I play through my Fractal just about every day, yet it never ceases to amaze me how great it sounds. So inspiring and so fun to tweak tones and try different combinations.
110% Agreed Leon...and I love how a sound like this can be so easily achieved with a simple In>Amp>Cab>Out, no distortion pedal, compression, or anything else in the chain! Brilliant:-) I've been hooked since the AX-8 and have since owned the Axe Fx III, Axe Fx III Turbo, FM3, and FM9...all units high quality in build and sound. And that's just with the MK IV...you then at your disposal have Marshall, Fender, EVH, Vox, Orange, Friedman, Hi-Watt, and on and on to tweak, tinker, and modify to taste.
Thank you Leon! After I watch your post I’ll spend maybe 30 minutes replicating/tweaking your tones followed by hours of jamming out. Always excited to see a new post. Even when they’re just 5 min tones, I find a bulk of them very inspiring to me and likely others. Very much appreciate all that you do! 🤘
Love the thump! I get a bit lost between editing the thump vs turning up the proximity in the speaker block. Also on the speaker block trying to find the sweet spot between the hi end rolloff and the “air” frequency. We actually switched from the 5153 to the 800 impedence curve for the tso rig.
Thanks for this video. I have been dialing in these these parameters, but not always sure the best way to apply them. It was good to get another person’s point of view. 👍
I found putting a looper in front of the amp and recording a riff is the easiest way to adjust your tone. I can just tweak while the looper is playing until I have it dialed in. It beats, playing, stopping, adjust something and back to playing again. Then rinse and repeat until you get something you like. The looper is perfect for that, but if you did that, it might make for a boring video. Not sure, but people might enjoy that and see real time how the sound changes while the looper is playing.
One thing I'd like to see at some point would be an Output EQ with the Darkglass EQ points in the Amp block. I mainly use the Axe FX III for bass and that would be one of the little things on my wish list. 😄Apart from that the modelling capabilities on the amp block are already pretty insane!
Another great insight, thanks Leon. I'd like to understand how to work with multiband compressor, did you cover it already? Have a great time and rock on !
I’m still rocking my AX8 live. Just wish it had a better screen and about 4 more foot switches. I always bring a laptop in case I need to edit, I think it’s still the best layout for a gigging musician.
Hi Leon, I use my FM9 through a Powerstage 700 into an actual Mesa 4x12 cab. Would playing with Speaker Impedance Curves also make a difference in this case? Right now I simply chose the Recto 4x12 curve. I’d love to hear your input on how best to setup the Fractal for both FOH and backline usage simultaneously and what settings are beneficial. Thanks! 🤘🏻👍🏻
Fractal is absolutely amazing, powerful, versatile, and great sounding! Regarding the Speaker Cab High Cut setting of 8kHz in your example, as you likely know, most real Guitar Speakers have a High Cut around 4-5 kHz, some even lower. If one were trying to emulate a real Speaker, wouldn't an 8kHz High Cut introduce some uncharacteristic variables? I liked the tones you demoed. 👍 I'm just trying to understand the discrepancy between real and modeled Speaker High Cut settings. Thanks
Good question. That's generally correct about guitar speakers BUT the cab IR here is a capture of a speaker with microphone placed quite close to the speaker, which will impact the frequency response. Most trecorded guitar tones feature some kind of high/low pass in conjunction with other types of EQ depending on how the tone needs to work in a mix.
@@LeonTodd Good point about the CAB IR, how it was captured, and the impacted of that. I don't have a Fractal, but watch your videos regularly to see inside and hear that fantastic Modeler, and enjoy your playing. Thanks 😎
I like speaker compliance near to 0 on certain amps as it gives a drier sound. Where do you set your thump if you are recording? I like thump for isolation but not sure to use for recording?
Great post Leon! Question if I'm going with the FM9 into the Katana power amp ,I know to disable the Cab blocks ,but will the impedance curves adjustment can still be implemented? To change the character of the Katana speaker?
You should make an updated video on using a SS Power Amp and 4x12, there’s been so many firmware updates, you might have new tricks. Btw, you taught me how to use my FM3.
Don’t think that will happen, not for technical reasons, but they make much more selling hardware units. But you can use something like ToneX to make snapshots of Axe presets.
@@shaharbar You're probably right, although Line 6 seems to be selling at least a few copies of Helix Native. But I do think Helix Native might do better if it were $50-$100 less, mainly because there are quite a few decent options at the $399.99 and less price point these days. Overloud TH-U Premium is pretty fantastic and $100 less when it's not on sale. I have to admit Helix Native integrates midi controllers and footswitches/exp. pedals in a more powerful and flexible way though. Neverless, I think Axe FX III is even more poweful and a vst ver. would probably eat their competition for lunch.
How’s it going Leon I’m new to the axe fx 3 and I’m running it through my focusrite 18i20 and it seems like all the amps and ir ‘s sound the same is there something I’m doing wrong? Thank you for all your videos
Too much tweak got me away from the simple truth of the past. Playing with one amp and a pedal board. Make it work with your hands, eq and pedals. In the end, what fits the mix, is the simple question. The nuances shown here usually disappear in the mix. Nevertheless, always love LT's videos.
@@easye9-21 not for me,i been a fractal user since the ultra,but when i bought the Kemper uff i that unit made the fractal collect dust on my desk,for me Kemper sound like the real deal.but both units are pretty good
I play through my Fractal just about every day, yet it never ceases to amaze me how great it sounds. So inspiring and so fun to tweak tones and try different combinations.
Thy tone shall not be questioned, sir!!
110% Agreed Leon...and I love how a sound like this can be so easily achieved with a simple In>Amp>Cab>Out, no distortion pedal, compression, or anything else in the chain! Brilliant:-) I've been hooked since the AX-8 and have since owned the Axe Fx III, Axe Fx III Turbo, FM3, and FM9...all units high quality in build and sound. And that's just with the MK IV...you then at your disposal have Marshall, Fender, EVH, Vox, Orange, Friedman, Hi-Watt, and on and on to tweak, tinker, and modify to taste.
Thank you Leon! After I watch your post I’ll spend maybe 30 minutes replicating/tweaking your tones followed by hours of jamming out. Always excited to see a new post. Even when they’re just 5 min tones, I find a bulk of them very inspiring to me and likely others. Very much appreciate all that you do! 🤘
Love the thump! I get a bit lost between editing the thump vs turning up the proximity in the speaker block. Also on the speaker block trying to find the sweet spot between the hi end rolloff and the “air” frequency. We actually switched from the 5153 to the 800 impedence curve for the tso rig.
Oooh very interesting to know!
amazing tones as always
Thanks again!
Thanks for taking the deep dives on the axe! These have helped me SO much when finding my tone.
Great to hear!
@3:40 I know it's an older video now, but I was looking for examples of boogie tones and at 3 mins 40, I think I soiled myself. That tone is insane.
Yep that impedance curve is the secret sauce if you like the big chunky tones!
Thanks for this video. I have been dialing in these these parameters, but not always sure the best way to apply them. It was good to get another person’s point of view. 👍
I found putting a looper in front of the amp and recording a riff is the easiest way to adjust your tone. I can just tweak while the looper is playing until I have it dialed in. It beats, playing, stopping, adjust something and back to playing again. Then rinse and repeat until you get something you like. The looper is perfect for that, but if you did that, it might make for a boring video. Not sure, but people might enjoy that and see real time how the sound changes while the looper is playing.
Yeah I do this a lot personally (I did a vid about it)
Balls for Days!!! Can't wait to add it to my Fractal.
Chungus!
One thing I'd like to see at some point would be an Output EQ with the Darkglass EQ points in the Amp block. I mainly use the Axe FX III for bass and that would be one of the little things on my wish list. 😄Apart from that the modelling capabilities on the amp block are already pretty insane!
Cool idea, I'd love that too
Another great insight, thanks Leon. I'd like to understand how to work with multiband compressor, did you cover it already? Have a great time and rock on !
Yep - ruclips.net/video/rHr7Nc_meM4/видео.html
I’m still rocking my AX8 live. Just wish it had a better screen and about 4 more foot switches. I always bring a laptop in case I need to edit, I think it’s still the best layout for a gigging musician.
Hi Leon, I use my FM9 through a Powerstage 700 into an actual Mesa 4x12 cab. Would playing with Speaker Impedance Curves also make a difference in this case? Right now I simply chose the Recto 4x12 curve.
I’d love to hear your input on how best to setup the Fractal for both FOH and backline usage simultaneously and what settings are beneficial. Thanks! 🤘🏻👍🏻
Soooo stanky!!! 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼
Any tricks with the cabinet alignment feature? I noticed it the other day preset building.
Is there any hope for a software version of axe fx?
man yours sounds so good ! i entered everything exactly like yours and mine sounds terrible :(
That happens to me also, I attribute that to different pickups and the different studio monitors that they are using.
Yeah diff guitars are going to add up. try add the CC boost in the input block and activate the fat switch too
Fractal is absolutely amazing, powerful, versatile, and great sounding! Regarding the Speaker Cab High Cut setting of 8kHz in your example, as you likely know, most real Guitar Speakers have a High Cut around 4-5 kHz, some even lower. If one were trying to emulate a real Speaker, wouldn't an 8kHz High Cut introduce some uncharacteristic variables?
I liked the tones you demoed. 👍 I'm just trying to understand the discrepancy between real and modeled Speaker High Cut settings. Thanks
Good question. That's generally correct about guitar speakers BUT the cab IR here is a capture of a speaker with microphone placed quite close to the speaker, which will impact the frequency response. Most trecorded guitar tones feature some kind of high/low pass in conjunction with other types of EQ depending on how the tone needs to work in a mix.
@@LeonTodd Good point about the CAB IR, how it was captured, and the impacted of that. I don't have a Fractal, but watch your videos regularly to see inside and hear that fantastic Modeler, and enjoy your playing. Thanks 😎
I like speaker compliance near to 0 on certain amps as it gives a drier sound.
Where do you set your thump if you are recording? I like thump for isolation but not sure to use for recording?
Great post Leon!
Question if I'm going with the FM9 into the Katana power amp ,I know to disable the Cab blocks ,but will the impedance curves adjustment can still be implemented?
To change the character of the Katana speaker?
Yes, since the katana has a solid state power amp.
Since the Speaker Impedance Curve is in the amp block, yes it will be in effect going into your Katana’s modeler in
@@bretwerpy9065 Cool more tone shaping love it
You should make an updated video on using a SS Power Amp and 4x12, there’s been so many firmware updates, you might have new tricks.
Btw, you taught me how to use my FM3.
Definitely!
What humankind urgently needs is a Fractal Axe III VST version ‼️
Wouw
Don’t think that will happen, not for technical reasons, but they make much more selling hardware units. But you can use something like ToneX to make snapshots of Axe presets.
@@shaharbar
You're probably right, although Line 6 seems to be selling at least a few copies of Helix Native. But I do think Helix Native might do better if it were $50-$100 less, mainly because there are quite a few decent options at the $399.99 and less price point these days. Overloud TH-U Premium is pretty fantastic and $100 less when it's not on sale. I have to admit Helix Native integrates midi controllers and footswitches/exp. pedals in a more powerful and flexible way though.
Neverless, I think Axe FX III is even more poweful and a vst ver. would probably eat their competition for lunch.
If that ever happened that would be AMAZING
Hi Leon what is ur guitar model? What are these humbcuekrs ?) Sounds more gained than my active EMG's =)
PRS SC245. Stock pickups
I think that if the fractal did not have that editor it would not be the same 🎸🙌
Its useful but its still just as usable on the hardware ... mines on the other side of the room though so it would be a pain in the arse.
@@sacredgeometry I had the Axe-Fx II XL+ now I have the fm3 in the studio and I have used them only with the editor much easier…
I regularly use my FM3 directly, and actually really love the interface on device.
😎🤘🏼
How’s it going Leon I’m new to the axe fx 3 and I’m running it through my focusrite 18i20 and it seems like all the amps and ir ‘s sound the same is there something I’m doing wrong? Thank you for all your videos
I might have had the fat switch and CC boost activated in this preset which will add some chunk. Otherwise, different guitars and hands matter.
Pls try neural quad cortex, i wanna know ur tot since u fractal user since long time. I watch ur fractal vid since ax8 to axe fx 3...
I've got a few vids with the QC up on here
@@LeonTodd nice, cant wait to watch it...
Too much tweak got me away from the simple truth of the past. Playing with one amp and a pedal board. Make it work with your hands, eq and pedals. In the end, what fits the mix, is the simple question. The nuances shown here usually disappear in the mix. Nevertheless, always love LT's videos.
in my opinion Fractal is a great unit but i really love the Kemper or QC
I liked my Kemper, but my Axe FX 3 is in a whole different league.
@@easye9-21 not for me,i been a fractal user since the ultra,but when i bought the Kemper uff i that unit made the fractal collect dust on my desk,for me Kemper sound like the real deal.but both units are pretty good
Oh, it´s the poor man again... did you subrept this Axe FX, too? Still too poor to actually buy something? Poor boy, lol.
I love Kemper way better.