Actually digital is not the dynamic limitation, it's the analog side you need to worry on.
Technically, 24bit is capable of 144 DBFS S/N (24*6=144).
I'll believe you on that. But to state my "problem" in yet another way and ask your opinion...
- do you know what I mean with my definition of "dynamic max" and have you experienced it or can you believe it is there? Or do you think it's a result of my imagination depending on other factors?
I'll state the feeling again: On the Axe, I'll generally be picking at 60 to 75% strength. That makes I can only go one or two times harder to express myself and reach the "capped" 100%. Not so on some of the real amps I played. There's a whole greater range available there and offers a nice feeling to use or know it's there.
- if you do acknowledge that; how could you solve it on digital? Isn't my only chance that I would have to learn to pick at say 33% to get the dynamic max at 300% picking strength and thereby giving up S/N ratio and less dynamic range where I play most (now only from 0 to like 33%)
Maybe if something could switch over, depending on the input (like the G-Force did with a relay, but I don't see that happen). You can probably invent stuff with manual or automatic modifiers as well. But still wondering if it would be possible in a simpler way and "get real". Without adjusting my picking strength downwards to begin with, I'm starting to think it will not be possible digitally. I therefore also wonder what "dynamic maximum" Cliff claims has been taken care of...? We must have a different definition of it (and I don't mean that as a rant/attack).
If you don't agree it even exists, I'll have to record it next time and look out more for factors that may fool me into thinking that, and play the Axe with the same guitar and sim than one of the amps in that room (didn't have it with me last time, because I knew it wouldn't stand a chance at that time with this amp collector. Now it should, except for the dynamic maximum, I'm afraid. And maybe the narrowing of the sound as well, which I seemed to experience.)
aleclee said:
Isn't "dynamic range" really the issue? If so, can anyone find a tube guitar amp with a S/N ratio greater than that of the AxeFx?
My answer/question would be simple. Don't you feel that *you* can go "beyond" on a low/medium gain amp IRL? Don't you like that and wish it was so on the Axe? In certain styles or certain guys do it all the time. Sucks you can just go "one (or two) harder" on the Axe (at least from where I'm starting), IMO (although you could at least vary your attack in ways that makes it sound different).
It was one of the most awesome experiences I had with the real amps that stuck out to me (and who knows also due to a particular guitar, but I don't think so).
I don't wanna seem like I'm on an "mba style" (or other Frenchman
) rant here. I'm just flabbergasted why no one else seems to agree or experience this on a real low/med gain tube amp. From Cliff I would understand he remained quiet, if it's just not possible. If you think I'm imagining it, let me know too. ATM, it's just weird to me how it doesn't seem to be considered important (once you felt it). Attacking a note harder & harder & still harder is a technique quite commonly used IMO.
I'm sure some people could probably post clips that show you can go harder five times instead of one or two times (depending where they are starting out or how they vary their picking), but it would still not be exactly the same to real life, I'd guess.
My object is not to convince a vintage amp collector, but to know where we stand vs real amps, helped by his opinion. If I was the collector and the Axe had a dynamic maximum like it now seems to me, I would be sure to keep my amps and declare all these discussions if the Axe is "there yet" (or better) as silly, and open people's eyes, or just declare that they will always be two different things (which I'm alright with and is actually a good thing, IMO). Has nothing to do with being for or against the Axe (I will pick it above the vintage amps), but about objectiveness. I do now know that one day I may like to have one such amp that doesn't cap a great aspect of expressiveness.
Again, the EMGs may have some part in it (though I see the technique successfully used by players with EMGs). I'll be sure to use another guitar in future testing. It may well give me one dynamic step extra, which already would be quite something. It's probably also true that you can try just for this technique to start it with much lower picking strength, to have more steps.
I remember the "effect" the most vividly when playing the Gibson 335. Maybe in part the awesomeness of this guitar and the vibrational feedback of the body into mine fooled me a bit with regards to this effect, but still?
Maybe as a question to Cliff or anyone: what would at the moment be the most dynamic setup to experience?
Would it be the /13 with Dynamics to -100%?
