Omri Bazelet
Inspired
I bought my Axe FX 3 Used a year plus ago from a friend of mine. Here's my summary about all the pros and cons that I expeirenced through that year. Some are great and some are totally critical and need an immediate update to 2021.
Let's start with the good stuff, because I believe that Fractal deserves a clean and true review.
1. The Forum - Unlike other brands that I used, this forum has proven Fractal's model and beliefs that the Ax3 is the device of the people. The quick responds to a user who thought he has found a bug, or things that they wish (mainly new amp models). It happens fast. truly fast. Unlike other brands which responds "We will check it and come back to you" the approach is "Bug approved and fixed for the next release". That's the power of true customer service and involvment from the CEO itself, not just a basic customer service worker - but the CEO itself! And it totally make the difference!
2. The sound - Simply the best sound that an amp modeler can achieve (yet)- Cygnus simply proved itself, and it was the same with Ares, and any other significant update that Fractal launch to their users. And when you think you achieved the maximum capability of the devices abilities - you simply wrong. Because, apparently - there are more things to improve each and every day. It benefits a lot of value and when you pay so much money for the AX3 - It's exactly what we expect at this price range. Endless possibilities, with more sound at the same device. It much more open than a Kemper or an Neural DSP Plugin and has that chest chug 3D Feel which others lack specially on low volumes.
3. Flexibility - The actual device it truly lightweight against and easy to carry onto a car backseat or garage. and not all - because of it's great processing power - it makes jams a delight experience with the ability to run up to 3 players at the same time (2 amps, one DI) and mixing onboard with the mixer block. You can also mod the amp blocks inside the advanced parameters and section without actually opening a true amp and pay an amp tech for modding it out. You can change the tube types and mod your pedals and effects as well!
That's alone makes a whole lot of fun and make a model sound like something better or different.
4. The effects - Hands down best reverbs and delays in a modeler. But compared to an analog reverb, I felt I needed to add a drive after it to give it that "analog bloom and warmth" that my rack analog reverbs had. The varient of Drive pedals, compressors, and Synth which are so much fun and excitement.
NOW, let's get a bit concretive, I know there's a lot of fan boys who will hate me, but those things need to be said.
1. The learning curve of the AX3 is way harder than it competitors. It took me 6 months to actually realise the basics of this device. Why people need to go to a Leon Todd video to find out that they need to change their AC Line frequency? Or else, using the device itself, and not Axe Edit is way to difficult and un-intuative - For example, scrolling for different presets. Why do I need to go one by one instead of getting a list of all my presets and scroll to the right one ASAP?
Or else - Why is the preset naming/scene naming isn't with the same window as the Signal Path window? So I can know what I'm editing without pressing exit so many times.
The AX3 and Fractal approach to UI needs to be way different and much more easier without a huge manual that every snob says that I need to read. I just want a truly low-tech signal path, why would I need to get 100 pages before I can do it? Amps and effects are truly low tech so anyone could simply use it.
Here are some ways I believe the AX3 and Fractal should work. and not just random ranting
1. When having a first boot/ Factory Reset - just like in your smartphone - A welcome guide that gives you an initial and first installment. The Interface will make an AI to set the first I/O Settings to get it straight for the beginning and have an I/O Patch for that guitar.
It will ask for your state to automatically set the AC Frequency Line for each and every country in the world.
2. No longer AX3 Edit, or FM3 Edit or Fractal Bot or more additional softwares. Just one - Fractal Edit. So I connect my future FM3 and AX3 to the same program.
A program that actually open in full window mode and capable of working in 60FPS to make the eq transition look and feel smooth, allow you to update to beta/full releases with Push notifications, install your USB Drivers and internal ones as well. And also backup presets and scenes, insert new ones as well.
Also, when importing presets, it needs to include the IR - It will search if it already exists, but if it doesn't it will ask if you want to install them onto your ax3.
3. When searching for an amp - I want my device to actually tell me what it is based of. Every modeler in the world have some sort of a short passage and explaination what is that model is all about. I truly don't need to go to a specific wiki or ask in a forum what you had created.
Also, and that the most difficult one yet. There are some amps that have different modes which modeled to a different amp model in the AX3. If you will actually make possible that the same channel will have all the mods avaliable in a switch thing. That's will be even more awesome.
4. An Official Fractal phone app editor (Not FracTool) - It's 2021, people are connected with their phones, Bluetooth models are relatively accessible and many amp builders such as Revv have them build in already, why Fractal isn't making the move? I know that you have a great and the best sound, but I think now it's the time the lay the leg from the sound and improve accessibility to a way better from their mobile phones.
5. New Layout grid. Helix, for example make it great
Name of the preset and the scene and below that you have the layout grid. without moving to much screens and having way too much procedures.
6. Also when in grid, I don't need a seperate page for having simple operations such as moving blocks. Pressing the rotary button twice and using the rotary button to move it where ever I want it. The operation of the device should as simple as using Axe Edit.
7. The marketing side of Fractal isn't strong as Neural DSP, Kemper or others. I think that Fractal need to focus their time and efforts on Marketing videos online, Official tutorials from Fractal themselves on their devices, more sponsered posts by youtubers and others. The only reason I believe that Neural has such a hype is because of their investment in marketing, tutorials and cooperating with others. If Line 6 can pay Revv to cooperate with them and create models that Revv approves, no reason that Fractal can't and make way superior than others.
That's pretty much it.
Make Fractal Big Again,
Omri.
Let's start with the good stuff, because I believe that Fractal deserves a clean and true review.
1. The Forum - Unlike other brands that I used, this forum has proven Fractal's model and beliefs that the Ax3 is the device of the people. The quick responds to a user who thought he has found a bug, or things that they wish (mainly new amp models). It happens fast. truly fast. Unlike other brands which responds "We will check it and come back to you" the approach is "Bug approved and fixed for the next release". That's the power of true customer service and involvment from the CEO itself, not just a basic customer service worker - but the CEO itself! And it totally make the difference!
2. The sound - Simply the best sound that an amp modeler can achieve (yet)- Cygnus simply proved itself, and it was the same with Ares, and any other significant update that Fractal launch to their users. And when you think you achieved the maximum capability of the devices abilities - you simply wrong. Because, apparently - there are more things to improve each and every day. It benefits a lot of value and when you pay so much money for the AX3 - It's exactly what we expect at this price range. Endless possibilities, with more sound at the same device. It much more open than a Kemper or an Neural DSP Plugin and has that chest chug 3D Feel which others lack specially on low volumes.
3. Flexibility - The actual device it truly lightweight against and easy to carry onto a car backseat or garage. and not all - because of it's great processing power - it makes jams a delight experience with the ability to run up to 3 players at the same time (2 amps, one DI) and mixing onboard with the mixer block. You can also mod the amp blocks inside the advanced parameters and section without actually opening a true amp and pay an amp tech for modding it out. You can change the tube types and mod your pedals and effects as well!
That's alone makes a whole lot of fun and make a model sound like something better or different.
4. The effects - Hands down best reverbs and delays in a modeler. But compared to an analog reverb, I felt I needed to add a drive after it to give it that "analog bloom and warmth" that my rack analog reverbs had. The varient of Drive pedals, compressors, and Synth which are so much fun and excitement.
NOW, let's get a bit concretive, I know there's a lot of fan boys who will hate me, but those things need to be said.
1. The learning curve of the AX3 is way harder than it competitors. It took me 6 months to actually realise the basics of this device. Why people need to go to a Leon Todd video to find out that they need to change their AC Line frequency? Or else, using the device itself, and not Axe Edit is way to difficult and un-intuative - For example, scrolling for different presets. Why do I need to go one by one instead of getting a list of all my presets and scroll to the right one ASAP?
Or else - Why is the preset naming/scene naming isn't with the same window as the Signal Path window? So I can know what I'm editing without pressing exit so many times.
The AX3 and Fractal approach to UI needs to be way different and much more easier without a huge manual that every snob says that I need to read. I just want a truly low-tech signal path, why would I need to get 100 pages before I can do it? Amps and effects are truly low tech so anyone could simply use it.
Here are some ways I believe the AX3 and Fractal should work. and not just random ranting
1. When having a first boot/ Factory Reset - just like in your smartphone - A welcome guide that gives you an initial and first installment. The Interface will make an AI to set the first I/O Settings to get it straight for the beginning and have an I/O Patch for that guitar.
It will ask for your state to automatically set the AC Frequency Line for each and every country in the world.
2. No longer AX3 Edit, or FM3 Edit or Fractal Bot or more additional softwares. Just one - Fractal Edit. So I connect my future FM3 and AX3 to the same program.
A program that actually open in full window mode and capable of working in 60FPS to make the eq transition look and feel smooth, allow you to update to beta/full releases with Push notifications, install your USB Drivers and internal ones as well. And also backup presets and scenes, insert new ones as well.
Also, when importing presets, it needs to include the IR - It will search if it already exists, but if it doesn't it will ask if you want to install them onto your ax3.
3. When searching for an amp - I want my device to actually tell me what it is based of. Every modeler in the world have some sort of a short passage and explaination what is that model is all about. I truly don't need to go to a specific wiki or ask in a forum what you had created.
Also, and that the most difficult one yet. There are some amps that have different modes which modeled to a different amp model in the AX3. If you will actually make possible that the same channel will have all the mods avaliable in a switch thing. That's will be even more awesome.
4. An Official Fractal phone app editor (Not FracTool) - It's 2021, people are connected with their phones, Bluetooth models are relatively accessible and many amp builders such as Revv have them build in already, why Fractal isn't making the move? I know that you have a great and the best sound, but I think now it's the time the lay the leg from the sound and improve accessibility to a way better from their mobile phones.
5. New Layout grid. Helix, for example make it great
Name of the preset and the scene and below that you have the layout grid. without moving to much screens and having way too much procedures.
6. Also when in grid, I don't need a seperate page for having simple operations such as moving blocks. Pressing the rotary button twice and using the rotary button to move it where ever I want it. The operation of the device should as simple as using Axe Edit.
7. The marketing side of Fractal isn't strong as Neural DSP, Kemper or others. I think that Fractal need to focus their time and efforts on Marketing videos online, Official tutorials from Fractal themselves on their devices, more sponsered posts by youtubers and others. The only reason I believe that Neural has such a hype is because of their investment in marketing, tutorials and cooperating with others. If Line 6 can pay Revv to cooperate with them and create models that Revv approves, no reason that Fractal can't and make way superior than others.
That's pretty much it.
Make Fractal Big Again,
Omri.