Fractal Audio Axe-FX

Fractal Audio Systems Axe-Fx is an all-in-one electric guitar preamplifier/effects processor made by Fractal Audio Systems LLC., in Plaistow, New Hampshire. The processor is a two-space rack unit. The first version, called simply Axe-Fx, was introduced in 2006. Axe-Fx Ultra was introduced in 2008. Both of these models were discontinued in June 2011 when a new unit, the Axe-Fx II was introduced. The Axe-Fx is what is considered a modeling preamp, simulating the sound of other well-known guitar and bass amplifiers, as well as including some original amplifier sounds and designs, as well as speaker cabinets, guitar effect pedals and studio effects. The Axe-FX has gained a steadily increasing reputation through online guitar forums such as sevenstring.org and usage by musicians such as Fredrik Thordendal, John Petrucci, Steve Vai, Devin Townsend, Jari Mäenpää, Dweezil Zappa, Guthrie Govan, Marty Friedman, Marc Okubo and Periphery, amongst others.
Features
The Axe-FX is a digital preamplifier and effects processor for electric guitar and other instruments. The unit consolidates a collection of amplifier simulations, guitar speaker cabinet simulations, and effects into a portable hardware format that can be used for music performance, studio recording, or other applications.
The unit was originally introduced in 2006 simply as "Axe-Fx." A model released in 2008 as "Axe-Fx Ultra" contained more DSP processing power and onboard memory. In June 2011, Fractal Audio Systems discontinued both products in favor of the "Axe-Fx II" which bundled additional upgrades and improvements, announcing that the new unit has "twice the power of the former flagship, Axe-Fx Ultra."

The programmable Axe-Fx offers flexibility through a large number of adjustable parameters and various routing capabilities.
Fractal Audio Systems also created accompanying computer-based editing software called Axe-Edit and a MIDI foot controller called the MFC-101. The graphical user interface of Axe-Edit allows users to create their own "patches" and save or share them with other users.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu