Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[2112]

Now just give it the good ole Jose saturation mod

Another interesting thing that I just picked up in a Jay Parmar video that he was doing is putting up the bias to 70%
Some of the Amps like 5153 he was using are biased cold around 47%
The range from 50 to 60 is considered cold to moderate 65 to 70% hot
I don’t do too much deep editing but I have to admit turning up the bias you could hear the effect
I think on Marshall’s and EL34s it would be especially noticeable

That's not quite how that control works, as per the tech notes

Power Tube Grid Bias

The Power Tube Grid Bias parameter does NOT control the power dissipation as a percentage of peak. It sets the power tube grid voltage between cutoff and maximum. I see people thinking that they should set this parameter to 70% because some click-bait chump on the internet says tube amps sound...

forum.fractalaudio.com

Having said that, if you like the way it sounds then do it!

 

[KFF]

Having said that, if you like the way it sounds then do it!

RAWK!

 

[GTR37]

That's not quite how that control works, as per the tech notes

Power Tube Grid Bias

The Power Tube Grid Bias parameter does NOT control the power dissipation as a percentage of peak. It sets the power tube grid voltage between cutoff and maximum. I see people thinking that they should set this parameter to 70% because some click-bait chump on the internet says tube amps sound...

forum.fractalaudio.com

Having said that, if you like the way it sounds then do it!

Ahh thanks for that , my dumb assumption that it was biasing the tubes
At any rate yeah it sounded cool , it’s likely something that might be better on some amps than others

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Gonna hold onto my III/FC-12 a liiiiiiiittle bit longer before making a final decision on whether I'm okay selling it. Likely to let it go, but mostly because I'm not gigging with zero plans of doing so - probably ever again.

If I were gigging regularly, unless it was something I was absolutely okay having REALLY straight forward sounds for (dual overdrive, amp, verb) I'd way rather haul the III/FC-12 than use the AM4 -- I'll take 2 trips from the car and a simpler frame of mind while playing than simplifying my load-in and then either simplifying my tones more than I want or complicating my need to keep track of presets and add extra pedals.

 

[StarF666]

Because I'm new to FAS and too lazy to read through 94 pages (I'm sorry) but how does the AM4 handle drive pedals on its frontend? I'm thinking of build a hybrid pedalboard around it. I know it's advertised for this but what's the experience of those who got their units already?

 

[iaresee]

how does the AM4 handle drive pedals on its frontend

As long as you don't overdrive the input with the drive pedal, it's fantastic. You just have to make sure you're not clipping the converters.

 

[Richard_G]

And the max input level is +20dBu, so you have quite a bit of headroom.

 

[StarF666]

Thank you.

 

[BROCKSTAR]

 

[Lysander]

Man, the AM4 sounds stupidly good. Which is no surprise coming from a FM3, but GAS is slowly rising...

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

Man, the AM4 sounds stupidly good. Which is no surprise coming from a FM3, but GAS is slowly rising...

Can't remember if you still have your FM3? The one thing I notice with the AM4, and I have no idea if its just because its a new toy and so I'm more inclined to play with it or because the more streamlined UI "encourages it" -- and I also don't know if its a good thing or a bad thing, honestly, but...

...I've played around with amps I haven't played around with in months, and a few drives I don't think I've ever messed with. I think its mostly "new toy = more 'play'; less play" than anything though -- its not like the UI on the III or FM3 makes changing amp models that hard....

 

[Lysander]

Can't remember if you still have your FM3?

No, it had to go once Helix Stadium got announced I really enjoyed how that box sounds, but the UX, while improved since the last time i tried it, is still terrible, to the point i spent more time fighting it than playing.

The streamlined UX on the AM4 & VP4 seems to be heaps better thou.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Man, the AM4 sounds stupidly good. Which is no surprise coming from a FM3, but GAS is slowly rising...

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

No, it had to go once Helix Stadium got announced I really enjoyed how that box sounds, but the UX, while improved since the last time i tried it, is still terrible, to the point i spent more time fighting it than playing.

The streamlined UX on the AM4 & VP4 seems to be heaps better thou.

It is -- mostly because hitting "home" or exiting anything effectively takes you to the 4-block grid.

 

[metallica86]

Because I'm new to FAS and too lazy to read through 94 pages (I'm sorry) but how does the AM4 handle drive pedals on its frontend? I'm thinking of build a hybrid pedalboard around it. I know it's advertised for this but what's the experience of those who got their units already?

Sound really good.
So far I tried: Wampler Tumnus, ocd, sd1, ts808, suhr riot, boss bd2w, wampler pantheon
All sound like they should with real amp. I only use the Shiver clean inside AM4

 

[eggpl@nt]

Because I'm new to FAS and too lazy to read through 94 pages (I'm sorry) but how does the AM4 handle drive pedals on its frontend? I'm thinking of build a hybrid pedalboard around it. I know it's advertised for this but what's the experience of those who got their units already?

I build a lot of pedals, and I’ve tested every single one of them in front of them in front of the AM4, and I’ve not noticed anything off or funky or disagreeable. Sounds as good (to me) as they do into the Axe Fx or my amps.

 

[EOengineer]

That’s awesome that the AM4 has the headroom to handle getting hit with boosts, etc.

Honestly I struggle to come up with any negatives for this thing. One of the best gear purchases I’ve made in a while.

 

[Richard_G]

Of course there are some compromises involved—as with all gear—but man, I simply love my AM4!

 

[FracKing]

That’s awesome that the AM4 has the headroom to handle getting hit with boosts, etc.

AFAIK it's on you to (ideally) adjust the input for your hottest signal -- there is no "special headroom sauce"...?

 

[EOengineer]

AFAIK it's on you to (ideally) adjust the input for your hottest signal -- there is no "special headroom sauce"...?

Not sure I’m following. I’m thinking of scenarios where I’ve used boosts to push the front end of other modelers. The boost inherently brings a big level jump with it that can clip the front end or (I think more common) kick in some weird limiting behavior. Lowering input levels would leave the unboosted signal anemic.