Hopefully....I'm going to eat some crow (Fender Tonemaster Pro content)

[JiveTurkey]

I don't find it too bad. If you're on a preset with stuff laid out in series already, you just tap Preset Settings, then tap whatever the configuration thing is and choose the Parallel routing from there. Yes, it's more cumbersome than simply dragging something down to create a secondary lane like you can do on Helix or QC. It's also way more expedient than trying to do it on FM9.

I don't know; I'd rather place a block on the parallel route below and hit enter 37 times for shunts than use a touchscreen that should be so dumb it's ridiculous vs. going back to that signal chain menu and select a different variant. There's obviously a million other things that could be focused upon if we start down that path with the FM

 

[holoholo]

Just getting to it to change it is sub-suboptimal, imo. It's a neat piece but I don't miss anything about it other than poo switches, gun to my head?

 

[hblu22]

Odd choice tbh…leaves “drives in the loop” as the only usecase?
No 4cm, no time efx from external units?… must be a mistake in the manual

Yes. Only for drives, fuzzes, compression typically. I think the advantage might be for the potentially proper guitar fuzz interaction. I believe Steve Sterlacci did a video about this on youtube. You can certainly run 4Cm for it but then there is some Ad/da occurring. You could also put a delay in front but it would be in front of the amp ie not within the virtual amp’s “fx loop”

 

[mikah912]

I don't know; I'd rather place a block on the parallel route below and hit enter 37 times for shunts than use a touchscreen that should be so dumb it's ridiculous vs. going back to that signal chain menu and select a different variant. There's obviously a million other things that could be focused upon if we start down that path with the FM

But......the graphics!

I get it. I get why it's not great and get why they probably had to make that choice once they decided they were going the pretty pictures route.

 

[metropolis_4]

Did they ever make it so you can put 2 mics on one speaker?

That was one of my few remaining complaints about it. To blend 2 mics you had to use one of your parallel paths and two cabs

 

[mikah912]

Did they ever make it so you can put 2 mics on one speaker?

That was one of my few remaining complaints about it. To blend 2 mics you had to use one of your parallel paths and two cabs

Not as of yet.

 

[metallica86]

I've owned both but not at the same time. What would you like to know?

Did you like the amp model on Headrush ? I rented the Prime Core for a week and surprised how quickly I can create a good base 4 tone: clean, crush, rhythm and solo just using the touchscreen.
I’m not a heavy fx user, just base core amp tone.

 

[metropolis_4]

Not as of yet.

That’s too bad. I hope they do something about that at some point. Either give the ability to put 2 mics on a single cab, or at least let us choose two cabs in the same block. Something that doesn’t require using one of the split paths to use two blocks in parallel

 

[mikah912]

DAY FOUR:

• Call it a honeymoon phase or whatever, but I feel like this unit has the greatest set of factory patches to recreate specific artist/song tones that I've ever used. Everything from Nile Rodgers direct-to-board funk to Chris Isaac exotica to several flavors of hot-rodded 80s tone and even Tom Petty and everyone in between. And most of them sound good with minimal tweaking. I don't have much "professional" use for this stuff as I'm out of the cover band scene for the foreseeable future, but....great starting points across most genres you can think of.
• I want and need more modern overdrives. The SD-1 is fine, but the lack of an "attack-y" one like the Horizon Drive or Grind pedal is a bit glaring. Klon and Sd-1 are close, but not quite there. I could throw another EQ block after the pedal to simulate it, but....I'd rather have the real thing in one block.
• The factory cabs are mostly good, but the Mesa 4x12 V30 just isn't doing it for me, and that's a major one to bobble. Thankfully, I've loaded several IRs to cover that territory, but they may wanna get that one back.
• I'm going to set up direct comparison clips with FM9 between today and tomorrow (since I have the day off). I'll do factory cabs vs. Dynacabs, and then pick a central IR to use for models on both (Probably a York Audio Friedman IR).

 

[GTR37]

DAY FOUR:

• Call it a honeymoon phase or whatever, but I feel like this unit has the greatest set of factory patches to recreate specific artist/song tones that I've ever used. Everything from Nile Rodgers direct-to-board funk to Chris Isaac exotica to several flavors of hot-rodded 80s tone and even Tom Petty and everyone in between. And most of them sound good with minimal tweaking. I don't have much "professional" use for this stuff as I'm out of the cover band scene for the foreseeable future, but....great starting points across most genres you can think of.
• I want and need more modern overdrives. The SD-1 is fine, but the lack of an "attack-y" one like the Horizon Drive or Grind pedal is a bit glaring. Klon and Sd-1 are close, but not quite there. I could throw another EQ block after the pedal to simulate it, but....I'd rather have the real thing in one block.
• The factory cabs are mostly good, but the Mesa 4x12 V30 just isn't doing it for me, and that's a major one to bobble. Thankfully, I've loaded several IRs to cover that territory, but they may wanna get that one back.
• I'm going to set up direct comparison clips with FM9 between today and tomorrow (since I have the day off). I'll do factory cabs vs. Dynacabs, and then pick a central IR to use for models on both (Probably a York Audio Friedman IR).

That’s awesome thanks for doing the clips , enjoying following along your experience w the TMP
I also don’t know do they have a multi tap delay that can do the PCM circular delays or the SDE dual delays
I looked briefly at the list but it looked like mostly analog or single tap delay lines
Unless the 2290 can do that ?

 

[mikah912]

Hmmm

That’s awesome thanks for doing the clips , enjoying following along your experience w the TMP
I also don’t know do they have a multi tap delay that can do the PCM circular delays or the SDE dual delays
I looked briefly at the list but it looked like mostly analog or single tap delay lines
Unless the 2290 can do that ?

Again, the Dynamic Delay has a "Tap Div" parameter that lets you dial in 1/2/4/6/8/16/32/64 and also "T" versions of each. It's the 2290.

 

[mikah912]

DAY FIVE:

• As I started to set up for A/B with my FM9, I started with the Marshalls and.......it's not great for the TMP. Their Plexi and JCM800 models are just...not it. I slapped the same York Audio Friedman V30/Greenback blend IR on both units and just put some subtle Plate reverb behind each. The Fractal 100W Plexi High and JCM800 2204 both sounded pretty iconic and real to what I remember them as with the controls at noon. The TMP versions didn't indicate if they used the high input or not, but I assumed they did. In both cases, they were undergained, polite, and slightly muffled in comparison. Even cranking the treble, mids, gain and master on each could only get them somewhat close to the default noon-ish settings on the FM9. And despite going back and forth for a bit, I couldn't dial them but so close. The TMP Marshalls are fine on their own, and most factory patches have a drive pedal in front of them to help out. But once you hear them back-to-back....yikes. You plug into the FM9 patches and immediately want to start ripping AC/DC/Cult/The Darkness riffs. On the TMP, you must start dialing up everything to get close to that classic kerrang.
• The new Soldano model, on the other hand, was a much, MUCH better showing. I kept the same IR, and I honestly preferred the TMP Soldano Lead model slightly over the FM9. Neither was bad, but it breathed a bit more fire and was slightly more responsive to my playing.
• The comparison clips might take awhile depending on time. But I can see that Fender has some work to do with their Vox and Marshall models.

 

[metropolis_4]

DAY FIVE:

• As I started to set up for A/B with my FM9, I started with the Marshalls and.......it's not great for the TMP. Their Plexi and JCM800 models are just...not it. I slapped the same York Audio Friedman V30/Greenback blend IR on both units and just put some subtle Plate reverb behind each. The Fractal 100W Plexi High and JCM800 2204 both sounded pretty iconic and real to what I remember them as with the controls at noon. The TMP versions didn't indicate if they used the high input or not, but I assumed they did. In both cases, they were undergained, polite, and slightly muffled in comparison. Even cranking the treble, mids, gain and master on each could only get them somewhat close to the default noon-ish settings on the FM9. And despite going back and forth for a bit, I couldn't dial them but so close. The TMP Marshalls are fine on their own, and most factory patches have a drive pedal in front of them to help out. But once you hear them back-to-back....yikes. You plug into the FM9 patches and immediately want to start ripping AC/DC/Cult/The Darkness riffs. On the TMP, you must start dialing up everything to get close to that classic kerrang.
• The new Soldano model, on the other hand, was a much, MUCH better showing. I kept the same IR, and I honestly preferred the TMP Soldano Lead model slightly over the FM9. Neither was bad, but it breathed a bit more fire and was slightly more responsive to my playing.
• The comparison clips might take awhile depending on time. But I can see that Fender has some work to do with their Vox and Marshall models.

The biggest problem I had with the TMP Marshall’s was trying to use them clean to low gain. The 800 especially had some weird sheen on it where it was not even possible to get it to clean up.

Fender has always struggled with modeling Marshall and Vox amps, all the way back to the Cyber days

 

[JCW308]

Did you like the amp model on Headrush ? I rented the Prime Core for a week and surprised how quickly I can create a good base 4 tone: clean, crush, rhythm and solo just using the touchscreen.
I’m not a heavy fx user, just base core amp tone.

I'm the wrong guy to ask! I think HR is bottom of the barrel as far as amp tones (including captures). I also always have noise problems with HR units, where others are dead quiet. That being said, their GUI is great and hey if it works for you, then that's awesome!

 

[mikah912]

The biggest problem I had with the TMP Marshall’s was trying to use them clean to low gain. The 800 especially had some weird sheen on it where it was not even possible to get it to clean up.

Fender has always struggled with modeling Marshall and Vox amps, all the way back to the Cyber days

Yeah, I don't think they're modeled well at all. No input choices or options for jumping channels. You have to use extreme settings to get them where they should be, and even then.....

Anyway, that's part of why this will be a backup to my FM9 only. I hope they go back and fix them up. I'll see if I can get the Friedman BE100 model to get closer.

 

[GTR37]

Yeah, I don't think they're modeled well at all. No input choices or options for jumping channels. You have to use extreme settings to get them where they should be, and even then.....

Anyway, that's part of why this will be a backup to my FM9 only. I hope they go back and fix them up. I'll see if I can get the Friedman BE100 model to get closer.

Fractal also just released a new update w amp modelling
Improvemts yet again that will probably spill over to the FM at some point

 

[Jarick]

DAY FIVE:

• As I started to set up for A/B with my FM9, I started with the Marshalls and.......it's not great for the TMP. Their Plexi and JCM800 models are just...not it. I slapped the same York Audio Friedman V30/Greenback blend IR on both units and just put some subtle Plate reverb behind each. The Fractal 100W Plexi High and JCM800 2204 both sounded pretty iconic and real to what I remember them as with the controls at noon. The TMP versions didn't indicate if they used the high input or not, but I assumed they did. In both cases, they were undergained, polite, and slightly muffled in comparison. Even cranking the treble, mids, gain and master on each could only get them somewhat close to the default noon-ish settings on the FM9. And despite going back and forth for a bit, I couldn't dial them but so close. The TMP Marshalls are fine on their own, and most factory patches have a drive pedal in front of them to help out. But once you hear them back-to-back....yikes. You plug into the FM9 patches and immediately want to start ripping AC/DC/Cult/The Darkness riffs. On the TMP, you must start dialing up everything to get close to that classic kerrang.
• The new Soldano model, on the other hand, was a much, MUCH better showing. I kept the same IR, and I honestly preferred the TMP Soldano Lead model slightly over the FM9. Neither was bad, but it breathed a bit more fire and was slightly more responsive to my playing.
• The comparison clips might take awhile depending on time. But I can see that Fender has some work to do with their Vox and Marshall models.

Thanks for the honesty!

It's a bummer the amp sounds seem so far off. As much as I dig Fractal there are a lot of times it sounds way too bright to me. But I wouldn't want something that sounds so far off in the other end.

 

[mikah912]

DAY FIVE, PART 2 - Going Nuts Edition:

• I feel like I'm taking crazy pills because I came back to the comparison with a fresh set of ears after watching a couple of YT videos on how guys set their Plexis and also get their Friedman BE100 amps close to THAT sound. So I was inspired to come back and do the same here, and the TMP BE100 - while sounding good - was a bit too raunchy for what I considered classic rock, even on the BE channel with no other switches engaged. So, I went back to the TMP Plexi and realized looking at the graphic that it was a jumpered 100W model. I cranked the first volume and kept the second volume low while keeping bass low and everything else around 6. THERE IT WAS. The gain was right as well as the kerrang and everything else. Quite inspiring!
• Then, I plugged in the FM9 Jumpered 100W Plexi instead of the 100W High I was using for comparison and while it also sounded great....it sounded like there was a blanket over it a bit? I kinda....prefer the TMP 100W Plexi?!?! I saved the settings as a block, and it's immediately selectable in the amp menu directly under the 100W Plexi. That's a super badass QoL feature. Once you get these dialed in, recalling that is sooo easy.
• Very much a rollercoaster ride, but the JCM800 - by itself - is still not my fave. I will say that it takes EQs in front and Klon/SD1 boosting REALLY well.
• Vox AC30s were interesting too. At identical settings (and through each unit's factory "dynacab" with a 2x12 Alnico Blue speaker/SM57 close to the cone), they were a little different, but neither was better. The FM9 was warmer and a bit fuller, but the TMP wasn't far off and had more of the "chime", so to speak. I guess my lesson to learn here is to wait a bit and let my ears recharge before diving into it. I'm going to try some clips tonight to illustrate what I'm hearing.

 

[mikah912]

Thanks for the honesty!

It's a bummer the amp sounds seem so far off. As much as I dig Fractal there are a lot of times it sounds way too bright to me. But I wouldn't want something that sounds so far off in the other end.

I feel bad that I posted my part two a smidge after you posted this, but after another attempt with fresh ears, the TMP came out a bit more favorably. It's puzzling me to no end why it sounds better now.

 

[[Nathan]]

I gotta say I appreciate the rolling reviews and findings because I feel like thats how a person actually uses gear over time.
I've had those double / triple / quad backflips of opinions on plugins/amps and digital units as well. Heck when I first plugged in my mesa triple recto my face was like "errrr, wat".

When you said there was no "modern drives" I had a look and you're right, pretty surprised there's not at least a TC Preamp or something. I guess I always stick to the 808 or SD1 on the TMP but more options would massively be welcomed. I also agree on the cabs, the stuff they have in there works but I do find chucking your own 3rd party IRs on there really helps.

I just did a video for the TMP Friedman model and sometimes I was using it I was also like, this sounds kinda weird but other times it sounded great. I'll give your settings a go and see how it rolls. Great stuff man!