axe fx question

[littleredguitars2]

Is the axe fx capable of going straight to an interface and getting good tones? I usually see people using them paired with other devices so I wasn't  sure. I'm considering going this route some day.

[CommonCourtesy]

You mean a recording interface? I believe it does and gets pretty close to a tube amp mic'd up to a cabinet. I'm very tempted to save up and get a Kemper cos I love the consistency of the tone and also reliability, no broken tubes on the night of a gig or different sounding tone cos of the room set up, recording studio, etc etc.

[littleredguitars2]

yes i meant recording interface. i have a focusrite scarlett 2i2. any reason why you'd choose kemper over axe fx?

[CommonCourtesy]

Probably cos I've played through a Kemper in the studio and enjoyed the sound out of that, Axe FX I'm normally associating with djent/metal bands probably but there are more and more lighter sounding bands using it now.

I'm really enjoying Sleeping With Sirens' guitar tone at the moment and I believe they use Kempers.

[JDC]

Can go direct via USB so it doesn't actually need an interface (unless you wanna use a different bit rate/same rate/whatever it's called)

Personally I'd just use one of the better free VST but that depends on the kind of tone you're going for

[littleredguitars2]

interesting. frankly i dont know cr@p about vsts.

[AndyR]

interesting. frankly i dont know cr@p about vsts.

This made me laugh out loud - I'm not alone then! Mind you, I do know what they are, it's just I do all my recording on a standalone BOSS recorder, so VSTs and such don't come into it at all...

Interestingly, I've just started recording with my Yamaha THR10C - using its headphone out into line-ins - OMIGOD!!! I've only been doing rough takes for arrangements, but it really does the business so far... So it works as a fine practice amp, as USB PC speakers, as speakers for an mp3 player, and now it looks like it might become my main recording amp.

[JDC]

looks up TSE X30 or TSE X50 on youtube and see where the similar videos in the side bar take you ;)

[AndyR]

looks up TSE X30 or TSE X50 on youtube and see where the similar videos in the side bar take you ;)

Those TSEs sound pretty good - if a bit metal for me...

But, alas, VSTs are no use at all if you're not using a PC to record - I'm not aware of any way of getting them into the signal chain unless you're using a PC.

I am likely to move back to PC/DAW recording one day, but it's quite likely I'd stick to using my out-board stuff for guitar tones because I've got used to them and it produces the sounds I want.

And especially, it produces the sounds I'm rehearsing and writing with when the recording gear isn't switched on. I find it a lot easier recording if the amp/sounds you've been using "away from the studio" can be used immediately when you're recording. For me, there's nothing worse than trying to do a take with a guitar sound/amp that is different than the one you've been playing for hours/days/weeks.

But, that's just because of how I work. If that had evolved differently, I'd probably be using VSTs.

[seancorker]

interesting. frankly i dont know cr@p about vsts.

Interestingly, I've just started recording with my Yamaha THR10C - using its headphone out into line-ins - OMIGOD!!! I've only been doing rough takes for arrangements, but it really does the business so far... So it works as a fine practice amp, as USB PC speakers, as speakers for an mp3 player, and now it looks like it might become my main recording amp.

I'm with you on the THR10. I record with it through the USB into a free sonar recording software package I got bundled with a USB Mike and its fantastic.

Has anyone used the Eleven Rack? It sounds great on the Utube clips I've heard and only seems to fall down on the quantity of pedal/amp/cab options compared to the Axe Fx. They are going for around £300 on eBay and seem a bargain at that price?"

[Spazi]

Yep you can use the Axe-FX II as a recording interface over USB.
I think the only reason why people use it paired with other interfaces is because most people tend to use the Axe-FX at home and at venues. They don't want to bother taking the usb and audio cables out everytime and switching between interfaces.
I use spdif so it's only one cable and it's plug and play :)
Speaking of the eleven rack, I've tried one. I liked it for what it is, but it's not an Axe-FX. It's pretty cheap though and it get's sold bundled with Pro Tools 11. Kinda of a bargain really if you're into Pro Tools. Eleven rack works as a stand alone unit or as a recording interface with a input for microphones as well.
Plugin wise I really do like TSE X50 and LePou plugins. Great stuff!

[nkay]

Plugins will work but they take up all your CPU and memory resources, and I always have latency problems with them when recording.  I prefer an external unit, right now I'm using a Kemper into an Apogee Duet 2 interface and it works well.