I could care less about the AX8 except for the fact that it and Quantum is keeping the FX8 from getting some loving. Everyone's Quantum this and AX8 that and we're like, hey, how about some goodies for the FX8. I have a day to still decide if I'm going to keep the FX8 and I have to say.... I'd feel better about this product if it didn't feel neglected, other than one blurb that new firmware will be on the way without a smidgeon of enticement about what that might entail.
I mean, if all of Fractal's attention will be on the AX8, I should return the FX8 and get that instead, especially if it does run all the effects. The only thing it seems to be missing is the relays.
But supposedly the FX8 is quieter in SOME setups. But until the FX8 the Axe-FX was running 4cm in many pro rigs, from Petrucii to Vai with no problems.
You know, Fractal is a great company, and I usually hold my tongue when I have respect for a company. But Fractal has not done much to ally fears of new FX8 owners. All this discussion about the AX8 being way more powerful than the FX8 for just a few hundred more, including a gird that would make effects building more effective with shunts, and it seams like not one word from the company to ally FX8 buyers fears. Like, yeah, we'll put in a grid for the FX8 as well, we have some new drives in the works that work better with tube amps (since tube amps are more variable than the closed variable design of making them work with the amp sims.) I mean, even with the tone suck technology, it's more based on the user response than Fractal.
I hate to say this because I love Fractal, but I get the feeling that with 3 products they are letting things be ambiguous. Tone Suck FX8 technology is mentioned, but to not go against the marketing of the XL+ which also has been marketed beforehand to be made with humbuster 4cm technology, I feel that Fractal wants you to think there is no tone suck if you but the XL+, but also wants you to think that you have less tone suck if you buy the FX8. Fractal seems pretty active in the Axe-FX forum, but not very active here. We need to know what to expect, because it really does feel like the FX8 is the red headed step child and it would be nice to have some clear answers of what the benefits and cons of each product, now and in the future, will be in no ambiguous terms.
The issue is that having three competing products is a new paradigm for Fractal. No one wants to say that the AX8 is noisy if it doesn't have the technology in the FX8, yet if it's not noisy, why buy the FX8? There needs to be some clarity. There needs to be some discussion about what we can expect on our end, because I there are some new users here who can return the units, and older users who are thinking of selling, and we are not getting any information about the vision for this product. While just check over next door in the Axe-Fx AX8 section and it's a party while here it's cricket. Will the FX8 get a grid so you can use shunts and get some of those delay and verb modulated patches that some people dug in their strymons? The FX8 shouldn't have less effects programming than the AX8 to me. Or maybe I got the wrong idea about the FX8? I thought it was dedicated to effects and wouldn't be the weakest effects programming wise of the three. That's Fractal's decision. But they should let us know a little more clearly, to let the consumer make an informed decision.
My 2 cents.
I've never criticized fractal before, ever.