Disconnector
Inspired
Hi there!
So I've been haunting this forum for years and saving my shekels . . . and about a month ago I finally ordered and received my XL+.
I started out in modelling with a Pod HD500 and it really soured me on digital gear for recording. Finally I bought an 11R and I designed some sounds in it that are pretty darn awesome to be honest. I've used the Singtall presets as well and have found tones that really fit my style of music. But since Avid has pretty much given up on the platform PLUS I'm a true delay whore (the AF2 multi-delay is MIND BOGGLING) I figured I'd give the AF2 a spin. I figured if I didn't dig it I could at least turn it over on Ebay for what I paid for it right?
Let me just say this before I start - while I truly dig high-gain tones (HOLY CRAP THE EDDIE VAN DANZI SETTINGS ARE KILLING MEEEEEEE - ) my *style* of playing just doesn't lean that way. I tend towards mid-gain and clean with a lot of atmosphere. Most of the really smoking reviews of the Fractal stuff really leans into the gain side of the house so I had to keep an open mind.
When I first got the device and got it wired into my studio (Universal Audio + Mackie MR8 Mk2s) and fired it up I honestly wasn't blown away. I ABed it with my 11R and while its was realistic it didn't just slay me. The presets are well thought out and not overly insane (I'm looking at you Line6) but there was something missing that at first kind of made me look at my $300 second hand 11R and go hmmmmmmm.
Then I started actually digging into Axe Edit and found that you can really design *your own sound* in the AF2. I started tweaking power amp parameters (lots of gold here - especially the bias settings and negative feedback) and pre-amp parameters (cathode follower settings and tonestack exchanges stand out here for me so far). Then I discovered the endless power of the almighty IRs and cab-lab remixes. HOLY CRAP FOLKS!
After about a week of dabbling about an hour a day just for giggles I switched back to the 11R and ABed them again . . . and I was FLOORED by the difference. I spent over a year carefully crafting tones on the 11R and the AF2 was CRUSHING then in every way. wow wow wow!
It's super realistic and just *feels* right. The 11R feels to me like I'm playing a recording sometimes - the action of your fingers doesn't seem to make the sound change like it does on a real amp. Not all of the 11R patches are this way but especially with high gain it just feels a bit disconnected. The AF2 feels like its directly attached to my fingers. I've been thinking of ways to verbalize what I'm hearing. I own a '67 Super Reverb that I dearly love and I never could capture a certain sound in the 11R that I hear when I place in the room with that amp. There's like a very faint octave up that fades in as the sound decays - it sounds like a female choir is following your chords. It's an amazing sound that i never can seem to capture in a mix. The AF2 HAS that sound in spades! Add in the insane delay and reverb sounds PLUS a huge palette of modulation effects - I'm left speechless. The drives are amazing - I'm dumping my extensive pedal collection on Ebay. This thing is bad-ass awesomeness. Seriously.
Higher gain stuff has this as well - the decay of the note sounds *sweet* and not grainy like it was on the 11R.
I'm just dipping my toe in the water but I can say this - my AF2 is going to provide years of eye opening, heart pounding, nut crushing awesomeness. Thanks Cliff and crew - you have something special here!!
Disconnector
So I've been haunting this forum for years and saving my shekels . . . and about a month ago I finally ordered and received my XL+.
I started out in modelling with a Pod HD500 and it really soured me on digital gear for recording. Finally I bought an 11R and I designed some sounds in it that are pretty darn awesome to be honest. I've used the Singtall presets as well and have found tones that really fit my style of music. But since Avid has pretty much given up on the platform PLUS I'm a true delay whore (the AF2 multi-delay is MIND BOGGLING) I figured I'd give the AF2 a spin. I figured if I didn't dig it I could at least turn it over on Ebay for what I paid for it right?
Let me just say this before I start - while I truly dig high-gain tones (HOLY CRAP THE EDDIE VAN DANZI SETTINGS ARE KILLING MEEEEEEE - ) my *style* of playing just doesn't lean that way. I tend towards mid-gain and clean with a lot of atmosphere. Most of the really smoking reviews of the Fractal stuff really leans into the gain side of the house so I had to keep an open mind.
When I first got the device and got it wired into my studio (Universal Audio + Mackie MR8 Mk2s) and fired it up I honestly wasn't blown away. I ABed it with my 11R and while its was realistic it didn't just slay me. The presets are well thought out and not overly insane (I'm looking at you Line6) but there was something missing that at first kind of made me look at my $300 second hand 11R and go hmmmmmmm.
Then I started actually digging into Axe Edit and found that you can really design *your own sound* in the AF2. I started tweaking power amp parameters (lots of gold here - especially the bias settings and negative feedback) and pre-amp parameters (cathode follower settings and tonestack exchanges stand out here for me so far). Then I discovered the endless power of the almighty IRs and cab-lab remixes. HOLY CRAP FOLKS!
After about a week of dabbling about an hour a day just for giggles I switched back to the 11R and ABed them again . . . and I was FLOORED by the difference. I spent over a year carefully crafting tones on the 11R and the AF2 was CRUSHING then in every way. wow wow wow!
It's super realistic and just *feels* right. The 11R feels to me like I'm playing a recording sometimes - the action of your fingers doesn't seem to make the sound change like it does on a real amp. Not all of the 11R patches are this way but especially with high gain it just feels a bit disconnected. The AF2 feels like its directly attached to my fingers. I've been thinking of ways to verbalize what I'm hearing. I own a '67 Super Reverb that I dearly love and I never could capture a certain sound in the 11R that I hear when I place in the room with that amp. There's like a very faint octave up that fades in as the sound decays - it sounds like a female choir is following your chords. It's an amazing sound that i never can seem to capture in a mix. The AF2 HAS that sound in spades! Add in the insane delay and reverb sounds PLUS a huge palette of modulation effects - I'm left speechless. The drives are amazing - I'm dumping my extensive pedal collection on Ebay. This thing is bad-ass awesomeness. Seriously.
Higher gain stuff has this as well - the decay of the note sounds *sweet* and not grainy like it was on the 11R.
I'm just dipping my toe in the water but I can say this - my AF2 is going to provide years of eye opening, heart pounding, nut crushing awesomeness. Thanks Cliff and crew - you have something special here!!
Disconnector