Axe-Fx III Firmware 28.01 Release

First of all, thank you for the constant improvements to this incredibly great device.

The new algorithms for reverb and now also spring reverb as well as the compressors sound great. The revised room simulation in the cab block now sounds much better (floor reflections and room diffusion always sounded a lot like a comb filter before).

In my opinion, some default values in the compressors and in the loudspeaker room simulation are chosen unfavorably and are no longer compatible with the new factory presets that have just been overhauled.
The compressors (especially the Dynami comps) have too much gain reduction and the room simulation in the cab block is far too strong in effect level compared to the old version. I'm also thinking of new customers who will be surprised that factory presets with these blocks can now sound strange...
In the release notes I read something about the 17cm distance for ORTF as the new default, does that mean that in position 0 of the microphone distance an XY setup is simulated since there is still correlation between the channels? However, the base width correlation does not increase any more towards 1 meter than it would in reality, but a different tonal change happens. I tried this also with a vector meter.
 
I'm finding it tricky to do subtle compression with the new comps. I mostly don't want to hear a squash effect, just gentle smoothing, almost like a well controlled and well recorded performance.

I can't get several of the models to do that, ratio is unavoidably too high. Best I've found so far i think is the VariMu, but I'm still exploring.

Anyone have any favorite settings for gentle compression?
 
Dave Merrill said:
I'm finding it tricky to do subtle compression with the new comps. I mostly don't want to hear a squash effect, just gentle smoothing, almost like a well controlled and well recorded performance.

I can't get several of the models to do that, ratio is unavoidably too high. Best I've found so far i think is the VariMu, but I'm still exploring.

Anyone have any favorite settings for gentle compression?
Click to expand...
Turn the ratio down.
 
Dave Merrill said:
I'm finding it tricky to do subtle compression with the new comps. I mostly don't want to hear a squash effect, just gentle smoothing, almost like a well controlled and well recorded performance.

I can't get several of the models to do that, ratio is unavoidably too high. Best I've found so far i think is the VariMu, but I'm still exploring.

Anyone have any favorite settings for gentle compression?
Click to expand...
Maybe you could try lowering the mix? Then the compressed (squashed) signal would be less audible.
 
FractalAudio said:
Turn the ratio down.
Click to expand...
Devil's advocate:
4:1 ratios (for the couple types that only offer that as a minimum) can still sound pretty aggresive.

GuitarManiac32 said:
Maybe you could try lowering the mix?
Click to expand...
That may help in some situations, but pumped up sustain under hard transients does sound different than tamed transients with a more natural sustain, so may not be the desired result.

If it is possible to reduce the ratio of all comp types below 4:1, that may solve some people's issues, while still acheiving the benefits of different topology characteristics.

To be able to change the tubes on an amp, the sag, the tone stack, etc. to break from strict real-world counterparts, but not have the flexibility of reduced ratio for compressors... seems counterintuitive, and restrictive. ...But I don't know what restrictions are imposed on the programmer in the modelling of these circuits... perhaps this was done because of no choice?
 
ChrisHooker said:
Devil's advocate:
4:1 ratios (for the couple types that only offer that as a minimum) can still sound pretty aggresive.


That may help in some situations, but pumped up sustain under hard transients does sound different than tamed transients with a more natural sustain, so may not be the desired result.

If it is possible to reduce the ratio of all comp types below 4:1, that may solve some people's issues, while still acheiving the benefits of different topology characteristics.

To be able to change the tubes on an amp, the sag, the tone stack, etc. to break from strict real-world counterparts, but not have the flexibility of reduced ratio for compressors... seems counterintuitive, and restrictive. ...But I don't know what restrictions are imposed on the programmer in the modelling of these circuits... perhaps this was done because of no choice?
Click to expand...
Not considering the existance of the threshold control is an auto-inflicted restriction though... that's usually more effective than turning ratio down
 
Dave Merrill said:
Of course, but you can't get it lower than 4:1 on many of them now, frustrating.

I wish the Fractal version could transcend that limitation of the originals, but my guess is that it's somehow inherently in the circuit topology, or you would have done that. Why not?
Click to expand...
Mathematically these compressors are limited to 4:1. Plug-ins are no different. Use a different type if you need lower ratios. Just like you would with real hardware.
 
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