Fractal Talk

[Orvillain]

(but yes, you were right. shush)

 

[OrganicZed]

This is worth your time. What a legend!

 

[Joshual-L]

If connected via SPDIF in/out you could probably even run 4CM with it.

But the cost is pretty high. Let's assume the cost is 2x VP4, so in the US that would be $1398 + tax, fairly close to the FM9. Probably makes sense only if you want the modularity or prefer how the VP4 operates.

In Europe it'd be 1950 € incl VAT which would buy you a used Axe-Fx 3.

Yeah, I think I'll wait for next gen.

An new FM4 with some cpu upgrades would be really great though.

 

[iaresee]

MAKE IT SMALLER!

 

[State of Epicicity]

MAKE IT SMALLER!

That's what she said.

 

[2112]

This is worth your time. What a legend!

Got to hear Brett through his FM9 rig at Melbourne Guitar Show and it was spectacular. Love the way he uses an exp pedal to blend in big verb/delay pads.

 

[James Freeman]

Another example, again using something that doesn't involve using more DSP in order to switch.

JVM Mid switch, on the amp its just a toggle button:

View attachment 39923

On Axe Edit, you have to load the amp, then go to the preamp page, then tonestack type and then find it here:

View attachment 39924

And on the actual device, you have to tab along to the Advanced tab, then scroll through the list to find tonestack type. And then just scroll until the right ones suddenly appear (has anyone noticed the order of the Tonestacks before on the device?):



What is the likelihood of ANY of these options besides the 2 JVM Satriani options being the one the user wants? I get why it is the way it is, but it's one of those situations where having total flexibility works against the experience of having an accurate model.

And this is just one example, almost every amp is going to have its own unique quirks - if the user is familiar with a particular amp, they'll know what to do but its not always going to be obvious.

An idea;
Load amp channels and tie/link parameters with identical name/function.
Internally load only the difference between the channels.
Hit "merge" to lock channels as a single amp.

 

[laxu]

Another example, again using something that doesn't involve using more DSP in order to switch.

JVM Mid switch, on the amp its just a toggle button:

View attachment 39923

On Axe Edit, you have to load the amp, then go to the preamp page, then tonestack type and then find it here:

View attachment 39924

And on the actual device, you have to tab along to the Advanced tab, then scroll through the list to find tonestack type. And then just scroll until the right ones suddenly appear (has anyone noticed the order of the Tonestacks before on the device?):



What is the likelihood of ANY of these options besides the 2 JVM Satriani options being the one the user wants? I get why it is the way it is, but it's one of those situations where having total flexibility works against the experience of having an accurate model.

And this is just one example, almost every amp is going to have its own unique quirks - if the user is familiar with a particular amp, they'll know what to do but its not always going to be obvious.

This is stuff that should be covered by the Authentic view. Just a "Mid shift on/off" button that behind the scenes toggles tone stack between JS410 vs JS410 Midshift.

Same deal for e.g "Tight" switch on Triple Crown that sets Input boost on with the Tube Screamer type.

There's a lot of "Just do this advanced setting trick to match a feature on the real amp" notes listed for various amp models in the Axe-Fx 3 Wiki. Fractal could just solve these for the end user by providing that option in the Authentic view and it will do whatever needs to be done behind the scenes.

 

[blandified]

What are your guys' tips for an OD stomp into a clean amp for a screaming lead tone?

I have been loving my FM9, and I like having my amp last in the chain because I am going for that classic P&W / CCM guitar sound with the reverbs washing into the amp. However, you can't run a high gain amp like this.

So far, the only high gain lead tones I like from the FM9 are pure amp distortions.... the high gain OD pedals into a clean amp haven't been what I'm looking for. My favorite lead tone comes from the Soldano Lead 100 (or something like that).

I usually play through the clean ODS amp, and I like my mid-gain tones from the OD stomps, but not gelling with the higher gain OD stomps.

Any tips?

 

[Orvillain]

However, you can't run a high gain amp like this.

You can. Just bring the feedback levels down and the mix levels down. It is a balancing act but it can definitely be done.

 

[blandified]

You can. Just bring the feedback levels down and the mix levels down. It is a balancing act but it can definitely be done.

Hmm I can try again I suppose. But when I tried it last, the delays and reverbs BEFORE a high gain amp sound horrible even with the mix/fb levels super low. If there is an example preset anyone can share that successfully does this, please share and I can copy the main ideas!

Thanks.

 

[KHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!]

What are your guys' tips for an OD stomp into a clean amp for a screaming lead tone?

I have been loving my FM9, and I like having my amp last in the chain because I am going for that classic P&W / CCM guitar sound with the reverbs washing into the amp. However, you can't run a high gain amp like this.

So far, the only high gain lead tones I like from the FM9 are pure amp distortions.... the high gain OD pedals into a clean amp haven't been what I'm looking for. My favorite lead tone comes from the Soldano Lead 100 (or something like that).

I usually play through the clean ODS amp, and I like my mid-gain tones from the OD stomps, but not gelling with the higher gain OD stomps.

Any tips?

The FM9 has a dedicated processor for reverb. You can most likely add a second reverb after everything without a spike in processing.

Edit to add this video by Leon Todd

 

[metropolis_4]

What are your guys' tips for an OD stomp into a clean amp for a screaming lead tone?

I have been loving my FM9, and I like having my amp last in the chain because I am going for that classic P&W / CCM guitar sound with the reverbs washing into the amp. However, you can't run a high gain amp like this.

So far, the only high gain lead tones I like from the FM9 are pure amp distortions.... the high gain OD pedals into a clean amp haven't been what I'm looking for. My favorite lead tone comes from the Soldano Lead 100 (or something like that).

I usually play through the clean ODS amp, and I like my mid-gain tones from the OD stomps, but not gelling with the higher gain OD stomps.

Any tips?

I still struggle with using Fractal for the “pedal platform” thing. The drives are way better than they used to be, but it isn’t its forte.

What kind of “high gain” are you looking for?
Have you tried the Suhr Riot models?

 

[blandified]

The FM9 has a dedicated processor for reverb. You can most likely add a second reverb after everything without a spike in processing.

Edit to add this video by Leon Todd

Hmm actually that is a good point. I think I did that at one point but I've done so many different iterations I forgot about that, will try again and report back if it works for my setup.

 

[blandified]

I still struggle with using Fractal for the “pedal platform” thing. The drives are way better than they used to be, but it isn’t its forte.

What kind of “high gain” are you looking for?
Have you tried the Suhr Riot models?

Yes I actually do like the Suhr Riot models pretty well, that is what I have been using lately. They sound fine, but I feel like a cranked Soldano amp just F E E L S better under the fingers, if that makes sense. I will continue tinkering though.

 

[JiveTurkey]

The Riot is a a great OD on the FAS stuff. "Amp" gain FTW though.

 

[metropolis_4]

Yes I actually do like the Suhr Riot models pretty well, that is what I have been using lately. They sound fine, but I feel like a cranked Soldano amp just F E E L S better under the fingers, if that makes sense. I will continue tinkering though.

Unfortunately you’re not going to find a pedal in there that feels as good as the amps

 

[KHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!]

Hmm actually that is a good point. I think I did that at one point but I've done so many different iterations I forgot about that, will try again and report back if it works for my setup.

Just make sure you set the bypass to mute FX in (I think) so the tails remain when you go back and forth. Also you can run the reverbs in parallel using Kill Dry.

 

[KHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!]

Unfortunately you’re not going to find a pedal in there that feels as good as the amps

I find the drives to be vastly more usable to goose a hot amp, or add a boost and a bit of grit to a clean/EOB amp. But making a clean amp scream has not been a success story for me. Of course it's so eay to put a Plexi on channel 2, I never spent much time trying TBH.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I find the drives to be vastly more usable to goose a hot amp, or add a boost and a bit of grit to a clean/EOB amp. But making a clean amp scream has not been a success story for me. Of course it's so eay to put a Plexi on channel 2, I never spent much time trying TBH.

Built in boost switch is always my favorite.