RackAddict
Previous handle "Djenter"
I think that Ares is the 4th out of 7 crop circles on the Fractal Logo because it went from FW.xx to G2, to Quantum, to Ares. According to the logic, the next Firmware 5 (I suggest to the company the name "Titan" as use for any release) may be one of the two second largest circles (5th) and then the firmware after that will be the 6th (the second - second largest circle followed by the 7th and last Firmware model - the largest crop circle. The only question is whether the DSP on the Afx 3 will be able to accomodate it or if a final Axe FX 4 or 'Axe FX Max' unit will be coming.
I do believe that the signal quality of the 'home-grade' studio signal chain (including pres and converters) has been surpassed by fractal boxes at about the level of Quantum and that Ares has gone up to match perhaps a bit better mid level - as ive seen most youtube commenters say that the Axe fx 2 sounds better than several real signal chain equivalents on several videos.
A lot of these "youtube engineers" who cannot even have their mic recordings sound as good as most amp modelers as per listener comments, sound like they have perhaps entry level or mid level RME or Focusrite conversion or something like that when they try to mic amps, through which they may get mediocre to mid level audio and hance alot of listeners saying whichever modeler in the comparision sounds the same or maybe better. Lol.
Its only a matter of time before we either get a new firmware and/or a higher res IR block which will prolly be the last - perhaps Extreme res or X-res" (also my request as a feature upgrade).
At the point of the 7th and last crop circle it will have matched the signal chain equivalent of top level recording gear which is what the largest circle version would prolly accomplish.
But what ive realized in setting up a pedalboard for ambient music is that all these strymon and other similar overpriced pedals are a big waste of money with average AD and DA converters, and which are all digital pedals anyways which requires all these redundant analog connections between all these A to D and D to A conversion steps, and hence in the market for a modeler again. I rented a rack Helix but not enough parallel routing. Headrush sounds great but feels too mobile-app like and toyish.
So back to fractal again, Just debating whether to go with the Afx 3 if thats the last Fractal box, or wait for the FM3 to spend on that and spend the other money for the difference of 3 on other studio stuff. No clue.
If the current 3 is the final Fractal box to accomodate all firmwares and IR resolution levels, then I would prolly take that. But my hunch is that there will be one last and final AFX unit which means an FM3 may be more justifiable for now. Whenever that comes out.
Im more likely to buy a 3 if we get an "extreme res" cab block and buy an FM3 later down the road. But at this point I cannot make a decision.
I do believe that the signal quality of the 'home-grade' studio signal chain (including pres and converters) has been surpassed by fractal boxes at about the level of Quantum and that Ares has gone up to match perhaps a bit better mid level - as ive seen most youtube commenters say that the Axe fx 2 sounds better than several real signal chain equivalents on several videos.
A lot of these "youtube engineers" who cannot even have their mic recordings sound as good as most amp modelers as per listener comments, sound like they have perhaps entry level or mid level RME or Focusrite conversion or something like that when they try to mic amps, through which they may get mediocre to mid level audio and hance alot of listeners saying whichever modeler in the comparision sounds the same or maybe better. Lol.
Its only a matter of time before we either get a new firmware and/or a higher res IR block which will prolly be the last - perhaps Extreme res or X-res" (also my request as a feature upgrade).
At the point of the 7th and last crop circle it will have matched the signal chain equivalent of top level recording gear which is what the largest circle version would prolly accomplish.
But what ive realized in setting up a pedalboard for ambient music is that all these strymon and other similar overpriced pedals are a big waste of money with average AD and DA converters, and which are all digital pedals anyways which requires all these redundant analog connections between all these A to D and D to A conversion steps, and hence in the market for a modeler again. I rented a rack Helix but not enough parallel routing. Headrush sounds great but feels too mobile-app like and toyish.
So back to fractal again, Just debating whether to go with the Afx 3 if thats the last Fractal box, or wait for the FM3 to spend on that and spend the other money for the difference of 3 on other studio stuff. No clue.
If the current 3 is the final Fractal box to accomodate all firmwares and IR resolution levels, then I would prolly take that. But my hunch is that there will be one last and final AFX unit which means an FM3 may be more justifiable for now. Whenever that comes out.
Im more likely to buy a 3 if we get an "extreme res" cab block and buy an FM3 later down the road. But at this point I cannot make a decision.
Last edited:
