I was working on some reverb algorithms and some graphic EQ stuff and kind of got frustrated with the PC environment. Actually, I had started writing stuff for PCs. It’s going to do all these things,’ and then get to work to it?ĬC: It wasn’t really one day I just said ‘hey, you know, I’m going to make an Axe-Fx.’ I was tinkering around with some algorithms. At which point did you decide, ‘ok, I’m going to make this unit. IC: Obviously, there was a big step between the idea of something like the Axe-Fx and actually starting work on a project like that. I tinkered with radios, and then started making my own guitar effects and all that stuff. I used to try and make my own things and sometimes it would be successful. In those early days I broke more than I fixed. That’s all I did – guitar and screwing around with electronics ever since I was a little kid. IC: At which point would you say that you decided to pursue a career in engineering?ĬC: I knew ever since I was a kid I was going to be an engineer. He said Tom was an eccentric guy, putting it mildly, but very smart and very driven. I actually worked with a guy at my previous company who did Tom Scholz’s electronic designs for him. It’s kind of like a cartoon version of it. It didn’t sound anything like the Boston album. IC: I think they had a unit that came out in the late 80s that was supposed to model the Boston guitar tone.ĬC: Yeah, everyone had a Rockman in those days. I went out and bought myself a Peavey T-15 and a little crappy practice amp, and started playing until my hands hurt every day. That guitar tone was like ‘wow! What is that? That‘s the most amazing thing I’ve ever heard!’ And that was probably the last time I ever picked up my clarinet. There you go! And then one day, the turning point was when I heard Boston’s first album. IC: You know, I played flute in sixth grade…ĬC: Ok, I played clarinet and saxophone. I’m a bit embarrassed about what I did play so we probably won’t go there! Suffice it to say, I was somewhat adept at the woodwind family. I was fascinated with electronics from the time I was like eight years old, and I was a musician from about the same time, although I didn’t play guitar in those days. Which was first for you, engineering or guitar playing?ĬC: Kinda both, you know? I started working with electronics when I was just a kid. IC: So I want to track back and find out a little bit more about the man behind Axe-Fx. We have Australia, Japan, another distributor just brought on in South Korea, and probably China soon as well. We just brought on a distributor in Singapore. We do have dealers, of course, worldwide. tours so it’s a good location to have a dealer. and Hollywood, is huge and a lot of artists go through there on their way towards U.S. The main reason we use Tone Merchants is because the California market in particular, L.A. Do you have plans to add more dealers as the company grows?ĬC: Tone Merchants has been a dealer of our products for probably about a year now anyway, but we mainly sell direct in the U.S., so I don’t know that we will be taking on any more dealers here. IC: I know you recently added a new dealer, Tone Merchants, to the line-up. We’re producing them faster than expected, so no complaints there. We’re working on ramping up production as much as possible at the moment and trying to meet our obligations to our customers and dealers around the world. Can you fill us in a little bit?ĬC: Yeah, the release of the Axe-Fx II consumes just about all of my waking hours at this point. IC: What’s going on in your world? Obviously, the release of the Axe-Fx II must be keeping you very busy. Having become a devoted admirer of this little magic box, I was excited to visit Fractal Audio headquarters in New Hampshire and to have the opportunity to speak with Cliff himself: The Axe-Fx packs in an extensive collection of vintage and modern guitar amps, cabs, effects and gives its users the freedom to craft practically any rigs they want and switch through them quickly. With his innovative approaches to amp modeling and ‘quality first’ mindset, he was able to dispel many of the misconceptions associated with digital guitar gear and provide the realism in amp modeling that has converted many tube amp aficionados’ rigs into a 2-space rack unit. Interviews > Cliff Chase Interview (Fractal Audio)Īs the founder of Fractal Audio and the mastermind behind the acclaimed Axe-Fx guitar preamp and effects processor, Cliff Chase has inspired the sound of legions of musicians.
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