Fractal Audio Systems mystery product speculation

[Hapless]

SPDIF.

Shows how much I use SPDIF (never). I was thinking the jacks were usually a different color.

 

[mbenigni]

Yep. I’m going to put it in a loop in my FM9 that’s in a loop in my AxeFX. And I’m going to use the exact same effects blocks with the exact same settings in each device for extra redundancy. Maybe I’ll be really crazy and set the Feedback on one delay block to 33.4% instead of 33.3% just to see who notices.

You gotta buy all of these components in pairs, so you can build out your backup and/or "fly rig".

 

[laxu]

Nice to see USB-B (C ?) on there. Looking at you, Mr. Friedman.

I thought it was B at first, but on closer look I think it's C. Which is a good choice as C is becoming the defacto option.

 

[jellodog]

I thought it was B at first, but on closer look I think it's C. Which is a good choice as C is becoming the defacto option.

It might be a cool option if you could even power it via this port too!

 

[Orvillain]

New guy droppin’ gold right out the gate!

Oh aye. "new guy"

 

[yek]

SPDIF: smart design choice.

 

[laxu]

It might be a cool option if you could even power it via this port too!

Absolutely. I've powered a Strymon Nightsky, SA Nemesis and a couple of drive pedals from a CIOKS 4 Expander using a USB powerbank.

 

[Orvillain]

Do any of the smaller Helix options offer SPDIF???

 

[laxu]

SPDIF: smart design choice.

I wonder if this is intended to connect e.g FM3 + "FX4" together, which you could further chain to an audio interface I guess since unlike the FM3, there's both a SPDIF in/out?

 

[mbenigni]

No built in PSU.

If there's no internal PSU/ IEC jack, I will demand at least 4 pages of "not professional" commentary.

 

[Hapless]

Do any of the smaller Helix options offer SPDIF???

Only the OG Helix. The LT and both Stomp variants do not.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I will demand at least 4 pages of "not professional" commentary.

This is the way!

 

[Orvillain]

Hmmm... wondering how I might utilise SPDIF....

I can only thing that there is a software option to treat the right channels for the input and output, as your 4-cable-method I/O.

Not supporting 4cm seems ... odd. Unless it is literally just a chorus/delay/reverb box, and no drives or anything like that.

 

[DrewJD82]

The lack of 4CM capabilities isn’t a huge turn off to me, my biggest goal for the amp/pedal based rig was getting Fractal delays/verbs in the effects loop and using pedals in front of the amp. There’d probably be the occasional time I’d want to run a compressor, flange or chorus in front of the amp but that just gives me more reason to get my hands on PastFX stuff.

 

[PorcinePicker]

Hmmm... wondering how I might utilise SPDIF....

I can only thing that there is a software option to treat the right channels for the input and output, as your 4-cable-method I/O.

Not supporting 4cm seems ... odd. Unless it is literally just a chorus/delay/reverb box, and no drives or anything like that.

Yep. Also a bit confused here, and wondering whether this may be entirely different from what I imagined. Even with everything we've gotten, it's still a complete mystery.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Perhaps it's just a looper box. Ed Sheeran likely wasn't happy with InMusic.

 

[laxu]

Not supporting 4cm seems ... odd. Unless it is literally just a chorus/delay/reverb box, and no drives or anything like that.

That's entirely possible. This could be Fractal's answer to the big box Strymons, Meris LVX & Mercury X and Eventide H90, rather than competing with the HX Effects.

And I'm all for that, it sucks that Strymon is making separate Bigsky, Timeline and Mobius MX that are overkill for most users instead of putting all those into one box as a dual algorithm pedal.

 

[holoholo]

I have a dumb question. Is he running 2 boards? Because I don’t see the Friedman pedal I thought he was running.

 

[toneseeker911]

Not necessarily. If I had to guess it's just effects only so probably FX4

My $$ - if these pictures are accurate - is on a 4 Button *efx* only unit

It has no FX loop guys

Maybe the odds of my bet of an EFX-only unit are getting longer and longer

But I doubt it has amps personally.

And no effects loop

THIS WILL HAVE AMP MODELING . There is no sense in an effects only unit. And I’m willing to die on this hill.

 

[paisleywookiee]

4CM is not a requirement when you run into a clean amp.

Definitely something that's good for gainy amps though.