Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[iaresee]

One gripe (that I like to think is legit)

I get crabby when items that are meant to be incorporated into a larger setup have rubber feet. I wish they were more pedal like to fit on a board better. Perhaps these are easily removed and I'm complaining about nothing

They peel right off.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Mine should be here on Friday.

 

[Aleksi]

Don't forget about all the modifiers stuff that other products don't do either! That kind of stuff is super fun!

I still have no idea why they call modulators modifiers It's a cool feature though!

 

[yeky83]

Why? Wouldn't it be exactly the same as other Fractal products where there's just a "disable poweramp modeling" option?

SPLIIITTT MOOOODEEE

 

[laxu]

SPLIIITTT MOOOODEEE

Oh yeah that.

I imagine that would require just tapping the signal from before the poweramp modeling so not necessarily requiring two full amp models. I think it would be much more feasible on a more fixed path unit like the AM4 than e.g FM3.

They could add an option for "Output 2: Cab on / Cab off / Poweramp & Cab off" to simplify it.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I really think it is.
Another thing I'll add, is I don't get the impression Cliff feels he needs to "compete" in order to stay relevant. Like for example, I would not be surprised at all if he has not changed any of his business plans for the future because of the Stadium and all it entails.

(1). I don't think NAM captures would be added to gen IV if Fractal weren't thinking about competition.

(2). I doubt the release day of the AM4 was just where the chip fell. There was at least one conversation "so, when is Stadium supposed to start shipping again?"

 

[ejecta]

The manual has split mode defeating the cab only. I’d have to defeat the power amp in the preset, which would make FOH sound lame.

Well that’s a bummer. Definitely effects my decision to purchase

 

[mikah912]

FAS amps, plus the equivalent of a FAS Timeline, FAS Big Sky, and FAS Mobius. In one box. For $699.

Yup. Again, that's an fantastic value, and I said that BEFORE I knew about the extra boosts and delays hidden in the "just" four blocks.

This isn't for my personal uses right at this moment, but that isn't because it's not super cool. I could totally see picking one up down the line.

 

[bucephalus]

Not gonna lie I am seriously considering selling my Helix LT and backpack and getting one of these instead. My needs are generally quite simple and likely be covered easily by this unit, and I am curious to see what Fractal is like for myself.

The much reduced size and weight also appeal.

 

[deadpool_25]

Oh no, they don't get any leeway here. People asking for basic footswitch functionality 5 years into the lifecycle of "the world's most powerful floor modeler" is not the same thing as people asking for the FM9 guts in an AM4. If we're at the point of stating it's unreasonable to hold a company to their own word then we're so far off track it's time I bow out and hand my keys to this place to someone else because I don't want to see how much closer to the bottom of the barrel it can get.

Oh that company definitely doesn’t deserve any leeway. And I don’t take any issue with what you wrote in either post.

I was just chuckling at the fact that you seem annoyed at some of the negativity in this thread, where of the complaints seem…a bit much. The other thread is absolutely dominated by negativity which imo isn’t really even totally on topic as it’s mostly about the company (which is annoying AF) and not the product (which is pretty great).

Basically, “Oh the negativity in here is annoying? Hold my beer.”

And FWIW, and more on topic, the AM4 looks fantastic. It’s not for me but that’s fine. Many, many people are going to really enjoy it.

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

 

[GTR37]

But But can I?

I don’t think you can it not as flexible or per preset
If you are trying to avoid the button combos you can set it up with presets scenes FX
Tap/ tuner

This is best vid I have seen to set up custom switching

 

[DrewJD82]

This actually has me considering selling my FM9 and scooping up the AM4 and VP4 to use in a more modular fashion across a couple different pedalboards. My FM9 has mainly been used for band stuff in the last 3 years and I’m not in a band right now, it’s been doing the 4CM thing with an EVH head, so I’m not even utilizing the modeling in it unless I’m on the couch and plugged into a 2x12 cab…..hmmm..

I only use the FM9 for live use and despite having amps to cover the same ground, I’ll always want a modeling option available (and it’s only going to be Fractal), but now with options opened up that might make a rig easier to do a hybrid thing, my gears are turnin’.

 

[2dor]

Oh yeah that.

I imagine that would require just tapping the signal from before the poweramp modeling so not necessarily requiring two full amp models. I think it would be much more feasible on a more fixed path unit like the AM4 than e.g FM3.

They could add an option for "Output 2: Cab on / Cab off / Poweramp & Cab off" to simplify it.

That would be awesome indeed.

 

[Cactusprick]

AM4 in a plugin form - I would buy that with no hesitation. That would make me eternally happy as i do not run too many fx.
It would supercede all guitar stuff on my mac (hx native, sgear, ndsp, what have you)

 

[Mongillo19]

@JiveTurkey is this close enough to a FM0 for you?

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

@JiveTurkey is this close enough to a FM0 for you?

How does increasing from 3 switches to 4 seem closer to an FM0?!?!?

The goal of the FM0 is to maintain all the power of the FM3, but make it better for tucking in some place as a brain that you don't have to see/touch.

 

[2112]

Out of curiosity, Leon, when did you switch over to Fractal? I feel like you've been around to hear all sorts of requests.

Picked up an Axe-Fx ultra in 2016 to tour with, intending to use it as a preamp into backline amps. I think I did 3 gigs like that and then starting going direct with it I bought an ax8 later that year and started making screen recordings of my favourite settings and uploading them to YT... And here we are!

Here's some footage of one of my favorite shows I did with the old Ultra rig. I should pull it out of storage and do a video with it sometime soon - the original game changer modeller!

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

How does increasing from 3 switches to 4 seem closer to an FM0?!?!?

The goal of the FM0 is to maintain all the power of the FM3, but make it better for tucking in some place as a brain that you don't have to see/touch.

IMHO the wish for an FM0 was more about the form factor than the actual number of switches. And the form factor of the AM4 is

 

[sashimi]

How does increasing from 3 switches to 4 seem closer to an FM0?!?!?

The goal of the FM0 is to maintain all the power of the FM3, but make it better for tucking in some place as a brain that you don't have to see/touch.

I still don’t get the FM0 thing… why would you need all the power of the FM3 with no footswitches? Or do you mean amp and cab modeling only?