Hi guys, long-time-lurker here
There's a lot of hoo-ha on the forums lately surrounding Amp Modelling VSTs, namely due to the arrival of Line6 Helix native. A lot of people have expressed interest in Fractal releasing an 'Axe FX' VST - a request that dates back several years now.
My question is, do we really want an Axe FX VST?
The main justifications seen for an Axe VST are rooted in matters of 'convenience';
- Easier Re-amping
- Easier Recall in DAW projects
- Cheaper admission price to Fractal's renowned algorithms
These points are clearly in the favour of the few who might benefit specifically from these things but what of the user base at large; what of Fractal as a company in the long term?
Line6 like to go for low-hanging-fruit which is certainly in keeping with their business model and they are very successful at it. Their roll out of the Helix range was executed like a game of chess:
- Flagship Helix floorboard- The most expensive modelling product in Line6 history, (whose price point was likely only enabled by Fractal's existence and rearrangement of the industry) is still cheaper than the Axe FX and occupies a great spot to provide prospective Axe FX buyers with a lower priced alternative.
- Helix LT- A Helix minus all the bells and whistles at a much lower price (which perhaps sheds some light on exactly how much those bells and whistles actually cost?). For people who can't stretch to the higher priced Helix model/ Axe FX
-Helix Native- Aimed predominantly at 'Home-Gamers' and those adamant that good recordings can't be made without a convenient Native Reamping solution. Minus the Plugin development costs, is this the reflective cost of Line6 modelling algorithms? Or have they taken a page from the Apple playbook - Price competitively and go for volume? Either way, this is clearly a very accessible option for most people and therein lies the problem… Staying competitive in the domain of the low-price-point mass-market.
It can be read on this forum and other places that the birth of Fractal Audio Systems came with many sacrifices. I hope Cliff won't mind me repeating that it was necessary for him to spend his life savings in order to get the Axe FX off the ground. In the following decade a relentless amount of work and dedication has been poured into this product in the pursuit of Quality.
Fractal has established itself as the prestige brand above all other modelling tech solutions. This prestige was earned through commitment to high quality products and high quality service. Great displays of loyalty have been shown over the years as a direct result of this, and here FAS has no equal.
The release of an "Axe FX" plugin from Fractal would be a huge change of trajectory and would require strong commitment and dedication to support, possibly at the expense of future Hardware development. People seem to expect a massive discount on the hypothetical FAS VST, despite what people say on these forums the reality is likely that the market will not bear a high asking price on such a product. So will FAS sell themselves short to remain competitive with Helix? Followed by spreading themselves too thin? The support for this alone could be a potential nightmare with incompatibility issues, latency problems, poor setup, unrealistic expectations, reluctance to read product manuals etc. FAS HQ would likely turn into a call centre for support, with Cliff et al sporting headsets and the like.
Firmware updates have been enjoyed for free by many over the years; how would this fit with VST development? Also free? Start charging across the board?
So how does a VST look now?:
-Fractal could no longer guarantee high quality performance on every users computer and have to take shortcuts in the execution of signal processing, thus diluting their business philosophies and taking the company away from its roots?
- With the option to acquire a plugin in the guise of the Axe Fx, hardware sales must surely drop off as most people no longer see the need for high-priced hardware and refuse to spend that much- impetus removed. Subsequent hardware development is deemed obsolete?
- At that point, being predominantly sustained by software sales, Fractal becomes just another software company, wot makez appz for yer diddly-bo?
These are just questions.
IMO a full Axe FX as a plugin is the last thing Fractal should be concerned with. NASA do not concern themselves with Economically designed cars for City dwellers, they leave that to Hyundai.
Fractal make high quality professional Guitar equipment, Line6 gather up whatever is underneath. It works for all parties. Turning the Axe Fx into a plugin takes away half of the equation that made it great- the hardware design spec. I haven't even touched on piracy here.
To guarantee the quality by utilising an external DSP box to run a plugin as in the UAD Satellite, with just a Guitar input must surely fulfill the requirements of plugin convenience, while providing Fractal with a stronghold on hardware spec? …or are we then essentially just back at the Axe Fx?
TL;DR Fractal shouldn't dance to Line6's tune. To Standout you shouldn't Sell out. No full Axe Fx plugin.
There's a lot of hoo-ha on the forums lately surrounding Amp Modelling VSTs, namely due to the arrival of Line6 Helix native. A lot of people have expressed interest in Fractal releasing an 'Axe FX' VST - a request that dates back several years now.
My question is, do we really want an Axe FX VST?
The main justifications seen for an Axe VST are rooted in matters of 'convenience';
- Easier Re-amping
- Easier Recall in DAW projects
- Cheaper admission price to Fractal's renowned algorithms
These points are clearly in the favour of the few who might benefit specifically from these things but what of the user base at large; what of Fractal as a company in the long term?
Line6 like to go for low-hanging-fruit which is certainly in keeping with their business model and they are very successful at it. Their roll out of the Helix range was executed like a game of chess:
- Flagship Helix floorboard- The most expensive modelling product in Line6 history, (whose price point was likely only enabled by Fractal's existence and rearrangement of the industry) is still cheaper than the Axe FX and occupies a great spot to provide prospective Axe FX buyers with a lower priced alternative.
- Helix LT- A Helix minus all the bells and whistles at a much lower price (which perhaps sheds some light on exactly how much those bells and whistles actually cost?). For people who can't stretch to the higher priced Helix model/ Axe FX
-Helix Native- Aimed predominantly at 'Home-Gamers' and those adamant that good recordings can't be made without a convenient Native Reamping solution. Minus the Plugin development costs, is this the reflective cost of Line6 modelling algorithms? Or have they taken a page from the Apple playbook - Price competitively and go for volume? Either way, this is clearly a very accessible option for most people and therein lies the problem… Staying competitive in the domain of the low-price-point mass-market.
It can be read on this forum and other places that the birth of Fractal Audio Systems came with many sacrifices. I hope Cliff won't mind me repeating that it was necessary for him to spend his life savings in order to get the Axe FX off the ground. In the following decade a relentless amount of work and dedication has been poured into this product in the pursuit of Quality.
Fractal has established itself as the prestige brand above all other modelling tech solutions. This prestige was earned through commitment to high quality products and high quality service. Great displays of loyalty have been shown over the years as a direct result of this, and here FAS has no equal.
The release of an "Axe FX" plugin from Fractal would be a huge change of trajectory and would require strong commitment and dedication to support, possibly at the expense of future Hardware development. People seem to expect a massive discount on the hypothetical FAS VST, despite what people say on these forums the reality is likely that the market will not bear a high asking price on such a product. So will FAS sell themselves short to remain competitive with Helix? Followed by spreading themselves too thin? The support for this alone could be a potential nightmare with incompatibility issues, latency problems, poor setup, unrealistic expectations, reluctance to read product manuals etc. FAS HQ would likely turn into a call centre for support, with Cliff et al sporting headsets and the like.
Firmware updates have been enjoyed for free by many over the years; how would this fit with VST development? Also free? Start charging across the board?
So how does a VST look now?:
-Fractal could no longer guarantee high quality performance on every users computer and have to take shortcuts in the execution of signal processing, thus diluting their business philosophies and taking the company away from its roots?
- With the option to acquire a plugin in the guise of the Axe Fx, hardware sales must surely drop off as most people no longer see the need for high-priced hardware and refuse to spend that much- impetus removed. Subsequent hardware development is deemed obsolete?
- At that point, being predominantly sustained by software sales, Fractal becomes just another software company, wot makez appz for yer diddly-bo?
These are just questions.
IMO a full Axe FX as a plugin is the last thing Fractal should be concerned with. NASA do not concern themselves with Economically designed cars for City dwellers, they leave that to Hyundai.
Fractal make high quality professional Guitar equipment, Line6 gather up whatever is underneath. It works for all parties. Turning the Axe Fx into a plugin takes away half of the equation that made it great- the hardware design spec. I haven't even touched on piracy here.
To guarantee the quality by utilising an external DSP box to run a plugin as in the UAD Satellite, with just a Guitar input must surely fulfill the requirements of plugin convenience, while providing Fractal with a stronghold on hardware spec? …or are we then essentially just back at the Axe Fx?
TL;DR Fractal shouldn't dance to Line6's tune. To Standout you shouldn't Sell out. No full Axe Fx plugin.