Thanks for your responses guys.
I have an M8M with standard tuning (8th string is F), AXE FX2 MK1 and go straight into the PA, i guess the one band would have to be meshuggah. I've tried the tone matches and fucked around for ages but can't get something that is both really heavy and crisp. Not that i need to sound exactly like meshhy obviously, just want heavy with clarity. thanks
Okay so I went to my friends house during Band practice and used my vocalist PA system for the speakers but still used my Power Amp to power the axe Fx II. My global set up was CAB simulation ACTIVE and power amp Sim off.
My current set-up needed to be adjusted because the sound was much different going direct verse a real tube power amp. In the sense of playing Direct, having a Tube power amp colors the tone drastically where as having a real cab, it sounds much more real sounding.
But that's my opinion. Hopfully, you have a solid state power amp unless your using a PA system to power up the Axe fx. If that's the case, Turn on power amp Sim on and cab sim on.
Below are some presets to try. Since we have a different way how we use the axe fx, use this set up as a guide to lead you to your desired taste.
From left to right using AXE Edit:
Input Gate (turn this off by turning the threshold far left until it says off)
[Gate/expander]---[Drive (ZEN Master)]---[Compressor (hard)]---[PEQ]--[empty]---[empty]---[AMP (Euro) use Tones tack JVM O2]---[CAB #73 4x12 or you can use what I use Citrus v30 or a rector cab]
Just put this together and worry about settings later. After putting all this together, put all blocks on bypass except the amp and cab.
Since Euro is the bogner model, you may notice right away that it sounds dark. Here is my recommended settings on the amp:
Bass 5, mids 3.50, treble 7 (anything lower than 7 starts to sound less punchy and more warmer as well as cloudy. Input gain 4.5 (do not use allot of gain for Djent purposes, use presence tastefully (nothing past 6.50), turn on bright switch and move it down to 11'clockb)
Make sure the saturation switch is off.
Okay, your tone at this point should sound bassy with high end and maybe slightly dark..... now worrit's if it does or not.
Now turn on the drive block which should be set to ZEN Master. Also turn on the gate (I'll get into the gate settings later.)
For the drive, turn gain up to 2 which should sit directly at the 9 o'clock position. Put bass at 11 o'clock position, put mid frequency at 12 o'clock position, put mids at 2oclock position, turn treble at 11 o'clock postion. Use the low cut to taste but leave high CUT alone.
Gate settings. For djent, highly suggest you put the threshold to -38, attach at 1.70, ratio no higher than 4.50, hold on 3 and release on 3
TEST Tone from here and adjust accordingly messing with the knobs on the drive and amp (don't get crazy, you can earlier spend hours here)
Once your somewhat satisfied, turn on PEQ. No this part is very important.... your goal here to boost your equipment frequencies that your ear feel it lacks. This part of the equipment can take time if your not used to using this type of eq. Don't waist your time on the equipment settings in the amp block. The PEQ can do very good things for you hear. Some people put the PEQ after the amp and cab block. Yes, you will hear a big difference, but it changes your entire tone overall. By putting the PEQ before the amp and cab block, your essentially fine tunings the characteristics of your guitar which will sound much more natural.
Last is the compressor.... this is purely your choice, I recommend this because the gate threshold being so tight, yor will need a compressor to give you long lasting sustain to go against the gate. Do not go crazy with the ratio. Try -30 threshold, 2 ration, 3 or 5 for attach, 100ms on release or less and hold I leave it to defualt.
*** I used the PEQ as a mild bass and mid boost and the added Minor gain the high end***
Try this and post your feedback.
