The ONE DOWNSIDE Of Fractal Audio || (Axe-Fx III, FM9 and FM3)
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- Опубликовано: 5 июл 2024
- Today we revisit the Fractal Audio Axe-FX III and see how the Pitch Shifting Algorithm has improved since my last demo in 2021.
ORIGINAL VIDEO HERE: • Digitech Drop Tune VS ...
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My name is Zachary Seif, and I am a professional guitarist from the NYC Metro Area. I teach private lessons, perform in multiple bands, do session work and am the Artist Relations Manager for Quantum Industries. Come join me as I show you what being in the music industry is like on a regular basis.
Contact Email: ZackSeifMusic@gmail.com
All preset purchases can be made via email or direct message on Instagram or Facebook.
All video shot on my iPhone 12 Pro Max
CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro and Setup
1:20 Distortion Demo
7:19 Clean Demo
11:19 Conclusion
GEAR USED:
Musicman Majesty Artisan
Fractal Audio Axe-FX III
Dunlop Picks
Dunlop Strings
Mogami Cables
Audio Technica AT2020
Focusrite Scarlett 18i20
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Stream my latest single “upside down” below:
distrokid.com/hyperfollow/reg...
* All music performed belongs to the original copyright owners
* Background Music provided by Bensound and Regression 
Видеоклипы
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***Thoughts on the Fractal Pitch Shifting?***
It sucks! I bought the Axe a couple weeks ago, previously my go-to was a laptop with plugins and mainly Archetype Petrucci and I have a couple of songs where I transpose a semitone lower. The Petrucci plugin does it in a way I can't distinguish between a downtuned guitar vs transposed at -1 for my lead tone and there is no latency at all. So I bought the Axe, dialed in my lead tone, then I've added the pitch block with Virtual Capo at -1... I was blown away by how bad it sounds! The artifacts was so noticable, the delay was so big I thought I traveled back in time 15 years back and tried to run some garbage no-name plugins on a cheap machine. It's just so disappointing, especially for such an expensive piece of gear. I really hope they'll make something about it. Another pitch block would be nice as well.
100% agree. I love my FM9; I purchased it last year and already there’s been so many improvements in the firmware, but the VC is still lackluster compared to everything else in the unit. The latest firmware made the noise gates awesome, would be superb if they could improve the pitch block in a similar vein.
The amps are PERFECT, I hope they revisit the Pitch block asap!
The digitech drop is way better than my fm9 for virtual capo
Agreed 100%
Any reason you are on FW 23.05, as opposed to the 25.02 release? Just curious.
I shot this video before it came out. I tend to shoot my videos 2 to 3 months ahead of time. I've noticed no difference since then though 😃
@@ZackSeifMusic You shouldn't notice difference between those two firmwares because it wasn't addressed in the release notes. I'm sure you know that but it's more of an answer to the original question asked. I read over them each time hoping that the VC has been addressed lol. I love music in so many different tuning ranges and don't have the budget for 100 different guitars. I'm one of those guys that notices the short comings from the feel of things more so than the sound (even though I hear that too). Drives me nuts.
Totally agree! I thought is it just me that thinks the VC is not up to the job? Even half a step and it just doesn’t seem “in tune” I have recorded both standard and real detune half step and VC side by side comparisons and it’s not convincing enough for me. Im sure the Fractal VC could be improved seeing as Fractal does everything else perfectly.
Agreed. It's the Achilles heel of an otherwise perfect unit.
I think the virtual capo worked better. Just had a small volume dip compared to the other one. virtual capo did seem to track better. Maybe adjust for the volume dip and see if you like it more?
Of course if it has boat loads of latency nothing can fix that. Sucks because I'm so close to pulling the trigger on axe fx after they got gapless switching working, but it seems like helix still has the better pitch shifter. Come on fractal you can do it! 🤣
It's so negligible at the end of the day, until something new comes out. I've tried both live and the band can't hear a difference, and we are a 7 to 13 piece band so I just leave it on virtual capo, set to smooth, tracking set to seven, and it's the best compromise between using just the fractal, or bring out a completely separate pedal to handle the pitch shifting duties.
Thats why i ended up buying a L6 hx one for the sole reason of having the drop tune technology at my disposal because i love using octaves and I play in many different tunings. There are other uses for the pedal but the reason being used is primary. Some might scoff at the idea which is fine lol but its been the utmost powerful way in getting the results I want.
But hey, if either modeler can up their quality in pitching, then im all eyes and ears.
It's pretty solid on the HX!
If all you need is one helix effect, that's the way to go! Honestly, I found the pedal to be useless for anything else hahaha
If you have not yet, please post this on the wish list part of the fractal forum. Would love an improved vc
I've been asking for years haha. It needs to be addressed for sure.
@@ZackSeifMusic I agree! Other than that I really think the FAS products deliver the best guitar sound among the modelers.
Preach! People always ask why I still use my Drop Pedal with my Fractal units and it's because the Virtual Tuner is unusable on clean. I first noticed it when I'd play Say It Ain't So and that one note hangs...warble and tremlo city!
My Quad Cortex does it flawlessly...but I don't like the tone of that unit as much.
Dustin I agree 100% with all of this.
The Neural pitch shifting but Fractal amps would be a dream unit.
Agreed, I also own the Digitech Drop and it's weird how it performs better than the virtual capo on my very expensive and otherwise perfect rack unit, I hope there will be an update one day but it's been that way for years.
I'm waiting for the day haha
try it again with smooth tracking as opposed to fast. You will hear better results.
It's different for sure. I wouldn't say it is "better" as it still has it's quirks, but I will test it at my gig.
I've been using FAS gear for 15 years! The PS has always been one of those effects that was in there but never really stelar. I rarely use it and when I do I never go farther than a half step with a VC.
Yeah 1/2 is all it can really handle well.
This has been a problem with Fractal since they introduced the pitch years ago. Compared to the other effects it's a joke, not sure how anyone could argue that it's not a weak point. The problem I'm seeing on the forum is they're in denial that it sucks compared to the other effects.
Yeah it’s not great… this is why I prefer having a few guitars with different tunings. It’s a pain to carry extra gear but it’s worth it to not sacrifice the tones you are after.
Totally agree with you! If you can bring more guitars you'll get better results.
it's the same problem with the harmonizer. i tried harmonizer for some lead parts but it sounds awfull.
Especially if you don't set up a custom scale for every preset, the fractal can't really automatically create the perfect harmony for you. It requires some music theory and programming to get correct which is a bit of a letdown.
@@ZackSeifMusic even if i use 3rd in minor or major scale it sounds awfull.
Have you brought this to Cliff and the teams attention? - Bruce
It's been brought up quite a bit over the years. I've seen it in the forums and Facebook groups. I have yet to hear of any plans for make an update to it though.
Everything else is perfect in the Fractal. By and far my favorite unit on the market by a lot shot. It's the only downside I've found to it.
The Capo Poly also on the Line6 Helix works like total garbage compared to the old original Simple Pitch that’s in the helix. It sounds like the Fractal has the same problems. I don’t know why poly seems to be an issue.
You'd think there would be better algorithms these days!!
Set it to smooth.
I have done that. It adds more latency than I'd care for live. Tracking on 7 works well but then it's too late.
Keeping it on 5 is minimally better but not enough to re-do a video. It still needs work compared to Neural DSP.
I agree!
It is literally my only complaint. Otherwise I think the fractal is better than every other way, shape and form.
I play a lot clean/cleanish, virtual capo is really unusable 😢
It's really disappointing, hopefully they can get on the same level as Neural soon!
Im glad there is someone who has as much OCD as me lmao
I'm so freaking picky 🤣
This is definitely why I have my digitech drop..
I won't sell mine even though it stays in it's box haha
@@ZackSeifMusic playing out live especially playing covers from various decades, it’s a must have. As much as we’d all love the budget and the roadies to be like Mark Tremonti and carry 12 guitars to a gig, just not practical. That’s why mine stays in my rig at all times.
Why are you hiding comments that link to Cliff’s response to your observations?
I am not hiding anything. Unless RUclips is manually holding them for review I see nothing on my end that links anything...
I'd love to see these links to Cliff's comments because they aren't showing up in YT Studio 😄
agree with you here, i tried my friend's QC and i immediately noticed that the pitch shifting was way better on it compared to my FM9. everything else was better on the FM9 though.
100% agree.
Why hasn’t Fractal looked at, licensed, or reverse engineered the EHX Pitch Fork? Superior tracking, no warble. Your “clean” example is startling and has stopped me in my tracks. To simulate baritone tuning, I use the pick fork. I can’t believe I would still need $100 pedal into front of a $2300 device.
Edit & question: I noticed your Pitch Tracking was set either to 'Fast' or 'Smooth'. Referencing the Fractal-Audio-Block-Guide.pdf, they say on Page 67, for Pitch Tracking that, "...You can also turn tracking “OFF” for vintage-style “fixed” shifting." I could not determine if this was tested prior to your video. I do not yet own one of these units (yet), still researching, so your vid here gave me pause. Zack, could you test 'Off' and let us know if this makes a difference to your ear? - btw, in that same section for Pitch Block, there are some explanations for other settings that are noteworthy. Example, the tracking knob appears to do with the "sound length" of the splice. However, it doesn't say if a lower value or higher value is preferred. You demo showed higher only so you may have tested lower already, i just didn't see or hear it. I'm really curious what you find and hear after these mentions. Thanks Zack. I appreciate your time, testing, and potential response.
When I tested this against my Drop Tune I set tracking to 0. You can hear that demo here 😄
ruclips.net/video/Hsjstt648bc/видео.html
Lower numbers mean faster tracking and less latency but more artifacts. Higher is the opposite.
3-5 seems to be the sweet spot.
Operator error
What is the error?
You have Pitch tracking set WRONG
Would you care to share the correct settings? Because these are the default settings that come with the unit, and there's nothing deeper in the manual so I would love to hear what the correct settings are.