Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[AlbertA]

Interesting, from the AM4 wiki: AM4 uses the same family of CPU as in the Axe-Fx III. It is a 1 GHz processor with an ARM A15 CPU and a C66x DSP. Therefore it has half the power of a standard Axe-Fx III.

Can it be right that the AM4 is half the power of the Axe-Fx III? That has to be a typo, right? Wouldn't that make it more powerful than the FM3, and equal to the FM9?

https://forum.fractalaudio.com/thre...m-happy-axe-fx-iii-owner.216991/#post-2730145

I'm gonna guess this one - https://www.ti.com/product/DRA718

 

[sashimi]

Can't the FM9 do a lot more than 4 blocks at a time? The AM4 must have a lot of processing headroom.

 

[jellodog]

Can't the FM9 do a lot more than 4 blocks at a time? The AM4 must have a lot of processing headroom.

This is likely because the FM9 has more cores; and we know that the FM9 dedicates a core to delay and reverb, which means that it doesn't affect the latency or load of the amp modelling core.

Seems that the AM4 has one DSP core for everything, which is probably why the delay blocks available are a little more conservative - i.e. no Quad delay / Plex etc.

All design trade-offs that make sense to me for a compact unit.

 

[2dor]

This is likely because the FM9 has more cores; and we know that the FM9 dedicates a core to delay and reverb, which means that it doesn't affect the latency or load of the amp modelling core.

Seems that the AM4 has one DSP core for everything, which is probably why the delay blocks available are a little more conservative - i.e. no Quad delay / Plex etc.

All design trade-offs that make sense to me for a compact unit.

Yeah - it's a killer package as-is really. Audio interface + Fractal amp tones in a small, compact & rugged shell.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Can it be right that the AM4 is half the power of the Axe-Fx III? That has to be a typo, right?

Sounds about right to me, but you should be able to verify the info yourself. Wiki info should have a link to where it came from; Follow it and see who said it.

Usually tech stuff like that is taken straight from a comment that Cliff posts in a forum. Or Matt or one or the other guys.

Yek is great about catching anything worthy when its posted, and adding it to the wiki, but anyone can make an account and do that themselves as well. It's basically where a lot of the extra info comes from.

 

[sashimi]

I got put off by the lack of a moveable effects loop at first, but I'm thinking about how I might arrange my pedals and I'm warming up to it. Especially since it means no added latency or d/a conversion in the loop. I will have to make some compromises if I want to use it in place of the stomp on my pedalboard, but it might be worth it.

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

[…] it has half the power of a standard Axe-Fx III. […]

If that is true, then why doesn‘t it have a pitch block?

 

[KFF]

There's juice in there!

Public release: FW 1.01

FW 5.0... and beyond. Who knows... but can't wait to find out.

First time in at a 1.x FW with Fractal. Even if it never hits a 2.0... ZERO regrets. Its a BEAST!

 

[KFF]

If that is true, then why doesn‘t it have a pitch block?

Have NEVER seen a Fractal device remain static.

Having said that... wildly impressive gateway for $699. End of.

 

[PhilA]

Well despite being very happy with my Synergy rig. I’ve gone on the UK waitlist for one of these.
I can’t imagine this being limiting unless I was doing Adam Wiltzie Stars of the Lid ambient stuff.
Remember the days when we had an amp a cab and a couple of pedals
Anyway my opinion won’t change any minds I’m just looking forward to trying Fractal for the first time. I’m sure if I don’t like it it’ll have good resale value.