ERXP - Release Party - Reactions

[Benoni]

Originally Posted by Hotcrazyfruit

Wont it just make me salivate and want it even more? :P

Nick

Yeah you are right, maybe you should just stick to this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZGn-nn8bBA

[TieDyedDevil]

I was going to wait until I got home from work, but instead opted to go to work a bit late. (See how I didn't blame you Avid guys for my being late for work...? )

There were a couple of trivial annoyances with the purchase process:

1. I didn't realize that I already had a login for the Avid store, this being my first purchase ever.
2. It seems I had to enter my address and phone number multiple times.

Like I said: trivial. Total time lost: about a minute.

The download and installation was utterly simple and flawless. I used a MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard. I had already installed the latest ER drivers.

The whole process, from walking into the room to having the ER cabled back to the board and ready to play, took about 20 minutes. That put me right at the time I was supposed to have left the house for work.

So I did what any of you would have done: I took my favorite guitar out of its case, plugged headphones into the ER (so as no to wake Mrs. TDD) and began to explore.

First thing, I added speaker breakup to my favorite patch (based on the Tweed Lux). It really takes the edge off of the amp breakup tones, which is just what I was hoping this feature would do. (I can't wait to play this through the PA tonight.)

Next up, the new digital delay. Very cool. I love the old-school sound of the tape delay, but the sound and features (pong and ducking) of the digital delay will open up new realms for me.

Finally, the new chorus. This'll definitely satisfy those who whined that the original chorus/vibrato - with it's one-knob chorus control - didn't give them enough creative range. Oh, and it sounds awesome, of course...

That took up fifteen minutes, and I would've missed my boss's weekly staff meeting had I dallied any longer with the ER. I reluctantly powered down the rig, put my guitar back in its case, and drove to work. Only to find that the staff meeting got pushed to tomorrow...

Oh, well...

I'm really looking forward to trying out the new Fender amp models tonight. I'll have to spend some time exploring the new factory presets, too. And the SVT: I can't wait to play that through the PA (with sub, of course). And... and... and...

Maybe I should just go home "sick"... <cough cough>


One observation regarding the UI: I set my ER display to show just the knob positions (without the numeric values) because I have a dislike for "unnecessary" precision. However, there are enough "mode" settings in the new features that I'll probably change that display setting so that I can see the full configuration at glance.


I really want to thank the Avid guys (Chris and The Chimp, plus all of the other good folk who contributed in their own essential ways) for the great work you've all done in creating and delivering the ERXP. As a computer user since long before the early days of "personal" computing, I've become a bit jaundiced over the years by having paid for so many upgrades that delivered more value to the vendor than to the customer. You guys have turned that model on its head: the ERXP delivers substantial new functionality at a very reasonable price.

[VaiSatchAtrucci]

Originally Posted by Benoni

yep. This is what i thought when I first heard the Red Channel

Yeah - it's just got such a great tone that so different than the other amps I typically use, but yet it's so familiar and yet not a completely radical departure from the tones I normally dial in so it still feels like home and my Lynch Mob licks never sounded better... LOL ;-)

Psst... don't tell anyone but I would've paid $99 just for the addition of this model alone... ;-)

[orange squeezer]

Boy, the Axe fx minions at GP will be a swingin' their purses at us with extreme prejudice.

Axe Fx user: Ha! you have to pay for update.

Axe Fx user: Mine is better as it was more money.

Axe Fx user: It is not a guitar unit, it is an Orange.

Axe Fx user: Ha we have a foot controller dedicated to our unit- and under 1000 dollars!

Axe Fx user: I would not dream of playing stairway with that unit.

Axe Fx user: My unit is a monster.

Axe fx user- Hmmm.... Eleven R... is it a pirate unit??

Questions:How many Axe fx user does it take to change a lightbulb?
Answer: they cant or it will void their warranty.

Question: Why didnt the axe fx user take the Axe Fx to church?
Answer: the people there would not worship it.

Funs over- time to Play!

[ratter]

I'm enjoying the new amp flavors a lot and the speaker breakup, compressor, and PEQ are welcome tweaking additions. The RB Blue and new plexis/45 are very welcome additions for me. The JTM45 through the 20w cab is a thing of beauty...haven't even gotten to the other new amps yet...

[jhumber]

Update/installation was flawless.
Initial reaction:
- the 4x12 65w cabinet is incredible. It makes all the other 4x12s sound tame in comparison.
- White Boost is great
- new delay very cool

Right, time to dig into the amps....

Great work Avid!

[philcan]

Just wondering are there new presets or do you swap out amps

[DAR Fritz]

To VSA-

We almost lost you to the "dark side." I was worried about you.

Welcome back!

Fritz

[Benoni]

Originally Posted by philcan

Just wondering are there new presets or do you swap out amps

yeah there are some new factory presets. But IMO you will get better sound by setting up your own. The factory presets never really do it for me personally, but then again no modeler ever nails the metal tone i seek. you can always use them as a good starting point.

[SloeGin]

Really enjoying the new JTM and plexi's, really incredible those Marshall tones, really warm and authentic!!
New cabs rule too! Gonna try the new effects and speaker breakup now

Thanks alot Avid for the update! It rules