Fractal Talk

[norminal]

It's possible that Helix firmware development doesn't require significant time between models.

Perhaps. But I think it’s more likely that they just wait to release them all together to prevent the FOMO and drama. Maybe @Digital Igloo could shed some light on their practices.

The Axe FX owners knowing they were waiting isn't the issue. The issue would be them needlessly having a delay in getting improvements to their gear because some people who bought less expensive models get firmware envy whenever III owners get an improvement they don't have yet.

For bug fixes, I agree that people have a right to complain and that they should be pushed out ASAP. But for new algos, added features, amp models, etc., I feel that releasing them all at once would alleviate some of the FOMO and subsequent drama.

 

[Stratzrus]

I think Fractal users are conditioned to the firmware updates by this point. Even as an Axe-Fx 3 owner I was starting to wonder "hmm, there hasn't been a fw update in a month, what's up?!"

I think for some Fractal users that's true. Sadly your Dave Chappelle image is a pretty apt metaphor for what's going on.

 

[laxu]

It's possible that Helix firmware development doesn't require significant time between models.

Line6 has probably done a lot of work to make it seamless to develop and build for the different models.

But the testing time to make sure everything works on every model is still significant.

Fractal has more trouble because they need to port between architectures and a far bigger disparity in processing power. It's quite a wonder how few Axe-Fx 3 features have been left out from the FM3. Fullres IRs, amp block bias tremolo, some pitch shifter improvements (that the FM9 got) and maybe some delay/reverb pitch shifting stuff?

 

[norminal]

Fractal has more trouble because they need to port between architectures and a far bigger disparity in processing power.

I’m pretty sure they aren’t using the same architecture across the entire Helix line. I could be mistaken and I’m too lazy to look it up ATM.

 

[laxu]

I’m pretty sure they aren’t using the same architecture across the entire Helix line. I could be mistaken and I’m too lazy to look it up ATM.

Helix uses two of the same DSPs, HX Stomp uses just one of them.

 

[Stratzrus]

I feel that releasing them all at once would alleviate some of the FOMO and subsequent drama.

I'm sorry if it seems insensitive but someone else's FOMO is not my problem and I don't think anyone is going to refuse to buy a FM9 because firmware updates for the III are released first.

I have a III but am largely a FM9 user. Not once have I wasted anyone else's time complaining that my FM9 didn't have the updates that were available for my III.

People also complained about having to sign up on a wait list. I really don't get it. Play what you have, in time something better will come along.

 

[norminal]

Helix uses two of the same DSPs, HX Stomp uses just one of them.

That makes more sense. I figured FAS would have learned to not use different DSP’s after the AX8 fiasco.

 

[norminal]

I'm sorry if it seems insensitive but someone else's FOMO is not my problem and I don't think anyone is going to refuse to buy a FM9 because firmware updates for the III are released first.

I have a III but am largely a FM9 user. Not once have I wasted anyone else's time complaining that my FM9 didn't have the updates that were available for my III.

People also complained about having to sign up on a wait list. I really don't get it. Play what you have, in time something better will come along.

Oh I could care less about having line latest and greatest firmware. I still haven’t updated my gigging FM3 to 7.0. It’s stable and I want to keep it that way.

 

[laxu]

That makes more sense. I figured FAS would have learned to not use different DSP’s after the AX8 fiasco.

Fractal honestly didn't have a lot of choice when the Axe-Fx 3 was conceived. The Axe-Fx 2 DSP chip got discontinued so they were in a rush to replace it, and I am not sure if there was any truly more powerful chips on the market at the time.

So they went to Texas Instruments' DSP chips, but those are pretty expensive, and they get exponentially expensive if they want to do an Axe-Fx IV with them. I would not be surprised if the Axe-Fx IV doesn't have a huge ton more processing power, but just comes with a lot more memory and storage for more Dyna-Cabs etc.

 

[Digital Igloo]

Perhaps. But I think it’s more likely that they just wait to release them all together to prevent the FOMO and drama. Maybe @Digital Igloo could shed some light on their practices.

I could, but not in Cliff's thread.

 

[dean701]

I could, but not in Cliff's thread.

100% class. How can you not respect this guy?

 

[luckymethod]

Fractal honestly didn't have a lot of choice when the Axe-Fx 3 was conceived. The Axe-Fx 2 DSP chip got discontinued so they were in a rush to replace it, and I am not sure if there was any truly more powerful chips on the market at the time.

So they went to Texas Instruments' DSP chips, but those are pretty expensive, and they get exponentially expensive if they want to do an Axe-Fx IV with them. I would not be surprised if the Axe-Fx IV doesn't have a huge ton more processing power, but just comes with a lot more memory and storage for more Dyna-Cabs etc.

or simply switch to a different brand of DSPs or directly to ARM processors. It's happening all over the industry and I don't see the big deal, they are way more powerful, more power efficient and cheaper.

 

[DrewJD82]

My AxeFX is on the current beta.

My FM9 is on whatever the last FW release was before the gapless switching beta. Have they done a FW for that beta yet?

And the kicker is, I’ve actually been using my FM9 more and really could have used the gapless switching, I was just too focused on plowing through song material to deal with updating/checking for updates……because the fucking thing works amazing as it is.

 

[GTR37]

My AxeFX is on the current beta.

My FM9 is on whatever the last FW release was before the gapless switching beta. Have they done a FW for that beta yet?

And the kicker is, I’ve actually been using my FM9 more and really could have used the gapless switching, I was just too focused on plowing through song material to deal with updating/checking for updates……because the fucking thing works amazing as it is.

Yes gapless is on the FM9 now

 

[DrewJD82]

Yes gapless is on the FM9 now

I know the gapless beta was out, but did it get the final FW?

 

[GTR37]

I know the gapless beta was out, but did it get the final FW?

Yes , just checked release 6.0 has it

 

[iaresee]

or simply switch to a different brand of DSPs or directly to ARM processors. It's happening all over the industry and I don't see the big deal, they are way more powerful, more power efficient and cheaper.

"simply"

 

[norminal]

I know the gapless beta was out, but did it get the final FW?

 

[yek]

 

[TSJMajesty]

Fractal development staff, preparing for platform switch:

It's like her head didn't even MOVE!