Jumble Jumble
Hero Member
- Messages
- 1,932
Yeah I don't want to read too much about the AFX, because I know I'll want one, and I definitely can't afford one.
Real amps vs fake amps
- Thread starter Jumble Jumble
- Start date
Jumble Jumble
Hero Member
- Messages
- 1,932
Well, according to UPS I will have a nice new Kemper to play with when I get home (paid for entirely by work for SD, how's that for a hobby paying for itself). That will have to "suffice" for now. 
It sounds like the effects on AFX still have absolutely no contest, and I do like effects. I will have to see whether the Kemper can do everything I want, or whether I need to keep my Line 6 M13.
It sounds like the effects on AFX still have absolutely no contest, and I do like effects. I will have to see whether the Kemper can do everything I want, or whether I need to keep my Line 6 M13.
Cagey
Mythical Status
- Messages
- 24,425
Jumble Jumble said:
A lot of guys say that, and I'm sure in some cases that it's true. But, it can hinge on what you have already. Those that are particular about their sound and capabilities or are sick and tired of their current hardships usually find that if they take the leap of faith and sell off a few the of the amps and effects they already have, they can buy into the AFX solution with money left over. Once they get it and begin to realize its potential, they sell off the rest of their stuff. Even studios dump their inventory over this thing, since all those amps and effects they have using up space/time/effort are no longer necessary.
Tony Ounsworth
Senior Member
- Messages
- 204
Jumble Jumble said:Well, according to UPS I will have a nice new Kemper to play with when I get home (paid for entirely by work for SD, how's that for a hobby paying for itself). That will have to "suffice" for now.
You can't have, as you didn't do any work for SD.
Oh, hang on...
Jumble Jumble
Hero Member
- Messages
- 1,932
I can see that being true. But I already sold off a lot of gear a while back when we had a kid - no point having most of it. I replaced it with a Tiny Terror, a 1x12, a Line 6 M13, couple of stomp boxes and a little Boss modelling practice unit for headphone use and general mucking around. I'm thinking the Kemper should have me getting rid of the TT, the 1x12, the M13 and the stomps (with the exception of the Butler Tube Driver which is just so great and they're hard to come by). Selling that lot will help me get a decent passive FRFR speaker - I'm thinking a wedge monitor. And then I'll be bust.
Of course I could save up for a while and get the AFX, which I may do, if it becomes a priority. I'd be happy to save for a year, say.
- edit -
After just checking online, they're not as expensive as I thought. Maybe one day, then.
Of course I could save up for a while and get the AFX, which I may do, if it becomes a priority. I'd be happy to save for a year, say.
- edit -
After just checking online, they're not as expensive as I thought. Maybe one day, then.
Cagey
Mythical Status
- Messages
- 24,425
Jumble Jumble said:Well, according to UPS I will have a nice new Kemper to play with when I get home (paid for entirely by work for SD, how's that for a hobby paying for itself). That will have to "suffice" for now.
It sounds like the effects on AFX still have absolutely no contest, and I do like effects. I will have to see whether the Kemper can do everything I want, or whether I need to keep my Line 6 M13.
Well, congratulations are in order! You're going to love that unit.
As far as effects go, the KPA is pretty awesome so I don't think you'll suffer at all. Beats the snot out of most pedals. But, it is limited in that regard. Probably not because of any inherent deficiencies in processing power as much as that's just not its design focus. You'll probably want to keep the M13 if for no other reason beyond it's configurability and convenience.
Incidentally, Matrix just came out with some FRFR speakers called the NL12 and NL212 that are designed specifically for use with devices like the KPA and AxeFx that you may want to look at. You need something like that to really expose the full capabilities of those preamps. They're reasonably priced here; you may have better luck since they're made in Ol' Blighty. They also sell power amps that are highly regarded. On the Fractal forum, if you don't have a Matrix amp, people look at you funny.
Another choice would be the speakers that have the crown for modellers - Atomic's CLR series. Supposedly, they're the cat's pajamas, but getting ahold of one is difficult. Backorders are a matter of course and wait times are measured in months.
Jumble Jumble
Hero Member
- Messages
- 1,932
Atomic CLR passive wedge was what I was looking at. Nice small form factor.
mayfly
Epic Member
- Messages
- 8,915
Jumble Jumble said:Well, according to UPS I will have a nice new Kemper to play with when I get home (paid for entirely by work for SD, how's that for a hobby paying for itself). That will have to "suffice" for now.
That is awesome! Please report back on how the thing sounds / runs!
stratamania
Mythical Status
- Messages
- 11,563
Re the Axe edit software, whilst you could install it, you won't see an awful lot as the later versions poll the Axe FX in real time and need to be connected to an Axe FX running FW 11 or later.
This new way of working is what took a while for the new editor to be written from the ground up, so that updates to Firmware didn't cause a lag before the editor got updated. Basically if a new amp model is now added in FW a update to the editor isn't needed as it learns it via the Axe FX. This was called TNP the new protocol.
Now you've got me missing my Axe FX...
This new way of working is what took a while for the new editor to be written from the ground up, so that updates to Firmware didn't cause a lag before the editor got updated. Basically if a new amp model is now added in FW a update to the editor isn't needed as it learns it via the Axe FX. This was called TNP the new protocol.
Now you've got me missing my Axe FX...
stratamania
Mythical Status
- Messages
- 11,563
Axe FX and Matrix amps...Metallica in Antartica
http://youtu.be/Qs9z3fiXVFU
http://youtu.be/Qs9z3fiXVFU
Ace Flibble
Hero Member
- Messages
- 865
I don't know how anybody playing anything more progressive than blues, jazz, country or classic rock can play without modelling of some kind. I get that people don't want to ditch valves entirely—I myself run a modelling amp and a valve amp alongside—but to write off the technology entirely is madness, especially when you see how far along it's come. These ain't the Spider II 15w combo amps of the past.
I've been running a Line 6 HD147 (look it up, it's got just about as metal a pedigree as the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifer has) next to an Orange Rockerverb 50—and before that, a Marshall DSL100—for a few years now and I wouldn't change any part of the set up for the world. If you back up a Kemper system with something small just to fill out the core, some 25-50w mid-gain valve amp, you can get every and any tone you can think of.
I've been running a Line 6 HD147 (look it up, it's got just about as metal a pedigree as the Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifer has) next to an Orange Rockerverb 50—and before that, a Marshall DSL100—for a few years now and I wouldn't change any part of the set up for the world. If you back up a Kemper system with something small just to fill out the core, some 25-50w mid-gain valve amp, you can get every and any tone you can think of.
Cagey
Mythical Status
- Messages
- 24,425
The other thing to consider is that even if the current crop of modellers or emulators can't reproduce perfect clones, they still sound exceptionally good in and of themselves. For instance, I had a Behringer V-Amp Pro that I played with for a while, and while nobody claimed the "British High Gain" model sounded exactly like a JCM900, it still sounded pretty cool. So, let's pretend it was a JCM 907 - a non-existent amp that sounded pretty damn cool for some things. Nobody but a seriously indoctrinated cork sniffer would know any better, so WTF? Chances are if you played something exceptional and people asked what you used, you could say almost anything you wanted to and get away with it. "Really? A modified 1963 12.7 channel Mitsusaurus Glockenspitzer? Incredible!"
Yeah, that's what I used, and now I'm a guitar god. A modified Mitsusaurus Glockenspitzer. All hail Mitsusaurus! Take your Fender RCA tube manual reference design to Joe Momma. He'll take good care of you.
Different is not bad. If that were the case, we'd all still be humming to ourselves, like Ug the caveman as he painted cave porn for future reference, fun and profit.
Yeah, that's what I used, and now I'm a guitar god. A modified Mitsusaurus Glockenspitzer. All hail Mitsusaurus! Take your Fender RCA tube manual reference design to Joe Momma. He'll take good care of you.
Different is not bad. If that were the case, we'd all still be humming to ourselves, like Ug the caveman as he painted cave porn for future reference, fun and profit.
I have zero experience with the AxeFX, but I've been playing with software modelers for years. I've used both Amplitube and Guitar Rig in my home studio with excellent results.
My bottom line has always been ... do I like the sound coming out of this box. That's all that really matters. It is the reasoning I've used to buy amps, pedals, and software. Does the modeler sound like the real thing? To me, that too is an irrelevant question. I would think that any musician, while perhaps being influenced by some famous musician, will still want to sound like themselves. There are plenty of guitar and bass tones out there that I'm not fond of, and others that I think are absolutely stellar, but I have no real desire to copy any of them.
I'm not sure if these thoughts have added anything to this thread, but those are my 5 cents (inflation ... and the fact that they've phased out the penny in Canada :glasses9
My bottom line has always been ... do I like the sound coming out of this box. That's all that really matters. It is the reasoning I've used to buy amps, pedals, and software. Does the modeler sound like the real thing? To me, that too is an irrelevant question. I would think that any musician, while perhaps being influenced by some famous musician, will still want to sound like themselves. There are plenty of guitar and bass tones out there that I'm not fond of, and others that I think are absolutely stellar, but I have no real desire to copy any of them.
I'm not sure if these thoughts have added anything to this thread, but those are my 5 cents (inflation ... and the fact that they've phased out the penny in Canada :glasses9
Some people just don't like changes or anything to do with advancement in technology.
That's just a simple fact !!
On a similar line of this topic ....
I was about to get this for my home studio http://www.uaudio.com/uad-plug-ins/uad-2-satellite.html
(But had other commitments, so cancelled it for now)
Here's some of those that use UAD ... http://www.uaudio.com/blog/cat/artist-interviews
(have a look at some of the bands mentioned ..... You may be surprised :dontknow:
So changes are happening right across many fields. :icon_thumright:
Just heading out, so I gotta go and turn the crankshaft on my car :icon_biggrin:
That's just a simple fact !!
On a similar line of this topic ....
I was about to get this for my home studio http://www.uaudio.com/uad-plug-ins/uad-2-satellite.html
(But had other commitments, so cancelled it for now)
Here's some of those that use UAD ... http://www.uaudio.com/blog/cat/artist-interviews
(have a look at some of the bands mentioned ..... You may be surprised :dontknow:
So changes are happening right across many fields. :icon_thumright:
Just heading out, so I gotta go and turn the crankshaft on my car :icon_biggrin:
Nightclub Dwight
Hero Member
- Messages
- 689
It is so nice to be back on track in this thread. Thank you for persevering Richard.
Jumble Jumble
Hero Member
- Messages
- 1,932
If that is my real name :laughing7:
Didn't have a huge amount of time to play with the Kemper today (and won't have until Monday, most likely - boo). But I did have fun with it. Found a nice Marshall rig and plugged in my Les Paul. Very impressed indeed with how nicely it plays with the guitar's volume control. I recorded this quick little demo to send to a friend:
http://soundcloud.com/richard-irons/first-kemper-recording
Sorry about it being a bit sloppy, it was literally just a quick one to show how the guitar volume control affects the sound. I was sitting on the floor and operating the laptop and the Kemper (to turn off the chorus half way through) with my hands. Nice sound though huh.
Didn't have a huge amount of time to play with the Kemper today (and won't have until Monday, most likely - boo). But I did have fun with it. Found a nice Marshall rig and plugged in my Les Paul. Very impressed indeed with how nicely it plays with the guitar's volume control. I recorded this quick little demo to send to a friend:
http://soundcloud.com/richard-irons/first-kemper-recording
Sorry about it being a bit sloppy, it was literally just a quick one to show how the guitar volume control affects the sound. I was sitting on the floor and operating the laptop and the Kemper (to turn off the chorus half way through) with my hands. Nice sound though huh.
