Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[Ed DeGenaro]

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.

Yeah I turned on the Soldano for a minute yesterday then dialed in the AM4 and went ok let’s get some work done

 

[CBHScott]

Ordered.

 

[Mongillo19]

Ordered.

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

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.

Actually thank you I just realised running it as hardware insert would be a great approach for me.
Still is as aggregate device but I’m gonna play with that.

 

[Boudoir Guitar]

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.

How often do you need to use the pitch block? If you've got Native and software to run Tonex profiles -- I don't see why you'd wanna go through the hassle of kicking the signal back out from the computer to the AM4 to go back to the computer. You're already okay using a digital capo to retune the guitar...whatever nuance preferences you may have in hardware amp tones doesn't seem worth the squeeze in such a scenario.

Get the AM4 and use it for its simplicity; and then when you occasionally need to get less-simple with pitch shifting, just go with a full plugin route. IMO.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

Actually thank you I just realised running it as hardware insert would be a great approach for me.
Still is as aggregate device but I’m gonna play with that.

Nice! What would you use it for?

How often do you need to use the pitch block? If you've got Native and software to run Tonex profiles -- I don't see why you'd wanna go through the hassle of kicking the signal back out from the computer to the AM4 to go back to the computer. You're already okay using a digital capo to retune the guitar...whatever nuance preferences you may have in hardware amp tones doesn't seem worth the squeeze in such a scenario.

Get the AM4 and use it for its simplicity; and then when you occasionally need to get less-simple with pitch shifting, just go with a full plugin route. IMO.

Yeah, in practicality I agree . I’m just scared I’ll find much better ”meat and potatoes tones” on the AM4 that I would like to keep using. But at the same time to me everything sounds like shit running the poly capo anyways… And I can always capture an amp on the AM4 for use in DAW/Mainstage. Good points, thanks!


Like mentioned for hardware I’ve got an HX Stomp which is of course a phenomenal unit. Never really gotten along with the amp modeling though, and now when I tried to do a preset with the modeled Precision Drive goosing up a capture on the Tonex One it sounded like a mushy mess… Since I have an actual Precision Drive to A/B against I’m now unconvinced of the drive modeling in the hardware as well and I’m getting very tempted to list the Stomp and TO and get on the AM4 waitlist. Also very curious about the reverbs which are supposedly so much better in fractal-land!