Tech 21: Fly Rig5

Tech 21’s Fly Rig5 has been around for some months now and the general consensus seems to be: WIN. So I had to try it myself. I was not disappointed. In fact, I’m using it on the road as a ’B’ rig to a Fractal Audio Axe-FX II, and I’m not kidding when I say the sound of the much smaller, lighter and infinitely more portable Fly Rig5 is close enough and good enough to stand shoulder to shoulder with the basic amp, reverb, delay and overdrive tones I get from the Axe-FX II. This video has had no audio treatment. You are simply listening to the Fly Rig5 running from my guitar directly to Pro Tools via an MBox 3 Pro. The only added plug-in is a Waves L3-16 Limiter on the master output to keep levels in check. I believe the Fly Rig5 excels as a ’direct’ device, like most of the SansAmp range, but it can be used as a regular stompbox as well - something I’ll address further down the track. I’m getting asked a lot about the RK5, the Ritchie Kotzen version. At this stage I have had no advice from Tech 21 regarding it, but you never know what’s down the track. Today’s tools: Guitar: Smitty “The Hog“ T-Style with Brierley Vintage/Modern Humbuckers Amp: Fly Rig5 Extra effects: N/A Cables: Providence Mic: N/A Camera : Canon 60D (me) and Sony HDR CX150 (pedal) Soundcard: AVID Mbox Pro 3 Computer: Apple iMac 27“ i7 3.4 GHz 16 GB RAM Software: Pro Tools 11, Waves L3-16 Limiter (to keep levels in check at output), Apple Final Cut Pro X (video editing and Youtube compression).