AXE FX Or Quad Cortex – What Is The Best Amp Modeller
In today’s video, Paul From The studio Rats is joined by Lee Abraham to check out what is the best of the best amp modeller.
Loads of companies now make amp modellers, but the two names that are alway at the top are Fractal Audio Axe FX and Neural DSP Quad Cortex.
In todays video we try a bunch of tones on both of these fantastic units to see which of the amp modeller kings is best.
The Studio Rats are core band members Paul Drew on guitar/production/mixing, drummer James Ivey and Dan Hawkins on bass. They collaborate with singers and musicians to produce radio-ready songs.
#AXE #Quad #Cortex #Amp #Modeller
Originally posted by UCW-S0JAM1Rtte4lU0HsD8BA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC9SOXF_55E
I have an FM3 and rarely use it. Great tone, but I need to have my computer hooked up to it to use it. It’s just too awkward on the unit itself. I ended up getting a Fender TMP and it’s so much easier to use that I choose it almost every time. I just plug in, use one or two presets over my practice sessions and have a smile on my face the whole time.
I am on my 4th fractal .
Currently using a FM9 for gigs, and have a AxFxIII in my studio. Would never go back to toting amps.
Someone noted that fractal has a less efficient interface… axedit on my laptop is amazing and intuitive.
Look at all the artist using fractal, there’s a reason.
Sorry, but for me this is not an exact comparison/presentation:… I already could hear from my MacBook Speakers, that both units with all sounds have a different Room to it. Confirmed it with my Headphones. Panorama is not the same as well. This leads to a total different image of the size of the sound. Maybe thats the best tweaked sound including efx you can get. Then fair enough. But I think, it would have been more honest, to compare the units without the efx as well. Or invest in the same size in the efx block. Thank you for your video and the effort and time. Usually like your videos- this one is a little off
❤Quadcortex finish beautiful songs????❤
To answer your question, yes people want to take them to gigs. Go to any metal place, out of all ive saw most people if using a modeler are using a quad cortex. Never saw a fractal in the open.
Would have been interesting to see the QC blind compared in this way to the FM3 and FM9 rather than the FX-III. Not just because of the price difference, but more as a device to go gigging with. Sure, the FX-III is amazing, but it's also a rack unit and much bulkier and heavier than the QC in spite of the latter's power supply issues, etc.
If I understand, you could use Quad C as floor effects, replacing a pedalboard and use your existing amps but also, if needed, send everything to the house and have no amps. I don't think you can use Fractal just for the effects with existing amps – ?
I have both and I like the QC amp sound better but I really like the flexibility, tweakability, and software of the AxeFX. I also like the FX on the AXE more but the QC effects are also great.
I mostly use the AxeFx as my soundcard these days and I have the QC, tonex, kemper, Etc patched through the AXE so I can use the FX if I choose to.
Hi Paul, have you ever tried the Dimehead NAM-player?
I agreed with all choices. Only problem is Fractal are a ripoff. The FM3 is really weak on processing power – especially at that price.
I have both. I love both. After days of hours of tone tweeking, I actually like the clean tones better from the Fractal and I like my crunch tone better from the QC. My setup has access to any combination of 4 different rigs all at the same time. The Radial JX44, It's totally overkill, but it's fun. Nice video, guys.
Lee was full of the Boss IR-2 not that long ago. So what’s changed?
I think the pretty much impossibility of creating patches on the Axe itself outways the minimal difference in sound quality for me. Thats why I got a QC, just 2 minutes with the device and you have a great sound. No need for a computer or anything.
I just switched to QC from Headrush so I'm blown away. The decision for me was the Neural online and captures. Also the Gojira plugin influenced me.
I only have the Axe Fx, they both sound really good. I would bet you could tweak both to compensate where one sounds better. The Ax fx reverb definitely sounded way better but it mainly just sounded more stereo so ???? you could probably do that in the cortex. In General in this demo the QC just sounded abit more mono. I happen to like the deep dive tweaking… In my view the more parameters you have the better the end product ( your patch) should be better. Plus modlers help you with your real world amps too because alot of stuff that works inside the bix does work out of the box in some capacity!
I noticed the third fret on the 5th string buzzes on that Suhr guitar which makes me feel better about my Donner dst700 which I paid 300$ and has the same buzz on a few spots lol
After 4 months with cortex I'm back to fractal. Cortex very noisy and fractal effects is much better. Both have not ideal modeling my tube gear.
I have amps and modelers galore. I will say, I use my cheap $99 Mooer M1 the most, because with the AXE and Cortex I find myself doing more updates and tweaks than I do playing 🙁 But I have a buddy in an actual real touring band, and he uses the Axe, and some of his other mates use a Kemper.
Sounds so good! What IR are you using
quad cortex kicks the axe fx a$$
Axe????
I happen to own the QC, FM9, Helix, Kemper profile stage, and the Fender FTMP.
When it comes to work flow I’d say Helix, QC, FTMP are all tied for 1st place. Kemper and FM9 come 2nd.
When it comes to amp like feel, Kemper,FM9, QC are triple tied. FTMP,Helix tied for 2nd place.
Sound /effect wise coming out of FOH and IEM, it all depends on band dynamic , style of the bands your with,and application .
I had a FOH sound man who love my sound and when he found out it was my Kemper I got two thumbs up. So one day I brought my helix without him not knowing and he gave me a great compliment on my rhythm and lead tones thinking it was the Kemper. When he found out it was the helix, that Kemper snob-ish facial reaction from him got humbled. My final conclusion, they are all great units and it’s all a matter of work flow and which one are you comfortable working with on the fly.
One very important thing the guy should know is that the FM3 does not have the same input as the AF3. If you are going to go Fractal save the extra cash and get the FM9 or AF3. The input feel could be a deal breaker.
Another important thing that 99% don't realize is that those deep editing features on the amp block can make any amp model sound exactly like you want. It's a bit of a learning curve but once you understand what they do, you are now your own amp tech that can mod your amps. The stock amp settings are not always the most ideal. For instance, the power tube bias is usually set too low. Bump up that bias on marshall amps to about 70% and ….there it is.
I do think the axe fx sounds better in this comparison (I currently got a QC on order). However, I had the FM3 and the onboard UI is horrendous. It would be interesting to see how fast he could make tones he is happy with the on both units without the editors. Scenes included
I had the Fractal and sold it to get the Quad Cortex, in my comparisons the QC outshined the Fractal and was easier to use. Here the Fracral sounded better ? … I ran them through 2 Laney LFR FRFR Speakers
Kemper is the best……
I think the compressor is on for your QC! That's why the dynamic vibrance was not there! Also might want to adjust the input gain! Cheers!
Original Line 6 Pod is still the King ????
Joke ????
I sold my Axe Fx3 when I got my QC. I tweaked my Friedman BE100 and I wanted to capture its sound. My Axe Fx3 could not …
If "flogging a dead horse" had a picture that woulf be it. Suspicious also. Fractal probably invested here. Please Paul, you are the accurate guy we all follow for real opinions don't mess with grey advertising.
I judge how good a modellers/profilers effects are via the Spring reverb effects.. Kemper + Axe Fx have the best, followed by QC + Fender TMP. The rest are lacklustre…
Fractal ftw I had the QC it just didn't work out for me
Neither. BOSS GT-1000, and whatever other BOSS thing has their MDP amps. While other modelers "model" real amps, or fantasy amps in a real way, the MDP amps do a new something ONLY digital can do. And some of them sound really really good doing the new thing. Their most recent versions (ultra and optima) are my favorite digital models overall, across all modellers. In fact, through a proper real life cab, they might be my favorite amps of any kind. And a bonus is that BOSS has the lowest modeling latency that I know of.
I think that the QC is perfect for a one man band scenario due to its capture abilities, however I also think that the modeling sounds slightly superior in the Axe FX. To each his or her own I suppose.
JCM800 on Quad sounds so clear and articulated, way better than axefx imo. But the feel is where it fells short.
Can u guys recommend a guitar for home use only. Mainly rock. £650-£1000
Just seen the Steve via pedal
Board run down by sweet water. Guess what Vai is using for effects….Axe Fx
Paul knew already axe fx is top notch for effects ????