Hello guys,
I know there's a bunch of discussions on forums that talk about this topic but i have yet to get to a conclusion with myself about which way i should go and i was hoping you guys could help me out.
I have a chance to buy -
a USED Axe-FX II XL+ (with purchased 3rd party Presets and IRs) or a new AX8 for 550$ less.
I mostly play at home through my Monitors and don't find myself switching between a bunch of presets/pedals mid playing. I use mostly a very nice exactly the way i like it high gain channel and maybe for intros of songs i'd start off sometimes on a chorus/clean kinda sound.
Now for the roots of my dilemma :
1) Audio interface :
Option 1 : Run the Axe-FX II through a Scarlett 2i4 and use the Mix knob to set the right volume levels between PC and Instrument
Option 2 : Run the Axe-FX II straight to the monitors using the built in USB interface and control the volume of the backing tracks using the app's volume bar (Example : Youtube) to control the levels.
Option 3 : Run the Axe-FX II straight to the monitors using S/PDIF Output on my desktop to play backing tracks through it and control the volume through Windows Volume control.
Which way should i go about this? What is the most preferred and popular way?
So I heard that using the built in Audio interface on the Axe-FX II will make it inconvenient for me to adjust the right volumes of a setup for each song and preset. that said I'll probably need to run it into something like a Scarlett 2i4 that'll give me the possibility to balance the volumes between Input and Computer while direct monitoring the inputs from the Axe to my monitors for zero delay while playing that'll add a good amount of money to holding my Axe-FX II and using it conveniently
Or maybe you guys have different solutions to that? or maybe i'm misunderstanding and there's a way to set up the volumes right for everything? I heard guys just having their Axe preset output a certain fixed level of volume while controlling the Backing track's using the in app volume controls, how is the experience with that? I do have a S/PDIF OUTPUT on my computer, does that help by maybe connecting computer sounds through there? will i be able to control the volume of the PC sound through the operating system and leave it fixed at a desirable level for my monitors to deal with then and leave the USB connected just in order to record my inputs while playing in direct monitoring?
2) Foot-Switches :
I am though new to this and I may find myself having to switch Clean to dirty to lead sounds in a song at some point if i get really picky with exact sounds for covers especially. So the sound foot-switches MIGHT be a nice extra at some point in life? although i'm mainly thinking of having it on my desk but i'm not quite sure yet. Maybe that's something you'll always need especially when covering various kinds of sounds and want to play along without having to stop the song in the middle. it is gonna be my only way to play so it would be a bummer to learn a whole song and then not be able to switch between sounds while playing along with it? or maybe there's an alternative way to do it without the MFC or the included AX8 Footswitches
3) Tone Matching :
Tone matching is not supported on the AX8, and for covers i record i'd like to have the ability to get as close as possible to the real deal. so my question about this one is how good is the Tone matching on the Axe II and do you guys find it useful at all?
4) CPU Limitation :
Most of my experience is mostly a good distortion pedal and an amp. point is i'm not such an expert but i really wanna dig into the Preset building on the unit when i finally decide which one i should get. Is the only one cab, one head and certain reverbs etc' a creativity killer to a certain extent? or is there so much and more than enough on the AX8 alone that learning and creating stuff would be a great experience and not limiting in any way to get good Heavy metal kinda sounds and some nice melodic smooth Lead sounds?
How has that met you in your use of the AX8? anyone can input on difficulties they had? or if not then say so as well ?
So considering all the above, and depending on your answers :
1) I might have to buy an external interface either way with Axe II and AX8 Unless there's a good way to work the volumes with the built in Axe II stuff.
2) Depending on the future of my playing i might and probably likely to find myself in need of foot switches
3) This depends on your guys's experience as i know nothing about how good or bad the Tone matching is
4) This depends on you guys as well, I didn't get to play with either of the devices and i wouldn't know so i'd love to hear opinions from people that had both or moved from one to the other and how they felt about it.
Sorry for the long thread, trying to cover as much as possible for my decision :|
Thank you guys in advance for helping me out =]
I know there's a bunch of discussions on forums that talk about this topic but i have yet to get to a conclusion with myself about which way i should go and i was hoping you guys could help me out.
I have a chance to buy -
a USED Axe-FX II XL+ (with purchased 3rd party Presets and IRs) or a new AX8 for 550$ less.
I mostly play at home through my Monitors and don't find myself switching between a bunch of presets/pedals mid playing. I use mostly a very nice exactly the way i like it high gain channel and maybe for intros of songs i'd start off sometimes on a chorus/clean kinda sound.
Now for the roots of my dilemma :
1) Audio interface :
Option 1 : Run the Axe-FX II through a Scarlett 2i4 and use the Mix knob to set the right volume levels between PC and Instrument
Option 2 : Run the Axe-FX II straight to the monitors using the built in USB interface and control the volume of the backing tracks using the app's volume bar (Example : Youtube) to control the levels.
Option 3 : Run the Axe-FX II straight to the monitors using S/PDIF Output on my desktop to play backing tracks through it and control the volume through Windows Volume control.
Which way should i go about this? What is the most preferred and popular way?
So I heard that using the built in Audio interface on the Axe-FX II will make it inconvenient for me to adjust the right volumes of a setup for each song and preset. that said I'll probably need to run it into something like a Scarlett 2i4 that'll give me the possibility to balance the volumes between Input and Computer while direct monitoring the inputs from the Axe to my monitors for zero delay while playing that'll add a good amount of money to holding my Axe-FX II and using it conveniently
Or maybe you guys have different solutions to that? or maybe i'm misunderstanding and there's a way to set up the volumes right for everything? I heard guys just having their Axe preset output a certain fixed level of volume while controlling the Backing track's using the in app volume controls, how is the experience with that? I do have a S/PDIF OUTPUT on my computer, does that help by maybe connecting computer sounds through there? will i be able to control the volume of the PC sound through the operating system and leave it fixed at a desirable level for my monitors to deal with then and leave the USB connected just in order to record my inputs while playing in direct monitoring?
2) Foot-Switches :
I am though new to this and I may find myself having to switch Clean to dirty to lead sounds in a song at some point if i get really picky with exact sounds for covers especially. So the sound foot-switches MIGHT be a nice extra at some point in life? although i'm mainly thinking of having it on my desk but i'm not quite sure yet. Maybe that's something you'll always need especially when covering various kinds of sounds and want to play along without having to stop the song in the middle. it is gonna be my only way to play so it would be a bummer to learn a whole song and then not be able to switch between sounds while playing along with it? or maybe there's an alternative way to do it without the MFC or the included AX8 Footswitches
3) Tone Matching :
Tone matching is not supported on the AX8, and for covers i record i'd like to have the ability to get as close as possible to the real deal. so my question about this one is how good is the Tone matching on the Axe II and do you guys find it useful at all?
4) CPU Limitation :
Most of my experience is mostly a good distortion pedal and an amp. point is i'm not such an expert but i really wanna dig into the Preset building on the unit when i finally decide which one i should get. Is the only one cab, one head and certain reverbs etc' a creativity killer to a certain extent? or is there so much and more than enough on the AX8 alone that learning and creating stuff would be a great experience and not limiting in any way to get good Heavy metal kinda sounds and some nice melodic smooth Lead sounds?
How has that met you in your use of the AX8? anyone can input on difficulties they had? or if not then say so as well ?
So considering all the above, and depending on your answers :
1) I might have to buy an external interface either way with Axe II and AX8 Unless there's a good way to work the volumes with the built in Axe II stuff.
2) Depending on the future of my playing i might and probably likely to find myself in need of foot switches
3) This depends on your guys's experience as i know nothing about how good or bad the Tone matching is
4) This depends on you guys as well, I didn't get to play with either of the devices and i wouldn't know so i'd love to hear opinions from people that had both or moved from one to the other and how they felt about it.
Sorry for the long thread, trying to cover as much as possible for my decision :|
Thank you guys in advance for helping me out =]
