Axe fx out into RNDI => preamp audio interface (VRS8 Slate digital) then my monitorsHow did you connect it?
Axe fx out into RNDI => preamp audio interface (VRS8 Slate digital) then my monitors
Yes but in my tests I always plug the Axe in my preamps (it s sounds better than USB in my opinion).Doesn't the VRS8 do something to the sound as well though?
I don't think you could create the same effect with internal blocks.Someone run a white/pink noise generator through the NRDI and into the AXE and post the RTA output with and without it engaged. It would be interesting to see if the effect can get created with an EQ and a compressor block . . .
I'm not sure about that. "Nice analog color" means that there is a change to the sound right? Any reasonable change to the sound is just a manipulation of EQ, compression, phase, or time alignment. There is no such thing as mojo or some unmeasurable yet audible effect.I don't think you could create the same effect with internal blocks.
I'have tried with preamp simulation, EQ, ... RNDI gives a nice analog colour
I'm not sure about that. "Nice analog color" means that there is a change to the sound right? Any reasonable change to the sound is just a manipulation of EQ, compression, phase, or time alignment. There is no such thing as mojo or some unmeasurable yet audible effect.
If we can measure it we can reproduce it even if Cliff needs to create new tools. Once its digital all things are possible.
I'm very skeptical of this. Just this past week I had my AX3 in the studio and as an experiment with the engineer we reamped the same guitar track through the AX3 into a vintage Neve 1073, API 512c, and line level straight into the Burl converters. The API had more mids and low mids than the other two, and obviously you can bring out more of a mic pre's "character" by driving it harder, but it would be a significant overstatement to claim one sounded "better" than the others. They were all just slightly different, and to me definitely not worth the cost for recording guitars.
I do most of my guitar tracking from home and before this test I was considering adding a couple 500 series mic pres but after doing this test I will continue just recording direct with USB.
So to me, if these expensive mic pres don't make a significant difference on guitars, I'm very skeptical that adding a DI would. I've also done an A/B between a $250 DI marketed as having "Jensen transformers" and a $25 Livewire DI, reamping the same clip through both, and they sounded identical.
My only gripe with the AX3 is I wish it correctly reported its latency on Mac. It's annoying to have to run the I/O latency test in my DAW every time I want to record, enough that I am considering getting an interface with coax SPDIF so I don't have to deal with it any more. Never had to do this in the past, even with cheap interfaces.
With all that said, one piece of Neve gear I really love is the RNHP. I am into high end headphones and the RNHP made a noticeable difference compared to the headphone amps on Helix, AX3, FM3, HX Stomp, Pod Go, etc, especially when playing along with audio from my computer. For me it's important to have a consistent headphone amp with which to compare the different units. Maybe I will be able to get rid of it if I pick up a dedicated interface with SPDIF...
I‘m doing the near same but with an SSL Six. Axe - Six, Six - RME UCX, Six - A7 Monitors . It‘s kind of „old school“.Yes but in my tests I always plug the Axe in my preamps (it s sounds better than USB in my opinion).
The RNDI gives a really Nice color and the sound has more "life"
If you're on a mac, have you tried using an Aggregate Device via Audio MIDI Setup?My only gripe with the AX3 is I wish it correctly reported its latency on Mac. It's annoying to have to run the I/O latency test in my DAW every time I want to record, enough that I am considering getting an interface with coax SPDIF so I don't have to deal with it any more.
Take an IR of it. Then compare the two. That will tell you if it's just frequency response or if the RNDI is adding distortion that you find pleasing.I have a RNDI (Neve DI), which I've used in the past with great results with acoustic guitar and bass. It's the single channel (mono) version.
It takes line level input too, so just to experiment I connected it between one of the (L/R) outputs of the III, then into a simple mic pre (required for level) and into one of the two monitors.
When comparing that channel to the other one without the RNDI (just XLR/XLR), the one with the RNDI sounds better, more lively and clear.
It's not the cables, monitor etc. Please explain the reason before the urge arises to buy a 2nd or stereo RNDI for this purpose.
@yek , did you ever find out what the RNDI was doing to make it more lively and clear? I saw Cliff's suggestion of creating an IR to analyze. Not sure if you found out and I'm curious. cheersI have a RNDI (Neve DI), which I've used in the past with great results with acoustic guitar and bass. It's the single channel (mono) version.
It takes line level input too, so just to experiment I connected it between one of the (L/R) outputs of the III, then into a simple mic pre (required for level) and into one of the two monitors.
When comparing that channel to the other one without the RNDI (just XLR/XLR), the one with the RNDI sounds better, more lively and clear.
It's not the cables, monitor etc. Please explain the reason before the urge arises to buy a 2nd or stereo RNDI for this purpose.
Same. Having better results with just using the fractal mic pre modelsNope. Decided it was not worth it.