Helpful ReplyFractal AX8 $1399

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clintmartin
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2015/10/04 13:30:46 (permalink)

Fractal AX8 $1399

A very good price point. $100 less than Line 6 Helix.
The waiting list will be long....
The waiting list will open this week with shipments beginning by the end of October.
http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-ii-discussion/105021-ax-8-price.html
 
post edited by clintmartin - 2015/10/04 13:43:23

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#1
MachineClaw
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/04 15:48:10 (permalink)
ooooook my buying decisions just got a lot harder LOL.
 
puter sim plugins like S-Gear, Amplitube with all the addons.
 
of Hardware Amp cause I realy want a good VOX tube AMP.
 
Line 6 Helix was on the list.
 
then the UA Twin Apollo usb 3 hardware
 
now this.
 
damn lots of choices.
#2
clintmartin
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/04 16:17:31 (permalink)
Well I have S-Gear (love it), and I have Amplitube 4 ordered, and I have a HD500X. I'll be watching and reading, but it will be awhile before I buy anything. The AX8 and Helix both look very nice!

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#3
MachineClaw
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/05 10:19:49 (permalink)
I have Amplitube 3 and an 11 Rack hardware box.  I don't NEED anything else, but just want something else.
 
I don't feel I have the right combo yet, everything I have just feels kluged together.  it's all "meh" and I want "Alright! That's the ticket!".  Not looking for "oh my gewd!!"
#4
Jim Roseberry
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/05 11:03:01 (permalink)
Kemper or AXE-FX/AX8 (same models) are both really nice.
I played thru an AXE-FX-II a couple of days ago. 
The new ISP Theta and Line-6 Helix have also perked my interest.
It's great seeing quality amp simulation taking major strides forward.
 

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#5
Afrodrum
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/05 18:27:47 (permalink)
clintmartin
Well I have S-Gear (love it), and I have Amplitube 4 ordered, and I have a HD500X. I'll be watching and reading, but it will be awhile before I buy anything. The AX8 and Helix both look very nice!


Could you please elaborate more on S-Gear, comparison to HD500 and if you still  need anything else?

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#6
batsbrew
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/05 18:33:58 (permalink)
just give me a real amp please, thank you.
 

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#7
Jim Roseberry
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/05 18:56:45 (permalink)
batsbrew
just give me a real amp please, thank you.



I get that...
I'm actually fighting the urge to pickup a Engl Powerball-II that's being blown out.
Awesome sounding amp for heavy crunch.
Downside, it's absolutely HUGE!  Almost SVT Classic huge  
I'd like to profile the Powerball-II... so I could have 95% of that sound in a 15 pound device.
 

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#8
clintmartin
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/05 20:15:24 (permalink)
Afrodrum
clintmartin
Well I have S-Gear (love it), and I have Amplitube 4 ordered, and I have a HD500X. I'll be watching and reading, but it will be awhile before I buy anything. The AX8 and Helix both look very nice!


Could you please elaborate more on S-Gear, comparison to HD500 and if you still  need anything else?


S-Gear is fantastic, and I haven't needed anything for a long time! Hahaha! The advantage S-gear has is being able to change your amp and settings after recording, 3rd party IRs and terrific amp modeling. I have the HD500X around mainly for my DT25 amp and if I ever get to wanting to play live again. The HD500X with a DT amp is a very nice combination.
To answer your real question...I could be very happy with S-gear alone. It only has 5 amps and 3 effects, but they are all very good. The pod has 100 effects and 30 amps or so. Amplitube and S-Gear are my favorite amp sims.

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#9
clintmartin
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/05 20:17:30 (permalink)
batsbrew
just give me a real amp please, thank you.
 


I don't miss them at all for recording. I'll probably buy the Fractal AX8, Kemper or Helix at some point just because I love gear, but for amps my little DT25 does just fine.

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#10
MachineClaw
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/06 10:01:40 (permalink)
batsbrew
just give me a real amp please, thank you.
 


hmmmm yeah but.
 
I live in an apartment right now, I can only play limited hours due to neighbors (it really sucks!).  Limited space, limitation on volume and price.
 
I am currently looking at 3 amps.  Orange, VOX AC30CC2, Fender Twin.  very different sounds also very expensive.  Bout $2,500.00 new and about $1800-$2000 used where I live.
 
S-Gear is my next purchase, there are so many good reviews.  I am not a fan of Amplitube at all.  BUt amplitube does have Fender and Orange packs - again much cheaper than real amps.
 
I'm not a pro, barly can play guitar and live in an apartment.  real amp?  yeah well give me all the money and a house and I'm there with ya buddy!
 
until then amp sims are for me for a while.  which means some of these hardware boxes, 11 rack (which I own), Line 6 500HD etc, Helix, Kempler, AXE-FX. 
 
these seem to be better solutions for my needs if I want a step up from VST plugins.
 
Back on topic this AX8 seems to only have 1 sim, or is it 1 sim at a time?  not sure I understand the limitation - I know a lot is not known yet - need more information.  seems like Line 6 Helix will be more options but of course AXE probably will sound better.
 
#11
Genghis
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/06 12:44:33 (permalink)
MachineClaw
 
Back on topic this AX8 seems to only have 1 sim, or is it 1 sim at a time?  not sure I understand the limitation - I know a lot is not known yet - need more information.  seems like Line 6 Helix will be more options but of course AXE probably will sound better.
 


AX8 only has one sim at a time, but you can use X/Y to toggle between two within a preset.  I'm pretty sure you'll have the same amps as the Axe-FX II to choose from.  At the price it's going for it is the bargain of the century for the hardware modeling world.
 
I recently sold my Axe-FX II and picked up an FX8 to use with my 5150 III... not a knock on the Axe-FX quality, as I feel it's great.  I just prefer one real amp that gets my main core sounds vs. having every sound known to man in a box and trying to decide which one to use on a given project.  Limitations can be good sometimes.  And I am getting just a hair better results using a mic on a cab.  A little more alive and present than going direct.

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#12
batsbrew
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/06 13:24:57 (permalink)
clintmartin
 
I don't miss them at all for recording. I'll probably buy the Fractal AX8, Kemper or Helix at some point just because I love gear, but for amps my little DT25 does just fine.

 
see, i'm just the opposite.
 
i would use a modeler for live work without batting an eye....
NOBODY
in the audience, will ever hear the difference.
 
but for recording work,
i only want the real thing.
 

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#13
tlw
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/06 17:34:22 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby MachineClaw 2015/10/06 23:58:06
MachineClaw
I'm not a pro, barly can play guitar and live in an apartment.  real amp? 


There are quite a number of good and inexpensive sub-1 watt amps about right now. I've a Blackheart head which claims to be one watt but is more like a quarter of that, uses just two 12AX7's with one configured as a push-pull power amp for real power-amp overdrive

Just has a volume control and a built-in Marshall-style eq fixed at a slight mid dip. I run it to a Celestion 10" Greenback. My SG or Teles push it well into crunch and beyond by the time the volume's at 10'o'clock, it sounds like a big amp but you can't hear it outside the room.

Best (home) practice amp I've found in 40-odd years playing. Much better than a more powerful amp running at such a low volume it's barely working (even 5 watts is way too loud for domestic use) and much better "feel" than any digital simulation I've come across.

Or get a bigger amp and something like a Palmer speaker sim/load box and hook that up to your interface. Or a Pignose.

Digital emulators don't really come close to an actual amp, even a tiny little amp.
post edited by tlw - 2015/10/06 17:43:55

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#14
Jim Roseberry
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/06 17:40:16 (permalink)
I was taking out a 60-lb head and a 70-lb cab... and guitar is not my primary live instrument.
That was insane... so I moved to a (small) Engl Ironball head and two Orange 1x12 cabs.
That was actually a great sounding small (conventional) rig.
 
Talked to a couple local guys who were using a Kemper... and realized I could get 95% the same sound carrying a single 15-pound Kemper Profiling Amp.  
Add to that fewer open mics on stage, lower stage volume, less clutter on stage, and it was a win for the entire band.
 
Still love the sound of a nice tube amp...
So easy to dial in a nice sound

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#15
clintmartin
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/06 21:23:01 (permalink)
batsbrew
clintmartin
 
I don't miss them at all for recording. I'll probably buy the Fractal AX8, Kemper or Helix at some point just because I love gear, but for amps my little DT25 does just fine.

 
see, i'm just the opposite.
 
i would use a modeler for live work without batting an eye....
NOBODY
in the audience, will ever hear the difference.
 
but for recording work,
i only want the real thing.
 


I could never bond with the FRFR thing and I've tried several brands. On a stage, a real amp at my back just feels right. One thing is for sure...the tech is getting better and better.  
post edited by clintmartin - 2015/10/06 21:33:20

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#16
clintmartin
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Re: Fractal AX8 $1399 2015/10/11 13:22:58 (permalink)

Cakewalk, Harrison Mixbus 4, Waveform 9, ADK intel i7 2600 3.40 ghz, 8gb Ram, Win 7, Presonus Audiobox 44VSL. 
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#17
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