Danny - the MFC has the best 'fit' with the Axe due to the MIDI sysex
but you will need additional expression pedals [XP]..
I use the Bass FV-500L
I also use additional external switches [XS] - the Boss FS-6
the reason I use this is because I like the switches to be low to the ground [I like my heel on the ground when stomping on switches whilst I'm playing], be a big target to stomp on, and also to have a very short 'throw' when switching..
I came from a Digitech 2120 so I am familiar with the seamless preset switching..
the Axe won't quite do this... but there is a very very cool way around it...
make all your tones within a single preset..
I use the MFC to change presets [between songs] and my XS / XP's to change the tone type / control the tone in real-time
alternatively, you can use the MFC for everything...
after changing preset, hit the reveal switch, and all the switches on the MFC become IA switches... this is a very powerful feature
example..
I have a riffing and soloing tone within a single preset
this preset serve 80% of the songs I play..
when I switch from riff to solo, I do it via modifiers
riff tone:
amp1 - left 5153Red
amp2 - right VH4ch4
I hit the switch on the FS-6 that I use to switch between riff mode and solo mode and the following happens:
amp1 pans centre
amp2 mutes
a vol block provides a big level boost [for more gain]
a delay un-bypasses
a pitch-shifter [used for very very gentle stereo chorusing] un-bypasses
the reverb in-put gain increases [to strengthen the reverb]
this system is immediate and the tone transitions are flawless...
so what about my of 20% of songs that this preset cannot address??
I make a copy of this basic preset and make changes to it..
so I have a few presets for certain 'song types' and a couple of presets for a specific song...
the very cool part is keeping them all consistent...
use global blocks for specific fx-blocks [especially the amps]..
so when you tweak one, you're tweaking them all simultaneously..
Great stuff Clarky, thanks so much! Really great read there as what you're doing is sort of what I do. I pretty much create the same sound one time and then copy it over my bank of 10 and have each patch the same sound only with different effects per patch. I guess I could do all that with scenes. I've not messed with them yet as I want to decide on a pedalboard first. I'm trying to think how this would work with scenes....I need to read the scenes manual....haven't gotten that far. I will try and read that before I ask any dumb questions. My whole thing is, I don't want to do any tap dancing.
For example, here's how my patches are set up for the majority of my cover band songs....
Patch 1: straight raw tone with a small verb for sound one. Expression pedal would control amount of distortion....full press would cut the gain down nearly in half.
Patch 2: the same sound with the same verb but with a HAAS delay. Same as the above with the expression pedal.
Patch 3: same sound as sound 1 but less highs, slight mid boost, more verb level with a slight tail, 2-3dB boost as this is a solo sound. Expression pedal the same as above.
Patch 4: Clean sound with a little chorus a little verb with the option to use a delay on/off which I could the expression pedal to trigger as on/off.
Patch 5: Same sound as patch 3 only with a ping-pong delay, a little less verb. Expression pedal the same as 3.
Patch 6: Same as patch one all the way around only a stereo chorus is used.
Patch 7: 12 String sim, clean sound the same as 4 with a 12 string effect, options for chorus, delay and verb.
Patch 8: Weird one....Steve Stevens ray gun sound. I have yet to try to get this with the Axe but have it nailed with my 2101 to the point of scary.
Patch 9: Something along the lines of the "Organic" preset patch. I have a killer string type sound out of my 2101. I'm sure the Axe will obliterate that once I try to create the sound I need.
Patch 10: Same as patch 5 with the chorus of patch 6 being in it.
The way I have that set up is how I'd like to try and set up my Axe. With the current rig I have now with controller, I can switch into all those patches without a glitch in my sounds. Seemless program changes. I know scenes will help me do this, but how much of what I have can be achieved with scenes? I need to be able to get back to a scene without getting back to a patch that forces me to tap dance to turn effects on or off, know what I mean?
And, will the MFC accomplish this better than some of the others listed? Liquid and Gordius seem pretty killer. Still fighting with what to do on that...but I'm hoping what I'm trying to do here with my patches won't be too hard to accomplish with the right mentality and of course the right board. That's just an examples of 10 of my patches. Some of my others are much more involved. I also have a slew of VH patches that I'll need to take. Ugggh...this is all the stuff I'm not looking forward to. I got my 2101 dialed in soo well for this stuff. I like the Axe better...but man, I have some really sick sounds I've come up with that are making me sick to even think of starting over with. LOL! When I was in my 20's, I didn't mind tone chasing and spending loads of time. Now that I'm older and have less time, the last thing I really want to do is try to recreate all this stuff with new gear. LOL! I'm cringing at the thought but also sort of welcoming the challenge of it. If only I was a kid again and had more time....grrrr.
Thanks for your help. (and everyone elses too!!)