Always consult the official Owners Manuals first!
March 2024: all pages have been checked and are up-to-date

Difference between revisions of "Beginners"

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=Preamp and power amp=
  
==Virtual preamp==
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Most traditional guitar amplifiers have a preamp and a power amp section, sometimes combined, sometimes separated. The preamp is responsible for tone and gain, the power amp makes things loud (real amplification) and may add some distortion and character of its own to the sound.
The Axe-Fx II (and XL) is a guitar preamp. It models [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Amp:_all_models more than hundred real amps] such as heads, combos and racked preamps. You can also use its many other effects, use it to reamp a dry signal, create tone matches of real amps and recordings, use it for mastering, etc.
 
  
==Virtual power amp==
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Fractal Audio's amp modelers provide <q>virtual</q> equivalents of these preamps and power amps, combined in Amp models. Many [[Amplifier models list|traditional heads, combos and racked preamps]] have been modeled by Fractal Audio.
The Axe-Fx has built-in [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Global_menu_(front_panel) power amp simulation], which means that you can listen to the sounds of the modeled amps through headphones and neutral amplifiers, and connect the Axe-Fx to a mixer or record it without needing a separate power amp.
 
  
==Using a real power amp==
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The devices also provide many other [[Effects list|effects]], and, depending on the unit, they can <q>[[Digital I/O and computer audio#Reamping|reamp]]</q> a recorded dry signal, create a [[Tone_Match_block|Tone Match]] of a real amp or recording, [[IR_Capture|capture Impulse Responses]], and more.
To amplify the Axe-Fx through a real speaker, you need a real power amp. Either a standalone tube power amp designed for guitar, a head or combo (through its effects loop), or a so-called neutral power amp.<BR>
 
You can also use studio monitors and monitor wedges with built-in amplifiers ("active", "powered").
 
  
==Playing through a guitar speaker==
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See <q>[[Amp_block|Amp block]]</q> for more information.
You can use the Axe-Fx with a traditional guitar speaker, in combination with a power amp. This will give you the familiar [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Close-miked_versus_amp-in-the-room amp-in-the-room] tone. It does limit the possibilities of the Axe-Fx, because any sound you will create will go through that speaker and therefore will be ''colored'' by it.
 
  
==Playing through FRFR amplification==
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=Amplification through traditional guitar speaker or Full Range Flat Response (FRFR)=
You can opt for [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Connecting_to_FRFR_amplification FRFR (Full Range Flat Response)] sound reproduction. This requires a FRFR speaker and an external or built-in neutral (power) amp. Studio monitors are FRFR, as well as some wedges / cabs.<BR>
 
A FRFR setup requires power amp simulation and [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Cab_(block) cabinet simulation] to be engaged. Cabinet simulation means that the sound of a virtual speaker cabinet is added to the tone of the modeled amp. The Axe-Fx comes with many built-in [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Cab:_all_models cabinet models] and allows loading external cab models, known as IRs or user cabs (Impulse Responses).
 
  
==Listening to FRFR amplification==
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An amplifier, either real or virtual, needs a speaker, which can also be real or virtual, to sound good. Amplification is required to make things loud. Usually this means using either a traditional guitar cab with a power amp, or a so-called FRFR monitor/cab.
It's very important to realize that when you're using FRFR with cabinet simulation, you'll be listening to the sound of a ''mic'd speaker'', as opposed to an amp-in-the-room. A cab model always represents the tone of a speaker that as captured using one or more microphones, mostly positioned very close to the speaker. That's totally different from listening to a guitar speaker at some distance. FRFR has more lows, more highs and has the coloring of the used microphone baked in. It takes a while to get accustomed to FRFR tone, but it's the tone the audience hears too through the FOH system and when listening to recorded music.
 
  
==Being heard in the mix==
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'''Traditional guitar cab and power amp'''
Important in general but especially with digital modeling: the Fletcher-Munson curve. This is the scientific name for the fact that human ears perceive sound at low volume levels different than at higher levels. At low volume level people often turn up treble and bass. The Loudness switch on older home stereo systems does just that. At higher volume levels those controls need to be turned down again because, in a live environment, tones with too much treble and bass are prone to get lost in the mix. Otherwise the guitar will compete with cymbals with the bass. Even turning up the volume level often won't help. Remember that the guitar is a "mid frequency" instrument. So: dial in your live guitar tones at gig level.
 
  
==Clipping==
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A traditional guitar speaker will give you the familiar, fairly easy to set up, <q>amp/cab in the room tone</q>. This does limit possibilities however, because any sound you create will be colored by that particular guitar speaker.
Be aware that input clipping is something totally different than output clipping.<BR>
 
It's okay for the [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Input_level input LED] to "tickle" the red. If it happens all the time, decrease Input Level the I/O menu. Be aware in this is not a real input level control, the control controls the signal-to-noise ratio only and does NOT affect signal level or gain.<BR>
 
The [http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Output_clipping output clipping LED light] indicates that the signal level in the effects chain is too hot. Adjusting Input Level does NOT solve this. Decrease the level somewhere in the chain.
 
  
==Editing sounds==
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When using a traditional cabinet, the preset shouldn't use a Cabinet model. If it does, disable it or disable [[Cab_block|Cabinet Modeling]] in the processor's Setup menu.
Read the [http://www.fractalaudio.com/downloads/manuals/axe-fx-2/Axe-Fx-II-Owners-Manual.pdf Owner's Manual] for editing instructions. It includes a 60-Second Edit Guide and an overview of shortcuts.
 
  
==Software==
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A hardware power amp is required to provide a strong signal to the speaker. This can be a guitar-oriented power amp, head or combo, which will add its own coloring to the sound and also decrease the possible tonal variations. This usually sounds best with Power Amp Modeling disabled in the processor's setup menus.
[http://www.fractalaudio.com/p-axe-edit-software.php Axe-Edit] — load and save presets from/to disk, edit sounds, rearrange presets and user cabs.<BR>[http://www.fractalaudio.com/fractal-bot.php Fractal-Bot] — backup or restore your Axe-Fx, load/save presets and user cabs, upgrade the firmware.<BR>[http://www.fractalaudio.com/cab-lab-packs.php Cab-Lab] — mix IRs and send them to the Axe-Fx, convert IRs, create an IR of your guitar cabinet (IR Capture).
 
  
==Questions, issues?==
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More popular is a so-called <q>neutral</q> power amp which relies on the virtual power amp of the modeler, so keep Power Amp Modeling enabled in the Setup menu.
Consult the [http://www.fractalaudio.com/downloads/manuals/axe-fx-2/Axe-Fx-II-Owners-Manual.pdf Owner's Manual], explore the wiki, read the [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-ii-discussion/74884-troubleshooting-faq.html#post915618 Troubleshooting FAQ] and [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/search.php?searchid=3742292 visit the forum].
 
  
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See <q>[[I/O_connectivity_and_levels#Power_amp_and_guitar_speaker|Power amp and guitar speaker]]</q> for more information.
  
Have fun!
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'''FRFR'''
  
[[category:About the Axe-Fx II]]
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Alternatively, you can use Full Range Flat Response (<q>FRFR</q>) sound reproduction and amplification. This requires a FRFR speaker and a neutral power amp, either external or built-in. Studio monitors are FRFR by nature, as are some monitor wedges and cabs, high-quality PA-systems, and headphones.
 +
 
 +
FRFR systems, including direct recording require [[Cab_block|Cabinet Modeling]] because the signal doesn't go through a traditional guitar cab. Fractal Audio's amp modelers provide many [[Cabinet models list|built-in cabinet models]]. They also allow loading external cabs, known as [[Impulse_responses_(IR)|Impulse Responses]] (<q>IRs</q>).
 +
 
 +
Important: When using an FRFR sound system with cabinet modeling, you're listening to the sound of a miked speaker, which is a different sound than that of a guitar speaker cabinet. A virtual cab (almost always) represents the sound of a speaker that was captured using one or more microphones placed very close to the speaker (referred to as <q>nearfield</q> or <q>close-miking</q>). The sound of a guitar speaker at a certain distance is referred to as <q>far-field</q> or <q>in-the-room</q>. Because of the close proximity of the recording mic to the speaker, the FRFR sound has more highs and lows, and has the characteristics of the microphone baked into the captured sound. It can take a while to get accustomed to the FRFR sound, but just realize it's the same tone you hear at a concert or when listening to recorded music.
 +
 
 +
See <q>[[I/O_connectivity_and_levels#Full_Range_Flat_Response_.28FRFR.29|Full Range Flat Response (FRFR)]]</q> more information.
 +
 
 +
=Cutting through the mix=
 +
 
 +
Many players who start using a digital modeler and take it to rehearsals and gigs, using FRFR amplification, find it difficult to cut through the mix. Turning up the volume doesn't solve this. This can be caused by many things but the primary two are:
 +
 
 +
* [[I/O_connectivity_and_levels#Close-miking|Close-miked sound]]
 +
* [[I/O_connectivity_and_levels#Fletcher-Munson|Fletcher-Munson curve]]
 +
 
 +
=Input and output clipping=
 +
 
 +
Clipping means that a signal exceeds the limits. While analog clipping can sound pleasing, digital clipping sounds horrible, something that you'll want to avoid.
 +
 
 +
Clipping can occur at various stages in the device.
 +
 
 +
; Input clipping : Input clipping means that the incoming signal from the guitar to the processor is too hot or strong. To fix it, turn down Input Sensitivity or Input Pad in the modeler's Setup > I/O menu until the warning disappears.
 +
 
 +
; Output clipping : The Output LED indicates that the signal level in the effects chain is too hot for the digital-to-analog (<q>DAC</q>) converter at the end. Adjusting the Input Level will not solve this. Instead, decrease the digital level somewhere in the chain, preferably using Level in the Amp block, or in the Output block. The Preset Leveling Tool in Edit is convenient when working with those two settings.
 +
 
 +
See these links for more information:
 +
 
 +
* [[I/O_connectivity_and_levels|I/O connectivity and levels]]
 +
* Wikipedia's <q>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipping_(audio) Clipping]</q> page.
 +
 
 +
=Parameter paralysis=
 +
 
 +
The sheer number of parameters and possibilities in Fractal Audio's processors can easily dazzle and confuse users. Sometimes it's handy to be able to fall back on a reference tone.
 +
 
 +
The Band-Commander (clean tone) and Friedman BE (dirty tone) amp models, both at default settings, provide great baseline tones. Combine them with the factory cab model Legacy 103 at default settings. Listen to the sound with good quality headphones or through studio monitors that provide a flat response.
 +
 
 +
See <q>[https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/soundclips-for-reference-purpose.174944 Soundclips for reference purpose]</q> to hear the sound of various guitars through the modelers.
 +
 
 +
=Tutorials=
 +
 
 +
''Always'' read the [[Owners_Manuals | Owner's Manual]].
 +
 
 +
G66, the European distributor of Fractal Audio products, encloses a great quick start guide with the delivery of each new Axe-Fx III, FM3 and FM9: [https://www.g66.eu/images/Manuals/Axe-Fx_III_Beginners_Guide_EN.pdf G66 Beginner's Guide]
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[[category:Axe-Fx2]]
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[[category:FM3]]
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[[category:FM9]]
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[[category:Axe-Fx3]]
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[[category:AX8]]
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[[category:Sounds]]
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[[category:All]]

Latest revision as of 22:21, 9 March 2024

Preamp and power amp

Most traditional guitar amplifiers have a preamp and a power amp section, sometimes combined, sometimes separated. The preamp is responsible for tone and gain, the power amp makes things loud (real amplification) and may add some distortion and character of its own to the sound.

Fractal Audio's amp modelers provide virtual equivalents of these preamps and power amps, combined in Amp models. Many traditional heads, combos and racked preamps have been modeled by Fractal Audio.

The devices also provide many other effects, and, depending on the unit, they can reamp a recorded dry signal, create a Tone Match of a real amp or recording, capture Impulse Responses, and more.

See Amp block for more information.

Amplification through traditional guitar speaker or Full Range Flat Response (FRFR)

An amplifier, either real or virtual, needs a speaker, which can also be real or virtual, to sound good. Amplification is required to make things loud. Usually this means using either a traditional guitar cab with a power amp, or a so-called FRFR monitor/cab.

Traditional guitar cab and power amp

A traditional guitar speaker will give you the familiar, fairly easy to set up, amp/cab in the room tone. This does limit possibilities however, because any sound you create will be colored by that particular guitar speaker.

When using a traditional cabinet, the preset shouldn't use a Cabinet model. If it does, disable it or disable Cabinet Modeling in the processor's Setup menu.

A hardware power amp is required to provide a strong signal to the speaker. This can be a guitar-oriented power amp, head or combo, which will add its own coloring to the sound and also decrease the possible tonal variations. This usually sounds best with Power Amp Modeling disabled in the processor's setup menus.

More popular is a so-called neutral power amp which relies on the virtual power amp of the modeler, so keep Power Amp Modeling enabled in the Setup menu.

See Power amp and guitar speaker for more information.

FRFR

Alternatively, you can use Full Range Flat Response (FRFR) sound reproduction and amplification. This requires a FRFR speaker and a neutral power amp, either external or built-in. Studio monitors are FRFR by nature, as are some monitor wedges and cabs, high-quality PA-systems, and headphones.

FRFR systems, including direct recording require Cabinet Modeling because the signal doesn't go through a traditional guitar cab. Fractal Audio's amp modelers provide many built-in cabinet models. They also allow loading external cabs, known as Impulse Responses (IRs).

Important: When using an FRFR sound system with cabinet modeling, you're listening to the sound of a miked speaker, which is a different sound than that of a guitar speaker cabinet. A virtual cab (almost always) represents the sound of a speaker that was captured using one or more microphones placed very close to the speaker (referred to as nearfield or close-miking). The sound of a guitar speaker at a certain distance is referred to as far-field or in-the-room. Because of the close proximity of the recording mic to the speaker, the FRFR sound has more highs and lows, and has the characteristics of the microphone baked into the captured sound. It can take a while to get accustomed to the FRFR sound, but just realize it's the same tone you hear at a concert or when listening to recorded music.

See Full Range Flat Response (FRFR) more information.

Cutting through the mix

Many players who start using a digital modeler and take it to rehearsals and gigs, using FRFR amplification, find it difficult to cut through the mix. Turning up the volume doesn't solve this. This can be caused by many things but the primary two are:

Input and output clipping

Clipping means that a signal exceeds the limits. While analog clipping can sound pleasing, digital clipping sounds horrible, something that you'll want to avoid.

Clipping can occur at various stages in the device.

Input clipping 
Input clipping means that the incoming signal from the guitar to the processor is too hot or strong. To fix it, turn down Input Sensitivity or Input Pad in the modeler's Setup > I/O menu until the warning disappears.
Output clipping 
The Output LED indicates that the signal level in the effects chain is too hot for the digital-to-analog (DAC) converter at the end. Adjusting the Input Level will not solve this. Instead, decrease the digital level somewhere in the chain, preferably using Level in the Amp block, or in the Output block. The Preset Leveling Tool in Edit is convenient when working with those two settings.

See these links for more information:

Parameter paralysis

The sheer number of parameters and possibilities in Fractal Audio's processors can easily dazzle and confuse users. Sometimes it's handy to be able to fall back on a reference tone.

The Band-Commander (clean tone) and Friedman BE (dirty tone) amp models, both at default settings, provide great baseline tones. Combine them with the factory cab model Legacy 103 at default settings. Listen to the sound with good quality headphones or through studio monitors that provide a flat response.

See Soundclips for reference purpose to hear the sound of various guitars through the modelers.

Tutorials

Always read the Owner's Manual.

G66, the European distributor of Fractal Audio products, encloses a great quick start guide with the delivery of each new Axe-Fx III, FM3 and FM9: G66 Beginner's Guide