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Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler
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GTR37
Rock Star
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Yes and Noi think announcing ICONS made AM4 even more attractive and boosted its sale immensely
Different demographic
I think there has always been a large group of players dying for a standalone plug in
I suspect as more amp families become available like the Marshalls and Modern Hi Gainers
The sales will increase dramatically
Also once the free trial gets worked out
paisleywookiee
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Cactusprick
Roadie
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not too shabby for a Friday 13th!
paisleywookiee
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Fucking FedEx.
laxu
Rock Star
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Had a bit of fun with the AM4!
AM4 -> Fryette PS-100 -> Bluetone diagonal 2x12 w/ V30s
vs Mesa Mark V 90 -> PS-100 -> 2x12
vs BluGuitar Amp 1 Mercury Edition -> PS-100 -> 2x12 or 4x10 w/ 10" Greenback
I could dial the AM4 to sound very similar to the Mark V ch3 MKIV mode. The GEQ works different from the real Mesas so it's a bit of guesswork for settings.
With the Mesa going direct into the cab, it does feel a bit different from the AM4 -> Fryette. Both through the Fryette is a closer match.
The BluGuitar held up easily with e.g JVM OD1 Orange and other Marshall style models. It really is the easiest thing for me to dial a good sound.
My absolute favorite Fractal model is still the Cornford MK50! That sounded like an absolute beast through the Fryette and 2x12! If the Mark V ch3 and JVM OD1 Orange are like a chainsaw that cuts through, the Cornford is like a steamroller that you hear rumbling down the block. It's a such a fun model! I wish I could get the real amp for reasonable money.
Overall I find the AM4 a really fun unit to work with, except that it's a bit annoying to jump between scenes and effects modes if you want to turn on/off some block. I need to get it setup for proper MIDI control to make this easier.
PS. Fractal, come on...can't you sort the speaker impedance curves alphabetically? In what world does 2x12, 2x12, 4x10, 4x10, 2x12, 2x12 make sense as an order of settings? In any case, finally found the 2x12 Recto setting which I guessed would be fairly close to my 2x12.
AM4 -> Fryette PS-100 -> Bluetone diagonal 2x12 w/ V30s
vs Mesa Mark V 90 -> PS-100 -> 2x12
vs BluGuitar Amp 1 Mercury Edition -> PS-100 -> 2x12 or 4x10 w/ 10" Greenback
I could dial the AM4 to sound very similar to the Mark V ch3 MKIV mode. The GEQ works different from the real Mesas so it's a bit of guesswork for settings.
With the Mesa going direct into the cab, it does feel a bit different from the AM4 -> Fryette. Both through the Fryette is a closer match.
The BluGuitar held up easily with e.g JVM OD1 Orange and other Marshall style models. It really is the easiest thing for me to dial a good sound.
My absolute favorite Fractal model is still the Cornford MK50! That sounded like an absolute beast through the Fryette and 2x12! If the Mark V ch3 and JVM OD1 Orange are like a chainsaw that cuts through, the Cornford is like a steamroller that you hear rumbling down the block. It's a such a fun model! I wish I could get the real amp for reasonable money.
Overall I find the AM4 a really fun unit to work with, except that it's a bit annoying to jump between scenes and effects modes if you want to turn on/off some block. I need to get it setup for proper MIDI control to make this easier.
PS. Fractal, come on...can't you sort the speaker impedance curves alphabetically? In what world does 2x12, 2x12, 4x10, 4x10, 2x12, 2x12 make sense as an order of settings? In any case, finally found the 2x12 Recto setting which I guessed would be fairly close to my 2x12.
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RGB
Roadie
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Same thing happened to me...made it to Chicago in one day and then sat there for 3 days to complete the last 3 hours of the trip.
Weather was a little dicey to be fair. Maybe it'll come early...a little false hope can't hurt.
ChordInversion
Roadie
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Turns out I am the target audience, too. The AM4 and VP4 absolutely do it for me, separately or combined.
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RiffDuck
Groupie
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You can name any atrocity throughout human history, and there's about an 80% chance I'll blame it on FedEx
laxu
Rock Star
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Had a really good time with the Class-A 30W Brilliant model yesterday.
It sounded really nice through the Fryette PS-100 -> 2x12 diagonal V30 or 4x10 GB cab. Obviously with those speakers it's far away from the classic Vox tones through Alnico Blues, but it was a legit great tone in its own right for some classic rock and blues.
I liked it so much I had to see if I could dial my Mesa Mark V to something similar. Ch2 Edge mode could get in the same ballpark-ish territory, but I don't think it will sizzle in the same way without cranking that channel through the Fryette PS. Still, found a really nice lower gain tone there that was fun to play!
It sounded really nice through the Fryette PS-100 -> 2x12 diagonal V30 or 4x10 GB cab. Obviously with those speakers it's far away from the classic Vox tones through Alnico Blues, but it was a legit great tone in its own right for some classic rock and blues.
I liked it so much I had to see if I could dial my Mesa Mark V to something similar. Ch2 Edge mode could get in the same ballpark-ish territory, but I don't think it will sizzle in the same way without cranking that channel through the Fryette PS. Still, found a really nice lower gain tone there that was fun to play!
laxu
Rock Star
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Testing the FM4 against the few analog pedals I have.
Fractal drives have really advanced since I tried them a few years ago. Easily sound as good as my DIY Browne Protein (modded ODR-1 + Bluesbreaker).
It's a shame the AM4 doesn't work as a 4CM setup like the VP4 does. I'd definitely take an assignable position fx loop over the insert loop, even if it increases latency.
Fractal drives have really advanced since I tried them a few years ago. Easily sound as good as my DIY Browne Protein (modded ODR-1 + Bluesbreaker).
It's a shame the AM4 doesn't work as a 4CM setup like the VP4 does. I'd definitely take an assignable position fx loop over the insert loop, even if it increases latency.
laxu
Rock Star
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Testing against my Strymons, and surprisingly for choruses and flangers, I preferred my Zelzah and Deco. They have a fatness to them that I didn't quite get from the AM4, but the Fractal modulations are certainly up there otherwise.
Similar for delays - the Fractal sound is clearer, but I enjoy the Strymon vibe. AM4 has no substitute for the Strymon Volante since there's no multitap delay. But the regular delay block with the tape + 2nd head setting can at least get in a ballpark for the El Capistan.
But being able to just twist a few knobs on the pedals is still several times faster. Maybe if Fractal adds a faster way to go between blocks when editing them they'll be on par for that.
So my hideously expensive Strymon pedalboard is not going anywhere yet. Going to the VP4 would also mean I lose the ability to run things in preposterous 7CM setups with dual amps.
Similar for delays - the Fractal sound is clearer, but I enjoy the Strymon vibe. AM4 has no substitute for the Strymon Volante since there's no multitap delay. But the regular delay block with the tape + 2nd head setting can at least get in a ballpark for the El Capistan.
But being able to just twist a few knobs on the pedals is still several times faster. Maybe if Fractal adds a faster way to go between blocks when editing them they'll be on par for that.
So my hideously expensive Strymon pedalboard is not going anywhere yet. Going to the VP4 would also mean I lose the ability to run things in preposterous 7CM setups with dual amps.
Boudoir Guitar
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To be fair, part of why the III wasn't a huge step forward from the II was because...Fractal ported the First iteration of Ares amp modeling back onto the II and the AX8.Judging by how many folks seem offended by Stadium having legacy amps, that should give us plenty to bitch about.
I mean…what else are we supposed to do with the thing? Use it to create art?
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Boudoir Guitar
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RiffDuck
Groupie
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The best part about FedEx is that you'll wake up to one of their notes on your door saying they attempted delivery at 6am and they'll try again tomorrow
laxu
Rock Star
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Fractal AM4 vs Tonex -> Fryette PS-100 -> 2x12 V30 vs Mesa Mark V 90 into that cab.
Used the captures I made myself, and ran into the classic Tonex problem - finding the input trim level that makes the model behave like the real thing. Then if I use some 3rd party captures, that setting will be different. It needs some calibration feature like NAM has.
The Tonex did well, but the following is what makes the Fractal just better.
I had the Fractal Mark V ch3 MKIV mode set up fairly similar to my real amp settings. I even went as far as rolling the virtual preamp and poweramp tubes because I use an oddball collection of tubes in the amp. Even then, the Fractal was higher gain to my ears and that's likely expected as I run a 12AT7 in one of the preamp tube slots because this gives the amp some clarity that I like.
I found that the real amp cleans surprisingly nicely even from high gain by just picking softer. Then I tried this on the AM4 and felt it didn't do it as well. Then I noticed the amp model master volume was at 4/10, while my real amp was at about 2/10 (with the global master circuitry off so this is still pretty loud). I turned the AM4 model master down to a similar setting and lo and behold - it now cleaned up just like the amp!
This is how good Fractal's modeling is. They've looked into so many nuances.
Used the captures I made myself, and ran into the classic Tonex problem - finding the input trim level that makes the model behave like the real thing. Then if I use some 3rd party captures, that setting will be different. It needs some calibration feature like NAM has.
The Tonex did well, but the following is what makes the Fractal just better.
I had the Fractal Mark V ch3 MKIV mode set up fairly similar to my real amp settings. I even went as far as rolling the virtual preamp and poweramp tubes because I use an oddball collection of tubes in the amp. Even then, the Fractal was higher gain to my ears and that's likely expected as I run a 12AT7 in one of the preamp tube slots because this gives the amp some clarity that I like.
I found that the real amp cleans surprisingly nicely even from high gain by just picking softer. Then I tried this on the AM4 and felt it didn't do it as well. Then I noticed the amp model master volume was at 4/10, while my real amp was at about 2/10 (with the global master circuitry off so this is still pretty loud). I turned the AM4 model master down to a similar setting and lo and behold - it now cleaned up just like the amp!
This is how good Fractal's modeling is. They've looked into so many nuances.
paisleywookiee
Rock Star
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I decided to have it dropped at the Dollar General down the street, to avoid that.
GTR37
Rock Star
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- 5,185
Good plan
I think you will dig it been playing all weekend it so easy to just jam out , love the thing , honestly
My gas for Helix stadium order kind of dissipated since I got the AM4 before the holidays
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