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Showing posts with label fractal audio ax8. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fractal audio ax8. Show all posts
The Fractal Audio AX8 has a face-melting 12 power amp tubes to choose from! Things can get pretty confusing in the amp block pages so this tutorial is designed to help you wrap your head around the complexities with the Power Amp page in the Fractal AX8.
Video Timings:
Question 1: What do tubes do? 0:44
Question 2: What are triodes, tetrodes, and pentodes? 1:00
Homage to John Ambrose Fleming (The inventor of tubes) 2:20
Question 3: Which power amp tube types are in the AX8? 2:39
Inside The AX8 Power Amp Page
In total the AX8 has over 80 different amp block parameters and within those parameters options such as preamp and power tube selection options add to the sometimes overwhelming number of choices. Here are the power tubes types that you can choose from inside the AX8 amp block:
6AQ5 (EL90)
6L6/5881
6V6
300B
6550
6973 (1965 Falco)
EL34/6CA7
EL84/6BQ5
Ideal Pentode and Ideal Tetrode (Jazz 120)* use if you're using an external preamp
This is my first tutorial that features me playing the guitar to highlight and show how adjusting eq and changing types and bands can effect your sound using the GEQ page inside the Fractal AX8 amp block. I'd often shied away from doing this because I wanted to leave it up to my viewers and readers to experiment with their own sounds rather than being influenced by my sounds.
I've kept the preset extremely simple using just two blocks - amp and cabinet. No effects - nothing! In this way you can hear the affect that eq has on shaping the sound without it being clouded with delay and reverb and whatever else.
The GEQ Page
The GEQ page is located in the amp block just below the Basic page option (see my 'Basic Page' tutorial). The GEQ block contains the following parameters:
Parameter 1: EQ Type
Parameter 2: EQ Location
EQ Type
There are several types of EQ available:
3 band console. Mimics the 3 sweep eq knobs on a standard miser
3, 4, and 5 band passive. Emulates the old analog eq pedals of the past
5 band Mark. Based on the eq section of the Mesa Boogie Mark series of amplifiers
5, 7, and 8 band Constant Q. Constant eq type probably based on the Rane series of equalisers
5, 7, and 8 band Variable Q. EQ using bandwith that varies in width according to boost/cut levels
The picture below is a wonderful graphic illustration explaining the differences between Constant Q and Variable Q.
EQ Location
Two locations are available:
Pre P.A
Post P.A
These locations designate where the EQ encounters the signal - either between the Preamp and Power amp (Pre P.A) or at the Power amp Output (Post P.A)
EQ Jargon
Flat. Slider is set at 0 (neither boosted nor cut)
Band. (shortened term for bandwith or the range of frequencies that a given slider controls)
Q or Q factor. The range of frequencies within a band)
Boost. Amplitude increase above flat up to +12dB
Cut. Amplitude decrease below flat down to -12dB
EQ Tips
Cut rather than Boost
Choose passive for an 'old school' eq sound reminiscent of Jimmy Page
Think of Constant Q as a rifle that allows you to aim at a specific frequency without affecting the surrounding frequencies too much. Good for precision.
Think of Variable Q as a shotgun that allows you to aim at a specific frequency but with a more pronounced effect on the surrounding frequencies. Great for 'smoother' subtle eq responses
Conclusion
A lot of my information is gathered from many hours of research across various sites but in all honesty the lions share of what I know comes from two sources - practical experimentation with the product itself; and the Fractal Audio Wiki forums. So if you want to dig a little or a lot deeper than my videos or blogs the Wiki forum would be a great place to start...and of course just plug in your AX8 if you have one and go for it!
Here's a link to my entire Fractal Audio AX8 Tutorials Playlist! Be sure to check it out for great information on working with your Fractal AX8.
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.
Today I'll be teaching you how to setup your Fractal AX8 using the 4CM. The reason that this setup is trickier than other standard setups is twofold - firstly, there is a physical setup that is slightly different from normal; secondly, there is a software or onboard setup that is required which is usually absent in simpler guitar/amp/analog pedal configurations.
Physical Setup
Cable 1 - Guitar to IN 1 [Instrument]
Cable 2 - OUT 1 L to [MAIN] on the AX8 to your AMP FX RETURN (LOOP)
Cable 3 - IN 2 L [FX RTN] on the AX8 to your AMP FX SEND (LOOP)
Cable 4 - OUT 2 L [FX SEND] on the AX8 to your AMP GUITAR INPUT
In the video my Boss GT10 is acting as the amp head. Almost all amps that have an fx loop will look similar to the Boss GT10's fx loop with an 'fx return' and an 'fx send'. The primary difference between setting up regular pedals in an effects loop is that your guitar still goes directly into the front of the amp whereas here your guitar plugs into the AX8 first. In a way it is still similar to plugging into your normal effects pedals that aren't in the loop and then going from the last output of your final pedal into the amp input.
AX8-Edit Setup
Insert an FX Loop block into your preset
Either remove or turn off the power amp section of your amp block by either disengaging it via the Global setting or setting Supply Sag to zero.
Turn off your Cabinet block or remove it entirely
* Note. Presence should be checked and set to 5.00. Disengaging the power amp using Global can cause compression
Conclusion
A lot of my information is gathered from many hours of research across various sites but in all honesty the lions share of what I know comes from two sources - practical experimentation with the product itself; and the Fractal Audio Wiki forums. So if you want to dig a little or a lot deeper than my videos or blogs the Wiki forum would be a great place to start...and of course just plug in your AX8 if you have one and go for it!
Here's a link to my entire Fractal Audio AX8 Tutorials Playlist! Be sure to check it out for great information on working with your Fractal AX8.
Ring Modulation inside the AX8 is freaking amazing. There are parameters that let you control the adjustments in real time providing for some way cool pitch shifting/whammy type effects and if you set it up another way you can use it as a sub-octaver.
Ring modulation was born in the 1940s and is signal processing effect produced by the shape of the diode circuit which is (no surprises here) in the shape of a ring that the original sound flows through. In this effect two signals are used - the original and the carrier signal. By the time the combined signal leaves the effect unit the original sound is barely audible (if at all). What is left is a signal that is rich with harmonic content that is rich in partials and/or harmonic overtones that are produced by the ring circuit.
One of the earliest instruments to use ring modulation was in all likelihood the Melochord by Harald Bode. From that point more musicians and musical groups have included ring modulation in their compositions such as Black Sabbath, King Crimson et al.
'Whammy Pedal' Emulator Setup:
Frequency Parameter: Assign an expression pedal to this parameter to control the frequency in real time!
'Octave Pedal' Emulator Setup:
Track Parameter: Turn ON
Frequency Parameter: Set at 500Hz
High Cut Parameter: Set at 500Hz
In conclusion:
A lot of my information is gathered from many hours of research across various sites but in all honesty the lions share of what I know comes from two sources - practical experimentation with the product itself; and the Fractal Audio Wiki forums. So if you want to dig a little or a lot deeper than my videos or blogs the Wiki forum would be a great place to start...and of course just plug in your AX8 if you have one and go for it!
Here's a link to my entire Fractal Audio AX8 Tutorials Playlist! Be sure to check it out for great information on working with your Fractal AX8.
23 Effects And That Doesn't Include the Amps & Cabs!!!
The AX8 has a staggering number of effects 23 to be exact and that doesn't include the inbuilt noise gate at the beginning of the In 1 signal chain. It also doesn't include the different pedals that have been emulated within most of the effects blocks.
The Mighty Breakdown!
Here is a list of all of them including the number of different pedals/effect types within each effect:
Chorus - 13 types from 4-Voice Analog to Warm Stero
Compressor - 4 types from Dynamics to Studio Comp
Delay - 18 types from 2290w/Mod to Vintage Digital
Drive - 34 typs from BB Pre to Zen Master
Enhancer - 2 types Classic and Modern
Filter - As is
Flanger - 8 types from Analog Mono to Zero Flanger
Formant - As is
FX Loop - As is
Gate/Expander - As is
Graphic EQ - 11 types from 3 Band Passive to 10 Band Var Q
Looper - As is
Multi-Delay - 10 types from Band Delay to Ten-Tap Dly
Parametric EQ - As is
Phaser - 8 types from Barberpole to Stereo 8-Stage
Pitch - 9 types from Ad Whammy to Octave Div
Reverb - 43 different types arranged into 7 groups or types of reverb
Spring
Room
Chamber
Hall
Plate
Studio
Tunnel
Ring Modulator - As is
Rotary - As is
Synth - As is
Tremelo/Panner - 2 types Tremel and Panner
Volume/Pan - 2 types Volume and Pan
Wahwah - 8 types from Clyde to Vx846
It isn't hard to see that there are several lifetime's worth of pedals here. If you add to this all of the parameters, routing options, output mixer, input gate, amps, cabinets and so on you will find that there isn't much that can't be achieved with this brilliant pedal. I have compiled a series of tutorials for the AX8 and I am adding to it each week.
I actually have a huge number of tutorials on the AX8 now. So be sure to check out my channel and subscribe if you need to keep up-to-date with all that is happening in the Fractal Audio AX8 world. I also have some pretty cool guitar tutorials with free tabs on my channel too!
The Fractal Audio AX8 has a truly mind-numbing number of amps, cabinets, and effects. I ought to know as I own one and use it 6 nights/week on tour! Let's take a look at the numbers:
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. I have several tutorials on YouTube that explain the amp block parameters and how to adjust them. Here's the link:
Containing 179 different cab IRs at Normal, Hi-Res and Ultra captures with stereo configurations possible there is little that cannot be emulated. Although not as complex as the Axe Fx units the sonic possibilities in the AX8 and the vast number of 3rd party cabinet IR developers' products that are available to download into the AX8 make this one of the greatest features of the AX8. Here is my tutorial that teaches you how to adjust all of the cabinet parameters:
The AX8 has a staggering number of effects 23 to be exact and that doesn't include the inbuilt noise gate at the beginning of the In 1 signal chain. It also doesn't include the different pedals that have been emulated within most of the effects blocks.
Even though it's a heap of work I'm going to write them out here:
Chorus
Compressor
Delay
Drive
Enhancer
Filter
Flanger
Formant
FX Loop
Gate/Expander
Graphic EQ
Looper
Multi-Delay
Parametric EQ
Phaser
Pitch
Reverb
Ring Modulator
Rotary
Synth
Tremelo/Panner
Volume/Pan
Wahwah
For example the drive block/effect has 34 different pedals inside! That's right - 34 folks. I took some time out and made a tutorial that explains each of the 34 drive pedals. The tutorial teaches you about the drive parameters and the history of the pedals with a brief insight as to their origins and what made them unique when they were first made. Here's the link:
I actually have a huge number of tutorials on the AX8 now. So be sure to check out my channel and subscribe if you need to keep up-to-date with all that is happening in the Fractal Audio AX8 world. I also have some pretty cool guitar tutorials with free tabs on my channel too!
The AX8 is complicated! If you want to avoid the complexities of it and just plug the beast in and play than this is the video you must watch. I've handpicked 3 mighty presets that will cover almost every style of playing imaginable.
As many of my readers will know I play covers for a living. That entails me copying a vast array of sounds from guitarists down through the ages. What I have found in my years of playing is that you can get away with a few basic sounds or presets with your guitar pedals and you'll be able to cover 95% of whatever you hear in the Top 40 song lists from the past 60 years.
Guitarists will understand how many hours, weeks, if not years it can take to emulate the sounds of your favourite guitarists. Tone is an elusive beast that can be difficult if not impossible to capture. So, what we are often left with is a resigned sigh and a feeling that 'this will just have to do'. I truly believe that the AX8 is the most powerful and useful floor-based unit in existence today. Other units may have more features but this is about live playing and real-world useful applications at a gig and for me the AX8 edges out the competition. That being said it is not a simple piece of gear - especially if you start digging deeper into the blocks, routing options, series and parallel chains and so on. Sometimes all of this is just too much and you just want to listen to it and try to gig with is asap! This is where my video comes into play. I spent quite some time running through every preset. Some were extremely close and only narrowly missed the selection only because my ear preferred that sound at that particular time. Other guitarists may disagree with my choices and that's to be expected. Tone is in the ear of the beholder.
For those of you that don't know the Fractal AX8 is the floor-based version of the Fractal Audio AX FX II. Whilst not as powerful it's rack-mounted 'big brother' the AX8 still packs a mighty wallop and posses most of the processing power of the rack units without the weight and the need for a pedal board controller. I'm going to include a link here to the Fractal Audio Systems website:
The Fractal Audio AX8 floor-based guitar pedal was something I had been coveting for quite some time. My friend and virtuoso guitarist Richie Allen from the Heavy Metal Ninjas and Kora fame first introduced me to the sound of Fractal Audio products. After listening to Richie, doing some additional research, and knowing my own touring and recording needs I realised that the AX8 was going to be a game changer for me.
As most of you know I tour internationally for about 11 months of the year. Most of the tours and shows I do have no guitar amps of any kind so I almost always have no choice but to run my rig direct to the PA system. Up until now I'd been restricted to the basic amp modelling provided by my Boss GT10 multi-fx pedal that I purchased back in 2009. Don't get me wrong - it has been an amazing and reliable pedal but I had grown tired of the sound and I was starting to feel really restricted. The AX8 has changed all of that...
Anyway, getting back to the point of this article...I went on the waiting list in New Zealand back in January of 2016. I was really hoping to pick up my AX8 during my one month holiday in February but alas the shipment was late and I found myself flying out to China with my trusty Boss GT10 in my luggage. I was bummed out majorly because getting products like an AX8 into China through customs is a nightmare. I'd already encountered problems with some of my guitars that I had sent from Bali to China some months earlier. I got them through but it took 2 months and an additional US$300 for import tax to have them passed by customs. Thankfully my employer paid that fee but still it was a harsh and expensive lesson.
In light of this I decided that it would be better if I could figure out an alternative. It just so happened that a fellow Kiwi virtuoso guitarist/singer extraordinaire Pete Simon was also on tour in Macau at The Bellini Lounge. He wanted to jump on the waiting list with me and suggested that we try sending the pedals out to Macau because Macau has no import tax and a far more lax attitude towards imported goods. We decided that it would be a great idea and in due course the pedals were flown out to Macau in early April 2016.
I only have Monday's off from work so I got up bright and early, packed up a single suitcase and embarked on the world's most epic journey to pick up my AX8!!!
Here's a breakdown of the total journey of the AX8:
USA to Singapore
Singapore to Australia
Australia to New Zealand
New Zealand to Singapore
Singapore to Macau
Macau to China
Here's my journey:
China (Shenzhen) to Hong Kong (immigration both sides)
Hong Kong to Macau (immigration both sides)
Macau to China (immigration both sides)
In total it required:
3 x ferry trips
1 x Hong Kong MRT trip
5 x taxi rides
Stairs
Escalators
Elevators
1 x night in a hotel
I'm not sure how much it cost but I'd say after everything it was probably around US$300 - 400 by the time we'd paid for the tickets, taxis, food, and accommodation.
Jam Track Central create backing tracks once a month for guitarists to jam over. All they ask is that you video your jam and then post it to YouTube and then post that link on the JTC Facebook page. Doing this not only helps you to improve your chops but it also exposes you to the multitude of great players that share their 'jams' on the page too.
This March 2016 jam was the first jam that I had contributed to the group. I had fun recording and I used my iPhone 6 to capture the sound and video. My guitar is an Ibanez RG8527 that I had imported from Japan to New Zealand in February 2016. My friend Jason McNamara works at Ishibashi Music in Tokyo and is able to get you just about any guitar you can think of.
If you get enough likes or if your jam is considered to be one of the most awesome then it will be combined with a couple of other jammers' jams and posted on the official JTC YouTube channel.
Have fun checking out the jams and don't forget to head to the Facebook page and join if you want to be part of this amazing group of guitarists.
