Axe-Fx III Firmware 31.04 Public Beta #2

[BobbyLane99]

100% if you have been around these parts long enough and you see a stable beta waiting it usually means Cliff is still working on something else

yep been here 5 years so I've seen that done that.

 

[rossipedia]

I haven’t been able to get a bass tone in the Axe FX that I like as much as the SansAmp

I'm assuming you've tried the SansAmp model in the Axe FX III?

 

[jaycal6]

I'm assuming you've tried the SansAmp model in the Axe FX III?

Yeah, but this SansAmp XB Driver is a lot different. It splits the signal with a crossover so you can keep the low end clean and compressed. And then the highs get distorted. I know theoretically the Axe can do the same thing, but I haven’t been able to dial something in. The SansAmp just sounds killer out of the box.

 

[Forever Again]

Yeah, but this SansAmp XB Driver is a lot different. It splits the signal with a crossover so you can keep the low end clean and compressed. And then the highs get distorted. I know theoretically the Axe can do the same thing, but I haven’t been able to dial something in. The SansAmp just sounds killer out of the box.

I just tried the SansAmp last night and really dig it.

Not a SansAmp user, what’s the typical usage for the DI vs Pre? Is the Pre with amp/cab and DI without both?

Edit: And I just RTFM

 

[utkanos]

Yeah, but this SansAmp XB Driver is a lot different. It splits the signal with a crossover so you can keep the low end clean and compressed. And then the highs get distorted. I know theoretically the Axe can do the same thing, but I haven’t been able to dial something in. The SansAmp just sounds killer out of the box.

I primarily use my AF3 for bass these days and definitely use the crossover technique all the time, it's awesome. I actually like the sound of the Royal DI lately. I've attached two screenshots of my signal path with two different approaches. The drive blocks are both instances of the Royal DI in method 1, method 2 is two different amplifier models each on their own path after the split.



For distortion, this is my setup (SV bass, Herbie).




I can attach presets once I'm near my AF3 if that's helpful.

 

[Feflicker]

I mean, the darkglass for bass on the fractal, with a multiband comp is tits

 

[jaycal6]

I primarily use my AF3 for bass these days and definitely use the crossover technique all the time, it's awesome. I actually like the sound of the Royal DI lately. I've attached two screenshots of my signal path with two different approaches. The drive blocks are both instances of the Royal DI in method 1, method 2 is two different amplifier models each on their own path after the split.

View attachment 166215

For distortion, this is my setup (SV bass, Herbie).

View attachment 166216


I can attach presets once I'm near my AF3 if that's helpful.

Yeah I’d love to check it out!

 

[Budda]

@utkanos a clip would be sweet too!

 

[vangrieg]

I know theoretically the Axe can do the same thing, but I haven’t been able to dial something in.

When I tried doing that, I think the issue was that the amp block has latency, and when you combine a path with an amp with a path without one, you get phasing issues and the whole concept falls apart.

 

[Callan]

When I tried doing that, I think the issue was that the amp block has latency, and when you combine a path with an amp with a path without one, you get phasing issues and the whole concept falls apart.

You could use 2 amps, 1 on each row.
Something like the Tube Pre on the 2nd path perhaps.

 

[biggness]

You could use 2 amps, 1 on each row.
Something like the Tube Pre on the 2nd path perhaps.

Or a Delay set to 100% mix with a touch of ms of delay

 

[painkiller]

How about a change in the firmware that automatically delays everything which is parallel to the amp block by the amount of time the amp block needs?
(Probably something for the wish list)

 

[Dr No]

You could use 2 amps, 1 on each row.
Something like the Tube Pre on the 2nd path perhaps.

If I understand correctly, having the second amp bypassed would also already solve the misalignment (maybe required it is a copy of the first amp).

 

[skydog]

Can you help me understand what’s being discussed here? What am I missing? I have used real amplifiers and Amp blocks in parallel, and latency wasn’t the point.

 

[unix-guy]

Can you help me understand what’s being discussed here? What am I missing? I have used real amplifiers and Amp blocks in parallel, and latency wasn’t the point.

An Amp block adds latency.

If you run a parallel path to the Amp where the other path has no Amp, there's likely some phase issues as the audio will be slightly out of sync between the two paths.

Same issue if you run two amps in parallel where one path has a Drive block, because the Drive also adds latency.

 

[Dave Merrill]

Can you help me understand what’s being discussed here? What am I missing? I have used real amplifiers and Amp blocks in parallel, and latency wasn’t the point.

https://wiki.fractalaudio.com/wiki/index.php?title=Latency

 

[skydog]

An Amp block adds latency.

If you run a parallel path to the Amp where the other path has no Amp, there's likely some phase issues as the audio will be slightly out of sync between the two paths.

Same issue if you run two amps in parallel where one path has a Drive block, because the Drive also adds latency.

Thanks unix-guy. That helped.

Do this all the time with real amps and amp blocks. Use the Axe Fx as real devices. A guitar signal chain, a series of pre-amplifier effects, one amp (or Y-cable to two amps + cabs in parallel and then Y-cable back) to post-time-based effects. Old-fashioned. Use guitar controls, and only use scenes if a song requires a drastic change. Admittedly experience a latency issue here or there, but the cause is neurology or biology. Hide that drama with sustain. The only avant-garde shit I do is Mahavishnu Orchestra.

Thank god for Fractal Audio. Still have a ton of amps, but no longer need a friend with a van, lol.

 

[vangrieg]

Admittedly experience a latency issue here or there, but the cause is neurology or biology.

Well this isn’t about latency as such.

The question was about using parallel paths for bass where one path is distorted and the other one isn’t. This technique is used to have a distorted yet thick sound. But if one path is time shifted phasing makes the low end sound thin, so you have to align them somehow, and Fractal devices don’t have any phase alignment tools. If you have blocks to spare, both parallel paths need to have the same blocks (which may even be bypassed, if I remember correctly).

For guitar, parallel paths aren’t used as widely, and even when they are used, phasing may even be a good thing, creating interesting effects. With low frequencies, it’s never good.

 

[danwei]

How much of shifting can really happen in the axe?
If i think this through 2 scenarios come to my mind, correct me if i'm wrong:
1. You split the frequencies before going parallel anyway because you don't want to say "distort the lows but only the highs". Either by using the Crossover block or - like us sad FM3 users who don't have this block - by filters etc. So there should be no overlapping frequencies in the parallel paths, so no phasing can occur.
2. If you don't split your signal: Depending on the actual shift happening it may have the same effect as using the enhancer block or as shifting the alignment of a single path via the cab block.

 

[State of Epicicity]

Sounds like good wishlist candidates in this discussion, or bumping existing wishes. A micro alignment tool could be used in so many scenarios for guitar or bass. Beyond parallel path alignment when necessary, the creative uses for effects for any instrument would be awesome.