It has been interesting reading how the Fractal owners can be so defensive about their product and how much better it is than anything else out there. Perhaps part of it is the thought that they had the best modeler on the planet, and then Kemper comes along and gives them a serious challenge in the eyes of the industry. All of a sudden big touring acts as well as name studios have Kempers in widespread use, obviously displacing the Fractal that might have been in its place. They no longer have to constantly tweak the Fractal to get it to sound like the real amps, they just take a profile and they are there. And the ability to take profiles made during recording on stage is amazing.
Part of the Fractal response seems to be some sort of nervousness. This is hard to figure out as the Fractal and Kemper are two different world class products with different uses, and can even be complimentary. I wonder if Fractal is nervous because Line 6 just seriously upstaged the AX8 with the Helix. It has the same approximate price point, similar effects versatility, and a UI to die for. It frankly made the AX8 look like an old school piece of machinery. I'm sure the AX8 is better than the Helix in amp tones, but since you can go into most any GC and try out a Helix, probably only those in the know will spring for the AX8.
Some of what Fractal does seems to be playing catch-up with Kemper (their version of tone matching and their take on PureCab) as well. But I find it immensely cool that CK and the folks at Kemper keep going along to "follow their own funky path" (to quote Undercover Brother), constantly rethinking the modeler and effects and giving us new tones and features.
such a freakin' behaviour. people want to make sure their product is the best and the manufacturer is world leader while competition is ages away to reassure themselves. well that would mean they just spent way too much to a monopolistic company. I own the KPA because among top modellers it's the EASY TO USE one, and I want fractal & kemper to compete in innovation, to push boudaries and feel at risk of needing continuous improvement to keep their market shares, cause I want to know that my money is well spent and my customer experience will keep on increasing.
what if fractal sounds better? great for them! that's the noodling machine I do not want so I'm still happy with my toaster, cause it still sounds good (f*ckin' good indeed)