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!

 

[BROCKSTAR]

 

[Elf]

Marco is such a great guitarist!

 

[Los-D]

Quick (weird) take: really liking the Fractal EQ blocks. I’ve been using it as my first block on the grid when using external preamps and it is by far the closest to physical pedals. Compared to other modelers out there, I feel the sound, but more importantly, the feel and dynamics when you lower the volume are the closest to my analog EQ pedal to the point where it doesn’t feel like a trade-off to remove it from my pedalboard. Weird one, I know, since we’re just talking about EQs.

I did mention in the FAS forum that if there was a way to get an input EQ (could be even just toggling the output preset EQ to input if needed), it would free up that block for other FX.

 

[EOengineer]

This thing is too much fun. Spent some time figuring out the USB reamp flow and took the opportunity to throw a quick and dirty sample of the 2C+ together:

 

[RGB]

Mine shipped last week and has been sitting dead in the water in Chicago...3.5 hours away from me...since yesterday morning. Fedex says it'll be here Tuesday.

Must be coming by pony express...

 

[BROCKSTAR]

Mine shipped last week and has been sitting dead in the water in Chicago...3.5 hours away from me...since yesterday morning. Fedex says it'll be here Tuesday.

Must be coming by pony express...

Yeah everything is slow again these days. My polyend step sat in indiana (4 hrs away) a whole day from early friday morning to saturday morning not doing a thing and then suddenly moved. Could have been delivered yesterday if they didn't take a whole day break or something geez. Hoping it shows tomorrow.

 

[GTR37]

This thing is too much fun. Spent some time figuring out the USB reamp flow and took the opportunity to throw a quick and dirty sample of the 2C+ together:

That sounds great
Honestly AM4 still remains my favourite piece of gear I have bought in a long time , the tone is just

 

[Mooselake]

That sounds great
Honestly AM4 still remains my favourite piece of gear I have bought in a long time , the tone is just

It's elbowing its way into second place over the last 8 years for me. If I can get past the learning curve with it (doesn't appear to be an excessively steep curve). It's a great conduit for me to dip my toes into the Fractal-verse.

 

[RevBillyG]

Mine shipped last week and has been sitting dead in the water in Chicago...3.5 hours away from me...since yesterday morning. Fedex says it'll be here Tuesday.

Must be coming by pony express...

They're probably testing it out for you \m/

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

I watched @GuitarJon ’s walkthrough video of the AM4 yesterday (recommend it, goes into quite some editing) and I’m really warming up to the device. Looks very easy to work with and the whole concept really jives with me compared to endless snapshot configurations with Helix. The possibilities with channels and scenes seems to be exactly how I’d like to set up my sounds.

Link to Jon’s video.

 

[Frankencat]

@2112 has done videos on it. IIRC one of those 6’s is actually like Bass on 2 and Mids on 3 (2*3=6). Then it’s Vol and Treb on 6.

6-5-4 for me. This works on my Deluxe Reverb and Pro Reverb. Add a little boost in front and go!

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

I watched @GuitarJon ’s walkthrough video of the AM4 yesterday (recommend it, goes into quite some editing) and I’m really warming up to the device. Looks very easy to work with and the whole concept really jives with me compared to endless snapshot configurations with Helix. The possibilities with channels and scenes seems to be exactly how I’d like to set up my sounds.

Link to Jon’s video.

Aaaand now on the EU waitlist. Not 100% sure yet on purchasing and will need to try to sell off some other stuff if everything works out as planned. A bit excited though! Guess I’ll be busy on my commutes catching up on Leon’s YT vids on the AM4!

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

I'm getting tempted by the VP
But for that to make sense, is there a way to hook.it up to the AM4 spdif 4CM so to say and have it in the re-amp path.
For USB re-amp obviously.
Im guessing no

 

[fetishfrog]

I'm getting tempted by the VP
But for that to make sense, is there a way to hook.it up to the AM4 spdif 4CM so to say and have it in the re-amp path.
For USB re-amp obviously.
Im guessing no

SPDIF 4 CM is a current feature request. It's not available now.

I have the VP4 and the AM4 will get real tempting if that gets implemented.