I find it very hard to believe that the only difference between amps is just EQ.
IIRC, no one has ever said this, here or anywhere else. Not sure
where you got that from.
And also, that tone matching is the same as profiling....
Again, no one has said this specifically.
Profiling:
A automated process by which signal measurements are used to select an appropriate gain stage (amplifier model) and settings, followed by an EQ matching of the frequency response at a specific operating point. (i.e. Automated Gain Stage Match + Automated EQ Match)
Tone Matching:
A automated process by which signal measurements are used to generate an EQ curve that matches the source frequency response to the destination frequency response. (i.e. Automated EQ Match)
In Tone Matching, nothing is happening to make sure the gain stage is in any way similar to the source; TM is essentially a sub-process of profiling. It is entirely up to the user to do this by ear (and feel or perhaps ckt knowledge (i.e. this amp is class A, or based off that amp which I have a model of, etc)) prior.
Fundamentally, amplifier/Cab signal chains can be thought of as Gain->EQ->Gain->EQ... chains. The KPA has a small set of generic amp/gain models it selects automatically (Cliff estimated it @ approx 7 or so, IIRC) and configures the gain stage based on its measurements during profiling. For tone/eq matching the end user must select some sort of nonlinear amplifier element and configure it. In the AFX they have 200+ to pick from, the closer to the original the better.
If the user makes an inappropriate choice then the tone, compression, sag, etc, of the tone match can diverge greatly vs the source. So, the tone match process has more opportunity for user error because a significant portion of the process is manual but the upside is that given the intense realism and constant improvement of the AFX's core amp model behavior wrt real world amplifiers, if the selection is very good (i.e. you know what circuit/model is most close to what you are matching). I would guess that many times this could result in an even more realistic match than a profile of the same.
Bottom line: Tone matching involves some skill and is less automated; but the
end result is essentially the same, a gain and frequency matched signal. When applied correctly; results are
extremely good.
Which leads us to:
Theampfactory couldn't make some Tone Matchs for fractal ?
1. It is more work to create because amp selection and initial dial in is manual.
2. A large number of commercial matches would be nearly impossible to maintain because the AxeFx core models are constantly changing, while this is virtually always for the better for the amp models themselves, your tone matches start to diverge rapidly within a couple of FW releases.
It would make no financial sense to do this.
