Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[unix-guy]

Cool product if you have a pedalboard investment or you want Fractal amp and cab on the "cheap". Probably not for someone like me that has an FM9 and FM3 and no other pedals. Like the VP4, this another Fractal product I have zero desire or need for.

Or as a very portable gig backup or as a gateway drug into Fractal.

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

as a very portable gig backup

For me that would be my FM3 as a backup to the FM9. I guess maybe as a far less capable backup to an FM3? But at that point, maybe just get another FM3 for another $300?

 

[unix-guy]

For me that would be my FM3 as a backup to the FM9. I guess maybe as a far less capable backup to an FM3? But at that point, maybe just get another FM3 for another $300?

That depends on your needs for a backup.

If I didn't already have an FM3 as a backup I'd definitely be buying the AM4.

Amp/Cab plus 3 more effects blocks is plenty capable in my book as a backup... And smaller/lighter than an FM3.

And $300 could be the difference between someone getting a Fractal or not...
Perhaps it's not for you but that doesn't mean it's not for others.

 

[synthpenguin]

Just curious: with a typical Drive + Amp+Cab + Delay + Reverb setup, can you expect to run the reverb at one of the higher quality levels? Obviously there are a lot of variables, but on average.

 

[iaresee]

For me that would be my FM3 as a backup to the FM9. I guess maybe as a far less capable backup to an FM3? But at that point, maybe just get another FM3 for another $300?

I can’t fit my FM3 into the pocket on my gig bag. The AM4 slides right in there so nice. And it’s much lighter so no concerns about it it’s weight pressing on the guitar.

And $300? That’s a lot of money for most people.

 

[GTR37]

So reading custom footswitches press and hold can avoid you having to hold the button combos

You could have press /hold
Switch 1 preset
Switch 2 scene
Switch 3 fx
Switch 4 tuner is that correct?

 

[GTR37]

Just curious: with a typical Drive + Amp+Cab + Delay + Reverb setup, can you expect to run the reverb at one of the higher quality levels? Obviously there are a lot of variables, but on average.

Leon had an amp dual cab
Stereo delay and reverb high quality and it was 77% he said

 

[holoholo]

This a no brainer over one amp at a time UAFX pedals

 

[synthpenguin]

And $300 could be the difference between someone getting a Fractal or not...

Absolutely. And also, the FM3 is 1100USD normally, so it's a 400USD difference in the US at least. An almost 60% price increase, a larger size, and a more complex interface can all be dealbreakers for various reasons.

And for a lot of people, even if the AM4's 4 block limit is too restricting, they might rather spend that 400USD difference on 2 or 4 other pedals (or use some they already have) to fill those gaps in. Which I def understand. There is a lot of appeal to having some dedicated pedals.

 

[synthpenguin]

Leon had an amp dual cab
Stereo delay and reverb high quality and it was 77% he said

Nice! Certainly not underpowered then! (not that I expected it to be!)

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

Perhaps it's not for you but that doesn't mean it's not for others.

Never said it wasn’t.

 

[unix-guy]

Never said it wasn’t.

The wording of your post seemed that way to me...

 

[Sascha Franck]

But more a general list of grievances

So what? Did you ever reflect just *how* anal you are about the tiniest sound minutiae? And do you see me calling out your "grievances"?

 

[Sascha Franck]

Sigs don't show on mobile FYI.

Fwiw, not that you'd usually do so when browsing forums, but in landscape mode they do.

 

[Sascha Franck]

While you've got amps, cabs & fx in abundance you've also got controllers & modifiers in there. Controlling gain/fx mix with the PITCH of your guitar is will never get old.

View attachment 55441

All that modifier stuff is in fact what really makes me drool over FAS units.

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

The wording of your post seemed that way to me...

It isn’t what I intended to convey. I am heartily sorry to have ever critiqued a Fractal product, even though I currently own, love, and play two of them. I promise to never again cast any aspersions, real or imagined, on any former, current, or future Fractal products, regardless of whether they are interesting to myself or others. All hail the king of amp modelers and multieffects units.

 

[Aleksi]

Stop fighting or Fractal will turn the AM4 around

 

[unix-guy]

It isn’t what I intended to convey. I am heartily sorry to have ever critiqued a Fractal product, even though I currently own, love, and play two of them. I promise to never again cast any aspersions, real or imagined, on any former, current, or future Fractal products, regardless of whether they are interesting to myself or others. All hail the king of amp modelers and multieffects units.

I honestly don't get the attitude...

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

I honestly don't get the attitude...

No attitude here. I told you what I meant and didn’t mean by my post. You chose to not take me at my word. So I offered my sincere apologies.

I expect this sort of thing back on the Fractal forum, not here.

 

[Sascha Franck]

The insert is kind of a bummer. I was pretty sure I would buy it. I still might but not sure knowing I can’t use it in place of my stomp with my current configuration. It’s an almost perfect device for a pedalboard. I guess I could just put everything into the input, but it really limits options for effects order.

Absolutely the same here.
Really, being able to program the on/off status of a loop with a bunch of whatever devices (typically drives) in it has been a standard routine for me since 20+ years already.
Each and every guitar modeling or MFX device I used in these years allowed for that.
Not having such an option in fact greatly diminishes usability for me as adding it on my own would require purchasing an additional MIDI controlled loopswitcher, resulting in extra cost, space requirements and programming. Overkill if all you want is to add an analog drive or two.