I think Cliff hinted a while back that there would be a basic model of the AxeFx coming out in the future. Also some guy visited his shop a year ago and said there was a copy of an AxeFX plugin running on his computer but I think Cliff decided not to release it.
New Fractal Audio Product in 5 day's
- Thread starter Boerboel666
- Start date
Kazrog
Kazrog, Inc.
Ermz, you're a good mix engineer, and generally a good resource of information on this forum, but I'm going to have to bust you on this one, in case anyone makes the mistake of taking it as gospel (as you have a habit of being right most of the time.)
Impulse response technology was never "designed" to do anything with audio whatsoever - convolution and most of the equations used were developed in the 1800s, in fact. There are a lot of applications for convolution, far outside of audio DSP, including graphics, RADAR and other defense related technology, etc.
What you're saying is akin to saying "multiplication was never designed to adjust volume" - however, when you mix in the box, that's exactly what your computer is doing. Your computer has never heard audio in its life - it's happily crunching numbers for you all day, period.
Convolution and related algorithms (Volterra kernels, FFT, DFT, etc.) are mathematical tools that in the right hands can be used to create a near endless variety of different kinds of software - and these equations existed long before computers.
Right now, in the digital audio space, there is a stupid pissing match happening between so-called "black box" techniques (convolution, Volterra, etc.) and "white box" techniques (circuit-based modeling) for emulating the sounds of analog equipment. Ironically, nothing in digital is truly "white box" - nobody is emulating things at the molecular or atomic level (that I know of) for example, so these terms are extremely relative. Even circuit-based models make the assumptions that certain algorithmic processes adequately emulate various electronic components found in analog audio gear, for example.
There is nothing intrinsically superior or inferior about white box or black box modeling - both can be great or terrible - it really depends on the specific implementation and the needs of its audience. Also, both approaches can be (and often are) blended into so-called "gray box" solutions.
Back to your point about "customizing" impulse response technology itself, there's a variety of possible approaches to nonlinear convolution and other related technology, and all of them add up to very high CPU usage at the moment, which is the primary reason why you don't see more solutions based on this kind of approach. Nebula 3 is (at the moment) the bleeding edge of black box, and is very impressive at a few things - a hint of some of the stuff you'll begin to see later - and I'm sure it will continue to improve along with other solutions.
As has been noted earlier in the thread, SSE2 has made a lot of things better for audio DSP, and the next 2-5 years should see the rise of some more powerful, exciting, and dramatic FX plugins.
Sorry for the OT - I'm looking forward to the Fractal announcement.
- Apr 17, 2010
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I wish I understood half of what you lot are talking about ! Kazrog would you care to hazard a guess at what sort of product Fractal are coming out with .
Just interested to get a software guy's take on this .
Just interested to get a software guy's take on this .
Kazrog
Kazrog, Inc.
I honestly haven't got even a decent guess. At the end of the day, Fractal is a business - and a very unique one at that - so I don't pretend to know what goes into their business decisions. It does seem that they spend a lot of time on their products and they certainly don't rush things to market - they like to get things right, which is what sets them apart from larger companies who mass-produce products and report quarterly earnings to the stock market. I've got mad respect for them and I'm sure whatever it is will be killer.
sprack
Thread Killer
Kazrog
Kazrog, Inc.
sprack
Thread Killer
drawnacrol
7Slinger
I have to hand it to Cliff, all he has to do is post "Countdown 10" on the fractal forums and it gets spread across the internet. No need for any marketing campaigns/NAMM Show etc etc. It think its either an Axe Fx Lite, Axe Fx Ultra MK II, Axe Fx floorboard, Axe Fx VST/AU with Audio Interface/dongle or most likely a massive Firmware update + no beta Axe Edit.
Ermz
¯\(°_o)/¯
Fair enough, Kazrog. I probably should have simplified my statement/intent without any pretense of wanting to say anything technically-related whatsoever, because obviously I'm no researcher in mathematics, nor coder etc. I understand an impulse response refers to the reaction of any dynamic system when presented with a change (such as an input signal), whether it be in relation to loudspeakers, DSP, physical spaces or the economy, but that's about where the understanding (and caring) ends.
At its core my statement is, and still stands as 'I do hope somebody finds a way to improve on the current widely-accepted, linear impulse response rooted, method of emulating guitar cabinets in a way which would lead to acceptably competitive results vis-à-vis physical guitar cabinets in professional audio engineering situations'. Whether it's white box, gray, black - I have no investment, nor do I care about their divisions nor particular strengths or recommending arguments. I just want something that can convincingly fool my ears into believing its satisfied all the criteria of modelling a guitar cabinet adequately well for the physical guitar cabinet to become a relic for recording purposes.
Many have already mentioned the need for more computational power, which makes the situation understandable. I was hoping (key word) that advances in DSP, or parallel processing would have started to allow developers to overcome this.
At its core my statement is, and still stands as 'I do hope somebody finds a way to improve on the current widely-accepted, linear impulse response rooted, method of emulating guitar cabinets in a way which would lead to acceptably competitive results vis-à-vis physical guitar cabinets in professional audio engineering situations'. Whether it's white box, gray, black - I have no investment, nor do I care about their divisions nor particular strengths or recommending arguments. I just want something that can convincingly fool my ears into believing its satisfied all the criteria of modelling a guitar cabinet adequately well for the physical guitar cabinet to become a relic for recording purposes.
Many have already mentioned the need for more computational power, which makes the situation understandable. I was hoping (key word) that advances in DSP, or parallel processing would have started to allow developers to overcome this.
MarkG
Member
I'm hoping for a lite version without all the effects. Just the preamps and impulse loader would suit me just fine! Perhaps improve the impulse loader like others have said...
If they can hash out a lite version for a competitive price, it could potentially obliterate Line6 etc. when it comes to preamps.
If they can hash out a lite version for a competitive price, it could potentially obliterate Line6 etc. when it comes to preamps.
TheDude
Jocke Skog
JeffTD
Senhor Testiculo
We're working on it.
You bastard when is it coming out!? I've been waiting for the Jocke box for months now.
xFkx
gain induction
If it's an axe-fx lite/jr i'm on it. Otherwise it'll propably be way out my budget like the current model is
Ermz
¯\(°_o)/¯
LeSedna
Mat or Mateo
drew_drummer
Dancefap
I've said it elsewhere, but it strikes me there are a lot of people out there like me, who love their valve amp(s) and just want a high quality effects unit with a few bells and whistles and no stupid limitations, without the high price tag of the Axe-FX.
I could justify £1000 or less on a high-end pedalboard. But I cannot justify £2600 on an Axe-FX and MFC, when 70% of the capabilities I would NEVER use.
Functionality wise the Pod HD500 totally cracks it. But sonically, it is an inferior unit. I tried one with my Sig X, and the tone-suck was UNBELIEVABLE! It was very very bad. All my low-end disappeared, and the gain reduced dramatically. Not usable.
I could justify £1000 or less on a high-end pedalboard. But I cannot justify £2600 on an Axe-FX and MFC, when 70% of the capabilities I would NEVER use.
Functionality wise the Pod HD500 totally cracks it. But sonically, it is an inferior unit. I tried one with my Sig X, and the tone-suck was UNBELIEVABLE! It was very very bad. All my low-end disappeared, and the gain reduced dramatically. Not usable.
drew_drummer
Dancefap
aha the price has gone up quite a bit since I bought it haha. From 1399 euros to 1699 euros in three years. I might even make some money if I sold mine.
Now things are getting interesting!
http://www.g66.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1008&Itemid=61
http://www.g66.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1008&Itemid=61
