I think if you even just put "guitar tone" aside and delays aside, the new cab block alone can improve tone so much. You can blend up to four cab IR's. Also, I can't emphasize how much in LOVE I am with the "Channels" feature. You can have so many different sounds within one preset now because of that. Channels and Scenes together can really take you a looooooong way. Now, the reverb and the new delay blocks, I understand that's subjective if you're not someone that's big into modulation effects, but I just thought it would be fair to mention those things. I'm just getting into the new Pitch block now and it's pretty intense.Crazy I know but..... Fan boys, please hold your fire.
So far my take on the new Axe FX flagship (whilst this may change and I hope it does) is that it is pretty much an Axe Fx 2 with way more CPU and better ins and outs plus a couple more delays (no doubt there is more to it than merely that but you get the drift). There seems to be (as far as I know) little to really distinguish them as far as tones go.
I've managed to squeeze as much out of my Axe Fx 2 as I can and I just barely scrape through with CPU. I think the Axe 3 would definitely allow me to do the things I currently do easier but would not allow me to do things I am not already currently doing.
I am running guitar direct mono to the desk, a power amp into a live cab, a vocal mic (for talk box) plus synth block drones on a separate output direct to the desk. This does requires some very creative and elaborate routing and a hunk of CPU but it is possible on the Axe Fx 2.
I'd prefer to have some kind of an idea on where Fractal wants to take this new device before I throw down the $$$ but I don't expect them to make something like this public for obvious reasons. I was kinda frustrated with the lack of development in areas other than Amp tones in the Axe Fx 2 so I'd rather not throw down a bunch of money if I am likely to be similarly disappointed in the long run.
If an Axe FX 3 were to land on my lap I'm sure I'd be happier with it no doubt and it would make my programming easier but I don't feel like I know enough about what it will become as time goes on to justify spending more money (as yet). I'm more than happy enough with the tones I am capable of creating on the Axe Fx 2 but I'd just prefer to see more of the effects and application wish list from the Axe Fx 2 come to fruition.
Your thoughts?
You just listed a bunch of newer things.
The iPhone 5 I'd been using for work (until very recently) wasn't able to get OS updates, or app updates that required the new OS. That doesn't mean the apps I had on there or the older OS "stopped working".
I can totally relate to the OP's post. I am also waiting to see in which direction Fractal is going in the (near) future myself also. Since almost all updates on the Axe fx II for the last two years or so were on amp modelling and cabs and not Fx. So you can tell from that where their priority lies. If they continue this direction I will not buy the Axe fx III and stay with my Axe II.
By this I don't say they didn't add a few Fx improvements in the III. It's more about what their priority and main attention is and that was clearly amp modelling for the last two years. If they happen to change that direction I will buy the III eventually but not now.
@Ant Music and @Bodde - I am curious what specifically you are looking for in effects that are not there now?
I think the biggest complaint I have seen over the last 5+ years I've been using the Axe Fx III is around two things:
- How do I get effect X to sound like product Y (e.g. make the phaser sound like a Small Stone)
- Ability to easily achieve effect X which is really a combination of effects that is a "preset" sound on some other device (e.g. Strymon)
In regards to effects, it seems to me that a lot whom are saying they want a bigger focus on fx development, actually want FAS to model real life pedals, complete with settings so it's like using the real thing, instead of giving a blank slate base line of the effect with default settings leaving the end user to figure it out on thier own.
This gets especially difficult when the effect pedal in question is actually a combination of different effects working together with real time mods to produce the signature effect, and the end user is unable to reproduce it.
Basically what I was saying in my last post.In regards to effects, it seems to me that a lot whom are saying they want a bigger focus on fx development, actually want FAS to model real life pedals, complete with settings so it's like using the real thing, instead of giving a blank slate base line of the effect with default settings leaving the end user to figure it out on thier own.
This gets especially difficult when the effect pedal in question is actually a combination of different effects working together with real time mods to produce the signature effect, and the end user is unable to reproduce it.
I don't live on the forums, but this is what I've observed most of the time.
I suspect that most people clamoring for focus on effects are not asking for more Drive types...There are quite a few popular drive pedals that are not represented in the Axe-Fx so I think there is still room to add new fx. For the other effects, I think the amount of parameters can make them daunting to figure out compared to a pedal with a far more limited feature set. That's where presets help and another thing that would be useful is just a built-in help in Axe-Edit that would tell what each control does so you don't have to find it in the manual.
The effects-side has seen enormous progress over the years. To me, the focus on attention for amp modeling in past years is simply caused by the fact that the provided effects in most cases are pretty much already “complete” and state-of-the-art. .