Axe-Fx II "Quantum" Rev 4.01 Public Beta

To be honest it doesn't bother me about updates. I try the new amps out and then go back to the old ones I always use, the only thing that changes is the cabs. I'll run this old AF2 into the ground.
 
brianv4 said:
wait a second, you're suggesting that the XL+ should sacrifice effects for the MK I & II and having to keep the XL at an older FW version if you want the removed effects?? Sounds a bit silly to me. The Mark I & II are serious tools and lightyears ahead of anything else available. If I had to live with my MK 1 at Q4 I'd still be getting great tones and be very happy for a long time to come. I understand your dismay but let's face it, it's coming to an end as will the XL someday. That's life.
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Well said!
 
fromthebark said:
Is there gonna be a new axe-edit out soon... this firmware is having trouble communicating with axe-edit.. I usually have to pause and unpause to get to what is actually happening after i've made some changes or switched a preset. I'm sure this has been mentioned, but I didn't want to read 30 pages of comments :cool:
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Axe-Edit running with no problems here on 4.01.
That said, I had an issue with communications a few days ago (before the update)...and ended up having to re-install the USB driver. Perhaps you are experiencing something similar?
 
squealie said:
Axe-Edit running with no problems here on 4.01.
That said, I had an issue with communications a few days ago (before the update)...and ended up having to re-install the USB driver. Perhaps you are experiencing something similar?
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No problems running Axe-Edit after updating here, either.
 
brianv4 said:
beat ya to it in post #49
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double drats!

okay, new feature request: "faster forum pun generation" in the quantum 5, i'm in danger of getting the hook here :p

the-hook.jpg
 
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xprophet said:
I believe that there are many individuals who like the changes including FW switching that do not voice their opinion for fear of reprisal. I have purchased all models that FAS has produced. Companies can't remain solvent without making sales. I want the XL+ to have all the "bells and whistles" that FAS is able to provide. I am not apologizing for this wish. I believe that many individuals will be upset if FAS bows to the past for fear of upsetting customers. Save up your pennies and save up your dimes...the 409 (XL+) is worth the investment. I have 2 old Marshall Plexis that are fantastic. They don't have MIDI capability. I am not writing Marshall and complaining why MINE are free of update capability. I believe we have become gluttons and expecting everything and resenting those who have something we don't. OK bring on the cards and letters...I am old and don't give a F&*K....cranky old bastard that I am. I love you FAS and would purchase a III, IV, well you get it....
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The poll is anonymous.
 
I will add that there are VERY many Ultra/Standard users there still.

Agreed that the limits and End of Life is a fact of this market. It is NOT possible to say that a platform will be upgraded indefinitely (flip phone anyone?) Things move on.

Without any intention of stirring Mark I/II users, most are folks who did not buy directly from Fractal, and have purchased second hand...such is life. We have all enjoyed FW upgrades, and I feel confident that Mark I/II users have many years of incredible tone with the 200+ amps that exist now.

<Opinion>: The upper limit of modeling here is approaching it's xenith. Yes, there is always room for improvement and tweaks to the present state, but I cannot imagine there will be a revelation that will make this light years better than it already is (this is not a knock on Fractal's future development, but rather a nod to just how far they've come to this point.) More amps, better cabs, maybe even algorithm's that enable us to manage the AMP/CAB interaction with greater ease (IMO it's still cumbersome and still too dependent on trial and error.)

The comments about an Axe III are wild speculation. I anticipate that we are still quite a while away from a new platform. I CAN see other products based off the technology, but won't speculate here...

Proclaiming huge protestations about where Mark I/II are unsupported is unfounded. Even EOL products are SUPPORTED, but no longer in the development cycle.

I would say you can get a used XL* for not too much of a cash outlay (resale market is VERY good). Time to upgrade if the Mark series is not enough for you (or the thirst for upgraded *stuff* is too strong.)
<end-opinion>

Back to FW discussion.
 
electronpirate said:
The comments about an Axe III are wild speculation. I anticipate that we are still quite a while away from a new platform. I CAN see other products based off the technology, but won't speculate here...
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In fact, Cliff has stated that the Axe FX II would remain in production for a couple more years. They haven't begun working on the Axe FX III:

Post #93: "We haven't even started working on an Axe-Fx 3. We expect to continue making the Axe-Fx II for at least a couple more years."
 
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electronpirate said:
I will add that there are VERY many Ultra/Standard users there still.

Agreed that the limits and End of Life is a fact of this market. It is NOT possible to say that a platform will be upgraded indefinitely (flip phone anyone?) Things move on.

Without any intention of stirring Mark I/II users, most are folks who did not buy directly from Fractal, and have purchased second hand...such is life. We have all enjoyed FW upgrades, and I feel confident that Mark I/II users have many years of incredible tone with the 200+ amps that exist now.

<Opinion>: The upper limit of modeling here is approaching it's xenith. Yes, there is always room for improvement and tweaks to the present state, but I cannot imagine there will be a revelation that will make this light years better than it already is (this is not a knock on Fractal's future development, but rather a nod to just how far they've come to this point.) More amps, better cabs, maybe even algorithm's that enable us to manage the AMP/CAB interaction with greater ease (IMO it's still cumbersome and still too dependent on trial and error.)

The comments about an Axe III are wild speculation. I anticipate that we are still quite a while away from a new platform. I CAN see other products based off the technology, but won't speculate here...

Proclaiming huge protestations about where Mark I/II are unsupported is unfounded. Even EOL products are SUPPORTED, but no longer in the development cycle.

I would say you can get a used XL* for not too much of a cash outlay (resale market is VERY good). Time to upgrade if the Mark series is not enough for you (or the thirst for upgraded *stuff* is too strong.)
<end-opinion>

Back to FW discussion.
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look at your aviator:):rolleyes:
 
brianv4 said:
wait a second, you're suggesting that the XL+ should sacrifice effects for the MK I & II and having to keep the XL at an older FW version if you want the removed effects?? Sounds a bit silly to me. The Mark I & II are serious tools and lightyears ahead of anything else available. If I had to live with my MK 1 at Q4 I'd still be getting great tones and be very happy for a long time to come. I understand your dismay but let's face it, it's coming to an end as will the XL someday. That's life.
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No, I am not. Cliff said that disabling different amp model versions for the Mk1/2 only was too much work. I am suggestion removing these blocks for the Mk1/2 instead as it's probably less work removing whole blocks for the Mk1/2 only instead of removing code in many places inside the Amp block. I'm not suggesting removing anything in the XL/XL+.
 
Jason Scott said:
Microsoft offers backwards compatibility, however. It's not perfect but it's there.

Further, can you name another modeler on the market whose presets aren't backwards compatible with newer firmware? Presets in the Helix, Amplifire, and Kemper are all backwards compatible.
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The presets are 'backward compatible' with the AxeFx also regardless of whether that feature is there. They will still load and will very likely be transparently improved.

I doubt any of the other cited products, if they were to improve their core modeling algorithms at all, would offer any guarantee that the old stuff sounded the same if the improvement was making an audible difference in newly created presets with the same model. Fact is, Fractal is the only company where this is a major issue because they constantly and aggressively improve their core algorithms.

Everyone else is moving in slow motion by comparison, but yes, totally, I can cite specific cases where my Line 6 products in the past totally changed the sound of some models/presets with new firmware and while the presets loaded they were completely different sounding. In fact a couple of changes were pretty controversial. They continued to LOAD though, so from the manufacturers standpoint and any reasonable person's perspective they are "backward compatible".So, I am sure the Kemper, Helix, and Atomic engineers would claim they are improving stuff going forward and reserve the right to impact existing settings. I'd be disappointed otherwise.

IMHO, expecting to move forward in fundamental processes (like say how preamp tubes a re modeled) and expecting presets to NOT also sound different is unreasonable and I'm pretty stunned FAS did it to begin with (I'm guessing it is a heroic effort to satisfy a big name endorser or two who cannot tolerate sound changes on a major tour). But it is completely reasonable to expect presets to still load (i.e. be backward compatible, no features removed only get added).

Addition/Removal of cabs blocks is another example of something that has happened over time. Which will absolutely impact existing stuff.
 
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Mark I owner here. I vote for forking the codebase and kicking Mark I/II into maintenance. Merge bug fixes and improvements when possible/needed but otherwise let em stay where they are with the amp and effect collection they currently have. People whining about not getting new features in perpetuity be damned. Long term feature expanding firmware updates weren't a thing for the vast majority of gear until Fractal came along and changed the game for everybody. Everyone who purchased a new Mark II has had what, at least a year and three months of massive improvements and updates for free? And now they have a fantastic high end unit with more amps, effects, and options than anything else on the market which is used internationally by many major touring global acts.

In an ideal world, maybe the amps would be divided into packs that you can opt into or opt out of to optimize your collection. But that'd take serious work to implement. I have no problem with letting the earlier models slip into a maintenance release schedule. Heck, I'm in the process of transitioning to the AX8 as I had an inkling something along these lines would happen sooner or later.
 
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FractalAudio said:
Yes, but it's in the thousands. However we are approaching the firmware size limit for the Mark I/II version. This may be the last firmware for the Mark I/II because there isn't anymore space left in the boot ROM.
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Shit happens...anyway so much to discover still. But I'd regret important effect updates; the actual amp and cab number number is way beyond what I'd ever use anyway. If there's any way to free ROM space, but I doubt about that, don't hesitate to pull some stuff off (older FW simumations ?).
Will have to wait a long time for getting to a new platform whether it be XL+ or a new Axe Fx model. OTOH, At least I won't be bothered about retweaking patches after a FW update and probably invest more time in digging effects, which is what I'm actually starting with. 4 years have gone by quickly !
 
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