The Fractal FM3 Sucks (Kind of)

[Orvillain]

Here's that vibe again. It's either the AXEIII with it's current archaic controls or it's Fractal making a toy version for all the stupid folks out there.

Amazing how many of you express it that way when these discussions come up.

Yeah, who'd want to express an idea, or a thought, or a concept. Silly me!

 

[Mongillo19]

I wonder how many of us on here would be rocking a QC if NDSP just wasn't a clown show

 

[JiveTurkey]

 

[JiveTurkey]

From my own POV, if my band had to wait "for inspiration" while I found the perfect saw waveform slicer pattern during practice time; they'd probably throw a shoe at me.

 

[Mongillo19]

From my own POV, if my band had to wait "for inspiration" while I found the perfect saw waveform slicer pattern during practice time; they'd probably throw a shoe at me.

This trumpet has too many haunting mids, hold up everybody

 

[Orvillain]

Is this one of those cover bands versus originals band things perhaps???

My band has no problem waiting a minute or so for me to find a sound. They'd have a problem if it took 10 minutes sure. But there again, I have to bite my tongue when they need a break to go and smoke a joint, so swings and roundabouts. I'd rather wait 10 minutes for someone to dial in some tones than get high.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Is this one of those cover bands versus originals band things perhaps???

My band has no problem waiting a minute or so for me to find a sound. They'd have a problem if it took 10 minutes sure. But there again, I have to bite my tongue when they need a break to go and smoke a joint, so swings and roundabouts. I'd rather wait 10 minutes for someone to dial in some tones than get high.

Actually I am speaking of any band. And really; it's me who would get the most irritated which would be compounded tenfold if the process was more difficult than it had to be by some clunk. Speaking of swings and roundabouts

 

[Frodebro]

Yeah, who'd want to express an idea, or a thought, or a concept. Silly me!

There’s practice, and there’s rehearsal.

Practice is what you do on your own time to make sure you know your parts, have your tonez dialed in, and whatever else you need to do to be prepared for rehearsal.

Rehearsal is for running through everything with the band and solidifying an arrangement, ironing out timing issues, etc.

 

[Orvillain]

There’s practice, and there’s rehearsal.

Practice is what you do on your own time to make sure you know your parts, have your tonez dialed in, and whatever else you need to do to be prepared for rehearsal.

Rehearsal is for running through everything with the band and solidifying an arrangement, ironing out timing issues, etc.

That isn't how all bands work.

No wonder everyone complains about their live tones. If you're never tweaking during a rehearsal, no small wonder your stuff isn't translating!!

 

[Frodebro]

That isn't how all bands work.

No wonder everyone complains about their live tones. If you're never tweaking during a rehearsal, no small wonder your stuff isn't translating!!

The working band I was in rehearsed in our drummer’s living room, with the guitars and bass run through 15 watt combos and the drummer doing his parts with his hands on his coffee table. It was all about arranging the parts and working out the vocals. We had a running house gig, so the PA and all of our gear was stored at the bar.

 

[JiveTurkey]

@Orvillain ; here's a question for you. And this relates to guitar speakers vs. powered monitors/"FRFR". That is one thing I like the BEST about studio monitors and "flat" speakers. The ability to hear all the delay/verb/fx clarity instead of it all getting filtered through the guitar cab. I much prefer the pristine sounds for that stuff. So that's one reason why an amp and a load box and some killer FX through a pair of the FR12s/CLRs/wtfever you can live with in this space sounds Rube Goldberg as fuck but ultimately very sonically satisfying

 

[SillyOctpuss]

That isn't how all bands work.

No wonder everyone complains about their live tones. If you're never tweaking during a rehearsal, no small wonder your stuff isn't translating!!

Yeah definite agreement with that. A lot of the time I like getting input from the rest of the guys on a sound I'm using. There's been plenty of times I think I've over done it with a delay or reverb and they've told me it's awesome can I turn it up a bit more?

 

[Orvillain]

@Orvillain ; here's a question for you. And this relates to guitar speakers vs. powered monitors/"FRFR". That is one thing I like the BEST about studio monitors and "flat" speakers. The ability to hear all the delay/verb/fx clarity instead of it all getting filtered through the guitar cab. I much prefer the pristine sounds for that stuff. So that's one reason why an amp and a load box and some killer FX through a pair of the FR12s/CLRs/wtfever you can live with in this space sounds Rube Goldberg as fuck but ultimately very sonically satisfying

Not too sure what the question is Jivey m'lad. But I guess it is something like, am I looking for delay/verb clarity rather than filtering it through a guitar cab?

I've been playing a lot of stereo rigs lately. In fact just now I turned off the recto and jvm amps. I had the MercuryX into both of them set to the clean channel. Two 4x12's, one per amp. It is pretty glorious, and I don't feel like I'm missing any clarity.

When I run delay and verb into the front of high-gain settings, I pretty much don't want clarity. I want mush and fuzz and Kevin Shields vibes, I guess.

 

[Orvillain]

Because that's never been ideal with any multieffects since the dawn of time? Not being snarky, it's just that it's always been this way. RP series, 2101, ADA stuff, JMP-1, Roland rack processors, etc. I've used a ton since I've started playing, and none of them have ever been amp and pedals spontaneous.

Which is kinda why the Helix was such a revelation. At least to me. Before 2016, I never used multi's for very long. I had some M9's and M13's along the way, but even those kinda sucked. I was always a pedals guy going right back to the start of my playing career in 2004.

That's pretty much the choice we make going with something like this, and why a very good friend of mine still plays pedals and a Matchless. Doesn't want to have anything to do with digital, even though he thinks my Fractal setup sounds amazing.

They are, and always have been for a completely different purpose. Hell, I'd argue ANY of the modelers these days are easier than it was in the 90's/00's.

Yeah I agree with you there. I had a Digitech GSP1101 at one point, and that was really annoying to use haha!!

Still... I don't think it is bad to lament that the situation hasn't changed in 20 odd years. But the issue is... and this is a point I've made to @laxu several times when we've had similar exchanges. At a certain point, the capabilities and feature-set explicitly dictate a non-simple experience, at a very fundamental level.

 

[Stratzrus]

If Cliff really wanted to make a giant pile of money, I'm sure he'd have no problem in selling his intellectual property to one of the giant MI companies. Then all the UI whiners could get a touch screen and finally be happy

The problem is that no matter what changes were made everyone would not be happy and there would still be bickering about how it should be done.

And a touchscreen is not what people want either.

This is a perfect example. I don't want a touchscreen either but some people apparently like them and would complain that the new UI didn't have one.

Is crafting a new tone from scratch really a great idea in that situation, with any of the modelers? I'd rather just use a pedalboard and an amp in that case, if I'm looking for spontaneity.

I don't think it's a great idea no matter what you're using. I've never ever tried to create new tones during rehearsal. For me, and my band, rehearsal is about learning the tunes. We really don't have time for dialing in tones from scratch...or smoking pot. ; )

 

[JiveTurkey]

Not too sure what the question is Jivey m'lad. But I guess it is something like, am I looking for delay/verb clarity rather than filtering it through a guitar cab?

I've been playing a lot of stereo rigs lately. In fact just now I turned off the recto and jvm amps. I had the MercuryX into both of them set to the clean channel. Two 4x12's, one per amp. It is pretty glorious, and I don't feel like I'm missing any clarity.

When I run delay and verb into the front of high-gain settings, I pretty much don't want clarity. I want mush and fuzz and Kevin Shields vibes, I guess.

Ahh that's the difference. I run it all in the loop. I don't do the delay/verb fx before gain thing. I crave that pristine thing that verb/delay/fx POST-cab does

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Just because something is expensive doesn't mean that the company who makes it is primarily concerned with how to make mountains of money.

Maybe compare the cost of an Axe Fx III to a SINGLE analog rig you would use it to replace... I think you'll find a great value proposition

If anything changes n the US Axe-Fx prices are about the same for 15 years whereas guitars doubled.

So yes absolutely.

 

[Mongillo19]

@JiveTurkey

I'm starting to itch more and more for that FM0

 

[JiveTurkey]

@JiveTurkey

I'm starting to itch more and more for that FM0

 

[Mongillo19]

Pretty much was my initial reaction to now