PETER NORTHCOTE
Inspired
AXEFX LIVE TIPS
My thing is about working the AXEFX live. We all know how amazing and perfect it is for recording or home systems. But I often get people asking me for help with their AXEFX ‘Live sound’ because it sounds too ‘Processed’ or ‘HIFI’.
I have been through many incarnations of using the AXEFX. From using it just as an FX unit to a 4 cable method to just a pre-amp into power amps and quads or 2x12s. Now it’s exclusively into FRFR monitors. It has been my ‘system’ for many years. And I’m here to stay. I have found my sound, but as my playing and style morphs and changes, now, so can my tone.
I don’t play heavy-ish, low tuned or 7 string style music.
My favorite players are people like Mike Landau, who get the best out of their guitar tone with Strats and Fender amps. Although I have always loved Marshall, H&K with quad boxes and 2x12 open backs, coming from the session world, I go for versatility. I want everything, and I want it at my feet. Although I play a lot of covers, I don’t play them note for note. In fact, most of the gigs I do are improvised rock. I have much freedom in what I play and this determines how I go about creating a sound.
So, I need a system that allows me to get a ‘Metal’ and ‘Jazz’ sound….with everything in between.
Here are some tips I have discovered while using my AXEFX. I have the 2, XL+, AX8 and 3. These concept work for all of them.
I use ATOMIC CLR’s but have tried just about everything else. The CLR works the best, by far, for me.
1. Stand the FRFR up like an amp. Don't have it facing you. Rarely when I played through amps would I face the amp at my ears. In fact, I hated that sound and always faced the box away from me. The singers in the band loved it too as it wasn’t facing them.
2. Use a HI CUT & LOW CUT filter on the monitor.
3. On the CLR, use the BL setting. (Sub OFF)
4. If there is no FILTER CUT on your FRFR monitor, use the AXEFX GLOBAL EQ and take out all of 31 and 63htz. (you don’t need to do this with a CLR)
5. Use cab #95 Supremo 2x12. It is by far the most balanced and sounds like a real amp. I also like the DELUXE TWEED and the EURO RED MODERN. These 2 amps cross a very versatile spectrum of tones.
Reasoning,
Quad boxs and combos all emanate lots of bottom end because of the box and the air moving in and around the cabinet. Imagine what a speaker sounds like without an enclosure. So the resonance of the box's bottom end can be felt everywhere on stage. Remember bass travels through everything. Think the DJ neighbors upstairs......5 floors up!
So, an FRFR will have it's own bottom end resonance. All of CAB IRs are meant to emulate all that bottom end for recording purposes. They sound amazing when used in a direct recording. But they have been recorded with multiple mics to capture all that bottom end. They even sound good at low levels through an FRFR. But as soon as you turn up and hit the stage, all the bottom end of, say, a quad IR, plus the ability to extend that bottom end in the FRFR will cloud your tone.
The top end will be sorted out with the IR. You shouldn't have to edit the top end. (you know that sound of an early FX unit with ‘AMP SIMULATION’. Buzzy and fuzzy). The AXEFX has sorted all that out. But you have to remember some simple ‘REAL AMP ‘ concepts.
Remember, PA monitors are meant to reproduce the full range of a kik drum, bass guitar, keyboards, vocals etc.
Yet a guitar amps spectrum is not that wide.
It is important to remember, the AXEFX system is an AMP. And works best when treated like one.
If of course you are playing heavy, low tuned or 7-string music, then that may not require any bass cut. In fact it may be the desired tone.
But in a local club gig, or anything that is not ultra-heavy, I want my rig to sound like a real amp. A REAL GOOD ONE too!
This is why i use cab #95 Supremo 2x12.
It is the most balanced and has a perfect mid range.
Now, here's a great tip, I've recently discovered and stated using.
Remember those 2 EQ sliders on the global EQ, 31 and 63htz?
Well, if you want to emulate a little more bottom end, like what a real cabinet does on stage, then just ad some of those frequencies to the flat, unedited GLOBAL EQ. (you wont get this same result by just adding more BASS in the amp block. This is a different thing and may muddy up your tone…..You know, that squashy sound on the low strings).
I tried adding 1db to each, and it was ok but maybe just a bit too much for what i wanted. So i split the difference and only added .50 of a db on both of those frequencies. You definitely don’t need much.
It worked an absolute treat. (remember I’m on the CLRs).
Gave a little more body to my already awesome sound, and I could feel it on and around the stage.
I recently did a gig with 10 other guitarists. We did 2 songs each. They all had amps….and most of them sounded amazing on stage. But with one 57 on each amp, not necessarily in the sweet spot (that’s a lucky-dip either way you look at it), out the front, some amps sounded bright with little body. However, with my AX8, I was told by many in the audience, that my sound was the best out the front. I had my CLR on stage, but I could ‘feel’ my sound out the front.
Remember, you can use the ECHO OUTPUT 1 TO OUTPUT 2 selection in settings. This allows you to output your sound through both outputs. Giving the sound guy a steady volume whilst allowing you to turn up or down without affecting the FOH. I use this every time I'm through the PA. That way you can edit the global EQ, if you must, for your onstage sound whilst leaving your FOH sound unedited.
Its an amazing transformation going from real amps into the digital world. It can be a challenge. But once you are on the path and settled in, there's no reason to go back.
Dinosaurs will always bag you out about not using a ‘Real Amp’. But they listen with their eyes….all the while complaining that they can’t sell their CDs and wishing more people would go out and support live music….theirs in particular. They will bag you out for using an Ibanez JEM live and then ask you what the STRAT was on that recording you did. Answer; an IBANEZ JEM.
This is the NEW world. We are here, and have been for a while. It’s an amazing world too, and I’m never going back!
The AXEFX “is” a real amp. But it is also much, much more.
I now find playing through a real amp, way too limiting.
In fact, I always have. I used to always want a live rig with a Fender, Marshall and Vox amp (this just for starters).
I'm not now, never have been, or ever wanted to be a 'one sound' guy.
The AXEFX has enabled me to find my 'tone'. It has helped me to create my own style. I'm still working towards that, but i am finding it and i don't think I've ever had such a great sound.
The AXEFX is not just a heavy metal rig. In fact it’s far from it. There is so much to discover in it, that it amazes me for the price. It still cracks me up that pedal guys buy a reverb pedal for $800 to do what an AXEFX can do a zillion times over.
If you are struggling with your ‘Live’ tone, contact me and I’ll see if I can help. In fact, I know I can. It’s an easy fix.
Cheers
Peter
PETER NORTHCOTE GUITAR P/L
peter@peternorthcote.com
www.peternorthcote.com
#AXEFX #FRACTALAUDIO #INDEPENDENTMUSIC
My thing is about working the AXEFX live. We all know how amazing and perfect it is for recording or home systems. But I often get people asking me for help with their AXEFX ‘Live sound’ because it sounds too ‘Processed’ or ‘HIFI’.
I have been through many incarnations of using the AXEFX. From using it just as an FX unit to a 4 cable method to just a pre-amp into power amps and quads or 2x12s. Now it’s exclusively into FRFR monitors. It has been my ‘system’ for many years. And I’m here to stay. I have found my sound, but as my playing and style morphs and changes, now, so can my tone.
I don’t play heavy-ish, low tuned or 7 string style music.
My favorite players are people like Mike Landau, who get the best out of their guitar tone with Strats and Fender amps. Although I have always loved Marshall, H&K with quad boxes and 2x12 open backs, coming from the session world, I go for versatility. I want everything, and I want it at my feet. Although I play a lot of covers, I don’t play them note for note. In fact, most of the gigs I do are improvised rock. I have much freedom in what I play and this determines how I go about creating a sound.
So, I need a system that allows me to get a ‘Metal’ and ‘Jazz’ sound….with everything in between.
Here are some tips I have discovered while using my AXEFX. I have the 2, XL+, AX8 and 3. These concept work for all of them.
I use ATOMIC CLR’s but have tried just about everything else. The CLR works the best, by far, for me.
1. Stand the FRFR up like an amp. Don't have it facing you. Rarely when I played through amps would I face the amp at my ears. In fact, I hated that sound and always faced the box away from me. The singers in the band loved it too as it wasn’t facing them.
2. Use a HI CUT & LOW CUT filter on the monitor.
3. On the CLR, use the BL setting. (Sub OFF)
4. If there is no FILTER CUT on your FRFR monitor, use the AXEFX GLOBAL EQ and take out all of 31 and 63htz. (you don’t need to do this with a CLR)
5. Use cab #95 Supremo 2x12. It is by far the most balanced and sounds like a real amp. I also like the DELUXE TWEED and the EURO RED MODERN. These 2 amps cross a very versatile spectrum of tones.
Reasoning,
Quad boxs and combos all emanate lots of bottom end because of the box and the air moving in and around the cabinet. Imagine what a speaker sounds like without an enclosure. So the resonance of the box's bottom end can be felt everywhere on stage. Remember bass travels through everything. Think the DJ neighbors upstairs......5 floors up!
So, an FRFR will have it's own bottom end resonance. All of CAB IRs are meant to emulate all that bottom end for recording purposes. They sound amazing when used in a direct recording. But they have been recorded with multiple mics to capture all that bottom end. They even sound good at low levels through an FRFR. But as soon as you turn up and hit the stage, all the bottom end of, say, a quad IR, plus the ability to extend that bottom end in the FRFR will cloud your tone.
The top end will be sorted out with the IR. You shouldn't have to edit the top end. (you know that sound of an early FX unit with ‘AMP SIMULATION’. Buzzy and fuzzy). The AXEFX has sorted all that out. But you have to remember some simple ‘REAL AMP ‘ concepts.
Remember, PA monitors are meant to reproduce the full range of a kik drum, bass guitar, keyboards, vocals etc.
Yet a guitar amps spectrum is not that wide.
It is important to remember, the AXEFX system is an AMP. And works best when treated like one.
If of course you are playing heavy, low tuned or 7-string music, then that may not require any bass cut. In fact it may be the desired tone.
But in a local club gig, or anything that is not ultra-heavy, I want my rig to sound like a real amp. A REAL GOOD ONE too!
This is why i use cab #95 Supremo 2x12.
It is the most balanced and has a perfect mid range.
Now, here's a great tip, I've recently discovered and stated using.
Remember those 2 EQ sliders on the global EQ, 31 and 63htz?
Well, if you want to emulate a little more bottom end, like what a real cabinet does on stage, then just ad some of those frequencies to the flat, unedited GLOBAL EQ. (you wont get this same result by just adding more BASS in the amp block. This is a different thing and may muddy up your tone…..You know, that squashy sound on the low strings).
I tried adding 1db to each, and it was ok but maybe just a bit too much for what i wanted. So i split the difference and only added .50 of a db on both of those frequencies. You definitely don’t need much.
It worked an absolute treat. (remember I’m on the CLRs).
Gave a little more body to my already awesome sound, and I could feel it on and around the stage.
I recently did a gig with 10 other guitarists. We did 2 songs each. They all had amps….and most of them sounded amazing on stage. But with one 57 on each amp, not necessarily in the sweet spot (that’s a lucky-dip either way you look at it), out the front, some amps sounded bright with little body. However, with my AX8, I was told by many in the audience, that my sound was the best out the front. I had my CLR on stage, but I could ‘feel’ my sound out the front.
Remember, you can use the ECHO OUTPUT 1 TO OUTPUT 2 selection in settings. This allows you to output your sound through both outputs. Giving the sound guy a steady volume whilst allowing you to turn up or down without affecting the FOH. I use this every time I'm through the PA. That way you can edit the global EQ, if you must, for your onstage sound whilst leaving your FOH sound unedited.
Its an amazing transformation going from real amps into the digital world. It can be a challenge. But once you are on the path and settled in, there's no reason to go back.
Dinosaurs will always bag you out about not using a ‘Real Amp’. But they listen with their eyes….all the while complaining that they can’t sell their CDs and wishing more people would go out and support live music….theirs in particular. They will bag you out for using an Ibanez JEM live and then ask you what the STRAT was on that recording you did. Answer; an IBANEZ JEM.
This is the NEW world. We are here, and have been for a while. It’s an amazing world too, and I’m never going back!
The AXEFX “is” a real amp. But it is also much, much more.
I now find playing through a real amp, way too limiting.
In fact, I always have. I used to always want a live rig with a Fender, Marshall and Vox amp (this just for starters).
I'm not now, never have been, or ever wanted to be a 'one sound' guy.
The AXEFX has enabled me to find my 'tone'. It has helped me to create my own style. I'm still working towards that, but i am finding it and i don't think I've ever had such a great sound.
The AXEFX is not just a heavy metal rig. In fact it’s far from it. There is so much to discover in it, that it amazes me for the price. It still cracks me up that pedal guys buy a reverb pedal for $800 to do what an AXEFX can do a zillion times over.
If you are struggling with your ‘Live’ tone, contact me and I’ll see if I can help. In fact, I know I can. It’s an easy fix.
Cheers
Peter
PETER NORTHCOTE GUITAR P/L
peter@peternorthcote.com
www.peternorthcote.com
#AXEFX #FRACTALAUDIO #INDEPENDENTMUSIC