I talked myself out of writing this thread a couple of times but then thought it could bring some sense or realism to this forum so let's do it. I just hope this doesn't become "one of those threads". Let's try and keep things civilized and honest.
I've been on this forum since the Axe-Fx Standard days so I guess I'm some sort of Fractal veteran at 31 years old. The Axe-Fx has been a part of my life for a long time now and the emphasis on "part of my life" just got a deeper meaning today. Believe it or not, I haven't really tried the Helix properly before today. Based on clips and what people are saying about it I always held in a somewhat high regard. I'll be the first to say that it looks pretty and keeping the controls limited gives it a nice user experience.
Besides those two factors I have to say I've never struggled this much on any Fractal trying to make it sound like a real amp. I'm not talking about getting things sounding just like my real amps but just "passable as a tube amp". I quickly realized I wasn't using the amp EQ on the Helix to try and balance it to my liking but to try and find a setting that just sounds like a tube amp. I can't remember ever doing this with any Fractal unit ever. Just like with real amps, most amps sound really good on the Fractal with all settings at noon and a few small tweaks to balance the EQ usually gets me a 100% organic and real sound with my own IR's that I know are raw and realistic captures. I wasn't getting anything like that with the Helix. The middle and presence controls did something that in my opinion those knobs shouldn't be doing. I could easily have presence on 10 and middle on 0 on most amps on the Helix and it actually made it sound more realistic even. With some amps this couldn't even get me enough brightness or middle scoop like on that Orange amp.
Lesson learned #1: With Fractal you never have to struggle trying to make it sound like a real tube amp
Then let's discuss the amp options. I can't believe how many people are almost angry on this forum wishing for certain amps when we have four times more amp sims than "the next best thing" and once again the level of amp modeling in the Fractal is just insane. I started feeling bad for Cliff and Matt for all the demanding wish threads on this forum. "Helix has Archon" ... "Helix has a Klon" ... "Helix has a .. " .. yeah but they don't sound real so they're just names so stop saying things like that.
Lesson learned #2: We are spoiled brats.
Options options options. With Fractal we have so many options that there's even been complaints about that. This is kind of where I maybe prefer the Helix approach. I wish (oh man I'm I the spoiled brat from #2?) ... somewhere deep inside I wish I never had to see the advanced pages for the amp sims in Fractal. These days mostly spend time on the speaker resonance page as I find that's the best way to get the low end just right. The thing is, I could try and limit myself from going there and I would still be completely happy with the unit. It's just that I can and I want to tweak. But at the same time when I play for fun I choose the amp sims that sound great without any tweaking like Friedmans f.ex.
Lesson learned #3: You don't have to fall in the tweaker's rabbit hole to get a great sound.
I actually recorded some comparison clips but then I decided not to post them as it's a bit unfair. I'll spend some more time with the Helix and maybe make a comparison video or something. At the end of the day I'm sure I would find a realistic and good sounding guitar tone from the Helix, it just didn't come as easily as I'm used to getting it. Good IR + default amp settings get me there very fast usually.
Overall lesson learned: Don't take the Axe-Fx III for granted! (the title)
I've been on this forum since the Axe-Fx Standard days so I guess I'm some sort of Fractal veteran at 31 years old. The Axe-Fx has been a part of my life for a long time now and the emphasis on "part of my life" just got a deeper meaning today. Believe it or not, I haven't really tried the Helix properly before today. Based on clips and what people are saying about it I always held in a somewhat high regard. I'll be the first to say that it looks pretty and keeping the controls limited gives it a nice user experience.
Besides those two factors I have to say I've never struggled this much on any Fractal trying to make it sound like a real amp. I'm not talking about getting things sounding just like my real amps but just "passable as a tube amp". I quickly realized I wasn't using the amp EQ on the Helix to try and balance it to my liking but to try and find a setting that just sounds like a tube amp. I can't remember ever doing this with any Fractal unit ever. Just like with real amps, most amps sound really good on the Fractal with all settings at noon and a few small tweaks to balance the EQ usually gets me a 100% organic and real sound with my own IR's that I know are raw and realistic captures. I wasn't getting anything like that with the Helix. The middle and presence controls did something that in my opinion those knobs shouldn't be doing. I could easily have presence on 10 and middle on 0 on most amps on the Helix and it actually made it sound more realistic even. With some amps this couldn't even get me enough brightness or middle scoop like on that Orange amp.
Lesson learned #1: With Fractal you never have to struggle trying to make it sound like a real tube amp
Then let's discuss the amp options. I can't believe how many people are almost angry on this forum wishing for certain amps when we have four times more amp sims than "the next best thing" and once again the level of amp modeling in the Fractal is just insane. I started feeling bad for Cliff and Matt for all the demanding wish threads on this forum. "Helix has Archon" ... "Helix has a Klon" ... "Helix has a .. " .. yeah but they don't sound real so they're just names so stop saying things like that.
Lesson learned #2: We are spoiled brats.
Options options options. With Fractal we have so many options that there's even been complaints about that. This is kind of where I maybe prefer the Helix approach. I wish (oh man I'm I the spoiled brat from #2?) ... somewhere deep inside I wish I never had to see the advanced pages for the amp sims in Fractal. These days mostly spend time on the speaker resonance page as I find that's the best way to get the low end just right. The thing is, I could try and limit myself from going there and I would still be completely happy with the unit. It's just that I can and I want to tweak. But at the same time when I play for fun I choose the amp sims that sound great without any tweaking like Friedmans f.ex.
Lesson learned #3: You don't have to fall in the tweaker's rabbit hole to get a great sound.
I actually recorded some comparison clips but then I decided not to post them as it's a bit unfair. I'll spend some more time with the Helix and maybe make a comparison video or something. At the end of the day I'm sure I would find a realistic and good sounding guitar tone from the Helix, it just didn't come as easily as I'm used to getting it. Good IR + default amp settings get me there very fast usually.
Overall lesson learned: Don't take the Axe-Fx III for granted! (the title)