Okay, I want to share with everyone why I bought an AX8, maybe it will help someone that is reviewing their options. First let me start by saying I bought an AxeFx Standard when they were first released. I was blown away with it at the time, that unit I thought sounded better, more authentic than the Ultra, I like the darkness it had. But, I did get butt hurt with Fractal when my investment shortly became obsolete and instead of upgrading users we just had to "eat it". It sat wrong with me cause I have experienced this with Digitech, Line 6, and Boss. I am now back in the Fractal family and here is why:
Solution- I needed one unit, a floor unit most importantly, the Kemper is amazing, and AxeFx II XL, but I dont want a rack and a foot-controller to lug around. When I had my standard I still didnt understand the technology fully and i'm still a traditionalist, so I ran my Axe with a Mesa 2:100 and 4x12, with the poweramp my rig was heavier than anything I ever owned. So my buying option just on my first "need" was between the AX8, Helix, or Amplifire.I see the rack units being for studio use only anyways, I think allot of people always missed that point with say the 11r, it wasent a live tool it was a studio tool.
First Helix and why I did not consider it- Line 6 has always been a reactive company and not a proactive company. They release a product and spend all their resources on fixing bugs for themselves and not providing the user with anything more. One thing to this point is they release the Helix with no online Editor, now they are spending their resources on building an Editor, that is to me a half-cocked idea, now how long will it be before they update the unit for amps? Lets take the HD500X, look how long it took them to provide a 5150 model, they had this model since the x3 live, but didnt offer it in the HD500x until the unit was disposed, kind of a going away present. The amp models they did offer were half-thought, I tried to convince myself it could hang with the Axe, I did the "if it only had IRs", well loading it in IRs yes was better, it wasent Fractal quality. There is another point, all their users flooded boards begging for IRs, and nothing to respond, Digitech had the closet thing to the Axe but missed the mark on poweramp sim.
Atomic Amplifire- I bought one a year ago, it went back 2 days later. A good unit but there is a weird harshness and over emphasized pick attack I could not dial out. Now, I would rather spend $700.00 than $1400.00 any day, and I dont need allot from a unit, but knowing their main business is not modeling, it was speakers for modelers, I dont see them as running ahead, but setting back waiting to compete. The unit felt cheap and it is limited in features, which scare me like Line 6 and Avid, and AxeFx Standard.
So why the AX8 even though I felt I was burnt once, well Fractal has progressed so far since then, they release something with the bells and whistles thought out. They have continued to improve the product with firmware and user ended effects and amps. Their whole business is built on amp modeling devices, so they focus strictly on that core. I dont need everything the unit offers but I would rather have it and not need it then vice versa. I want to slim down my rig, not add to. I could down the road with say Amplifire spending $700 on the unit, $180 on a midi moose, and like $500 on effects and be over invested. Then I have to tap dance, the AX8 takes that away. I use 4 pedals and an amp, I just dont want to deal with multiple boxes, cords, and a daisy chain power supply anymore. One thing I learned over my gear buying experience is buying a "cheap" amp will be more expensive in the end then just buying the one you wanted to begin with even though it is more expensive.
Thank you for the time, I hope this helps, and this is not a bash on companys, products, nor to get kudos with Fractal, this was my process and why I chose what I did. If your gear inspires you that is all that matters.
Solution- I needed one unit, a floor unit most importantly, the Kemper is amazing, and AxeFx II XL, but I dont want a rack and a foot-controller to lug around. When I had my standard I still didnt understand the technology fully and i'm still a traditionalist, so I ran my Axe with a Mesa 2:100 and 4x12, with the poweramp my rig was heavier than anything I ever owned. So my buying option just on my first "need" was between the AX8, Helix, or Amplifire.I see the rack units being for studio use only anyways, I think allot of people always missed that point with say the 11r, it wasent a live tool it was a studio tool.
First Helix and why I did not consider it- Line 6 has always been a reactive company and not a proactive company. They release a product and spend all their resources on fixing bugs for themselves and not providing the user with anything more. One thing to this point is they release the Helix with no online Editor, now they are spending their resources on building an Editor, that is to me a half-cocked idea, now how long will it be before they update the unit for amps? Lets take the HD500X, look how long it took them to provide a 5150 model, they had this model since the x3 live, but didnt offer it in the HD500x until the unit was disposed, kind of a going away present. The amp models they did offer were half-thought, I tried to convince myself it could hang with the Axe, I did the "if it only had IRs", well loading it in IRs yes was better, it wasent Fractal quality. There is another point, all their users flooded boards begging for IRs, and nothing to respond, Digitech had the closet thing to the Axe but missed the mark on poweramp sim.
Atomic Amplifire- I bought one a year ago, it went back 2 days later. A good unit but there is a weird harshness and over emphasized pick attack I could not dial out. Now, I would rather spend $700.00 than $1400.00 any day, and I dont need allot from a unit, but knowing their main business is not modeling, it was speakers for modelers, I dont see them as running ahead, but setting back waiting to compete. The unit felt cheap and it is limited in features, which scare me like Line 6 and Avid, and AxeFx Standard.
So why the AX8 even though I felt I was burnt once, well Fractal has progressed so far since then, they release something with the bells and whistles thought out. They have continued to improve the product with firmware and user ended effects and amps. Their whole business is built on amp modeling devices, so they focus strictly on that core. I dont need everything the unit offers but I would rather have it and not need it then vice versa. I want to slim down my rig, not add to. I could down the road with say Amplifire spending $700 on the unit, $180 on a midi moose, and like $500 on effects and be over invested. Then I have to tap dance, the AX8 takes that away. I use 4 pedals and an amp, I just dont want to deal with multiple boxes, cords, and a daisy chain power supply anymore. One thing I learned over my gear buying experience is buying a "cheap" amp will be more expensive in the end then just buying the one you wanted to begin with even though it is more expensive.
Thank you for the time, I hope this helps, and this is not a bash on companys, products, nor to get kudos with Fractal, this was my process and why I chose what I did. If your gear inspires you that is all that matters.
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