Fractal Talk

[Orvillain]

No idea if this is even useful to post, but a video from 2013 where I did a playthrough of one of TNBD's songs:


Even though the video is kinda meh, it does show the scope of the sounds from the amp. I always loved the JVM, and the Satch version in particular. IMHO, one of Marshall's best sounding amps, even if it is built like shite.

 

[KingsXJJ]

Aye, Ed and I are real people.

<ducks>

Where from?

 

[MirrorProfiles]

Where from?

Wormwood Scrubs

 

[Orvillain]

Where from?

 

[KingsXJJ]

Wormwood Scrubs

Hometown I suppose!

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

No idea if this is even useful to post, but a video from 2013 where I did a playthrough of one of TNBD's songs:


Even though the video is kinda meh, it does show the scope of the sounds from the amp. I always loved the JVM, and the Satch version in particular. IMHO, one of Marshall's best sounding amps, even if it is built like shite.

There's the issue! You're a lefty!

 

[la szum]

Gotta say, Cliff is a real fucking gangster for even deigning to talk to us. When was the last time any of the Neural developers or executive team talked to any of us and responded to any queries, criticisms, or wishlist ideas??

You really can't argue against his passion and belief in the project. I admire it so much.

Good Karma Incoming!

 

[norminal]

Aye, Ed and I are real people.

<ducks>

 

[State of Epicicity]

@FractalAudio
Here's the designer's answer to me asking if the JVM originally had the treble pot resistors or if they were added later:

Hi, as far as I know never, at least not until I left in 2022. I haven't worked there for a while but I would be surprised if they were ever added. Much easier to use 250k pots, for example, than modifying a pcb that was designed with a software that isn't used anymore but who knows, as said, I haven't worked there for a while.
In any case, those resistors in the HJS version are to offset the tone control position and restore the total value to 250k, like in old Marshall amps. The standard JVMs have 200k pots as that what was being used in the DSLs as far as I remember. The treble caps are different too.
The HJS is darker mostly because the filter after the tone control and perhaps the tubes used.

Furthermore, I think they are using JJ preamp tubes all over nowadays, these are very dark and often have very low gain. Sometimes they almost feel like playing a guitar with the tone control down. They are consistant but to me a JVM sounds best with Shuguang or high gain Russian tubes. Tricky to find high gain and low noise /microphonic tubes, specially the input tube, but if you really want to experience the "JVM high gain" find some of those!

 

[norminal]

Man, the new reverbs in 10.0 Beta are incredible. Are these the exact algos that are on the FM9 and III? How the hell were they able to fit them in this thing?

I keep seeing the sentiment that FM3 is nearing its obsolescence. I whole heartedly disagree. It continues to be improved and optimized.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

So no tonal changes until at least 2022 (if at all) - 15+ years of the same tone, give or take changes in valve suppliers.

And do we really think Marshall would go to the expense of drastically changing the PCB and circuit for an amp that likely sells in significantly smaller numbers now compared to when it was released? and if they did change the tone of the amp, why wouldn’t they mention it and use the opportunity to market it as “new and improved”. The HJS has been discontinued for quite a while now too, changing the PCB to accommodate an amp that hasn’t been in production for years would be strange too.

Similarly, people online would have noticed it’s changed. It took no time at all for people to notice Marshall changing to Vietnamese transformers. Tech’s would have access to the updated schematic if it exists.

 

[jellodog]

How the hell were they able to fit them in this thing?

Yeah, as a total nurrd, I'd love to know some of the technical story behind this!

(hint hint @ Cliff)

 

[laxu]

Man, the new reverbs in 10.0 Beta are incredible. Are these the exact algos that are on the FM9 and III? How the hell were they able to fit them in this thing?

I keep seeing the sentiment that FM3 is nearing its obsolescence. I whole heartedly disagree. It continues to be improved and optimized.

Looking at Leon Todd's video, it seemed the CPU usage with a fairly modest patch and economy reverbs seemed to be at about 70% already. Seems like the the CPU usage has gone up quite a bit. Not sure if he has a FM3 Mk1 or Mk2.

That to me seems like the FM3 nearing its limits. Whether it can fit more firmware features is one thing, but clearly it can't fit more DynaCabs, and is running into more limits for CPU.

It's cool that Fractal was able to port all those features, but at the same time it probably brings back the "block Tetris" that was an issue on the FM3 when I owned it a few years back. It's a problem especially when all Fractals are bad at showing what you can and cannot add compared to competitors. Helix, QC or Hotone will just start to disable blocks in their block list when they can not be added, Fractal will let you add them but then just say "nope, too much CPU, muted!"

I hope for next gen they have a FM9 level processor in a smaller than FM3 form factor.

 

[- ★ - BROCKSTAR - ★ -]

Looking at Leon Todd's video, it seemed the CPU usage with a fairly modest patch and economy reverbs seemed to be at about 70% already. Seems like the the CPU usage has gone up quite a bit. Not sure if he has a FM3 Mk1 or Mk2.

That to me seems like the FM3 nearing its limits. Whether it can fit more firmware features is one thing, but clearly it can't fit more DynaCabs, and is running into more limits for CPU.

It's cool that Fractal was able to port all those features, but at the same time it probably brings back the "block Tetris" that was an issue on the FM3 when I owned it a few years back. It's a problem especially when all Fractals are bad at showing what you can and cannot add compared to competitors. Helix, QC or Hotone will just start to disable blocks in their block list when they can not be added, Fractal will let you add them but then just say "nope, too much CPU, muted!"

I hope for next gen they have a FM9 level processor in a smaller than FM3 form factor.

I think the reason why for that is because turning down parameters can actually lower the CPU. So if you hit that CPU limit and it gets muted, Just lower a parameter and you could fix it or choose economy. For example the dispersion option on plate reverbs etc.

 

[laxu]

I think the reason why for that is because turning down parameters can actually lower the CPU. So if you hit that CPU limit and it gets muted, Just lower a parameter and you could fix it or choose economy. For example the dispersion option on plate reverbs etc.

Leon already had the reverbs on economy though, so I don't know how much further down you can go from that.

The reverb block has been generally problematic since the start where it eats a huge chunk of CPU - like it does on most modelers. If you can leave it out from your preset, you definitely get a lot more room to play with blocks.

 

[GTR37]

I think the reason why for that is because turning down parameters can actually lower the CPU. So if you hit that CPU limit and it gets muted, Just lower a parameter and you could fix it or choose economy. For example the dispersion option on plate reverbs etc.

I am not sure would have to go back and look I know that there was always density but I don’t recall the dispersion parameter available to the user and it defaults to 100%
People are seeing huge differences by reducing that
Maybe it was always there and I did not pay attention but cool to know reducing it can have a dramatic effect

 

[yek]

Maybe it was always there and I did not pay attention but cool to know reducing it can have a dramatic effect

Introduced and available since fw 23.

 

[Joshual-L]

Installed that fw10, didn’t feel the need to update but really wanted to try since the vid of Paul Bradshaw that showed a significant difference on the jcm800 and could not try it for my « heavily tweaked to my liking » 59slp preset.

And it’s just fantastic.
It’s raw, dynamic, full and as unforgivable on your playing as a real amp lol. Be sure that each mistake is here .

Very Quick noodling on my high gain tweaked plexi and on my crunch channel.



That’s just feel so fantastic to play

 

[DrewJD82]

Installed that fw10, didn’t feel the need to update but really wanted to try since the vid of Paul Bradshaw that showed a significant difference on the jcm800 and could not try it for my « heavily tweaked to my liking » 59slp preset.

And it’s just fantastic.
It’s raw, dynamic, full and as unforgivable on your playing as a real amp lol. Be sure that each mistake is here .

Very Quick noodling on my high gain tweaked plexi and on my crunch channel.



That’s just feel so fantastic to play

Those percussive hammer-on/pull-offs get me every time I use the Marshall models. This sounds great, man!

 

[JiveTurkey]

I loaded up FW 10 with no issues. I did not see an increase in CPU use in my presets