Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[Sascha Franck]

Watched quite some videos about multiple purpose blocks (mainly boost/amp/cab and delay/verb) and scenes.
Even already thought about making this a new year's present for myself because I could possibly play pretty much any gig with this... if only it wasn't for the footswitch limitations.
Pretty sad IMO, but I simply can't find any satisfying switching layout that'd work in a way I like.

 

[StarF666]

Got my AM4 yesterday and spend half the day playing it with two new guitars that also arrived yesterday. So far a good sounding unit. And an "interesting" experience coming form Helix land back to a menu based editing. I won't say anything about sound (I have no ears). Yet.

But I have an issue with USB. I just cannot get it to work so I cannot use AM4 Edit which further adds to the user experience so far. I tried several USB cables (including the high quality one provided by G66), several USB ports on several computers. Any ideas? I'm on Windows.

 

[Aleksi]

Got my AM4 yesterday and spend half the day playing it with two new guitars that also arrived yesterday. So far a good sounding unit. And an "interesting" experience coming form Helix land back to a menu based editing. I won't say anything about sound (I have no ears). Yet.

But I have an issue with USB. I just cannot get it to work so I cannot use AM4 Edit which further adds to the user experience so far. I tried several USB cables (including the high quality one provided by G66), several USB ports on several computers. Any ideas? I'm on Windows.

Did you install the USB driver?

 

[BROCKSTAR]

Got my AM4 yesterday and spend half the day playing it with two new guitars that also arrived yesterday. So far a good sounding unit. And an "interesting" experience coming form Helix land back to a menu based editing. I won't say anything about sound (I have no ears). Yet.

But I have an issue with USB. I just cannot get it to work so I cannot use AM4 Edit which further adds to the user experience so far. I tried several USB cables (including the high quality one provided by G66), several USB ports on several computers. Any ideas? I'm on Windows.

Did you install the USB driver?

Get it here - https://www.fractalaudio.com/am4-downloads/

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

Quick question: is it possible to use input 3/4 over USB and then output 3/4 to do pre-FX with plugins in a DAW with the AM4? I’d like to be able to for example use Helix Natives Poly Capo before the internal blocks on the AM4. I understand that there would be some latency introduced if course but no additional D/A and A/D conversion.

 

[StarF666]

Did you install the USB driver?

Yes, I did. Problem is Windows cannot establish USB connection. Error message is "Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)". There are older Fractal forum posts about USB issues with other devices. I also read the FAQ. Most of the time they suggest to use a better USB cable. But I already tried diffrent cables in different lengths on different ports and different computers and I would have expected the G66 cable to work. I'm pretty experienced with USB connections and driver issues. I can even debug USB connections on package level but I just hoped, somebody had an easy solution.

 

[Aleksi]

Yes, I did. Problem is Windows cannot establish USB connection. Error message is "Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)". There are older Fractal forum posts about USB issues with other devices. I also read the FAQ. Most of the time they suggest to use a better USB cable. But I already tried diffrent cables in different lengths on different ports and different computers and I would have expected the G66 cable to work. I'm pretty experienced with USB connections and driver issues. I can even debug USB connections on package level but I just hoped, somebody had an easy solution.

I had the same error with the VP4 and it was solved by installing the driver G66 support is great, I'm sure they can help you out

 

[StarF666]

I had the same error with the VP4 and it was solved by installing the driver G66 support is great, I'm sure they can help you out

"Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)" - This exact error?

I even tried manual driver installation through device manager but it won't work because windows doen't get the (required) USB device descriptor form the device. I'll get in contact with G66 tomorrow.

 

[GTR37]

"Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)" - This exact error?

I even tried manual driver installation through device manager but it won't work because windows doen't get the (required) USB device descriptor form the device. I'll get in contact with G66 tomorrow.

Do you have any antivirus programs running that could be blocking it ?

Try these steps in order
Turn everything off and unplug USB
plug in the USB cable to the computer
So it already connected
Open AM4 edit
Now turn on the AM4 last

 

[FractalAudio]

"Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)" - This exact error?

I even tried manual driver installation through device manager but it won't work because windows doen't get the (required) USB device descriptor form the device. I'll get in contact with G66 tomorrow.

Turn everything off. Turn on the computer. After the computer is finished booting turn on the AM4.

 

[StarF666]

Turn everything off. Turn on the computer. After the computer is finished booting turn on the AM4.

That was it! I was pretty sure I already tried that but probably not in that exact order. Thank you very much.

 

[Aleksi]

"Unknown USB Device (Device Descriptor Request Failed)" - This exact error?

I even tried manual driver installation through device manager but it won't work because windows doen't get the (required) USB device descriptor form the device. I'll get in contact with G66 tomorrow.

In Finnish, but IIRC pretty much exactly that. I've had 3 FAS devices before the VP4 and still forgot that I have to install the driver

 

[Deleted member 3656]

It's not my kind of tone really, and I'm pretty sure I prefer the MKIV, MKV and MKVII over the II.... but... this is what the Stadium should've sounded like out of the box.

Are you referring to the lack of high end?

 

[BROCKSTAR]

 

[eggpl@nt]

Is it possible to do SPDIF 4CM with AM4+VP4?

Gtr to VP4 Instrument Input
VP4 SPDIF Out to AM4 SPDIF In
AM4 SPDIF Out to VP4 SPDIF In
VP4 Out to Monitor/Power Amp/Etc

I’m hovering over the VP4 but I can’t determine if this is possible. That would allow Pitch from VP4 to be used in pre-FX, then use the other three blocks from the VP4 for post-FX.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Is it possible to do SPDIF 4CM with AM4+VP4?

Gtr to VP4 Instrument Input
VP4 SPDIF Out to AM4 SPDIF In
AM4 SPDIF Out to VP4 SPDIF In
VP4 Out to Monitor/Power Amp/Etc

I’m hovering over the VP4 but I can’t determine if this is possible. That would allow Pitch from VP4 to be used in pre-FX, then use the other three blocks from the VP4 for post-FX.

Doing this and being able to maintain AM4 split modes from the VP outs would FANTASTIC.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

Quick question: is it possible to use input 3/4 over USB and then output 3/4 to do pre-FX with plugins in a DAW with the AM4? I’d like to be able to for example use Helix Natives Poly Capo before the internal blocks on the AM4. I understand that there would be some latency introduced if course but no additional D/A and A/D conversion.

Maybe not such a quick question! I’m contemplating getting on the eu waitlist, so it would be much appreciated if someone with a unit could test it out.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Maybe not such a quick question! I’m contemplating getting on the eu waitlist, so it would be much appreciated if someone with a unit could test it out.

For re-amping yes.
To play real time I don't see how.
But lemme go try

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Maybe not such a quick question! I’m contemplating getting on the eu waitlist, so it would be much appreciated if someone with a unit could test it out.

Ok so the only sensible way to do it in real time I coukd figure is using 2 sound cards as aggregate device and using the instrument in of the other soundcard UAD Apolli in my case and sent to a channel with plug in (I tried with the pitch shift in the NDSP Mishs Mansiir plug) and sent the output to the AM4 USB input ala re-amping.

That worked great.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

Ok so the only sensible way to do it in real time I coukd figure is using 2 sound cards as aggregate device and using the instrument in of the other soundcard UAD Apolli in my case and sent to a channel with plug in (I tried with the pitch shift in the NDSP Mishs Mansiir plug) and sent the output to the AM4 USB input ala re-amping.

That worked great.

Thanks a lot Ed, really appreciate it! Would have been nice to be able to just use the AM4 for this but an Aggregate Device would work as well since I’m on Mac.

The AM4 is a simpler device than the HX Stomp (where this works but latency is higher blabla) so I’m not surprised. It’s the simplicity that is slowly selling me on the AM4 since I’m tinkering too much with regards to signal chain with current setup (analog drives, Tonex One in loop of HX Stomp). Between trying out captures for Tonex, figuring out signal levels, trying (and failing) to build presets with modeled ODs for convenience and other shit I haven’t gotten much playing time done in the last few months.