Edge switches to Universal Audio digital amps?

[sgrain]

last week i went to a studio off a friend here in Portugal , he bought one of these pedals that emulates the vox I've been listening to and they're brutal

[wildmorphlaw]

This makes me sad. Don't get me wrong- I love all the new tech in guitar sound reinforcement. I have never had a better sounding rig than I do now with my Axe-FX. However, I never had a rack full of vintage gear and 1960's Vox amps to plug into. I totally understand portability and ease of use, but I worry about the sounds. When I watch JT Live from Paris, or Live from Sydney, I am blown away by the tones and sonic clarity. But, when I put in 360 Rose Bowl, or Experience Tour Paris, I can't help but think that some of those old tones aren't there. Not sure if it is the source, or something in post production.

I'm sure someone just like me was pushing the "panic button" when they heard Achtung Baby for the first time. But, to be clear, I am not worried about crazy new tones and distortions. I hope the Edge goes crazy on any future album. I would just like my Bad, Pride, Streets, etc. to keep that old school sonic luster.

-Phil

[mvanzant]

Hi Phil,
I've enjoyed your videos and sound you've created over the years. In you last post, am I to understand that you use the Axe-FX but only for effects? No amp usage? Or do you have a tube amp (Vox, etc) that you use instead? I thought all of your sound was 'in the box' of the Axe-FX. I may have misunderstood your post.

I also bought an Axe-FX II (now III) due to the post examples and videos related to this site. I still can't play some of the old songs as you mention as well as you but still trying to get there.

I do agree on the sound that Edge has recently has substituted some 'clarity/cleanness' for the tube sounds. But he's always experimenting anyway.

Thanks
Marty

[wildmorphlaw]

Hi Phil,
I've enjoyed your videos and sound you've created over the years. In you last post, am I to understand that you use the Axe-FX but only for effects? No amp usage? Or do you have a tube amp (Vox, etc) that you use instead? I thought all of your sound was 'in the box' of the Axe-FX. I may have misunderstood your post.

I also bought an Axe-FX II (now III) due to the post examples and videos related to this site. I still can't play some of the old songs as you mention as well as you but still trying to get there.

I do agree on the sound that Edge has recently has substituted some 'clarity/cleanness' for the tube sounds. But he's always experimenting anyway.

Thanks
Marty

I am 100% AXE-FX. I used to run into a Line 6 Flextone that I "dressed" like a Vox with a grill cloth, etc. Now, I use only the AXE-FX and I use either an Atomic CLR or an EV PXM-12MP. The Atomic has a little bit better sound than the EV, but the EV is WAY lighter and slightly smaller footprint and is louder, though neither monitor lacks for volume.

I also have a Vox AC-30. It is a 1994. I had it NOS'ed by Mercury Magnetics in California. So it has the handwired transformers and stuff. It weighs like 85 lbs or something. It is too heavy for gigs. I use it here and there for my own enjoyment- like, I will just get my A3 and will plug into the A3 direct into the AC30 and that is fun. Or I have Ebayed a 2290 and an SDD3000 and played with them direct into the amp for a week and then relisted them for what I paid. Basically a free rental. I'm not sure I really know how to use the AC30. They are CRAZY loud.

-Phil

[Voxguy76]

This makes me sad. Don't get me wrong- I love all the new tech in guitar sound reinforcement. I have never had a better sounding rig than I do now with my Axe-FX. However, I never had a rack full of vintage gear and 1960's Vox amps to plug into. I totally understand portability and ease of use, but I worry about the sounds. When I watch JT Live from Paris, or Live from Sydney, I am blown away by the tones and sonic clarity. But, when I put in 360 Rose Bowl, or Experience Tour Paris, I can't help but think that some of those old tones aren't there. Not sure if it is the source, or something in post production.

I'm sure someone just like me was pushing the "panic button" when they heard Achtung Baby for the first time. But, to be clear, I am not worried about crazy new tones and distortions. I hope the Edge goes crazy on any future album. I would just like my Bad, Pride, Streets, etc. to keep that old school sonic luster.

-Phil

Have to agree 100% with Phil on the above. I’d argue that even that the change in sound occurred within the Vertigo tour. I believe that is when Edge started using a lot of DM4 pros for his main overdrive sounds? Not sure. An excellent example of some of his best tones was as Phil mentioned, on the JT Live from Paris. Just amazing clarity and fullness of sound. I’m not saying his sound is worse, I’m just saying something has changed since then. Me personally, I prefer the older sound.

Curiousity got the best of me awhile back, and I purchased one of the Universal Audio Ruby pedals as one had come up for sale locally. I mean with all the hype surrounding this pedal, and hell…Edge uses one…how could it not be great? So my experience was that I found it to be slightly shrill, very touch sensitive, but not a sound I was too happy with. I AB’d the pedal with a Tech 21 Liverpool which I have, and found that I preferred the Liverpool by a very large margin. The Liverpool to my ears was much warmer sounding and just as touch sensitive. I’ve not owned a vintage AC30, but I have owned a few new AC30’s and AC15’s so I am familiar with the sound. My sound nowadays is pretty much 100% Fractal FM9. It took a bit of dialing in, and mixing and matching IR’s, but I feel that I’ve found an ideal sound for what I like within the FM9 that I couldn’t replicate using a traditional amp, especially at that volume. I should mention in the last firmware release of Fractal, they added a new Brilliant Vox AC30 model. To my ears this model replicates an Edge base AC30 tone perfectly. I think if anyone has one of the newer Fractals and was debating on purchasing a UA Ruby, you would be best to forgo the Ruby and try the Brilliant AC30 model instead. But that’s just my opinion, and what do I know lol

[Voxguy76]

In addition to the above, I didn’t notice a drastic change in his tone at the Sphere. BUT to be honest, he could have been playing through a POD GO and I wouldn’t have really been bothered. Seeing them in such fine form, excited to play, and knowing that the days of them touring are probably numbered, the whole concert was a whirlwind of emotion. Was an absolute amazing experience and well worth the small fortune it cost to go see them in Vegas with the wife.

[mysteriouswaysboy]

just tried this pedal. like a blizzard of nails. dont like it

[ER-2]

Is the Fractal Brilliant Vox AC30 model available for my Axe FXII ?

[Voxguy76]

Is the Fractal Brilliant Vox AC30 model available for my Axe FXII ?

No. It's only in the new firmware of the Fractal Axe Fx 3/FM9/FM3