Axe-Fx III "Cygnus" Sounds | How to get the S.R.V. Tone

#axefxiii #srvtone #cygnus
Harnessing the power of Fractal Audio's newly released firmware 16 "Cygnus", I'll show you how to get the Stevie Ray Vaughan tones dialed in. I'll touch on how to get the S.R.V. clean tone as well as his signature Tube Screamer overdriven tone. Using the Axe-Fx III's Vibroverb AB model, along with a couple of other key ingredients, I'll guide you in designing your own preset that just may have you abandoning your tube amps for good. Be sure to let me know what ya think in the comments section! And as always, please post any questions you may have and I'll do my best to answer quickly. Thanks for watching!
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[@blasher4]

Not sure if it sounds like Stevie. However, it has helped in the process of me broadening my horizons with different styles and helping me grow as a musician. I'm usually a rocker/metalhead but now I have my own (built-from-scratch) Blues tone in my Axe Fx that was inspired by this video. Thanks!

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

I actually agree, not exactly like Stevie. When I made this video I wanted to use a stock cab so everyone could create something in the ball park. Truth is, If you want to absolutely nail the SRV sound, you NEED the IR I mentioned in the video. Nothing else comes close. Really glad to here this was helpful for you in your process! Thanks for the comment!

[@ChrisLopezpallooza]

I had to play with the drive and my levels a little to get it cleaner, but not a ton. And it sounds killer. Thanks so much!

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Glad to hear this led you to an inspiring tone! There’ve been several significant firmware updates since this video, particularly the drive block and speaker impedance curves. I’m gonna have to revisit this one as I think I can get even closer with these incredible Fractal Audio updates!

[@brandonproctor3639]

Great tones and great playing

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Very kind of you, thanks !

[@johnkelley5940]

Love the tone you get. I went through this, not replicating the settings, but hitting each of them to get as close as possible. Even with my Strat the tone sounds very different than what you are getting. The amp is not nearly so pristine sounding, and my tones don't sound nearly as huge as what you are getting. I am on the latest firmware as of Dec '21, 18.0.3. I also have a Jeff Beck Start with noiseless pickups. I have no idea why I am so far away from getting your tone.

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Hmm…Well a few things have changed in the firmware upgrades since this video but it should still get you fairly close. I’d say if it’s not as pristine as you’d like, try lowering the input trim on the amp block. If you want a more weight from the sound, try bringing up the proximity in the cab block. Let me know how that plays out. If it doesn’t have the impact you’re hoping, maybe you can share a sound clip of the tone you’re getting and I can get a better idea of what’s missing. Keep me posted!

[@ibanezrg320fm]

I had this problem too with Sonic Sound Studios Deftones KZbin tutorial. We both have the same guitar and mine sounded nothing like the video. I don't understand why the sound would change with identical guitars and nothing crazy going on. Both guitar to Axefx to computer for axe edit. I felt really disheartened and gave up.

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Hi, there are more than a few reasons for this. The big ones being: - Pick up height - String gauges/condition - Guitar setup/action - Input sensitivity on the Axe Fx, should just tickle the red - Double check your global output EQ settings are flat - Gain staging. Levels on the Axe as well as gain on your audio interface. - Cables. Particularly cheap cables or very long cables can really change tone. - Input block impedance setting. Hope this helps!

[@deborahgibson2466]

Wow! Your technical knowledge is impeccable!!! 🤯 Super sexy sound ❤️

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Very kind of you to say! Agreed, it is a sexy sound. The Fractal Audio folks have turned the Axe Fx III into a sex machine with this latest firmware! 😆

[@nomisv.8421]

Very great tone!

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Yes, lots of fun to play! If you like these tones I highly recommend trying the Super Reverb Vibrato model. Input gain 5, bass low around 2, mid up to about 8, treble 8-9, bright switch off. Works really well for that pushed Fender sound!

[@nomisv.8421]

@@ColinGaileyGuitar Cool, thank you very much. I will try all next week :)

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

My pleasure, let me know how it goes!

[@r.llynch4124]

Please do more of these for the AX3. I love the breakdown on edit too. You got great talent

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Thanks a bunch! I’ve been busy gigging but will definitely get back to making some Axe vids soon. Anything specific you want to see?

[@bryanblackburn9673]

Tyler grund had SRV down on the AFXII someone needs to redo that patch

[@dustinarnold79]

Wow great tone

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Definitely one of my favorite models in Fractal land!

[@julianmedranoa]

Great work! i’d like to see if you can get the clean tone of Kirk Hammett live in the latest years, it has been very difficult to me to replicate it with the Deluxe Verb Vibrato.

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Thanks! That sounds like a fun tone challenge. Like the tone on Nothing Else Matters? Can you link to a video that’s a good example of that sound?

[@julianmedranoa]

@@ColinGaileyGuitar for sure, Please check this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mJyqmXSBjJV4fKs Or this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqOqiIF8pax_a6c I tried to fin another one better but I couldn´t. The hard part for me is that compression. It´s very interesting.

[@shredderbetter]

Hey, great job!! can you upload it to AXE change???

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Thanks! I’m actually re-working this one a bit, found a couple of ways to improve upon it. I will definitely upload something in the near future!

[@bluesdano]

I love what you have done with this preset Colin. Was just checking in to see if you where able to upload a preset for this yet?

[@matteoquintavalle1]

hello, how can i add a second reverb from Quick Build? i have updated the Edit FM3 to the latest version but I can see a few differences from yours - anyhow i have only 1 Reverb and i cannot add in parallel the second one - any idea why? thanks

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Hey Matteo, unfortunately the FM3 only allows one Reverb block at a time due to CPU constraints.

[@dustinarnold79]

Just got my fm3 trying to dial in srv/mayer tones can't seem to eq out the harshness

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Yes, that can be tricky with single coil tones. If you’ve already tried the suggestions in the video, don’t be afraid to make some more extreme cuts in high treble, the amp graphic EQ, or the speaker high cut. Alternatively, you could try a PEQ with the highest frequencies band set to a blocking or shelving EQ. Start with the cut at 10kHz and slowly bring it down until you start missing the high end. Using the Looper block is really helpful here so you can dial in the EQ and hear the effect while the looper plays. Let me know how this goes!

[@bluesdano]

Where you able to upload the patch to axechange?

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Not yet. I’ve actually been working on updating this since there’ve been some big changes in the recent firmware updates. Would’ve had it done this week but unfortunately Covid finally caught up to me. Hope to be back at it in a few days.

[@glenspardello]

Sounds great. Are you going into your X4 from the AXE?

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Yes the new firmware is really amazing! I am using the SPDIF out from the Axe to the digital in on the Apollo.

[@glenspardello]

@@ColinGaileyGuitar great!

[@totc6196]

@@ColinGaileyGuitar do you use a converter?

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Yes, I use a cheap SPDIF to Toslink converter from Amazon.

[@totc6196]

@@ColinGaileyGuitar I use the same I must have a weak link in my chain getting a very non 3D sound.

[@dustinarnold79]

Is this preset available anywhere?

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Not at the moment. This was done on an old firmware and needs to be adjusted for some of the new features. Also, I wasn’t totally happy with the way some of the tones were sounding with the chorus effect. A new preset for this is definitely on my to do list!

[@TheSpiritOfLight]

you must be kidding, right? this sounds no where near to srv, like -AT ALL. you got it all wrong since the very beginning, you should have used an original / vintage us made fender stratocaster and not what you got in your hands on that video. A real strat is already sounding naturally close to srv without that much of tempering with blocks, it only needs some tiny little adjustment with a pedal and an amp. i have obtained MUCH better an closer results to SRV's tone with less of blocks on my FM3 and a real FENDER strat. this video is MISLEADING, it is not SRV tone at all.

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

I understand your frustration here being that SRV has such a celebrated sound. The intention of this video was to show the average user how to get in the ball park, not nail it exactly. That would be misleading. Most of what is presented is not my opinion but facts gathered from dozens of articles and interviews related to his set up. Truth be told, I’ve gotten a LOT closer using other things but…Not everyone has the vintage Fender Strat, heavy strings, pickups, and very importantly, a custom impulse response. As the Axe firmware updates have progressed, so has the approach, being that we have more tools at our disposal. In my humble opinion, SOME of the tones in this video are about 65% there, the more overdriven tones closer to 80%. With the gear mentioned above, a custom IR, and the new options in the latest firmware, I believe it’s possible (and easier) to get MUCH closer. Anyway, just my two cents. Thanks for taking the time to comment. By the way, are those your original compositions on your KZbin channel? Really love that sound, great stuff!

[@xchump]

SRV tone video using a chorus? It completely ruins the tone...

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

If you’re watching this on a phone, I totally hear what you mean and agree. With actual stereo speakers it just spreads out the stereo image without sounding like a chorus. Stevie got this effect using a Dytronics Cyclosonic Panner. It’s worth experimenting with if you’re on headphones, studio monitors, or running a stereo rig. In mono, I would absolutely bypass it as it does ruin the tone.

[@xchump]

@@ColinGaileyGuitar Well I'm listening on nearfield monitors (Yamaha HS7's) and the chorus effect is pretty pronounced to my ears. Much more than just a stereo image. But maybe I'm just very biased since I can't really stand the chorus effect in general :)

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Ahh interesting! Well you’re certainly not wrong. In hindsight I think there was a bit too much chorus. I’m not much of a chorus fan either but I do love that little hint of oscillation he has on Riviera Paradise. Thanks for taking the time to share your opinion, I appreciate it!

[@xchump]

@@ColinGaileyGuitar yeah I see what you're going for! But hey cool channel though! Don't let my chorus negativity ruin your vibe! Have a good one! :)

[@ColinGaileyGuitar]

Thanks! I don’t take it as negative, quite the contrary. I really appreciate the feedback and enjoy the opportunity to converse and share opinions. Cheers!