Chris Hurley
Power User
I've been a Fractal user for a long time now. The headline amp modelling feature is easily the best in the business as far as I'm concerned and I've tried all the major players multiple times. As much as I love the Axe-FX III for the amp models, I'm really appreciating the other features right now. Stuff that doesn't get as much fanfare and really deserves to.
I'm into the Randall/Synergy modular preamp stuff right now. There is something about the tactile experience that I enjoy as much as the tone, and the tone can be great when all the pieces come together. I've dialed the Fractal models to where I couldn't tell them apart but the knobs on a regular amp scratch a certain itch for me that I enjoy scratching.
When I'm playing a more traditional tube amp setup, there are still a lot of utility features that I need and appreciate. Any one feature can usually be had easily enough but when you add a few together, you start to wonder "I wish there was something that could do a couple of these things at one time."
I searched and searched and never found anything that even approached what the Axe-FX III can do as a "Tube Amp Improver", even if you don't use the models. I remember being somewhat disappointed when I read of a famous artist that was using the Fractal "just for effects" but man it can do a lot in that duty.
* EQ before and after the amp... This is just huge right here. It turns 1 amp into 10 or 20 amps.
* Routing to different outputs for different connections... Need a FOH feed? You've got it. Want a wet/dry/wet rig? no problem. It has so much I/O- you've got boxes of swiss army knives.
* xCM: Sure you can do 4CM to swap your external preamp in and out, but the AF3 has so much I/O that you can switch in multiple preamps. I have a preset that I used with my amp head and Randall RM4 (4 slot tube preamp box) where I could switch between Fractal preamps, the amp head preamp or the RM4 preamps, with MIDI switching the RM4 in and on. 6CM? I use the same stereo send pair to go to my amp in and the RM4 input, and do the same with the returns so that I'm getting double duty from that loop.
* Effects! Whatever you need is in there. And I mean whatever you need. If its not in there, there is enough stuff to make whatever you need.
It solves so many problems in one box. Oh yeah, and it dabbles in amp modelling too from time to time.
As Scott Peterson famously said "This thing is a monster!" Well worth the money and easily the best music gear purchase ever.
I'm into the Randall/Synergy modular preamp stuff right now. There is something about the tactile experience that I enjoy as much as the tone, and the tone can be great when all the pieces come together. I've dialed the Fractal models to where I couldn't tell them apart but the knobs on a regular amp scratch a certain itch for me that I enjoy scratching.
When I'm playing a more traditional tube amp setup, there are still a lot of utility features that I need and appreciate. Any one feature can usually be had easily enough but when you add a few together, you start to wonder "I wish there was something that could do a couple of these things at one time."
I searched and searched and never found anything that even approached what the Axe-FX III can do as a "Tube Amp Improver", even if you don't use the models. I remember being somewhat disappointed when I read of a famous artist that was using the Fractal "just for effects" but man it can do a lot in that duty.
* EQ before and after the amp... This is just huge right here. It turns 1 amp into 10 or 20 amps.
* Routing to different outputs for different connections... Need a FOH feed? You've got it. Want a wet/dry/wet rig? no problem. It has so much I/O- you've got boxes of swiss army knives.
* xCM: Sure you can do 4CM to swap your external preamp in and out, but the AF3 has so much I/O that you can switch in multiple preamps. I have a preset that I used with my amp head and Randall RM4 (4 slot tube preamp box) where I could switch between Fractal preamps, the amp head preamp or the RM4 preamps, with MIDI switching the RM4 in and on. 6CM? I use the same stereo send pair to go to my amp in and the RM4 input, and do the same with the returns so that I'm getting double duty from that loop.
* Effects! Whatever you need is in there. And I mean whatever you need. If its not in there, there is enough stuff to make whatever you need.
It solves so many problems in one box. Oh yeah, and it dabbles in amp modelling too from time to time.
As Scott Peterson famously said "This thing is a monster!" Well worth the money and easily the best music gear purchase ever.
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