Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[paisleywookiee]

My math is coming up about the same.

I’m terrible at math

 

[EOengineer]

If history repeats I don’t think Fractals next gen would sound fundamentally different than what we have now - the III didn’t sound much different on first release than the II.

Judging by how many folks seem offended by Stadium having legacy amps, that should give us plenty to bitch about.

I mean…what else are we supposed to do with the thing? Use it to create art?

 

[JiveTurkey]

I think Fractal filled out some legitimately open space for themselves downstream in the lower price points with the AM and ICON products. Stadium is an upward move and you are going to get some scrutiny with that move. Fractal will get that same side eye when the time comes and people will over-analyze it like they always do.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Judging by how many folks seem offended by Stadium having legacy amps, that should give us plenty to bitch about.

I mean…what else are we supposed to do with the thing? Use it to create art?

"art", or as I like to call it for myself, "a random folder on my desktop, filled with clips of riff ideas, that never seems to get anywhere concise".

 

[EOengineer]

"art", or as I like to call it for myself, "a random folder on my desktop, filled with clips of riff ideas, that never seems to get anywhere concise".

In my case it’s usually Soundgarden riffs played poorly and in the wrong tuning but I wasn’t about to drop that baggage here.

 

[DrewJD82]

Fractal will get that same side eye when Cliff exhales, inhales, thinks about making a post, makes a post, clarifies the post and people will over-analyze it like they always do.

FTFY

 

[FractalAudio]

 

[paisleywookiee]

OH DAMN SORRY GUYS.

 

[Mongillo19]

View attachment 59075
OH DAMN SORRY GUYS.

ITS BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING READY TO LAUNCH GEN IV

 

[laxu]

So has there been any consensus on whether we think the AM4 represents the tail end of Fractal’s current gen modeling or might be groundwork for what’s next?

I see it as kind of like Fractal's HX Stomp - though weirdly with better usability than their more upscale products. Otherwise it's less powerful than the other Fractals, but smaller and cheaper. I think it's a good size where it doesn't feel too big and still has that 4th footswitch which goes a long way.

It's very clearly "mature" and a derivative product from their existing range. While Fractal will likely do some usability improvements, and bring any Axe-Fx 3 updates to it, they have been pretty adamant about shutting down any requests for extra fx slots etc.

My hopes for it are some usability improvements and maybe squeezing a bit of extra utility into it, like say an "input wah" or something that gives you a bit of extra room to work within the 4 block limit. For my needs, it's pretty good.

I think it may determine form factor for future products. I don't think anyone wants to go back to clunky FM3 size boxes. Slap a touchscreen on the AM4 and more processing power, maybe an fx loop on the side like HX Stomp/Hotone and you've got a "FM4".

I'd also be interested to see Fractal experiment with modularity further. You can already hook up VP4+AM4 digitally together, but there are still big limitations where you can't use SPDIF for 4CM.

Imagine an AM4 form factor "FM4", where you could also buy some CPU+I/O expansion box that e.g mounts under the "FM4" and connects digitally together. Then a "FC8" foot controller to build a modular FM9 style unit.

 

[paisleywookiee]

ITS BECAUSE THEY ARE GETTING READY TO LAUNCH GEN IV

Duh, of course. Cliff is wily.

I'm planning on buying the next rack anyway, whenever that eventually comes. I've already opened an separate savings area in my account, called "Cliff's Sweet Tone Tools".

 

[GTR37]

I think Fractal filled out some legitimately open space for themselves downstream in the lower price points with the AM and ICON products. Stadium is an upward move and you are going to get some scrutiny with that move. Fractal will get that same side eye when the time comes and people will over-analyze it like they always do.

Agreed it a really good situation considering how matured the other product lines are , realistically FM and even AM4 are pretty solid
What are you really going to add ?

I suspect the rate of updates might slow a bit unless new stuff comes from developing the next gen
If current products have the ability to run the algorithm

I think first hint off this was a little while ago with the new preamp triode algorithm where Cliff said he was generally surprised that it could run in real time on the current products
That tells you it was being tested and run on a more powerful platform

 

[bucephalus]

still has that 4th footswitch which goes a long way

And I'm a much nicer layout compared to qc mini imo.

 

[paisleywookiee]

And I'm a much nicer layout compared to qc mini imo.

It's true, you are a nice layout.

 

[bucephalus]

It's true, you are a nice layout.

Charmed, I'm sure