the AxeFx does, but I haven't heard one in person yet.

 

[Rena Rune]

Behringer.

 

[desdinova]

Behringer.

Actually, this could be very close to the truth if Behringer opts to cop...errr... seek inspiration from the next cropof Line6 gear.

As for Vox, Rocktron and Boss I guess they are not that interested in the middle to high end market and that is evident by their market strategies for the last 2-3 years. In other words, I wouldn't expect something in the same league (or thereabouts) as the 11R from them.

 

[Don Petersen]

Cliff has stated that they're working on a 'less feature - lower cost' spin off of the Axe
I bet that announcement gives all the big names in the business some serious headaches.

 

[Gaetano Capuano]

I voted other because your list is all large corporate manufacturers who will never choose the lower profit margin that Fractal has chosen and thus will always fall short on processing, coding, and components.

So I predict Fractal will remain above the competition for some time to come. The big boys haven't dumped their units for any of the recent "innovations", and I don't see that happening with anything that'll be coming out from the list you have because their stuff is inevitably going to be cheaper, and there's no way to do Fractal on the cheap -- Cliff already is doing it lower/cheaper than any corporation wants to.

I think Fractal represents a positive trend in the American business credo: "Make a profit, not a killing, and America will be better off."

Is that really there mindset?

Yeah, right no Axe FX etc because not only are they not popular but way to expensive. This is more of a "normal guy" MFX type thing.

 

[rsm]

I still dig my old, inexpensive, first generation Vox Tonelab (desktop), and second generation Valvetronix amp (AD120VTH) for what I do. I differentiate modelers from mfx though there aren't many mfx options out there without amp/cab models.

I'm looking forward to a good amp modeler box that:

• is pedalboard friendly
• provides amp/cab/mic options only
• user upgradeable IRs
• MIDI in, out and through
• USB and/or Firewire
• no fixed integrated pedal (but has option to add external pedals)

I dig my TC Electronic effects (Nova System, G-System) and hopefully these will get updates for a few more years.

I want an amp/cab/mic modeler so I can choose my own effects, mix and match them etc., havingthe ability to run two amp/cab/mic chains at once is nice to have not mandatory for me.

I like the idea of having my modeler and my effects separate.

Hopefully Fractal, Vox or someone will do this soon...but happy with my TC Electronic and old Tonelab desktop.

Looking at the poll at this moment, Vox (zero votes) needs to step up their A-game in modelers. Hello, Vox? Anyone home?

YMMV

 

[desdinova]

Cliff has stated that they're working on a 'less feature - lower cost' spin off of the Axe
I bet that announcement gives all the big names in the business some serious headaches.

The only logical assumptions about such a product, are, IMHO:

1) It will be either a floorboard or 1U rack, probably the former.
2) It will use a cheaper DSP and perhaps less memory than the Standard.
3) It will not include all the deep editing features of the Axe-Fx "proper".
4) It will sell in or about the same price as the 11R.

It will also have to retain the sound quality of the Axe-Fx, but positioned in a different market; that of the players that need a more economical, more "plug and play" solution.

If the above is the case, it remains to see the level of realism achieved by the new POD, because, in the case Line6 delivers on it's promises, I don't see much success on a "cheap Axe-Fx". But it could certainly capitalize on the Fractal reputation, nevertheless.

That said, I hope Cliff surprises us with something radically different than my speculations.

 

[supersecretjim]

Who will take the lead for best/most popular next generation MFX?


As we all know, "most popular" is completely separate from "best".

Does "best" also count user interface & ease of use? That would disqualify Eventide in my mind.

Without thinking about modeling, Id still go with the Fractal units. Add in the amp modeling & its a no-brainer, IMO.

 

[Gaetano Capuano]

Zoom's getting no love? No one thinks they will come out swinging? There FX's on the G series are really good, although much else is bad, they are still a contender.

 

[Gasp100]

Flawed poll... "Best" is completely different than "Most Popular"

Best - my gut instinct tells me none of the major players in the industry are ready to incorporate all of the higher cost hardware components required to get the "best" out of modeling. I also don't think any of them have the desire to cross over into the $1500-2000 market AND end up with less of a profit margin to boot. Fractal is already in that space and some would argue "owns" that space right now. Cliff will continue on with the flagship stuff and continue to create the "best" imho.

Most Popular - I'm hoping the "HD" stuff from line 6 really kicks ass and meets or exceeds the tones and feel from Avid's 11 Rack. Their new "flagship" HD500 seems to be listed @$600 new with as much (or more) to offer in terms of FX, simultaneous recording ins, possibly I/O, etc... PLUS incorporation of other products like the Variax and such -- note, I'm only going by what was in the ONE ad that was leaked. I'm sure they will also be releasing other form factors including the bean, rack mountable, etc... AND there is already talk of additional, adaptive technology that works in tandem.
Avid's 11 rack took popular modeling (readily available, sub $1K) by storm <sort of> but it's been over a year with NO word about updates, improvements, additions, etc... ghost town right now which is really ashame.
***I'm hearing a lot about this newest GSP1101 firmware update and sounds like they are including third party IR support.... but is this some guy in his garage working on this or what? Is this even supported by Digitech anymore? What about the RP1000? That's a great unit for the price, are they willing to kick it up a notch and really contend with POD HD and 11 Rack? Right now with the little information we have available I still vote Line 6 will be most popular, unless Avid, Digitech, Boss or someone else floors us at Winter NAMM.

***https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/618344&page=24
Geez, that is disappointing and it makes me wonder where Digitech's head is really at with it's modeling gear?

 

[desdinova]

***I'm hearing a lot about this newest GSP1101 firmware update and sounds like they are including third party IR support.... but is this some guy in his garage working on this or what? Is this even supported by Digitech anymore? What about the RP1000? That's a great unit for the price, are they willing to kick it up a notch and really contend with POD HD and 11 Rack? Right now with the little information we have available I still vote Line 6 will be most popular, unless Avid, Digitech, Boss or someone else floors us at Winter NAMM.

***https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/618344&page=24
Geez, that is disappointing and it makes me wonder where Digitech's head is really at with it's modeling gear?

The "guy in his garage" methodology seems to work fine for the GSP thus far. Indeed the C52 (and perhaps 1-2 upcoming version addressing minor bugs) ups the ante once more. Should I be in the market now for a sub $1K modeller, I'd prefer the GSP/C52 to the 11R any day of the week.

In fact it could be a choice for a number of people over even the Axe-Fx Standard, at a much lower price. Let's not forget that the GSP is used by many pros and even top performers like Dweezil Zappa and Megadeth, that have replaced it with the Axe, did that only fairly recently.

That said I am highly sceptical too about the official support, to the point that I'm not sure I would trust Digitech with a new generation product. Especially if the complexity gets to a new level, I have to be sure that the company stands behind it's product. I'm sure the level of after-sales support that Fractal has brought to the game shall be the rure against which all companies shall be judged in the future.