Eleven Rack + HD = AWESOME!

[Peter Duemmler]

I really like Eleven (the plug-in, I don't have the Rack version), too, but the Axe-FX (Ultra) is in another league. It replaced all my amps since I have it - it's that good. And the ability to use user cabs (IRs) is a very important feature that Eleven is missing in all its incarnations.

Peter

[spicemix]

You already made a thread on this:

http://duc.digidesign.com/showthread.php?t=257558

I will link rather than re-post my thoughts...

(Oh but I should add the plugin includes a speaker breakup model but the rack does not.)

[EvilElfBoy]

Originally Posted by KingFish

Ok, I was wondering if there is "More Stuff" in the Rack unit, as far as "Modules" or pedals, amps, mic choices etc... then in the PI

(I don't "THINK" there are ANY - "Pedals" in the PI??) Just wanted to know if the rack was "Better" then the plugin, which it sounds like it is.

That would be correct, a lot more FX and pedal options and all very good emulations. I believe they are going to be adding even more in the future.

[theaero]

Originally Posted by Peter Duemmler

I really like Eleven (the plug-in, I don't have the Rack version), too, but the Axe-FX (Ultra) is in another league. It replaced all my amps since I have it - it's that good. And the ability to use user cabs (IRs) is a very important feature that Eleven is missing in all its incarnations.

Peter

I'll also include I have the ultra. Its almost identical to the standard, but has a little bit more ram and CPU, as well as a couple more blocks/FX. The standard I'm sure is great, but if you are going to get an Axe-FX, spring for the Ultra. There's almost no reason not to.

[EvilElfBoy]

Originally Posted by spicemix

You already made a thread on this:

http://duc.digidesign.com/showthread.php?t=257558

I will link rather than re-post my thoughts...

(Oh but I should add the plugin includes a speaker breakup model but the rack does not.)

That original post was kind of just like "hey I got this, let me share what I do know about it". There were a number of people asking about how it worked with HD and I hadn't been to that point of experimenting with it. Now that I have used it with HD and see the bigger picture and it was better then what I originally thought about how it was going to work. It's far more integrated then I originally anticipated. The Eleven PI and the the 11R are way different. Both equally as cool, but the 11R is the PI on steroids. It worked very well with HD and was really inspiring to use, and gives really great options to change the sound if thats not what works for the song.

I'm really interested in checking out the AxeFx Ultra. I think that would be a great addition to the already great arsenal I have. I like having choices, I just don't like them taking up space! Pi's and rack-mounts from here on out for this guitarist.

[WernerF]

With all of the guitar amp modeling stuff it's really a matter of personal taste when it comes to the way that they sound. That said, I'm a guitar player and I can't find a single amp in Eleven that I like. I wish that I could. It's just that nothing comes even close to the real stuff that I have around. I checked out the Axe-FX and it didn't do it for me either. None of them have any mid range punch which is where, to me at least, the heart of great guitar tone lies. These things are mostly just distortion with no tone, or clean that might as well be a DI. Sorry for the negativity as it sure would make life a lot more convenient if these things sounded, for once, actually as good as the real deal.

[EvilElfBoy]

Originally Posted by WernerF

With all of the guitar amp modeling stuff it's really a matter of personal taste when it comes to the way that they sound. That said, I'm a guitar player and I can't find a single amp in Eleven that I like. I wish that I could. It's just that nothing comes even close to the real stuff that I have around. I checked out the Axe-FX and it didn't do it for me either. None of them have any mid range punch which is where, to me at least, the heart of great guitar tone lies. These things are mostly just distortion with no tone, or clean that might as well be a DI. Sorry for the negativity as it sure would make life a lot more convenient if these things sounded, for once, actually as good as the real deal.

I had the same exact reaction with the Eleven PI. I thought it was ok for some things but not for others. I heard another user said that they had an experience using 11R digital into HD and they said it sounded punchier. I really thought how can that really be? But it really does! I think it's the combination of the true z circuitry and the subtle add ons in 11R, I used a gray box compressor and a graphic eq stomp box. Night and day difference! It was a real dry rock guitar tone that I got with the Plexi amp. I would say that if you have a chance to try one out go for it. I was skeptical too!

[Dizzi45Z]

Originally Posted by KingFish

Ok, I was wondering if there is "More Stuff" in the Rack unit, as far as "Modules" or pedals, amps, mic choices etc... then in the PI

(I don't "THINK" there are ANY - "Pedals" in the PI??) Just wanted to know if the rack was "Better" then the plugin, which it sounds like it is.

You are right. No pedals in the plug-in. But from what I see on the videos, it appears that the Eleven Rack does have pedals.

[smfelton]

I never have understood why if someone likes something they must be a plant, if they hate something then they work for the opposition. For me that's part of the point of the forum.
Ok I think I better put my aluminium foil hat on to stop them sucking my brains out..............

[Crank1000]

Originally Posted by theaero

Well I originally bought my Axe-FX as an FX unit. The converters are TOP notch, and the effects are crystal clear. Blew everything I have tried away. Eventide, TC, etc. I was going to use it in a Egnater M4 + Triaxis/2:90 Rack. This was awhile, ago and I had a HUGE arsenal of tube amps and rack gear. Refrigerator sized racks and amps everywhere. Anyways, so I managed to score one (this was when there was a 6month+ waiting period). And as I had read and hear, the effects were STELLAR. Absolutely amazing. Like... I can nail Lexicon reverbs and delays with this thing. There are so many parameters that allow me to adjust, etc. I've actually ran vocals and drums, etc through it, because of some of the lush, filling verbs and delays I've gotten out of it.

Anyways, so naturally, I buy it, and I'm going to try out the amp sims. You know. Just cuz. So my first thing I did was an A/B test with the triaxis using the AxeFX going into the Mesa 2:90 into a Mesa 412 stack. After some tweaking, I could get my *Exact* triaxis tones. Same dynamic, and fullness. Everything. It reacts to my volume and tone knobs like a champion. I felt ripped off. I sold my Triaxis within the month. Since then, I started using it as a preamp, and FX unit.. eventually started selling more and more tube amps. Then I started using it for direct recording, but could never get truly perfect tones like I was as a preamp. Then I discovered user cabs. You can upload you own cab impulse responses, and when I figure out this, I replaced the decent, but not amazing impulses that came stock in the Axe, with different ones in all of my patches. Tweaked to taste, etc and now I'm literally getting every sound I could ever want.

But wait, theres more.

The customer support. The best. Ever. Firmware updates, CONSTANTLY. We are talking fixes and patches and new features on a monthly basis, almost always, and often times, closer to a weekly, and sometimes, even daily basis. Not to mention a feature section of the forum, where you literally ask for a feature, people vote on it, and if a lot of people want it, it often gets added. You can also request amp sims for Cliff (creator) to add in. They are also working a native Mac/PC editor (its in public beta) so you can adjust all the AxeFX parameters via midi on your computer. Its great, because I have sold almost all my tube amps now, and I use my Axe-FX for almost all guitar tracking, because I am confidant I can get almost ANY tone I could ever want with the AFX, and now I can have Pro Tools / DAW running, and adjust my parameters, etc. Its great for reamping too, and much better, native reamping support is supposed to come soon in a future firmware update. The editor is probably the Axe-FX's weakest point honestly. Then again, it is in beta and they started working on it very recently, but personally I just don't like the UI.

I dunno. I am not affiliated with fractal in any way, but if there is one piece of gear that has proven to be INVALUABLE, its the Axe-FX. I will likely never sell it, until the next hardware generation of the Axe-FX, which has been said won't happen for years and years.

I love my Axe-FX. Check out fractalaudio.com/forum Lots of great info and tips etc. Its worth the 2 grand it costs. Honestly, its worth far far far more than that. Its a $10,000 unit that you get for only $2k

EDIT: I too love all things guitar. Unfortunately the Axe-FX is really killing that for me. I used to have so much fun with 1390572 different tube amps and FX units and pedals and gear and giant racks, etc etc. Now Its all consolidated into a 2U rack space. Cliff posts on Huge Racks Inc, Rig Talk, Harmony Central, etc. Check out those sites for a lot more info and praise on the AFX as well. Sadly enough, its not as well known as it should be.

You mean to tell me there are companies out there that when people say their product doesn't work the way they want it to, they actually listen? And they don't blame the user for not knowing how to set it up, but instead, they just fix it? Call me incredulous...