Johnny Guitar
Inspired
Two questions for you:
- What exactly is this "valve feeling" you refer to? Do you have the vocabulary to describe it in concrete terms that can be used to measure success? I mean, I'm not so sure you even know what it is (hint: try to define it without using subjective terms like "feeling", "vibe", "meatiness", "hair", "snarl", etc.; instead try to use audio processing terms that can be measured, like frequency, level, dynamic range, etc.)
- Do you know how tube amps produce this feeling you're missing? If you don't know the technical mechanisms by which physical amps deliver this feeling you like, I'm not sure how you'll ever get the Axe-FX to reproduce it for you outside of sheer blind luck.
1. This "valve feeling" is something that anyone who has played through a good valve amp know what it is. Sound is hard (almost impossible) to describe with words, it reminds me a well known producer in Spain who I've worked with. When doing recording sessions for him, he usually use expressions like "I like it with more sand", "Give me a yellow sound", go figure..
Anyway, I'll try: I think what I'm missing with frfr is a different kind of dynamics, a high end less harsh and the compressed sound that valves produce. That's why I think maybe compression is the key, or a combination of it with eq (I'm using the peq blocking and it works great).
2. I don't know which are the technical mechanisms of a tube amp. I think you don't need to know how a motor car works to enjoy your car. There are people who are really deep into this kind of knowledge, like Jay, but I just want the right tools to enjoy music, not to write a doctorate about it. Anyway, I'm learning a lot about how a valve amp works (maybe that's the price you have to pay to make the Axe works) and trying to apply it to the Axe.
LMO, thank you for the links. I had read the whole Jay Mitchell and the power of flat response thread, very interesting. I'm sure the Verve 12ma is a step up from the RCF 310a, but I need something more lightweight portable (maybe I'm asking too much, although Scott seems perfectly happy with the 8ma, and many people are with their 310a, so I think I should be).
It's all about what daveg621 is saying, with better words than I: there's a valve sound you are used to, and you want to reproduce it through the Axe + frfr. I'm not a tube snob: been playing with modellers since they came out, enjoy them, prefer them for multiple reasons to a tradidional tube rig, but I'd like to get the best from both worlds. I'm not asking too much, and I'm more than halfway there.
Just looking for some advice and experiences about this old and beaten subject. I'm sure it will also be useful for more Axe users. Thank you for all the advices!