This is the reason I bought an Ultra (and not a Standard): ON-GOING F/W UPGRADES
And these are quotes that promised/swore there would be on-going improvements to the Ultra (perhaps not so for the Standard):
- Javajunkie: "
Cliff stated the Standard's memory was maxed out and the future releases would be for bug fixes and smaller features. The exception being amps and drive models, it uses a different portion of memory."
(ref:
http://forum.fractalaudio.com/ultra-zone/26187-ultra-only-firmware-updates-future.html)
- Fractalaudio: "The regular Axe-Fx is just about out of memory. Future support will consist of bug fixes and limited feature enhancement.
The Ultra has a ton of memory."
(ref:
http://www.setbb.com/axefx/viewtopic.php?t=267&highlight=standard+future&mforum=axefx)
- Shahola: "
cliff has said standard has plenty of room for more...but stuff related to effects...like multi-band compression, some reverb algorithms, etc...didn't want to be left behind on some things, so I upgraded to the ultra...keep that in mind....if cliff decides to add some crazy stuff in the future, standard may not handle it."
(ref:
http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-general-discussion/28216-im-sold-just-not-sure-one.html)
- mortega76: "Cliff has mentioned that as far as adding any more complex style effects on the Standard would not be possible because of the memory limitations compared to the Ultra... as far as amps,
Cliff has mentioned several times that there is plenty of room for amps"
(ref:
http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-f...emory-differences-between-standard-ultra.html)
... and I could find a hundred more Google hits where it keeps coming up over and over again: the Ultra is far from maxed out.
Now, fast-forward to 2011-05-08:
"
The Ultra is history" (what an effective way to make sure existing owners will not be able to sell theirs at a fair price!).
... along with a firmware update that adds "
some of the techniques from the Axe-Fx II." (and is limited to "
tighter, more defined bass and also less flubiness when using high MV settings"). Like others have suggested, was this just intended to reduce the frustration? Is this the last update?
If Fractal continues to commit to firmware enhancements for the Ultra (which, remember, has "plenty of room" and "a ton of memory"), then I am thrilled. I may even one day buy an Axe-FX II.
But if development is abandoned, then I am very disappointed. And I *will* hesitate when it comes time to trust the hype the next time around. On-going development? Maybe, maybe not? And the very unfortunate "Ultra is history" statement pasted all over the Internet certainly seems to indicate that we, existing owners, are justified to be worried, no?
Yes, my Ultra still sounds good. But that's not the reason I chose an Ultra (the Standard also sounds good, and I could have saved a bundle). I chose the Ultra to ensure I could follow the enhancement path. Did that enhancement path just bite the dust? Time will tell?
I think an official statement from Fractal Audio on future f/w upgrades for the Standard and Ultra is in order.
