Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[BROCKSTAR]

Finally sitting down to learn the ins and outs of Fractals various abstractions (channels, scenes, etc) and want to double check my understanding of effects usage.

I had originally (I think incorrectly) assumed I could rotate out effects blocks for channels or scenes so that as long as I never had more than 3 fx active I could potentially swap out a flanger for a phaser for the bridge or whatever.

From what I’m seeing behaviorally while constructing sounds, I’m limited to a specific block type (flanger, phaser) within a given block position and cannot swap out the fx type used within a block via scenes or channels.

Does that sound accurate?

Correct. Channels can only stay inside the same effect type / amp type. Like a Delay block can have 4 different delays and those you can use inside the channel / scene switching.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Correct. Channels can only stay inside the same effect type / amp type. Like a Delay block can have 4 different delays and those you can use inside the channel / scene switching.

Yeah the only bummer of it is that the modulations are all separate blocks. Otherwise it’d be cool if there was a “modulation” block that you could do chorus, phaser, flanger for example.

 

[StarF666]

What counts as an effect type? Amp, delay and reverb seem pretty clear. But can I have a mod block with a tremolo on channel 1 and a chorus on channel 2?

 

[StarF666]

Yeah the only bummer of it is that the modulations are all separate blocks. Otherwise it’d be cool if there was a “modulation” block that you could do chorus, phaser, flanger for example.

Now you were a few seconds quicker in answering my question. That's really a bummer.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Now you were a few seconds quicker in answering my question. That's really a bummer.

They’re otherwise extraordinary devices though, and the channel functionality makes it a far greater product in terms of flexibility.

 

[StarF666]

Now you were a few seconds quicker in answering my question. That's really a bummer.

If I think about it, you answered it before I even asked it. That's kind the latency of a plexi Marshall, isn't it?

 

[GTR37]

What counts as an effect type? Amp, delay and reverb seem pretty clear. But can I have a mod block with a tremolo on channel 1 and a chorus on channel 2?

No because Fractal does not put them under a modulation category so to speak
So you can have 4 tremolos
4 choruses. , 4 phaser
It fine with reverb and delay , but I can definitely see where just a MOD block would come in handy especially on a product like this
But that is the same even w the AXE 3
Maybe in the Next Gen they will do more of a consolidated Mod block

 

[StarF666]

They’re otherwise extraordinary devices though, and the channel functionality makes it a far greater product in terms of flexibility.

Absolutely. I'd wish for something like that maybe in conjunction with global blocks in Helix land.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

What counts as an effect type? Amp, delay and reverb seem pretty clear. But can I have a mod block with a tremolo on channel 1 and a chorus on channel 2?

Look up the block list (tremolo and chorus are separate blocks).

 

[StarF666]

No because Fractal does not put them under a modulation category so to speak
So you can have 4 tremolos
4 choruses. , 4 phaser
It fine with reverb and delay , but I can definitely see where just a MOD block would come in handy especially on a product like this
But that is the same even w the AXE 3
Maybe in the Next Gen they will do more of a consolidated Mod block

I guess it's only easy as long as the algorithm stays while changing channels. But the idea brings a lot of flexibility. For reverbs and delays this is even true while staying on the same algorithm.

 

[StarF666]

Look up the block list (tremolo and chorus are separate blocks).

I did. I just hoped I was wrong.

 

[EOengineer]

Yeah the only bummer of it is that the modulations are all separate blocks. Otherwise it’d be cool if there was a “modulation” block that you could do chorus, phaser, flanger for example.

Yup. I think of blocks like this because I’m used to Helix. Definitely my error.