Fractal Audio Systems mystery product speculation

[paisleywookiee]

John's a friend. This place is the best forum but let's face it--it's still a forum. Forums can be rough on YouTubers, gear devs, etc.

Yeah, it can be challenging. Not saying I’m the problem. But it can be challenging.

 

[TubeStack]

I've read this like 18 times now and unless I'm going crazy you contradicted yourself.

He's saying it received the least amount of Fractal updates, which is still more updates than similar products from other brands receive.

 

[SonVolt]

He's saying it received the least amount of Fractal updates, which is still more updates than similar products from other brands receive.

it's been a long day

 

[the swede]

Tim sadly went from doesn‘t-buy-shit-but-is-kind-of-fun-to-have-around to doesn‘t-buy-shit-and-is-dropping-spam-in-every-thread.

it would be very sad if he beats my spamming.... I would feel lessened... or what its called, diminished? Miniaturized?

 

[ian_dissonance]

The “idiot mode” for fx editing is probably my favorite thing here.

 

[fetishfrog]

it's been a long day

If you were on the conference call I was just on, solidarity brother.

 

[FractalAudio]

This is mostly hearsay and some conjecture on my part, but this is how I understand the history.

There was a thread at TOP where the person claimed he was the lead engineer for the AX8 and FX8. He explained that he decided to port the code from the Axe-FX II firmware to these new products in the way that made most sense to him rather than in the way that was consistent with how Cliff had coded the Axe-FX firmware. He explained that he felt it was necessary to take a different approach due to the differences in the core DSP. It was his opinion that doing things Cliff's way was needlessly complicated and that it would have made the products worse. Cliff was not pleased with this choice and they parted ways sooner than was anticipated. That ended up leaving the AX8 and FX8 in a bit of an orphaned state.

I suspect that part of the reason why it takes so long for updates to get ported to the FM3 and FM9 is that the project teams are required to do things in a manner that is consistent with the Axe-FX III firmware code. Although it takes longer, it allows for nearly seamless interoperability of patches between devices and it will mitigate mess caused by a firmware engineer leaving unexpectedly.

Again, this is just what I remember reading on an internet forum years ago from a guy who claimed to have inside knowledge. It may be totally untrue.

It wasn't the AX8 and FX8, it was the FM3. Regardless, we have an architecture that we've spent years perfecting. It's a client-server architecture and allows for maximum code reuse across platforms.

The rest of your post is hearsay and completely false.

 

[deadpool_25]

I Fractal

 

[OrganicZed]

It wasn't the AX8 and FX8, it was the FM3. Regardless, we have an architecture that we've spent years perfecting. It's a client-server architecture and allows for maximum code reuse across platforms.

The rest of your post is hearsay and completely false.

I have edited my post to direct interested parties to your response.

 

[DrewJD82]

Is it a good looking unit?
View attachment 30720

Or…. Fooling you guys?

Goddamn Tim, I think they swapped out the Drain-O in your meth for something cheaper.

 

[Mongillo19]

Goddamn Tim, I think they swapped out the Drain-O in your meth for something cheaper.

Hottub chlorine for sure

 

[norminal]

Goddamn Tim, I think they swapped out the Drain-O in your meth for something cheaper.

Hottub chlorine for sure

As they say, “don’t feed the troll.”

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

 

[Elf]

If having up to four, high-quality effects from the Axe-Fx III in a small, pedal board-friendly format is what you want then this product is a compelling choice.

Thanks, this is great information.

 

[timbuck3]

Goddamn Tim, I think they swapped out the Drain-O in your meth for something cheaper.

sorry just having some fun. my bad...the vp4 is more serious then i alluded to.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Adding MIDI clock should be easy. The VP-4 code was frozen before it was implemented in the Axe-Fx III and the FM-3/9. The only development allowed after code is frozen is bug fixing.

The VP-4 uses the Axe-Fx III DSP's little brother. It's a single core version with the same instruction set so porting stuff from the Axe-Fx III is almost trivial.

We're already talking about adding a Looper and an IR player block.

The product focus was on three things: quality, simplicity and flexibility.

Re. quality. It uses premium analog components and converters. The input stage is FET and the op-amps are all "iPolar". None of this cheap CMOS stuff that other products are using.

No product will ever satisfy everyone. If low price is your primary concern then the product is not for you. If having lots of simultaneous effects is your primary concern the product is not for you. If having up to four, high-quality effects from the Axe-Fx III in a small, pedal board-friendly format is what you want then this product is a compelling choice.

Praying to Jobu for an IR block down the road. Doesn't need any bells and whistles

 

[Orvillain]

You can't be serious about that, right?

There really is something wrong with you. In your brain. Your cake hole.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]

 

[aivoryuk]

So with the IR player - you can play cab IR's but you wouldn't be able to filter like you can in the cab block?

 

[Sascha Franck]

There really is something wrong with you. In your brain. Your cake hole.

Oh really? Good to know!