School me on the AxeFX Ultra

monquixote

I'm potentially going to be getting a lend of an AxeFX Ultra to see if it would be a viable solution for me to use as a replacement for my rig. 

It would be used in a cover band context using IEMs 

What do I need to know, look out for etc?

Educate me....

dindude

You will spend you're life getting excited about firmware updates. On the positive side the AxeFX thread would then at least have a 3rd contributor.

Roland

dindude said:

You will spend you're life getting excited about firmware updates. 

Not with the Ultra.  The firmware was frozen at v11.

Moltisanti

would you use IEMs for you and the unit direct to the PA for FOH ?

If so it already eliminates 75% of the decisions with an Axe FX about routing, cabs, power amps, FRFR etc etc,

So then you're left with: 

- Foot controller - any midi one will work, how many buttons you need will dictate the size and complexity. I used a Ground control pro which I liked because it was relatively cheap (£200 ish used) , easy to program, sturdy, was phantom powered from the AXE FX, and could be set up for patch changes on the bottom row and IA (instant access) switches on the upper buttons.

- Expression pedals - for volume or wah, or just about anything else...

- Tweaking amps, cabs, effects, order of stuff

That last one is a biggy

monquixote

I would like to just use the Axe to the PA, but I might need some sound reinforcement from an amp of some kind.

Drew_TNBD

You'll probably need to grab a poweramp of some kind. Perhaps just an EHX 44 mini poweramp, that's what Steph from The Deftones does in a live situation.

The rest of it is programming your patches to do the things you want live.

You should be aware that the Ultra doesn't have scenes I don't think, and does have a bit of a gap between patches when switching. I think that was one of your bugbears iirc.

monquixote

If the gaps are big it will annoy me so that's one to keep an eye on.

What do you mean by scenes?

Will I be able to set up a patch and then modify it with MIDI control changes to add a simulated drive pedal etc?

If I decide it's for me I suspect I'll be investing in a Matrix or similar.

Roland

monquixote said:

If the gaps are big it will annoy me so that's one to keep an eye on.

The gap is a fraction of a second, but may be too long if you are switching sounds between phrases.  I tackle it by having all the sounds I want for a song within the same patch, and turning them on and off with midi changes.  On my footboard I have three switches which, whatever patch I'm in, are assigned to Chorus, Drive pedal, and Solo.  The first two are single changes.  Solo can trigger a whole load of changes including switching amps, bypassing chorus, changing EQ and Reverb settings.

Scenes does the same sort of thing.  On the AxeFX II it can be used to change settings that aren't midi assignable.  I've never felt the need to use it.

Fiftyshadesofjay

It may be worth getting hold of some high quality IR's for it, as even though the Ultra is technically inferior to the Axe 2/Kemper, using some great IR's can help close the gap to a certain extent.

monquixote

Well it's landed. 

Spent the evening tinkering with patches. 

Quite impressed so far.