There was an idea I heard about a while ago that involved putting a direct box in the effects loop and cranking the gain before sending it to the speakers. As far as I could tell, that would allow the tubes to be cranked without shattering your windows. Anyone have any insight on this?
hmm, could work...or it could blow everything up
Laney's got some head with a load box built in and USB for recording for $500...might not be the quality you are going for, but pretty cool idea. I'm thinking about getting that & using impulses because it's still a little "preamp" sounding from what I've heard so far.
i'm more into geting an used 5150 or so, not really convinced about real amps with direct rec outs, USB etc.
Since the Torpedo emulates a power amp though...you could have 5 different tube preamps for the price of some of the heads out there that probably wont sound that much different once it gets to the other side of the torpedo...You got the ADA, JMP, Mesa Studio/Quad, SP77, Rockmaster, Randal RM4 (maybe better route with all the modules there). I always wanted to get the Rm12 and fill it up and have all the amp sounds you could ever want.
You wouldn't need the load box & could get the Torpedo Cab instead too. More $ for more preamps, some mods to get your desired sound, effects, etc...if there's a killer impulse, the Torpedo CAB can load those...lots of options. Get two Torpedo CABS and use different sounds with a delayed signal to the other, all kinds of fun hehe
i only tested the software torpedo thing, sounded not better than any other
IR host. it's supposed to have the same technology as the hardware stuff so i am not really sure about this. it would be the most simple solution though and i might test it. i definitively want a hardware unit though.
Very dumb idea, unless you like replacing tubes all of the time. Why this is a dumb idea is that the output of the preamp is low impedance and the input of the power amp is high impedance. What the direct box is essentially doing is showing the preamp a very high impedance, and the power amp a very low impedance. This is the opposite of a good idea. I'm not sure where this was posted, but I would reconsider that websites' advice on how to use tube amps from now on
good to know man!
like you i ihad an axe fx and made me want a real amp and cab just cause ive never played thru one. like you i also cannot play that loud cause of my housing but i went and got a 5150 and a mesa oversize straight cab just cause it was my dream rig for years. now its sitting in my room for decoration
but i still love that i own it. i still havent played the thing past 1 on the volume
exactly what i am afraid of, if i buy it i want to use it somehow, still a pretty badass room decoration!
Soultrash... Stick with the Axe FX II. Youll eventually regret it.
Preset leveling is really easy! All you need to do is get your tone to sound the way you want it and then set your amp volume to match your other presets. You dont control the overall volume with the Master Volume knob. That controls how hard the "virtual" power amp tubes are driven. With the higher gain amps, just set it around between 3 and 5. Anything more and the tone on the high gain amps gets flubby.
Ive also been right on the edge of wanting to sell my Axe due to the lack of Axe Edit with newer firmwares, but Ive thought about the other options and nothing else makes sense anymore. Ive made my mind up to stick it out with the Axe and just hope that edit comes soon. Once Edit TNP releases, patch editing should be easy again.
Seriously, if you would like assistance with creating patches, I can do my best to help you.
i'm ok with using the front panell for patches but it's real PITA compared to AE. i'll await FW10 and a hopefully soon release of AE. there's a few more things that i don't like about the axe. the product never feels finished, i often find myself waiting for a new release instead of working with the existing stuff...FW10 will bring the decision, if this doesn't work out well i really might head a head + a torpedo unit.
another thing that bothers me about the AXE II. it has too many options i personally consider useful, it could be minimizes and simplified but the trend seems to be in the exact oposite direction, not sure what to think about this.
An amp sim is never going to sound as good as real tube amp, so why waste your money and time? The real amp/loadbox/IR route really is the best way to for home recording, assuming of course you're looking you aren't looking for a ton of different tones.
that's one of the problems, i can't stick to just one spcific tone, that's why i
got the axe. on the othe rhand i am also not using every amp, more like 2-4.
^I don't think an amp sim like the AxeFx can't sound good especially when recorded. I doubt your listeners will care even slightly whether it's an amp sim or a real amp as long as it sounds good. As for me, I do prefer a real amp but mostly because I find it way more satisfying as a guitarist, not as a listener of the final product.
the sound itself is not the main problem here, it's more about the feeling,
simplicity etc. also, setting an amp/cab/mic up is just more pleasing than turning the axe on and loading a preset
Get rid off the Axe-Fx and get a Kemper, easier to use, imho better sounds, done
If you ever get an amp, profile it, if you got friends with nice amps, play them at their
place and profile them
not a fan of the kemper, may test it though. i haven't heard any
soundfile that sounded better than what i can get with the axe II.
also i don't like the concept, yeah, the kemper is tweakable but it's still
like having a VST and using presets only.
