AMP MODELLING GONE CRAY CRAY!!!
Every now and again something comes along in the world that just blows your mind. The Fractal Audio AX8 Amp section is one of those things. I consider my mind blown - well and truly. Up until February 2016 I had been using a Boss GT10 and several stand alone Boss pedals in my rig.
Amps:
Total: 249
(1 new amp based on Metallica's amp has just been added: USA MKII C++ (June 16, 2016))
The sheer number and variety of amps that are inside this little box of joy is difficult to comprehend. From the rare and elusive Dumbles, to the ubiquitous Vox, Marshalls, and Mesa Boogies of legend are all represented here in IR captured glory.
To Tweak Or Not To Tweak?
The Boss from memory has about 3 amp models and no tweaking of any of the parameters inside those modelled amps - none - zero - nada - zilch. The AX8 has 249 and 7 pages full of tweakable parameters on each of those pages. I think I counted over 80 parameters from standard stuff like Master Volume and Gain to obscure stuff like Supply Sag and Negative Feedback.
This is stuff of legend and it is designed to either just plug n and destroy your neighbours roses or keep things on the low and tweak parameters till you can't tweak no more. Here are the 7 pages:
- Basic
- GEQ
- Preamp
- Power Amp
- Power Supply
- Speaker
- Dynamics
Each of these pages has at least 3 or 4 parameters that can be adjusted. Some of them can be controlled via external expression pedals or control pedals and now since the new 3.50 firmware update (June 16, 2016) an onboard switch can be assigned to control these parameters too although obviously it is restricted to on/off switching and not real time control of frequency modulation, gain, trim and so on.
Here's a link to one of my other YouTube videos that shows you 12 ways to adjust the amp gain in the AX8. It's awesome so you'd better check it out. Nothing turns us on more than gain.
Go forth now and tweaketh they ampeth!
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