Fractal Audio Systems mystery product speculation

[FuzzyAce]

View attachment 29695View attachment 29697

From the same video but with a bit better lighting.

4 footswitches, 5 knobs. The 4 knobs look like they are a bit closer together than the 5th but it could be just perspective. Might be a screen above the 4 knobs.

Hard to say if it's as tall or deep as the FM3, but the I/O looks more simplified for sure.

PS. I had no idea Jared James Nichols was so huge. Dude looks like he could eat Thomas Blug for breakfast!

That's like every UFO pic. Can never quite make it out.

 

[saarangnarayan]

Yeah looks like it’s hanging off the board by about 2” but there’s an equal amount of room up top for the jacks, so 8” might be a good estimate.

(inb4 TWSS jokes)

 

[laxu]

Is this the Zapruder footage?

Doug Castro was on the grassy knoll!

 

[GTR37]

View attachment 29695View attachment 29697

From the same video but with a bit better lighting.

4 footswitches, 5 knobs. The 4 knobs look like they are a bit closer together than the 5th but it could be just perspective. Might be a screen above the 4 knobs.

Hard to say if it's as tall or deep as the FM3, but the I/O looks more simplified for sure. Separate 1/4" stereo in and out maybe, with possibly a further input to the left?

PS. I had no idea Jared James Nichols was so huge. Dude looks like he could eat Thomas Blug for breakfast!

Ahhhh it’s the Fractal metro
Powered pedal board that just an FM3 up top

 

[Achilles]

The 4 knobs look like they are a bit closer together than the 5th

I got that too.
Also doesn't look to have the add on end-caps like an FM/FS and the footswitches are close together like a lot of newer pedals.

Based on the side profile in the pic it looks like the footswitches are on a higher angled plain than the rest of the unit.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Jared James Nichols is like TJ Miller, Zakk and Andre the Giant had a baby

 

[JiveTurkey]

Dear @FractalAudio

 

[saarangnarayan]

Okay here’s a mockup of Andy’s board based on my memory of what he stated in the video with Lee Anderton. This new photo kinda makes it seem like the new product might be FM3-sized but slightly less deep and potentially lower height but the length seems to be pretty close. The board is a Metro 24 and I’ve included a Metro 20 for scale.

EDIT: I remember him talking about a Friedman (I presume) IR-X/IR-D, too. But I got the sense that he was pointing to it off the board so I haven’t included it here. Also, it’s clear it can’t be on this board.

 

[Mongillo19]

Okay here’s a mockup of Andy’s board based on my memory of what he stated in the video with Lee Anderton. This new photo kinda makes it seem like the new product might be FM3-sized but slightly less deep and potentially lower height but the length seems to be pretty close. The board is a Metro 24 and I’ve included a Metro 20 for scale.

View attachment 29699

Hopefully it has amp models then with it seeming to be a larger unit

 

[fetishfrog]

If it's an FX only unit optimized for 4CM (ie. the same or better analog path than the AXE3/FX8), it's a buy from me.

 

[nicolasrivera]

View attachment 29695View attachment 29697

From the same video but with a bit better lighting.

4 footswitches, 5 knobs. The 4 knobs look like they are a bit closer together than the 5th but it could be just perspective. Might be a screen above the 4 knobs.

Hard to say if it's as tall or deep as the FM3, but the I/O looks more simplified for sure. Separate 1/4" stereo in and out maybe, with possibly a further input to the left?

PS. I had no idea Jared James Nichols was so huge. Dude looks like he could eat Thomas Blug for breakfast!

Well, its massive!

 

[saarangnarayan]

Hopefully it has amp models then with it seeming to be a larger unit

I’m guessing it won’t. The FM3 would be a bit redundant if there is amp modelling in the new thing. Maybe this is a new generation of products then? I doubt it, tho. More money on FX-only unit.

 

[Mongillo19]

I’m guessing it won’t. The FM3 would be a bit redundant if there is amp modelling in the new thing. Maybe this is a new generation of products then? I doubt it, tho. More money on FX-only unit.

Yeah I doubt it will as well. As you said the FM3 would be redundant....unless it has a different screen or form factor

 

[holoholo]

But what if it’s a touch screen?

 

[holoholo]

Alright raise your hand if you suggested "FRFR" as the new device in this thread.

 

[FuzzyAce]

Whatever it is, it'll be ready SOON.

 

[GTR37]

Alright raise your hand if you suggested ""FRFR"" as the new device in this thread.

I am saying hands down it
FAS plug-in
You can clearly see the Acer laptop to the left of the pedalboard

 

[laxu]

If it's an FX only unit optimized for 4CM (ie. the same or better analog path than the AXE3/FX8), it's a buy from me.

If it's nice to operate, it's a buy from me too. I love my pedalboard, but it's really expensive and still has a lot of inconveniences that a multifx unit simplifies greatly.

4 > 3 every time, whether it's knobs or footswitches. 3 is the wrong number of knobs for anything that isn't a simple overdrive or similar.

But what if it’s a touch screen?

I don't think it is. I think this is a bit of a mid-gen device that is meant to pack Fractal's great effects into something a bit more compact and cheaper than the FM3 without cannibalizing their existing products.

If it has all Fractal fx this could be a great unit for people who are fine with 1 amp + cab but want a bit more from fx than what the FM3 can do.

 

[aflynt]

Removable footswitch array? That'd be kind of cool. Like.. you can get it with or without detachable footswitches... Gateway to FM0? FX0?

-Aaron

 

[SillyOctpuss]

If it has all Fractal fx this could be a great unit for people who are fine with 1 amp + cab but want a bit more from fx than what the FM3 can do.