Devin Townsend: On Tones, Heaviness, and the Fractal Axe-Fx III

Heavy Devy, ‪@dvntownsend‬ himself, is backstage with ‪@coopercarter‬ for a tour through his tones and to share his thoughts on tones, composition, and the perfect dirt bike!
Purchase your Fractal unit at www.g66.eu and join The Complete Fractal Audio Master Class Series at classes.cooper...

[@SJAhern]

Devin is one of those guys that just gives us knowledge for free and loves to do it.

[@remx15]

100% he's awesome for that

[@cosmiceon]

Such a friendly and kind person. Met him at the first Kiesel Connect event. He was really kind to me and my girlfriend, So much respect for him and his work, what an incredible voice too!!

[@ShredmasterScott]

I’m in love with the oceans of echo Devin uses. People are always telling me to turn the verb down….no way!

[@ulfingvar1]

Echo/reverb is GOD!

[@wiilamsteinkamp7905]

Devin is one of the few guitarists that consider/ talk about their tone in a Front of house/band context.

[@LuizFeReis]

One of the first things the man says in the video is something on the line of "do what you like for your art" and the comments are still a bunch of dudes going "this tone sucks, too much reverb, I would prefer X or Y, blah blah blah" 🙄🙄 guys, no one is trying to stop you from plugging a Fender Stratocaster into a Marshal JCM and playing some 70s rock or whatever, if you love it just do it. Devin is just sharing what he likes and how he works, that's it, you don't have to love it, it's just an interesting perspective and something from where you can learn from... just chill ffs

[@jasonjohnson4170]

I like when he said, "Fuck those guys."

[@Imfreehowaboutu]

Last night I went to Dreamsonic. Devin was amazing. Not only did he sound great but his showmanship and crowd engagement was unmatched.

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

Right????? He took control of the building and connected everyone! Hope to see that brute again soon!

[@snail415]

And he has delivered that - as an obligation - for decades. He is the consummate overdeliverer.

[@samvimes5124]

I'm a complex man. I see Devin talking about using high end digital multi-FX in a guitar context, I grab a jotter, and several different coloured pens.

[@stevenreinhard9375]

Love how much reverb is still there after Devin starts talking again at 2:36 😅 stays until 3:22 😂

[@CCH7540]

I just love this guy. Devin is a rare talent and seems like such a fantastic dude on top of it. He has every right to have a big ego, but never seems to feel like he's all that self- important. Always love any DT interviews.

[@russgoos4628]

Yes, this! I really connect with Devin's approach to the Fractal vs. actual amps/effects. I just saw Devin last week on the DreamSonic tour and can confirm that his (and Mike Keneally's) Fractal rigs sounded top-notch. Huge. Clear. Crushing. Delicate with finesse for some parts, too.

[@frankierodriguez8661]

MK is another true musical giant

[@groutfinger1]

Firstly ill apologise id never heard of Devin (My Loss) till my rock Mate in the pub told me all about him. I am also just about to buy an axe 3 so imagine my surprise when I started watching his song build vid and he uses Fractal! Really enjoying this amazing musician. Keep up the good work.

[@ARamseyGuy]

Wish Devin had been given this much room to speak in the Beato talk! This rules!

[@rifflix]

I have so much respect for this man as musician and a person. He is extremely funny but also very articulate and honest and let's not forget a great musician. Thanks Devin

[@TheCyberMantis]

Devin loves his massive reverb.

[@Healcraft]

LoL just as I read your comment, hes talking for like 30 seconds after stopping playing and I can still hear it

[@PeterDunbar]

Amen Devin! Gotta love that Evertune as well. I've been a believer since 2015 and just grabbed an FM3 and it was the best decision of my life! God bless brother.

[@friedporchetta]

I’ve been debating putting an Evertune in my Schecter for years, haven’t been able to commit haha

[@bobwarren4707]

Thank you Devin for doing this. It's always great to see what your thought process is for your amazing art.

[@jeremythornton433]

This is just amazing! I love how he breaks down his music for us mere mortals.

[@jimmypennell8831]

Im am pleased to see that Devin knows how his gear works and can talk about his setup on this level. I think all guitar players should know what is going on with their sound on a technical level. I feel like a lot of guys fall back on their techs for that stuff. It's probably Devin's experiences as an engineer and producer

[@frankierodriguez8661]

The most powerful innovative player today. period. First time I saw Dev live was as Steve Vai's sidekick on the Sex & Religion tour, many years ago. he was little more than a kid, and He just blew my mind then as a singer and guitar player, so the moment I could (no internet or so back then). I started following his amazing career, then I saw him a few times solo and with his DTP and EVERYTIME he is capable of surprise and amaze me. I love you to the bone Devin Townsend!

[@shankflanker]

I've learned a lot of your music by ear and by watching various videos of yours over the years and yet you demonstrated new chord shapes in Truth that I never would have thought of. Your layering of sound is so deep, I swear I'm hearing something new every time I listen to one of your songs. Your talent is truly staggering. Thanks to all for this video.

[@fl00d69]

Metal's undisputed mad scientist. And also my favourite guitar player / vocalist of ALL TIME. The literal GOAT.

[@Swampster70]

The most important part is the last minute. Find what really works for you. Forget what everyone else says - just find what makes you, you. That said, awesome video. Devin's interviews are always a great watch. Always lots of technical info with a side of why he likes what he likes, which is important. It makes his choices relevant to the equipment he wants to use. I'm a luddite that still uses tube amps and I would never part with my little Mesa Mark V 25 but the Axe FX III has my attention because of people like Devin. The oddity is that I am a network engineer, I rely on the latest and greatest at work to move as much information as possible yet at home it's still "Ug. Me caveman. Standby on!!!" :)

[@edrosenquist6541]

Thanks so much for your insight and sharing your time with us, Devon.

[@JeffBarberDigideus]

22:30 - I like big RIFFS and I cannot lie!

[@keithtannoya5356]

I remember having lunch with Devin at the Vai academy.. very inspirational... This video was just as inspiring.. I'm looking at upgrading to the Axe FX III but here Devin ... you once again inspired me in a new approach to song writing!! Thank you !!

[@krosyn2990]

Had the honor of seeing you in Detroit with Dream Theater and Aninals as Leaders, with my father! Truly was my first experience! And as a new fan, every song ive heard is absolutely wonderful and beautiful! And fucking kicks ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@I_AM369]

@8:00 👏🏽🙌🏽❤️ just spoke to me so heavy, and to see the time at eight minutes!! Exactly before he states this beautiful fact. I am a life path number 8. Thanks D! I needed to hear that. Thank you thank you much love blessings to you and yours.

[@ulfingvar1]

Yes, it sound glorious, Dev. And YOU are a glorius human being/musician/composer.

[@AW-ge7so]

Devin just keeps getting better, what a fucking awesome musician and human.

[@Netherscorn]

(Devin, setting up his FX) "Anyway, tone sounds good...now I'll just set the reverb falloff to, oh I dunno, seven or eight minutes should do it, yea?" lol ;) ...gotta love it.

[@CLIFFLIX]

I friggin' LOVE Devin. The dude is just incredible. He is also one of the nicest people I have even met on planet Earth.

[@CaptainFantastik1]

Love his perspective at the 8 minute mark. It's my own ignorance that kept me away from his music for many years......the use of keyboards and all that effects drenched stuff. Now my perspective is different and Devin's music has really opened my eyes and inspired me to drop the old biases. I've discovered that i'm gravitating to lush music like his and i'm inspired to try and create in a similar way. Thank you for the music, Devin.

[@madcoach43mad19]

Devin, you're the Best ❤

[@johnmcintyre2123]

I really admire Devin. Unique inspiring perspective. He’s both the weirdo/hero/prodigy and the everyman.

[@formallynamed85]

Damn man dev has a way to really set a mood or get your head to a new reference spot in time or space

[@HenryDarr]

Learning Devin loves Dirt Bikes makes me so happy 💯

[@itcantrainallthetime9886]

I understand his thinking. Sometimes you just know things, but you cant really put it to words to teach others, you just know it.

[@ashleyjackson8538]

Real education . Thanks Mr Devin

[@momogris6159]

A great musician of our time and a very good professor!!!!!😊😊😊😊😊

[@HansAaraas]

Gotta love Dev

[@markcarleton6647]

I’m new to Axe-Fx III and am enjoying the discovery / learning process with it. I like how you explain the process that you use! Great stuff! Thanks for sharing!

[@MOAB-UT]

Get Coopers course. It will help. Congrats. You bought the best there is right now. I got a FM9 T.

[@markcarleton6647]

@@MOAB-UT Thanks. Will do. I’ve heard the class is really good.

[@heidirosenz]

Just incredible insight! Time to learn Kingdom on guitar.

[@akaboo69]

Great video. Love the dudes philosophy and process. I use a Helix but axe fx is a beast

[@Taylor___]

@21:45 That’s a proper Deftones style tone! Love that ❤

[@PaulMatthewMusic1]

That Stormbender is gorgeous!!

[@batteryincorporated]

We love you Devy!!!!!!

[@colinhall1216]

inspiring as always, thx Dev

[@BobbyLaneProductions]

a true artist! love the out take at the end.. cheers guys!

[@SHR3DtheSky]

So profound. Cheers!

[@ericskinner7355]

Cool you and Mike are working together!✌️

[@rahl1233]

Thanks Devin. I cannot describe how much of an inspiration you are… and you are such a down to earth bloke.. Good onya!

[@NightEmbers]

That whole riff is so big its slow and takes effort is really cool. There's this saying Big Ships don't make Sharp Turns and I always interpreted that as large corporations or generations of people are very slow to change and hes essentially taken the same metaphor and applied it to guitar riffs which kinda blows my mind

[@Herfinnur]

7:37 best way anyone's ever put that sentiment into words

[@billylindsay5712]

Thank you for this, finding your own tone is essential and personally live mine is an SLO30 into an OX with some pedals in front of the amp. But, in the studio I invariably use my AxeFX 3. ROCK ON!

[@57Techboy]

Thanks Devon, eloquent as usual.

[@timwilliams2035]

50 and had two bikes xr50 and later Xr 650 nothing in between. wore them both out. all you ever need. Nice guitar lesson

[@ChaosPootato]

Long live Dev!

[@mindseye4914]

8:00 AMEN!! I am so sick of the purists obsessing and fussing over the fkn amps and heads and cabinets and the routing and the re-routing of the signal and a 100 permutations of what is the best way to get the most pure tone. Fuck those guys....as Devin said. If your whole goal is to convey your emotion as authentically as possible then whatever sound and tone (as artificial or as processed or as single source as it may be) that works for you to convey that emotion, that is all that bloody matters.

[@carliniguitar]

Good work with the backup audio - would've been such a bummer to lose his lapel mic and have no audio for the end there!!

[@cazma42]

End of the solo giving off some Close Encounters vibes 😮

[@robertoso8796]

i love you devin you strapping old lad

[@ArchersDreamz]

Enduro bikes!! Love Dev.

[@bend5390]

Great Lesson

[@zackantonioli8313]

I love that the guitar delay lasted the entire intro monologue

[@klekrfaqer2114]

I find it very difficult to understand how this man never fails to impress and inspire me...without releasing anything of my liking since 2005...

[@majesticpbjcat7707]

That was a twist I wasn't expecting!

[@Neelfy01]

All hail Devy 🤘🤘

[@elianejoly5352]

Thanks you so much !👩‍🦰

[@babagadoush1]

Hell yes

[@stevejames2198]

Guys sorry if in was already mentioned in the comments, but can anyone identify the guitar Devin is using early on in the vid here? It looks like an Allan Holdworth style Carvin or Keisel? Thanks!

[@steveweilhart2359]

Great insight Devin your live tone is great - me and bro's saw yall in Cedar Park , TX opening night of your current tour you were awesome - vocally you were the strongest and most compelling for sure - Dream Theatre is great but man their singer was not very good -

[@RolandDeschain1]

Devy is the Tone God of our time.

[@AudioAtmos]

Devin is such a great musician. He speaks and refers to music in the way I can relate to. He reminds me of Robert Fripp in that way. It’s not so much about notes and theory as it is expressing something much larger. I guess we’re close to the same age because he’ll always bring something up like Enduro cycles that were huge when I was young.

[@denniskrottje012]

One preset, one ir. That is also my approach. Keep it simple 👍🙂

[@meghj3329]

Wow ...wow

[@thatguyinaband6341]

Devin is so badass! he should definitely collab with Gran Hechicero they are my favorite 2 artists of all time!

[@juanmastrangelo4257]

who is that man, you are always bringing him up in devin videos i can't find him

[@thatguyinaband6341]

he's this crazy artist from here in Dade, plays Afro Cuban punk kzbin.info/www/bejne/op7Ogn-hetWiZpo CC is English it's the weirdest wildest shit I've heard in decades!@@juanmastrangelo4257

[@vinnieRice]

Great video. Great musician. Live it's absolutely crushing but with incredible clarity. Fabulous stuff. The Roundhouse show in London (10-12 years ago?) completely blew me a way.

[@diarrhea_splatter]

I wonder how much of Devin's insights are used to implement features in certain products.

[@Awake2Evil]

The unspoken do not number two on the tube or you do not enter back but back to guitars sounding good man sounded really good dude lol

[@jeromedichiara7793]

- how much reverb do you want ? Devin : - Yes

[@Metal_666]

Can spot the ax-fx tones like the ole abyss studio's albums - y'all are brutalizing me

[@donny7290]

Devin Tonesend

[@Fraeg]

they broke the mold after they made Dev. Still so bummed I didn't get to see him when he had to cancel his Empath tour cause Covid. Had Tix for San Francisco.

[@petesorensenguitar]

Devin: hi i'm dev Devin's reverb trails: hi i'm decaying

[@gitarmats]

Most musicians talking about rhythm: "So it's syncopated" Devin: "So it's like it's constipated"

[@alexhall6375]

Great salesman!

[@devilcookie9924]

I wonder how his ambient projects doing. it should be really good

[@t3hgir]

7:40 so true lmao

[@bubbahotep5439]

Hevy Devy ROCKS!!!!!

[@zauselbart]

I think a lot more guitarists in metal should play around with open tunings. You can do so much cool and creative stuff, even in the extreme music like death and black metal.

[@Dennisbluschke]

Hey, they forgot the headstock at your guitar. Need to return this asap. ;-)

[@chrisdaviesguitar]

I was under the impression that you liked Mooer gear. Have you not tried the Mooer GE300?

[@jasonkerr931]

Are his presets available anywhere?

[@t3hPoundcake]

Devin and Neal Schon are the only two players who use a sustainer/sustaniac feature that almost never end up getting those harsh "WAAHH" sounds when at the apex of the sustain and switching between notes without picking the note. It's like this distinct noise as soon as you change to another note without picking and it ruins the immersion of the sustained notes for me, and it happens to everyone except these two for some reason idk how they do it. I have one on my guitar and I love playing with it but I can't use it for orchestration because of that, I can only use it to pull harmonics out of already held notes and stuff.

[@klekrfaqer2114]

I know this is the wrong tree to bark up about this, but if anyone in camp G66 and/or Fractal Audio has means for this, it would be really great to have FOH engineers explain their preference for a single IR. And don't get me wrong, I'm not debating the rationale at all, I'm genuinely interested, and willing to educate myself to become somewhat less of a pain in the arse for them. I mean, having a consistent, or at least predictable low- and top end is crucial by all means, and that is only fair to ask for, but could that not be achieved with a ruthless LPF and HPF at the end of the chain? To me, clean, rhythm and lead tones have always felt (as in eyeballing ProQ's spectrum analyser with a minor OCD) so wildly different in the midrange, that I thought the room/venue characteristics are tolerant enough between say 120 Hz and 6 kHz as long as there are no obvious outliers and resonances. Is that not the case?

[@LuizFeReis]

Just imagine the situation without the digital simulation aspect: the guitarist brings 4 amps with 4 different cabs and 4 different mics to stage. That would already be 4 different channels on the foh mixing console which each being equalized differently individually. It's way easier with only 1 amp 1 cab 1 mic, on the soundcheck the engineer just ask the guitarist to show him their clean/rhythm/lead tones, they make sure the 3 volume levels are ok and find an eq that work for it. Cabs/Mics (IRs) are the things that impact the tone the most so having the same will make things easier for sure, especially on Devins particular case where they have a bunch of keyboards, orchestrations, choirs etc. so placing things in the mix is already difficult. Maybe in a power trio scenario it wouldn't matter that much, just make sure the volume levels are the same between all your different cabs and that's it 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@klekrfaqer2114]

@@LuizFeReis I find "the situation without the digital simulation aspect" irrelevant, because we could now use vastly different tones on the very few channels we send to FOH. My understanding has been that "each being equalized differently" is lost more-or-less the same way, either by using a single IR, or by using multiple IRs that are EQd at the FOH desk with a middle-of-the-road EQ curve. I would consider the question to be whether one tries to keep the "artistic intention", or would go for less variables at the FOH. (And don't get me wrong, I could totally back less variables live.) Regarding "Cabs/Mics (IRs) are the things that impact the tone the most" well, related to the same type of tone, I agree. So when it comes to e.g. a high gain palm mute-oriented tone, the difference between a 2x12 with greenbacks through a ribbon mic and a 4x12 with V30s through a 57 will make a greater difference than that between using a 5150 and a dual rectifier but with the same cab + mic chain. But I don't agree that the difference between a clean, and a high gain amp tone is similar enough to make the differences negligible, and to consider the rest of the recording chain the key characteristics of the tone. Especially when it comes to clean vs. high gain tones, there is a world of difference already before hitting the cab. As a sanity check, I just checked the following setup in a DAW: - A pink noise generator (which is admittedly not the single best approximation of a guitar DI) feeding six tracks, each of which run an instance of the Diezel VH4 plugin - Track 1 is channel 1 of the VH4 with a clean tone and a clean-specific IR - Track 2 is channel 3 with a rhythm-specific tone+IR - Track 3 is a lead tone like above - Tracks 4-6 are the same presets as on trakcs 1-3, but without the tone-specific IR and using a single IR - At the mix bus, I added a LPF + HPF and checked the spectrum at the very end of the chain while A/Bing between the tone-specific IR and the shared IR tracks of each tone There are certainly differences, but they are not that huge that I would expect them to cause harm in any room that the FOH desk couldn't address reasonably simply, especially nowadays, when dynamic EQs find their way into mid-range consoles like the SQ series. All that said, again, I'm not trying to convince anyone about this not being necessary; I'm sure the FOH guys Devin has worked with know their stuff way better than I could ever learn, so really, I'm trying to educate myself here, it's just that I wasn't convinced yet by your reasoning.

[@LuizFeReis]

@@klekrfaqer2114 yes, makes sense, and I agree with you. As I said you'd have to soundcheck the clean, rhythm and lead tones individually anyway, so they might as well have different IRs. I guess it would start to be a problem if you had a complete different tone for each song (which is pretty easy to do with units like fractal). But that again could be solved with some tour prep, rehearsal and pre production. But unfortunately not many bands have the time and money to do those kind of setup for a tour. When they have this time and travel with their own rig, you can do anything you want because you basically just need to make sure the venue PA sound right so your show will sound right. But most of times bands don't have this and even don't have much soundcheck times at venues, so making it the easiest you can could be the best approach to try to guarantee a consistent good show everywhere you play.

[@Thee.Instigator]

Nice guitar at beginning what kind???

[@TFT-bp8zk]

My Carvin HH2X is very similar but a lighter finish. RIP Allan Holdsworth.

[@TheFatBeaRr]

Om ❤ 🕉️

[@benjaminburke9597]

What guitar is that? It’s beautiful!

[@cnaeter]

Carvin. Alan Holdsworth used em

[@bdamotta]

Release the GP sound already! ;)

[@DriveSMR]

#Legend

[@Hellseeker1]

My Engl Invader 2 is a do all amp and it has tubes. Cost about the same as your AXE FX that's just modeling what the Engl is.