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.

 

[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.

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

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.

Cliff said it for sure. https://forum.fractalaudio.com/thre...m-happy-axe-fx-iii-owner.216991/#post-2730461

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

Everything is hooked up and ready to go :) Looks like plane or spaceship stuff in the dark with all of the lights haha. Final picture i think lol.

AM4 and VP4 connected together and hooked into the AXE-FX 3 turbo MKII OUTPUT / INPUT 4 and can be moved around anywhere in the AXE-FX 3 signal path.

Boss vg-800 and Boss gm-800 connected via serial cable together with a Boss gk-5 pickup on my Kiesel Tim Miller M6 guitar and the output from the gm-800 goes into INPUT 2 of AXE-FX 3 and the output from normal guitar jack to the input of AXE-FX 3. These 2 Boss units with the gk-5 hex pickup gives me tons of guitar synth options and different tuning options without the need of actually tuning my guitar and virtual guitars and even extra amps / effects if i want them.

Then I have a Empress Effects ZOIA for more crazy effects in OUTPUT 3 / INPUT 3 that can be moved around anywhere in the AXE-FX 3 signal path.

NOTE: AM4 and VP4 is safe on top of AXE-FX 3. The edges hang off just a little but they're sturdy and besides I use the editors a lot anyway and sit in front of my computer most times.

 

[GTR37]

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

Choices , even at half the power of an AXE3 if you run
A verb A quad shift
2 cabs with preamp a compressor. You could possibly hit the limit
They are putting up some guardrails and have likely tested a lot of 4 block combos

That probably another reason in a prior post he
Said we can revisit the effects inventory at a later date

 

[ChordInversion]

I truly need no more gear, and I already have an FM9T, but I'm very close to ordering an AM4 anyway. I have no valid excuse other than the fact that I enjoy playing with musical gear.

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

Choices , even at half the power of an AXE3 if you run
A verb A quad shift
2 cabs with preamp a compressor. You could possibly hit the limit
They are putting up some guardrails and have likely tested a lot of 4 block combos

That probably another reason in a prior post he
Said we can revisit the effects inventory at a later date

I hope I've added enough to my previous post so as not to come across the wrong way.

But... it is somewhat strange.
FM9 = roughly 1/2 performance of the Axe-Fx III: has a pitch block
FM3 = roughly 1/4 performance of the Axe-Fx III: has a pitch block
AM4 = roughly 1/2 performance of the Axe-Fx III: no pitch block



But as I said, I think the AM4 is a wonderful product even without a virtual capo, and I'm really looking forward to getting mine.

 

[2112]

I'd LOVE having the Pitch block so I can throw some stereo dual detune at the end of the chain. I guess I'll have to make do with the Dimension chorus

 

[Electric I]

Welp… I’m in. Ordered last night & so looking forward to hearing Fractal amp & cab modeling in person. Expectations are high & from all I’ve read / heard, I’m sure it’ll meet or exceed.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

I hope I've added enough to my previous post so as not to come across the wrong way.

But... it is somewhat strange.
FM9 = roughly 1/2 performance of the Axe-Fx III: has a pitch block
FM3 = roughly 1/4 performance of the Axe-Fx III: has a pitch block
AM4 = roughly 1/2 performance of the Axe-Fx III: no pitch block



But as I said, I think the AM4 is a wonderful product even without a virtual capo, and I'm really looking forward to getting mine.

I don't know enough about how the processors in these things work to know, but my guess is that "processing power" and "performance capability" are not always 1:1 correlated?

 

[TheTrueZoltan!]

I don't know enough about how the processors in these things work to know, but my guess is that "processing power" and "performance capability" are not always 1:1 correlated?

Yes, that is probably the case.

 

[paisleywookiee]

If it indeed has a lot of juice, could it be because they’re planning to upgrade it to whatever amp modeling the AxeFX 4: The Quest for Peace gets?

 

[eggpl@nt]

My AM4 should be here tomorrow