I feel this is a pretty substantial advancement in the amp modeling engine so I've decided to share this. Please read the release notes carefully.
Things to note:
1. Higher Master Volume settings are possible now with less flub and smoother highs.
2. Improved attack and feel.
3. No woofy lows or ice-picky highs at high volumes.
4. The frequency response is dynamic which leads to a more "3-dimensional" sound.
5. To really hear and feel the effects turn up the MV and LF Res. Don't be afraid to turn LF Res close to 10. In fact some Celestion and Eminence speakers are equivalent to about 8-9 on the LF Res. This will increase the interaction between the power tubes and the speaker load.
6. Also, to "really" hear and feel it, crank it up LOUD.
Download here:
www.fractalaudio.com/downloads/firmware-presets/axe-fx-2/beta/axefx2_12p04beta.zip
Well, those improvements reminds me to my
1:1 comparison thread a bit.
So, what i`ve done first was a A/B comparison 12.03 vs. 12.04beta: Recorded a track with 12.03 (processed & DI unprocessed via USB), made the FW update to 12.04beta, reset the Amp Block , change the settings to what it was before (Friedman BE, Master to 7,5, Lo res to 9) and reamp the DI Signal. A/B that via headphones. The differences I hear where very subtle to me, did not hear any "dimensional" differences, just a bit tighter low end. So i asekd myself: What did the guys all hear? Almost Placebo?
Secondly i repeat my A/B with the Koch (Clean channel TMA`ed to AC30 Sim + Matrix GT1000 (Master 10, Input Trim 0.500, Gain 1.00, Speaker Tab to the suggestion from Cliff), and A/B that through my Guitar Cabinet.
Damn! What was this? No higher Lo res settings where needed like with FW12.03beta something - sound and feel (call it 3d or call it chip ...) was almost identical,at least very, very similiar. hmmm, can i trust my ears? What? So, i tried some Amp Sims from the Axe II
without Tonematching them (what i have always just done for better comparison reasons!), a bit Fender, a bit Hot rodded Marshalls, Shiva Clean, Soldano ... etc ... and Plug always as fast as i could beetween my actual Amp and the Axe-Fx+Matrix Gt1000 (always to the same guitar Cabinet)....
Of course now the Amp-Sims sounds always different to the Koch, i tweaked (sometimes) here and there the Spekar Tabs Lo Res
Freq. to taste ... but nothing more.
Wow. What i really don`t miss anymore was this "sticking" at the speaker sound from the Axe, what i heard or imagine before always ... It sounded right - right out of the Box! Difficult to describe!
So, the general missing "3d link" i imagine, when playing Axe-Fx through a real guitar cabinet is gone, at least so much less, that it really does not make THE difference. I am very satisfied! Wow! The "Amp in the room with real guitar cabinet"-thing was always the last issue, where i was not completely satisfied in the past. Now - this IS past! I am satisfied now - totally
I read all kinds of theories from guitar players on what they think they are hearing and yet what they really are hearing is simply a frequency response difference.
Well, anyhow ... as i wrote before in the 1:1 - thread, i could tweak the SPKR page to satisfaction, when it comes to the "dimensional" issue. I had have to increase the Lo res nearly to maximum at this point.
Right now, i get equal or better results with different Amp-Sims out of the Box (partially just a bit conform the Lo Freq for my guitar cabinet).
So, all i can say: There is something happened to the Amp-Sims ... and i imagine, that the "highs" are now also much better controlable. The whole thing feels and sounds quite right now to me!
Well done, Sir.
