Fractal Audio Systems AM4 - Amp Modeler

[laxu]

The only con ive found so far is that some of the parameters, once moved cannot return to their original state which is pretty lame. It isn't bad enough to where it makes a difference but to my OCD this is an issue.

For example the screen frequency in the IIC++ defaults at 14. After adjusting up and down to play it will not go back to 14. It's either 14.1 or 13.95.

This is just the way it calculates the value, and depending on where you started it can end up somewhere else. IMO it's excessively granular and e.g 0.1 steps for most things would be more than enough. You can use AM4-Edit to input specific values manually.

 

[maddnotez]

I don't have the app in front of me, but can you not click on it and manually type in a number like 14?

This is just the way it calculates the value, and depending on where you started it can end up somewhere else. IMO it's excessively granular and e.g 0.1 steps for most things would be more than enough. You can use AM4-Edit to input specific values manually.

Yeah I was editing in the box and not in the Edit App for PC

 

[maddnotez]

Here is my first recording attempt with the AM4 after discovering expert edit pages. Definitely need more time with the AM4 but it's really starting to come along in my opinion.

I do have to admit, without these deep editing options I don't think I'd be able to get acceptable tones. Expert editing pretty much makes or breaks the AM4 and I was close to selling it until now.

The recording itself isn't that great, not very tight and just throwaway drums but wanted to test.

 

[synthpenguin]

I am guessing the drive block
Over sampling option is too much CPU for the AM4 or Cliff possibly
Tweaked some of it behind the scenes so it improves the aliasing

Does the Drive block oversampling option really use that much more power vs some of the other power-hungry options (reverb quality, diffusion, etc) to make it non-viable for the AM4? It’s hard to tell from demoes of it on the Axe.

 

[GTR37]

Does the Drive block oversampling option really use that much more power vs some of the other power-hungry options (reverb quality, diffusion, etc) to make it non-viable for the AM4? It’s hard to tell from demoes of it on the Axe.

Well on the Axe on certain drive pedals it a 5% to 7% CPU hit
That would be pretty substantial on AM4 probably getting close to a pitch block

 

[synthpenguin]

It would be kind of neat to see a video recreating the signal chains of some of the AM4's direct competitors in a preset, especially taking advantage of the channels and scenes to fit their different modes and channels in one.

e.g. recreating the UA Dream or UA Ruby's various modes across a preset, recreating the Iridium's different channels with two or three blocks to spare (depending on how happy you are with the cab section's room sim), or recreating one (or two?) of the Tone King preamp pedals within one preset.

Interface differences aside, I think it's impressive how effortlessly you can recreate a lot of these in the AM4 with only 4 blocks, and it's nice that, unlike some of them, it has a headphone jack and a way to put post-fx before it

 

[Mongillo19]

Thread 'AM4 now available at shop.fractalaudio.com | Mar-30-2026' https://forum.fractalaudio.com/thre...-at-shop-fractalaudio-com-mar-30-2026.219891/

 

[Elf]

Thread 'AM4 now available at shop.fractalaudio.com | Mar-30-2026' https://forum.fractalaudio.com/thre...-at-shop-fractalaudio-com-mar-30-2026.219891/

Ordered it! :)

 

[Richard_G]

No offense, but I don't think it's ethical to be sharing captures of amp modelers. It takes away from Fractal's work. I did it strictly for my use, when mobile on a laptop.

I often agree with your takes, but I'm genuinely curious about your reasoning here. And just to be clear: not at all related to the question of whether I think the particular user here should be given a Fractal capture.

I can understand a stance where one makes captures of their gear for their own use but would struggle with sharing them. But I don't think you consider making and sharing captures of gear is unethical in a general sense? Can you expand a bit on why you consider it less ethical to make and share a capture of a digital simulation/recreation/copy of an analog device (like a tube amp or a pedal) than to make and share a capture of the actual analog device in question?

 

[paisleywookiee]

I often agree with your takes, but I'm genuinely curious about your reasoning here. And just to be clear: not at all related to the question of whether I think the particular user here should be given a Fractal capture.

I can understand a stance where one makes captures of their gear for their own use but would struggle with sharing them. But I don't think you consider making and sharing captures of gear are unethical in a general sense? Can you expand a bit on why you consider it less ethical to make and share a capture of a digital simulation/recreation/copy of an analog device (like a tube amp or a pedal) than to make and share a capture of the actual analog device in question?

Because IMO they're vastly different tools. Someone looking to buy an AM4, but getting a bunch of free caps instead, I think isn't fair to Fractal. However, someone getting free caps isn't going to then NOT get a $2500 Boogie or Marshall. Totally different tool, totally different market. I know it can seem like I'm splitting hairs, but that's how I look at it.

 

[Richard_G]

But you are OK with me making NAM and Tonex captures of my AM4 presets, for my own personal use?

 

[paisleywookiee]

But you are OK with me making NAM and Tonex captures of my AM4 presets, for my own personal use?

Yes, because it’s your AM4 you purchased, for your use.

 

[Richard_G]

How about something more accessible than $2500 amps - like a $100 dirt pedal. Is it in your opinion unethical to make and share captures of such a pedal, but OK to make captures only for personal use? Is it in your opinion unethical to make and share captures of a digital simulation/recreation of such a pedal, but OK to make captures only for personal use?

How much of these distinctions are related to the price and/or availability of the analog gear?

Did I misunderstand your stance from the get go - in that you think it is unethical to share captures in general?

 

[paisleywookiee]

How about something more accessible than $2500 amps - like a $100 dirt pedal. Is it in your opinion unethical to make and share captures of such a pedal, but OK to make captures only for personal use? Is it in your opinion unethical to make and share captures of a digital simulation/recreation of such a pedal, but OK to make captures only for personal use?

How much of these distinctions are related to the price and/or availability of the analog gear?

Did I misunderstand your stance from the get go - in that you think it is unethical to share captures in general?

Don't know. Haven't really thought about the pedal thing, because I've never done it.

 

[dws2384]

How about something more accessible than $2500 amps - like a $100 dirt pedal. Is it in your opinion unethical to make and share captures of such a pedal, but OK to make captures only for personal use? Is it in your opinion unethical to make and share captures of a digital simulation/recreation of such a pedal, but OK to make captures only for personal use?

How much of these distinctions are related to the price and/or availability of the analog gear?

Did I misunderstand your stance from the get go - in that you think it is unethical to share captures in general?

I posed this question to the IK rep here when they recently released a ‘special edition’ TONEX one where they were only making a limited amount of them and the captures wouldn’t be available elsewhere so you had to buy hardware for no reason. I said so what if I were to buy it, so I would actually own it, capture all of the sounds and release them to everyone for free? How is that different than them capturing a bunch of dumbles (which they don’t own) and selling the captures. It’s a slippery slope when you get into it.

Edit - I’m not suggesting people do this either. My question was more in response to him vaguely insinuating it would be unethical to take all of their paid packs and release them for free. They’re taking amp builders sounds and releasing them for a fee, those amp builders are likely building upon an archetype of a previous amp…as I said it’s a slippery slope

 

[synthpenguin]

I wonder how many people are buying drive pedals, capturing them, then returning them. I mention this because Wampler, who had a pretty nuanced take on captures, mentioned this possibility too, and I’ve heard some other companies like OBNE talk about dealing with Amazon return scams where the physical pedal is either replaced by a fake or damaged, and I know some people treat Guitar Center etc as rental stores, so I suspect it’s happening. I’ve seen people talk about doing it with amps, for sure.

 

[Tanax]

Because IMO they're vastly different tools. Someone looking to buy an AM4, but getting a bunch of free caps instead, I think isn't fair to Fractal. However, someone getting free caps isn't going to then NOT get a $2500 Boogie or Marshall. Totally different tool, totally different market. I know it can seem like I'm splitting hairs, but that's how I look at it.

Interesting.
I mean, at least you've thought it through.

With that said, I disagree I don't think there's any difference conceptually. You're still capturing someone else's work and giving it away for free. Whether that's a Fractal model, or a physical amp, makes no difference in my view.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Interesting.
I mean, at least you've thought it through.

With that said, I disagree I don't think there's any difference conceptually. You're still capturing someone else's work and giving it away for free. Whether that's a Fractal model, or a physical amp, makes no difference in my view.

Okay.

Well, I give nothing away, because I’m self-centered and of free conscience.

 

[Southpaw-DD]

Ordered an AM4 - all but decided last week I'm selling my Axe FX III and FC-12 as I just don't use the full horsepower and I want something portable to take to other rooms in the house and use w/ headphones (like a sofa rig ).

The QC Mini is my other thought and that may still happen, but I love the Fractal amp modeling!