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

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__TOC__
 
__TOC__
=Preamps and power amps=
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=Preamp and power amp=
  
[[image:Amp block.PNG|400px]]
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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.
  
Most traditional guitar amplifiers consist of a preamp and a power amp. The preamp is responsible for tone and gain, the power amp makes things loud and may add some distortion and character of its own to the sound.
+
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.
  
Fractal Audio's amp modelers model both: they provide "virtual" guitar preamps and power amps, combined in Amplifier models. [[Amplifier models list|Many heads, combos and racked preamps have been modeled]]
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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.
  
The processors also provide [[Effects list|many other effects]]. And depending on the processor, they can "[[Computer audio and reamping|reamp]]" a recorded dry signal, create [[Tone_Match_block|Tone Matches]] of real amps and recordings, [[IR_Capture|capture Impulse Responses]], and more.
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See <q>[[Amp_block|Amp block]]</q> for more information.
  
[[Amp_block|More about the Amp block...]]
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=Amplification through traditional guitar speaker or Full Range Flat Response (FRFR)=
  
=Traditional guitar speaker or Full Range Flat Response (FRFR)=
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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.
  
[[image:h_cabs.png|link=]]
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'''Traditional guitar cab and power amp'''
  
An amp, whether real or virtual, needs a speaker to sound good. And amplification is required to make modeling loud. Usually this means using either a traditional guitar cab with a power amp, or a so-called FRFR monitor.
+
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.
  
* '''Traditional guitar cab and power amp'''
+
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.
  
A traditional guitar speaker will give you the familiar and fairly easy to set up "amp/cab in the room tone". This does limit possibilities, because any sound you will create will be colored by the character of the guitar speaker. When using a traditional cabinet, the preset doesn't need to contain a Cabinet model. If it does, disable it or disable [[Cab_block|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.
  
To feed the guitar speaker, a hardware power amp is required.
+
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.
  
This can be a guitar-oriented power amp, head or combo, which will add it own coloring to the sound and decreases the possible tonal variations. This usually sounds best with Power Amp Modeling disabled in the processor's setup menus.
+
See <q>[[I/O_connectivity_and_levels#Power_amp_and_guitar_speaker|Power amp and guitar speaker]]</q> for more information.
  
More popular is a so-called "neutral" power amp, which neutrally amplifies the incoming signal into the guitar cabinet. This relies on the virtual power amp, so keep Power Amp Modeling enabled in the setup menu.
+
'''FRFR'''
  
[[Connections and levels|More information...]]
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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'''
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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>).
  
Alternatively, you can opt for FRFR sound reproduction and amplification: Full Range Flat Response. This requires a FRFR speaker and an external or built-in neutral power amp. Studio monitors are FRFR by nature, as well as some monitor wedges and cabs, high-quality PA-systems, and headphones.
+
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.
  
FRFR systems and direct recording require [[Cab_block|Cabinet Modeling]] because the signal doesn't go through a traditional guitar cab. Fractal Audio's amp modelers have [[Cabinet models list|many built-in cabinet models]]. They also allow loading additional cabs from disk, known as [[Impulse_responses_(IR)|Impulse Responses (IRs)]].
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See <q>[[I/O_connectivity_and_levels#Full_Range_Flat_Response_.28FRFR.29|Full Range Flat Response (FRFR)]]</q> more information.
 
 
Important: when using an FRFR sound system with cabinet modeling, you're listening to the sound of a miked speaker. That's a different tone 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". 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 in. It can take a while to get accustomed to the FRFR sound, but realize it's the same tone you hear at a concert or when listening to recorded music.
 
 
 
[[Connections and levels|More information...]]
 
  
 
=Cutting through the mix=
 
=Cutting through the mix=
  
Lots of players who start using a modeler and take it to rehearsals and gigs, using FRFR amplification, find it difficult to make the sound of the guitar cut through the mix. Even turning up volume doesn't always help. This is caused by two things:
+
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:
  
* [[Connections_and_levels#Close-miking|close-miked sound]]
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* [[I/O_connectivity_and_levels#Close-miking|Close-miked sound]]
* [[Connections_and_levels#Fletcher-Munson|Fletcher-Munson curve]]
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* [[I/O_connectivity_and_levels#Fletcher-Munson|Fletcher-Munson curve]]
  
 
=Input and output clipping=
 
=Input and output clipping=
  
[[image:Iii-meter-bridge.jpg|link=|300px]]
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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 means that a signal exceeds the limits. While analog clipping may sometimes be desirable, digital clipping is always nasty and something that you'll want to avoid.
+
Clipping can occur at various stages in the device.
  
Clipping can occur at various stages.
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; 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.  
  
* '''Input clipping'''
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; 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.
  
Input clipping means that the incoming signal is too hot.
+
See these links for more information:
  
It's okay for the Input LED to "tickle" the red. If it happens all the time, adjust Input Level / Input Pad in the setup menu. This control is NOT a gain control! It controls the signal-to-noise ratio and does NOT affect signal level, amp gain or tone.
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* [[I/O_connectivity_and_levels|I/O connectivity and levels]]
 +
* Wikipedia's <q>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipping_(audio) Clipping]</q> page.
  
* '''Output clipping'''
+
=Parameter paralysis=
 
 
The Output LED indicates that the signal level in the effects chain is too hot for the digital-to-analog converter at the end. Adjusting the Input Level will not solve this. Decrease the digital level somewhere in the chain, preferably using Level in the Amp block, or in the Output block.
 
  
[[Connections and levels|More about levels...]]
+
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.
 
 
=Parameter paralysis=
 
  
The sheer number of parameters and possibilities with amplifier and cabinet modeling can easily dazzle and confuse. It's handy 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.
  
The Band-Commander (clean tone) and Friedman BE (dirty tone) amp models, both at completely default settings, provide great baseline tones. Combine with cab model Legacy 103 at default settings. Listen with headphones or through studio monitors.
+
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=
 
=Tutorials=
  
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlFyLhwRJj0 Cooper Carter's Introduction to the Axe-Fx III, part 1]
+
''Always'' read the [[Owners_Manuals | Owner's Manual]].
  
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpwxNiOt6pQ Cooper Carter's Introduction to the Axe-Fx III, part 2]
+
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]
  
 
[[category:Axe-Fx2]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx2]]
 
[[category:FM3]]
 
[[category:FM3]]
 +
[[category:FM9]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx3]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx3]]
 
[[category:AX8]]
 
[[category:AX8]]
 
[[category:Sounds]]
 
[[category:Sounds]]
 +
[[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