Getting Fractal 3 Or Kemper.... Options

[Gabriel Leopardi]

Hello guys.... another thread about this cool devices...

I've own Fractal AX8 which I love for recording, but mostly for playing live. I've finally sold my Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier Head because I wasn't using it anymore, so I'm planning to reinvest this money on any of these ideas....


Option 1: Selling my Ax8 and going for Fractal 3.

Why? Because I consider Fractal 3 is a more powerful device which brings more configurations and possibilities.



Option 2: Keeping my Ax8 for live playing and getting a Kemper for my studio.

Why? Because Ax8 is very comfortable for live playing, and it seems that Kemper is the best option for studio work (Amps market, Easier to modify and adjust while producing)


What do you think?

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This post has been edited by Gabriel Leopardi: Jul 5 2019, 02:54 PM

[Madfish]

How about upgrading your studio PC, getting a bunch of great VSTs and spending what's left on beer (or Fernet)?
Overloud came out with their rig profile loader in latest TH-U. You'd get both Kemper+Fractal in one piece of software. I know, it's not exactly Kemper nor Fractal ...

Software approach surely has lots of benefits for the studio - cheaper to purchase, cheaper to upgrade, takes no space, no reamping.

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[Mertay]

...

Live performance sound being same/similar in concert is expected from audience.

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[Todd Simpson]

Should be no problem with a few good plugins to be honest.

Live performance sound being same/similar in concert is expected from audience.

The AX8 is a killer unit for live work to be sure. The unit that is slated to replace it is a bit smaller. If you like the ax8, then this may be a good option. It's got the new algos that are part of the new fractal rack unit, but it's got the same floor unit approach (just smaller) like the ax8 which means you don't have to tote a rack unit, and a separate floor controller, and then power both of them.

For live work, many folks love the kemper. If you are an axe fx guy though, you may miss some of the routing/fx features that are just part of fractal product. The kemper is more about pure tone and being able to exactly replicate a given tube amp without having to carry the tube amp. The tone is impeccable but it does lack some of the FX/features/routing of the fractcal. Add an expression pedal and bam the fm3 might be your dream rig.


have you seen the fractcal FM3 news?

The Axe-Fx III's ARES amp modeling is built into the FM3, giving it more than 265 models and well over 2,000 speaker cab impulse responses
https://www.guitarworld.com/gear/behold-fra...i-effects-pedal

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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Jul 5 2019, 10:36 PM

[Mertay]

Should be no problem with a few good plugins to be honest.

The Kemper in theory could sample plug-ins, considering if the converters are good results should be decent. With the axe-fx it would be a nightmare matching settings.

Also if Gab. blends amps/cab.s then things would be very difficult with Kemper. This is where axe-fx or Helix shines, you take the exact sound from the album to the stage.

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[Todd Simpson]

I guess it would depend on the user and the gear. For example, my current fave pluging for guitar is OVERLOUD TH-U which has a sort of "kemperish" feature that samples rigs. However, even before that feature, I have always been able to just "earball" it and build presets that sound like whatever I'm trying to match. For example, my 11 rack and Myasnikov tube preamp combo, I had to spend several hours building an overloud th3 patch that could past muster. That way I could use the 11 or the plugin during recording and have it sound the same.
Beyond, the plugin issue, I think the OP is really looking for something to use LIVE, so plugins are probably not going to be his solution. The FM3 is really the best option here if he wants the new Fractal Algos while keeping a floor unit form factor. But we shall see

Todd

The Kemper in theory could sample plug-ins, considering if the converters are good results should be decent. With the axe-fx it would be a nightmare matching settings.

Also if Gab. blends amps/cab.s then things would be very difficult with Kemper. This is where axe-fx or Helix shines, you take the exact sound from the album to the stage.

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[Mertay]

Beyond, the plugin issue, I think the OP is really looking for something to use LIVE, so plugins are probably not going to be his solution. The FM3 is really the best option here if he wants the new Fractal Algos while keeping a floor unit form factor. But we shall see

Todd

Agreed, but considering it will be used for the next album the device having re-amping would be the next best thing to plug-ins for studio usage. It may be wise to check if the fm3 has that.

sort of out of topic but if it were for only gig's, I'd probably recommend a combo amp to be honest. I mentioned this before, PA guys make the best sound with X-amp+sm57. If any problem occurs with a processor, most of them will likely make things worse.

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This post has been edited by Mertay: Jul 6 2019, 12:14 AM