Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[Los-D]

It honestly my favourite piece of gear in a while too
It my favourite Fractal floor unit by a good margin

Ditto

 

[AlbertA]

What are some good delays and reverbs on the AM4? Any recommendations? Any good 2-in-1s to save a block?

ahem...

https://forum.fractalaudio.com/thre...ulti-model-edition.177536/page-5#post-2735036

sounds like this:
https://thegearforum.com/threads/fractal-audio-systems-am4-amp-modeler.10317/page-72#post-439873

 

[djejcobs]

Still thinkin about it am4 vs used fm3(model w headphones).. 960€ vs 1000€, prices almost the same. I don't need more than 4 blocks but I would definitly like to play whammy pitch shifter etc

And I m tube amp guy.. still not sure if I can sell my tc delay and reverb pedals, and use am4/fm3 for that, with my 2555x, through fx loop

 

[Mooselake]

Well, I just made the plunge this morning. I'm the happy recipient of a new Helix Stadium, and don't have any extravagant needs, certainly nothing beyond what it provides. But the combination of getting into the Fractal experience at this price level with a small size that fits what I want for a very streamlined summertime rig when I'm off in the woods, I just had to do it. I guess I'll see in the coming weeks what all the fuss is about. :)

 

[banned]

ahem...

https://forum.fractalaudio.com/thre...ulti-model-edition.177536/page-5#post-2735036

sounds like this:
https://thegearforum.com/threads/fractal-audio-systems-am4-amp-modeler.10317/page-72#post-439873

Thank you, kind sir!

 

[ejecta]

For rotary (speaking for myself); pull up any clip of the Boss Rotary or drop the FAS rotary block in your chain. Sound like an organ if played by a guitar, generally speaking. No fuss; not complicated.

The rotary effect has not been something I do a lot of so maybe I’m not sure what to look for. That said what is you guys who are into so much look for? Like what makes a rotary a good one or sucky one? Just making it sound like an organ? If so so what specifically doesn’t sound like an organ on the Line 6 model?

 

[GTR37]

Sounds like the latest modelling update that will likely trickle down is being pretty well received
Our own James Freeman weighed in saying it was a noticeable difference in feel and sound

 

[BROCKSTAR]

 

[FractalAudio]

Need to get him and Leo Gibson together: "Todaya we are talkinga abouta the new Fractal Audio AMa 4a ampa modeler".

 

[Sascha Franck]

Like what makes a rotary a good one or sucky one?

Sounding like a real rotary.

If so so what specifically doesn’t sound like an organ on the Line 6 model?

Well, pretty much everything. Hard to put your finger onto something in particular when everything isn't working well to start with.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Need to get him and Leo Gibson together: "Todaya we are talkinga abouta the new Fractal Audio AMa 4a ampa modeler".

Itsa modeler time!

 

[Shask]

Still thinkin about it am4 vs used fm3(model w headphones).. 960€ vs 1000€, prices almost the same. I don't need more than 4 blocks but I would definitly like to play whammy pitch shifter etc

And I m tube amp guy.. still not sure if I can sell my tc delay and reverb pedals, and use am4/fm3 for that, with my 2555x, through fx loop

If you mean the Flashback 2 and Hall of Fame 2, I would keep them first and try it. I find the FM3 changes the tone and dynamic feel when used in the loop of my amps, and I dont like what it does. The TC pedals are analog dry through, so they are very transparent.

 

[djejcobs]

If you mean the Flashback 2 and Hall of Fame 2, I would keep them first and try it. I find the FM3 changes the tone and dynamic feel when used in the loop of my amps, and I dont like what it does. The TC pedals are analog dry through, so they are very transparent.

Ok thnx for info. I m gonna keep them than definitly.

And how do you like fractal drive/od running through amp as a preamp and guitar cab? Clean amp

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

So, I've been using the AM4 for two days now and I've come to the conclusion that, of all the Fractal devices I've owned so far, this is definitely the one that suits my personal needs the most. Fantastic amp sounds, all the effects I need, and it fits perfectly on my desk without taking up too much space or producing annoying fan noise. And I even enjoy using the on-device UI. It's a keeper for sure. I can only see myself parting with it if FAS were to release an Axe-Fx plugin. But I guess that's not going to happen anytime soon. The only two really minor things I would wish for are a virtual capo and the option to decouple the SPDIF output level from the hardware knob, as it is with the other Fractal devices.

And damn, the Atomica High is still simply the best modded Marshall sound in all the digital amp modelling devices or plugins I know. Just load the factory setting, turn the depth down to 0, crank the gain and load an SD-1 with the usual 0-5-10 setting into the drive block – et voilà, perfection!

 

[Orvillain]

So, I've been using the AM4 for two days now and I've come to the conclusion that, of all the Fractal devices I've owned so far, this is definitely the one that suits my personal needs the most. Fantastic amp sounds, all the effects I need, and it fits perfectly on my desk without taking up too much space or producing annoying fan noise. And I even enjoy using the on-device UI. It's a keeper for sure. I can only see myself parting with it if FAS were to release an Axe-Fx plugin. But I guess that's not going to happen anytime soon. The only two really minor things I would wish for are a virtual capo and the option to decouple the SPDIF output level from the hardware knob, as it is with the other Fractal devices.

And damn, the Atomica High is still simply the best modded Marshall sound in all the digital amp modelling devices or plugins I know. Just load the factory setting, turn the depth down to 0, crank the gain and load an SD-1 with the usual 0-5-10 setting into the drive block – et voilà, perfection!

Could you talk about the amp channels and how some of them have been consolidated into full amp models??

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

Could you talk about the amp channels and how some of them have been consolidated into full amp models??

No.

 

[Orvillain]

No.

Ok.

 

[BROCKSTAR]

Could you talk about the amp channels and how some of them have been consolidated into full amp models??

Some of them like for example Friedman BE has a switch to choose between v1, v2 and v3

 

[Orvillain]

Some of them like for example Friedman BE has a switch to choose between v1, v2 and v3

Right, so not like... channel 1/2/3 for the 5150III's or anything like that?? Or all of the Mark V models being inside one amp type???

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

Ok.

Some amp channels/modes that were different models before have been consolidated. Not all, though. For example, for the JVM you can now switch between Green/Orange/Red within the model, but OD1 and OD2 are still different models. The switches are displayed on the devices's amp view, too.

It's a step in the right direction, but there's still room for improvement. For example, the ‘Mid Shift’ mode is still not directly accessible in the JS410 model; it has to be loaded as a tone stack in Expert Mode. [Edit: apparently it's not possible to load a different tone stack from a list, like it is with other Fractal devices.] This could have been done better as part of the consolidation. The re-naming could also have been more consistent – the JVM410HJS is still not listed among all the other ‘Brit’ models, but is hidden among all the other models.

Overall I think it's definitely a welcome improvement!