Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[jellodog]

So I know the input circuitry is supposed to be the same on the AM4 as the Axe-FX III, but I swear the AM4 sounds better somehow.

Is it just me?

It may simply be the significant firmware updates that happened during the 3 months between my selling the AF3 and buying the AM4, but that's what I keep experiencing. Obviously I've never done a live side-by-side comparison, so it's just a memory and we all know that audio memory can be completely wrong.

But anyway, this is what I always wanted the FM3 to be.

And despite the complainers whining about the price in Europe (I'm in the UK), I still think this thing is fantastic value when compared to hardware like the X88-IR, which is considerably more expensive at 3 times the price!

I played the Soldano yesterday and then went back to the AM4 Plexis

 

[Cactusprick]

So I know the input circuitry is supposed to be the same on the AM4 as the Axe-FX III, but I swear the AM4 sounds better somehow.

Is it just me?

It may simply be the significant firmware updates that happened during the 3 months between my selling the AF3 and buying the AM4, but that's what I keep experiencing. Obviously I've never done a live side-by-side comparison, so it's just a memory and we all know that audio memory can be completely wrong.

This is what I always wanted the FM3 to be.

And despite the complainers whining about the price in Europe (I'm in the UK), I still think this thing is fantastic value when compared to hardware like the X88-IR, which is considerably more expensive at 3 times the price!

I played the Soldano yesterday and then went back to the AM4 Plexis

Shhhhhhhh I have never owned III but very happy with AM4 at the moment, Cliff may quietly nerf it in the next update let's keep it hush hush

 

[laxu]

Seems the new Axe-Fx 3 delay dry diffusion didn't make it down the mountain, not even to the VP4.

It's always a bit of a bummer when the right form factor, but less powerful device does not get all the latest bells and whistles from the flagship.

Based on that, I guess there's also no chance the Pitch and Multitap blocks might make it to the AM4 later.

 

[jellodog]

Whoops... forgot to add:

 

[Tanax]

View attachment 59685

Seems the new Axe-Fx 3 delay dry diffusion didn't make it down the mountain, not even to the VP4.

It's always a bit of a bummer when the right form factor, but less powerful device does not get all the latest bells and whistles from the flagship.

Based on that, I guess there's also no chance the Pitch and Multitap blocks might make it to the AM4 later.

On the other hand, you'll have people complain their hearts out when that actually happens (right form factor AND full features) and people are surprised it's not as cheap as they thought because in their minds they associate "small device = much cheaper". QC mini for instance.

 

[Chocol8]

On the other hand, you'll have people complain their hearts out when that actually happens (right form factor AND full features) and people are surprised it's not as cheap as they thought because in their minds they associate "small device = much cheaper". QC mini for instance.

Yeah, anyone bitching about that needs a swift kick in the balls. Unfortunately that's a lot of people.

 

[laxu]

On the other hand, you'll have people complain their hearts out when that actually happens (right form factor AND full features) and people are surprised it's not as cheap as they thought because in their minds they associate "small device = much cheaper". QC mini for instance.

That's fair, but I think it always needs to be something considered against the competition and the brand's own lineup.

The AM4 (and other Fractals) is expensive in the EU compared to just about every other modeler from other brands. The QC Mini is expensive compared to the full QC.

On top of that the QC Mini isn't necessarily what most people wanted from a "smaller box" premise. People were always more interested in a "Dual Cortex" that is just smaller and cheaper, but less powerful.

 

[paisleywookiee]

On the other hand, you'll have people complain their hearts out when that actually happens (right form factor AND full features) and people are surprised it's not as cheap as they thought because in their minds they associate "small device = much cheaper". QC mini for instance.

I’m already complaining. Just can’t stop. I’ve not decided what I’m actually upset about, but I’ll get to that later.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Worked with it a lot yesterday, and have come to the conclusion that I'll likely never have a need for OD-->amp-->modulation-->delay-->reverb at the same time. I generally only use modulation with clean or moderate gain tones. So I think what I'll be doing is splitting things into "Clean+Crunch" patches and "Heavy+Lead" patches, and then using the Morningstar as the "brain" to switch patches and scenes.

Also, I've begun experimenting a lot with the "Reverb+Echo" algos, which is VERY helpful too.

 

[TubeStack]

In case ya didn't already know, you can go to Dunlop's site and get all the different frequency specs for the sig wah pedals and then save them as individual wah blocks, giving you a little locker full of sig wahs!

I used to do this to mimic my beloved EVH sig wah with the FM9.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Fractal wahs are great. My main thing is I just prefer a real (switchless) wah. I'm going to need to take up space with an expression pedal that will never match the sweep (ime) of the analog counterpart.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Fractal wahs are great. My main thing is I just prefer a real (switchless) wah. I'm going to need to take up space with an expression pedal that will never match the sweep (ime) of the analog counterpart.

My main thing is that A. I don't use wahs often enough to have a board big enough to accommodate an expression pedal and B. I think current wah pedals look cool AF, so I'll just grab one when I want to use one.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Worked with it a lot yesterday, and have come to the conclusion that I'll likely never have a need for OD-->amp-->modulation-->delay-->reverb at the same time. I generally only use modulation with clean or moderate gain tones. So I think what I'll be doing is splitting things into "Clean+Crunch" patches and "Heavy+Lead" patches, and then using the Morningstar as the "brain" to switch patches and scenes.

View attachment 59689

Also, I've begun experimenting a lot with the "Reverb+Echo" algos, which is VERY helpful too.

Yeah, I really do think a lot of the "4 blocks isn't QUITE enough" complaints (certainly mine, anyway) can almost always be resolved by simply switching back to an older school "ya know, you can accomplish this a lot more easily by just switching amongst four presets than trying to leverage channels/scenes, etc., just cause they're there, right?" approach.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Yeah, I really do think a lot of the "4 blocks isn't QUITE enough" complaints (certainly mine, anyway) can almost always be resolved by simply switching back to an older school "ya know, you can accomplish this a lot more easily by just switching amongst four presets than trying to leverage channels/scenes, etc., just cause they're there, right?" approach.

Yeah I had to get out of the "MUST HAVE KITCHEN SINK" mentality. It can easily be done without the MC6 as well, by utilizing 4 patches x 4 scenes per bank. But I just like fiddle-fucking with MIDI anyway.

 

[KFF]

fiddle-fucking

Internet word(s) of the day... so far!

 

[paisleywookiee]

Internet word(s) of the day... so far!

That goes back decades, to when I was just a wookiee-cub, and my pops would "fiddle-fuck" with the timing on an old Chevy Vega.

 

[KFF]

That goes back decades, to when I was just a wookiee-cub, and my pops would "fiddle-fuck" with the timing on an old Chevy Vega.

Spectacular. That right there brings the smiles!

 

[DrewJD82]

a real (switchless) wah

Oxymoron for me, I actually prefer having to click a wah on, probably just because it got worked into my playing after so long and that ‘jump back’ from the starting position is kind of missed sometimes, oddly enough.

I *think* the sweep on the Mission Engineering is a little larger than the JP Wah….

…which has quite a bit more sweep than the Cantrell wah-

It’s been so long since I’ve played a standard GCB95 I don’t even know what the sweep is like anymore.

 

[EOengineer]

My main thing is that A. I don't use wahs often enough to have a board big enough to accommodate an expression pedal and B. I think current wah pedals look cool AF, so I'll just grab one when I want to use one.

Wahs are essential. Not because I gig them or anything, but they are what I use to let my wife know it’s time to throw down.

Wikachikawikachikawikachika DID SOMEONE ORDER A PIZZA!?

 

[paisleywookiee]

Wahs are essential. Not because I gig them or anything, but they are what I use to let my wife know it’s time to throw down.

Wikachikawikachikawikachika DID SOMEONE ORDER A PIZZA!?

Does your wife start to suspect things when you order a pizza AND break her copier?