New axe fx 3 only sounds good with output 1 cranked

[GreatGreen]

What you’re not accounting for is noise floors, signal loss, and interference. Running a full signal from the Axe will result in a better signal/noise ratio. In an ideal environment with balanced cables, little interference, and good quality amplifiers, the difference is small or negligible. In less than ideal situations, it can be more noticeable .

No, I'm accounting for that. You might get some small changes in noise floor or whatever at the extreme ends of the knobs but the tone of the patch itself won't change by any significant degree.

The OP says the tone "weakens" as he turns down the Output specifically in terms of the amount of distortion in his patch reducing as he lowers the Output volume. That doesn't happen. The Output knob won't change that part of the sound.

 

[biggness]

No, I'm accounting for that. You might get some small changes in noise floor or whatever at the extreme ends of the knobs but the tone of the patch itself won't change by any significant degree.

The OP says the tone "weakens" as he turns down the Output specifically in terms of the amount of distortion in his patch reducing as he lowers the Output volume. That doesn't happen. The Output knob won't change that part of the sound.

Maybe he’s clipping the input of the monitors and likes the distortion of it, and when reducing the volume, loses that pizazz

 

[giantslayer]

No, I'm accounting for that. You might get some small changes in noise floor or whatever at the extreme ends of the knobs but the tone of the patch itself won't change by any significant degree.

The OP says the tone "weakens" as he turns down the Output specifically in terms of the amount of distortion in his patch reducing as he lowers the Output volume. That doesn't happen. The Output knob won't change that part of the sound.

Yes, it wouldn’t affect the amount of distortion for sure.

Honestly, it’s not completely clear what the OP is hearing. Terms like “weak/strong,” or “punchier” are commonly used to describe the effect of S/N ratio.

It also seems pretty clear that he is running his monitor volume too hot, because he said it was “still too loud” after turning down his monitors down.

 

[GreatGreen]

Yes, it wouldn’t affect the amount of distortion for sure.

Honestly, it’s not completely clear what the OP is hearing. Terms like “weak/strong,” or “punchier” are commonly used to describe the effect of S/N ratio.

It also seems pretty clear that he is running his monitor volume too hot, because he said it was “still too loud” after turning down his monitors down.

Most terms people use to describe sound make sense to them but don't translate to anyone else. It's tough to describe audio phenomena using tactile terms like that. Might as well say "that thing over there looks very 3 kilohertzy." Then again we all know what a "loud shirt" looks like so what do I know? My favorite though is "it sounds digital." What exactly does "digital" sound like again?

But yeah it's hard to know what he means by "weak" however he did talk about the sound getting more or less distorted with volume, which to his credit is a fairly objective, specific description that can be directly addressed.

 

[Noahdb123]

Hey guys. So I think I know what the problem may be. Im simply just looking for that amp in the room feel and am not used to the studio monitors. I think what might be going on is when I crank the signal on output 1 it seems as if more air is being pushed out of my studio monitors giving it a more in the amp room feel.

 

[Noahdb123]

Maybe he’s clipping the input of the monitors and likes the distortion of it, and when reducing the volume, loses that pizazz

Honestly it could very well be that as well. Excuse my ignorance but how would I check that.

 

[Frodebro]

Hey guys. So I think I know what the problem may be. Im simply just looking for that amp in the room feel and am not used to the studio monitors. I think what might be going on is when I crank the signal on output 1 it seems as if more air is being pushed out of my studio monitors giving it a more in the amp room feel.

The transition from traditional cabs to studio monitors can be a bit jarring if you’re not used to it. Most people do adjust after a bit, though there are some that just never get there.

 

[Domct203]

Hey guys. So I think I know what the problem may be. Im simply just looking for that amp in the room feel and am not used to the studio monitors. I think what might be going on is when I crank the signal on output 1 it seems as if more air is being pushed out of my studio monitors giving it a more in the amp room feel.

I’ll bet you’re right.

It took me a long time to get used to an IEM, well before I made the switch from a tube amp to the AXEFX.

Give it time. Do you gig or play in a band regularly or just a hobby at home?

I find that when I practice at home it’s a different experience than with the band mix. Playing along with backing tracks can help you get ‘adjusted’.

If all else fails turn off power amp modeling, drop the cab block and send your signal into the FX Return of your favorite amp, in the room .

 

[Noahdb123]

Yes, it wouldn’t affect the amount of distortion for sure.

Honestly, it’s not completely clear what the OP is hearing. Terms like “weak/strong,” or “punchier” are commonly used to describe the effect of S/N ratio.

It also seems pretty clear that he is running his monitor volume too hot, because he said it was “still too loud” after turning down his monitors down.

The transition from traditional cabs to studio monitors can be a bit jarring if you’re not used to it. Most people do adjust after a bit, though there are some that just never get there.

Honestly Im not a fan and I personally dont think I even want to get there. I spent hours last night trying to figure out what it was missing. Im going to try running my axe fx through a neutral power amp into my mesa recto cab 1x12 and see if that helps. If that doesnt work Ill probably try with frfr spears and of that doesnt work Im planning on returning it.

 

[Noahdb123]

I’ll bet you’re right.

It took me a long time to get used to an IEM, well before I made the switch from a tube amp to the AXEFX.

Give it time. Do you gig or play in a band regularly or just a hobby at home?

I find that when I practice at home it’s a different experience than with the band mix. Playing along with backing tracks can help you get ‘adjusted’.

If all else fails turn off power amp modeling, drop the cab block and send your signal into the FX Return of your favorite amp, in the room .

Ill give that a try. Im thinking of getting a neutral power because I want my axe fx to emulate multiple amps and get that in the room amp sound without my current amp coloring the sound if that makes sense.

 

[oacikgoz]

Yeah, you gotta have these tubes cooking otherwise it sounds weak!

 

[Noahdb123]

Yeah, you gotta have these tubes cooking otherwise it sounds weak!

Yeah problem is my girlfriend is starting to hate me. And I hate playing through headphones lol

 

[Domct203]

Yeah problem is my girlfriend is starting to hate me. And I hate playing through headphones lol

Many moons ago when I was big into off-road 4X4 & mud-bogs and ‘ol timer’ told me “There is no replacement for displacement” referring to engine power and torque. A wise man he was.

Same can be said about that ‘amp in the room feel’.

I love my AXEFX, it’s really simplified my rig after almost 2 decades of dragging around a half or full stack, and always being told to turn down. Now with that said there is just something special about cranking up my Mesa Roadster thru a pair of Recto 4X12’s until it shakes your pants.

Unfortunately that is not a realistic scenario for what I do.

 

[Frodebro]

Honestly Im not a fan and I personally dont think I even want to get there. I spent hours last night trying to figure out what it was missing. Im going to try running my axe fx through a neutral power amp into my mesa recto cab 1x12 and see if that helps. If that doesnt work Ill probably try with frfr spears and of that doesnt work Im planning on returning it.

The secret to playing through monitors is to make good use of stereo effects.

 

[Rex]

Many moons ago when I was big into off-road 4X4 & mud-bogs and ‘ol timer’ told me “There is no replacement for displacement” referring to engine power and torque. A wise man he was.

Same can be said about that ‘amp in the room feel’.

I love my AXEFX, it’s really simplified my rig after almost 2 decades of dragging around a half or full stack, and always being told to turn down. Now with that said there is just something special about cranking up my Mesa Roadster thru a pair of Recto 4X12’s until it shakes your pants.

Unfortunately that is not a realistic scenario for what I do.

Yep. There is no replacement for displacement. In the world of electric guitar, "displacement" means volume. If you turn up your FRFR to be as loud as your tube amp, that feel starts to come back.

 

[Zedhed]

Yeah problem is my girlfriend is starting to hate me.

Time for a new girlfriend? Everything will sound better

 

[MackieFX]

Really interested to hear results of using power amp and 1x12

 

[GreatGreen]

One of the issues with FRFR setups is that suddenly, everything after the amp matters and becomes a variable you can change and therefore have to consider. With a poweramp and guitar cab, you have one amp and one cab. Done. Whatever it sounds like is just what it sounds like. AND, due to the directionality of guitar cabs, if you don't like the tone, you can just move your head a few inches around the room and suddenly your tone is entirely different and you get to tell yourself THAT specific head-sized sphere of area in your amp room is what "amp in the room" tone sounds like.

With FRFR though, suddenly you are in control of a virtual poweramp and you can use any IR under the sun, along with whatever post-cab or post-mic effects you want. Most players used to traditional amp-in-the-room setups have never really had to give much thought to stuff like mic placement or what cab+speaker+mic setup out of thousands they like best.

The other thing is that if you go FRFR, it would be a good idea to put at least as much resources into what FRFR speakers you go with, and mental resources into the IR you use, as you would a real cab. There are players out there who proudly say FRFR can never sound as fulfilling as a real cab because they tried out FRFR on a $75 pair of Chinese budget PA speakers, using just whatever IR happened to be loaded up. Of course that's not going to cut it.

But if you get good speakers that sound good to you, things start to even out. Also, going FRFR means you get to start learning about the differences between speakers, cabs of different manufacture, and all the popular mics. It will teach you so much you didn't know about guitar tone, and besides that, it's just a fun process.

Personally these days I would actually rather play guitar through my FRFR setup than my 4x12 cabs, as I think my monitor setup just sounds better, because I did my homework and figured out what FRFR speakers I like, along with what virtual cab solution sounds best for what I'm trying to do. Also, now my tone is transferable, meaning when I record it, it sounds exactly like what I hear it in the room. That's pretty much impossible with guitar cab in the room tone.

 

[Frodebro]

Really interested to hear results of using power amp and 1x12

It’s going to sound like whatever amp model you’re using, run through that particular 4x12. Basically it’s what a traditional amp run through that same 1x12 would sound like.

 

[Dave Merrill]

One of the issues with FRFR setups is that suddenly, everything after the amp matters and becomes a variable you can change and therefore have to consider. With a poweramp and guitar cab, you have one amp and one cab. Done. Whatever it sounds like is just what it sounds like. AND, due to the directionality of guitar cabs, if you don't like the tone, you can just move your head a few inches around the room and suddenly your tone is entirely different and you get to tell yourself THAT specific head-sized sphere of area in your amp room is what "amp in the room" tone sounds like.

With FRFR though, suddenly you are in control of a virtual poweramp and you can use any IR under the sun, along with whatever post-cab or post-mic effects you want. Most players used to traditional amp-in-the-room setups have never really had to give much thought to stuff like mic placement or what cab+speaker+mic setup out of thousands they like best.

The other thing is that if you go FRFR, it would be a good idea to put at least as much resources into what FRFR speakers you go with, and mental resources into the IR you use, as you would a real cab. There are players out there who proudly say FRFR can never sound as fulfilling as a real cab because they tried out FRFR on a $75 pair of Chinese budget PA speakers, using just whatever IR happened to be loaded up. Of course that's not going to cut it.

But if you get good speakers that sound good to you, things start to even out. Also, going FRFR means you get to start learning about the differences between speakers, cabs of different manufacture, and all the popular mics. It will teach you so much you didn't know about guitar tone, and besides that, it's just a fun process.

Personally these days I would actually rather play guitar through my FRFR setup than my 4x12 cabs, as I think my monitor setup just sounds better, because I did my homework and figured out what FRFR speakers I like, along with what virtual cab solution sounds best for what I'm trying to do. Also, now my tone is transferable, meaning when I record it, it sounds exactly like what I hear it in the room. That's pretty much impossible with guitar cab in the room tone.

Amen, excellent post.