Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[GTR37]

No worries, I appreciate the help.

While I was initially fixated on the 4 head setup from an accuracy/reproduction standpoint, after looking at my Helix and re-202, the majority of my space echo usage is using 2 heads and should be doable in the AM4. So perhaps I’m sliding into the “tweaking incompetence” camp.

I did work with the worn tape and mono tape delay options last night and started to get a little closer. I found making the echos bandpass from 120hz - 2khz and adding some modulation and drive helped but was still pretty meh. I couldn’t find the delay compander on the AM4 to check those changes out, and ran out of time.

I have an RMA set up as of this morning but am planning to sit down with AM4 edit later tonight to take one final pass. I’m thinking the compander and connecting an LFO to the motors will help get me there.

I swear I’m not an idiot lol, just stumbling through learning the fractal way of doing things.

Someone did a Volante patch it tied motor speed tone to expression pedal I think
It on the fractal forum if you search it , problem is yoy would need someone to post screen shots as block is not directly compatible with AM4

 

[yek]

Someone did a Volante patch it tied motor speed tone to expression pedal I think
It on the fractal forum if you search it , problem is yoy would need someone to post screen shots as block is not directly compatible with AM4

That was Leon Todd, years ago,

@2112

 

[GTR37]

That was Leon Todd, years ago,

@2112

Then probably in his AM4 blocks library , he posted on his gumtree it like $6 for likely a ton of stuff

@EOengineer Leon is a master at this stuff many of his blocks are direct matches to the real pedals and racks that he has owned and compared

 

[yek]

Well, it uses the MTD, so ...

Volantish

I set out to recreate my favourite settings on the Strymon Volante using the Multitap Delay and Spring Reverb. I've mapped as many parameters to the perform page as possible to keep it easy to tweak the preset. The "mechanics" depth and rate are set quite conservatively to start so don't be...

forum.fractalaudio.com

 

[BROCKSTAR]

Fractal AM4 Blocks Library

A curated selection of amp/cab combinations and effects to enhance your Fractal AM4.

leontodd.gumroad.com

I'm a block Wh*re, so of course I grabbed them the other day

 

[EOengineer]

Then probably in his AM4 blocks library , he posted on his gumtree it like $6 for likely a ton of stuff

@EOengineer Leon is a master at this stuff many of his blocks are direct matches to the real pedals and racks that he has owned and compared

Yeah I did see that as I was digging. It uses multi delay, unfortunately.

 

[GTR37]

Well, it uses the MTD, so ...

Volantish

I set out to recreate my favourite settings on the Strymon Volante using the Multitap Delay and Spring Reverb. I've mapped as many parameters to the perform page as possible to keep it easy to tweak the preset. The "mechanics" depth and rate are set quite conservatively to start so don't be...

forum.fractalaudio.com

Yes that does pose a bit of a problem

 

[GTR37]

Fractal AM4 Blocks Library

A curated selection of amp/cab combinations and effects to enhance your Fractal AM4.

leontodd.gumroad.com

I'm a block Wh*re, so of course I grabbed them the other day

Is there a list of what in there ?
Obviously no MTD , Plex or Pitch

 

[sashimi]

Spoiler

If the AM4 has as much power as an FM9 and only 4 blocks, shouldn’t it have no problem with multi delay and pitch and any anything else that is missing?

 

[BROCKSTAR]

Is there a list of what in there ?
Obviously no MTD , Plex or Pitch

Unless you want a specific folder list? Let me know?

 

[Mongillo19]

Spoiler

If the AM4 has as much power as an FM9 and only 4 blocks, shouldn’t it have no problem with multi delay and pitch and any anything else that is missing?

I just wonder how that power is allocated? If I recall correctly, FM9 has an entire core/chip (idk this terminology) dedicated to reverb alone, for example.

Also, Amp and Cab block are now combined. And I hate to say it, and not saying FAS is doing this at all, but if this thing offered EVERYTHING in a FM9 or FM3 (outside the block limit) there would be less reason to get a FM. At the end of the day fractal is a business and needs to make sure their products don't overlap too much as well.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I just wonder how that power is allocated? If I recall correctly, FM9 has an entire core/chip (idk this terminology) dedicated to reverb alone, for example.

Also, Amp and Cab block are now combined. And I hate to say it, and not saying FAS is doing this at all, but if this thing offered EVERYTHING in a FM9 or FM3 (outside the block limit) there would be less reason to get a FM. At the end of the day fractal is a business and needs to make sure their products don't overlap too much as well.

The thing everything in this sector dodges, no matter what brand; is giving you the "full enchilada" in the small package. If you made the AM4 the shrunken FM9; you'd still have to charge around the same amount as the full size for it. And you'd be removing your entry level/gateway drug option.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Spoiler

If the AM4 has as much power as an FM9 and only 4 blocks, shouldn’t it have no problem with multi delay and pitch and any anything else that is missing?

Meh. That's like saying just because two vehicles have similar horsepower numbers that their 0-60 should be the same.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Man, I’m telling you guys: the reason it’s got so much power but with a four block limit is because a new flagship is coming at some point soon, and this will get it. It’ll then peg the CPU capabilities.

I’m willing to bet (not real) money on that.

 

[GTR37]

Man, I’m telling you guys: the reason it’s got so much power but with a four block limit is because a new flagship is coming at some point soon, and this will get it. It’ll then peg the CPU capabilities.

I’m willing to bet (not real) money on that.

So your thinking he is reserving resources to keep the amp block in line w next Gen , possibly

 

[dk_ace]

If it's huge for what it does, and it does much more than twice what an AM4 does......

The AM4 has one MORE footswitch than the fm3…

The FM9 is great as an all in one floor unit. The vp4 and am4 make way more sense for incorporating into a larger rig than an fm3 with the smaller size and extra switch.


D

 

[dk_ace]

No worries, I appreciate the help.

While I was initially fixated on the 4 head setup from an accuracy/reproduction standpoint, after looking at my Helix and re-202, the majority of my space echo usage is using 2 heads and should be doable in the AM4. So perhaps I’m sliding into the “tweaking incompetence” camp.

I did work with the worn tape and mono tape delay options last night and started to get a little closer. I found making the echos bandpass from 120hz - 2khz and adding some modulation and drive helped but was still pretty meh. I couldn’t find the delay compander on the AM4 to check those changes out, and ran out of time.

I have an RMA set up as of this morning but am planning to sit down with AM4 edit later tonight to take one final pass. I’m thinking the compander and connecting an LFO to the motors will help get me there.

I swear I’m not an idiot lol, just stumbling through learning the fractal way of doing things.

I wouldn’t call it incompetence. The fractal learning curve is significant, and you’re either willing to put up with that for the power and sonics they offer or you aren’t. I don’t judge anybody who is in the “not for me” category there.

I find it worth it. Today. Tomorrow I might have a different answer. If stadium offered the sonics that fractal does across all the categories I cared about, I would have switched. Alas, it doesn’t. And I don’t want to go backwards just for things to be a little easier on the unit or more immediate to tweak.

Plus, I’ve gotten spoiled to the power that fractal block channels give me and it’s gonna be hard to ever get away from that.

Anyway… it’s worth a run with the compander settings and motor speed to see if you can get where you want to go. It’s a delay block, there aren’t that many parameters really you can either get it there or you can’t.

D

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

The AM4 has one MORE footswitch than the fm3…

The FM9 is great as an all in one floor unit. The vp4 and am4 make way more sense for incorporating into a larger rig than an fm3 with the smaller size and extra switch.

D

 

[EOengineer]

So even with the space echo being a bit of a question mark right now, I don't think I can RMA this thing. The size/performance/cost ratio is absurdly in the guitarists favor. Sometimes less is more, and If I can't get the space echo happening (which I am pretty damned determined to do at this point) I'll find a path around it.

Man, I’m telling you guys: the reason it’s got so much power but with a four block limit is because a new flagship is coming at some point soon, and this will get it. It’ll then peg the CPU capabilities.

I’m willing to bet (not real) money on that.

Next gen support would be pretty far beyond what I might expect from this unit, but I like your version better. NAM support would pretty much GOAT this thing in my book if its possible to run my own captures on this HW.

RE: CPU - So is the CPU meter just a percentage of some arbitrary limit? I haven't been paying a ton of attention but my memory says I've seen that CPU climb near 80 on some pretty basic 4 block presets in the AM4. I just assumed this thing was less capable than an FM3 due to the cost and size.

I wouldn’t call it incompetence. The fractal learning curve is significant, and you’re either willing to put up with that for the power and sonics they offer or you aren’t. I don’t judge anybody who is in the “not for me” category there.

I find it worth it. Today. Tomorrow I might have a different answer. If stadium offered the sonics that fractal does across all the categories I cared about, I would have switched. Alas, it doesn’t. And I don’t want to go backwards just for things to be a little easier on the unit or more immediate to tweak.

Plus, I’ve gotten spoiled to the power that fractal block channels give me and it’s gonna be hard to ever get away from that.

Anyway… it’s worth a run with the compander settings and motor speed to see if you can get where you want to go. It’s a delay block, there aren’t that many parameters really you can either get it there or you can’t.

D

Fair enough. I'm a knob turner so this is my thing - just a tough week to get extended face time with the unit so I'm brute forcing it and obviously stumbling around a little. Anyway, I've been pleasantly surprised overall by the UI on the unit. It's obviously not a Stadium XL interface but it has its own thing going.

 

[JiveTurkey]

So even with the space echo being a bit of a question mark right now, I don't think I can RMA this thing. The size/performance/cost ratio is absurdly in the guitarists favor. Sometimes less is more, and If I can't get the space echo happening (which I am pretty damned determined to do at this point) I'll find a path around it.


Next gen support would be pretty far beyond what I might expect from this unit, but I like your version better. NAM support would pretty much GOAT this thing in my book if its possible to run my own captures on this HW.

RE: CPU - So is the CPU meter just a percentage of some arbitrary limit? I haven't been paying a ton of attention but my memory says I've seen that CPU climb near 80 on some pretty basic 4 block presets in the AM4. I just assumed this thing was less capable than an FM3 due to the cost and size.


Fair enough. I'm a knob turner so this is my thing - just a tough week to get extended face time with the unit so I'm brute forcing it and obviously stumbling around a little. Anyway, I've been pleasantly surprised overall by the UI on the unit. It's obviously not a Stadium XL interface but it has its own thing going.

This is the first time in history when anyone has ever pared "less is more" with Fractal