The joy of downsizing

[metropolis_4]

I just played a show that I’ve played previously with an AxeIII + fc12 with nothing but an fm3. 4 instruments, multiple I/O routing, and a full array of electric tones.

It’s really fun when I start to realize I don’t need as much as I thought I did. It becomes a fun challenge to see how much I can do with as little as possible.

If you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend it. It’s scary at first, but very liberating

 

[hemmelight]

It's nice to realise exactly how much you actually need to "finish the job", so to speak. Liberating indeed.

 

[sleewell]

less isnt more


more is more

lol jk, im scaling back too. it does feel good.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Signal chain please

 

[metropolis_4]

Signal chain please

Pretty simple for me!

Electric:

In 1 -> DynaComp -> CE-2 -> FET Preamp -> AC30 (Brilliant) -> Sun Plate reverb -> 2290

Comp/chorus/reverb were used for a shimmery ‘80s clean tone thing.

I had a second amp channel with an AC30 + treble booster and the 2290 for a couple leads.

The rest was just amp and FET preamp.

Scene 1 = AC30
Scene 2 = AC30 + FET Preamp
Scene 3 = shimmery ‘80s clean tone thing
Scene 4 = Lead

Acoustics:

Multiplexer -> Studio FF comp -> 10 band GEQ

Multiplexer toggled inputs to select instruments and I used Scenes so each instrument used its own channel of each block.

A little stereo tri-chorus and Large Deep Hall reverb added for some ‘90s nylon string parts

Footswitches:
Electric preset -
1 - Toggle Scene 2/1
2 - Toggle Scene 3/1
3 - Toggle Scene 4/2

Acoustic preset -
1 - Scene 1 (steel str acoustic)
2 - Scene 2 (nylon str acoustic)
3 - Scene 3 (banjo)
(View 2 - reverb and chorus on/off toggles)

Global -
Hold 1 to toggle between electric/acoustic
Hold 2 to toggle tuner
Hold 3 to toggle View 1/2

 

[JiveTurkey]

Multiplexer toggled inputs to select instruments and I used Scenes so each instrument used its own channel of each block.

That's the good stuff right there

 

[metropolis_4]

That's the good stuff right there

That kind of stuff is one of the best things about Fractal!

I used to use a Morningstar ML5 for input routing until I discovered with the Multiplexer I don’t need it

 

[OrganicZed]

Pretty simple for me!

Electric:

In 1 -> DynaComp -> CE-2 -> FET Preamp -> AC30 (Brilliant) -> Sun Plate reverb -> 2290

Comp/chorus/reverb were used for a shimmery ‘80s clean tone thing.

I had a second amp channel with an AC30 + treble booster and the 2290 for a couple leads.

The rest was just amp and FET preamp.

Scene 1 = AC30
Scene 2 = AC30 + FET Preamp
Scene 3 = shimmery ‘80s clean tone thing
Scene 4 = Lead

Acoustics:

Multiplexer -> Studio FF comp -> 10 band GEQ

Multiplexer toggled inputs to select instruments and I used Scenes so each instrument used its own channel of each block.

A little stereo tri-chorus and Large Deep Hall reverb added for some ‘90s nylon string parts

Footswitches:
Electric preset -
1 - Toggle Scene 2/1
2 - Toggle Scene 3/1
3 - Toggle Scene 4/2

Acoustic preset -
1 - Scene 1 (steel str acoustic)
2 - Scene 2 (nylon str acoustic)
3 - Scene 3 (banjo)
(View 2 - reverb and chorus on/off toggles)

Global -
Hold 1 to toggle between electric/acoustic
Hold 2 to toggle tuner
Hold 3 to toggle View 1/2

 

[dk_ace]

As I was planning for updates to my main patch on fm9 last night, I had a recollection of the last time I had to quickly take a gig to help someone and I had to play it with their Mk 5 set to one crunch sound with no footswitch, an echo park delay, one guitar, and my hands. Sounded great and the gig was a success.

I know I can get by with very little, but I still can’t stop myself from wanting the whole world of tone available to me at all times…

I’m not sure TGF allows minimalists to hang around long. We’ll pull you back to the dark side soon enough.

D

 

[ragingplatypi]

I’m not sure TGF allows minimalists to hang around long. We’ll pull you back to the dark side soon enough.

I’ve been minimized for the past 5 years. I’ve learned so much. But I’m a week away from maximizing, and that’s going to be so luxurious.

 

[paisleywookiee]

Pretty simple for me!

Electric:

In 1 -> DynaComp -> CE-2 -> FET Preamp -> AC30 (Brilliant) -> Sun Plate reverb -> 2290

Comp/chorus/reverb were used for a shimmery ‘80s clean tone thing.

I had a second amp channel with an AC30 + treble booster and the 2290 for a couple leads.

The rest was just amp and FET preamp.

Scene 1 = AC30
Scene 2 = AC30 + FET Preamp
Scene 3 = shimmery ‘80s clean tone thing
Scene 4 = Lead

Acoustics:

Multiplexer -> Studio FF comp -> 10 band GEQ

Multiplexer toggled inputs to select instruments and I used Scenes so each instrument used its own channel of each block.

A little stereo tri-chorus and Large Deep Hall reverb added for some ‘90s nylon string parts

Footswitches:
Electric preset -
1 - Toggle Scene 2/1
2 - Toggle Scene 3/1
3 - Toggle Scene 4/2

Acoustic preset -
1 - Scene 1 (steel str acoustic)
2 - Scene 2 (nylon str acoustic)
3 - Scene 3 (banjo)
(View 2 - reverb and chorus on/off toggles)

Global -
Hold 1 to toggle between electric/acoustic
Hold 2 to toggle tuner
Hold 3 to toggle View 1/2

Yeah, AC Brilliant is the shit. Such good tones.

 

[norminal]

It can definitely feel good to downsize.

I can load-in my entire rig in one trip. FM3, EV-2, cables, strings, tools, etc. in a backpack. Guitar gig bag in one hand, and Matrix FR10 in the other.

Way better than the days of lugging amp heads, cabs, and pedalboards.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

No “tap dance stress” ?…that would be my only concern using a 3 switch unit.

 

[norminal]

No “tap dance stress” ?…that would be my only concern using a 3 switch unit.

Clean, Crunch, and Lead is all I need.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I'm also a fan of upsizing as well

 

[Frodebro]

In my world, ‘minimizing’ means getting rid of furniture to free up space for more gear.

 

[EOengineer]

I’ve been able to play a couple shows running Helix -> FOH. It’s the best feeling in the world to enter and exit the venue in one single trip with a guitar and a backpack.

As long as the monitors are cranked I don’t miss and amp all that much either.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

Clean, Crunch, and Lead is all I need.

That’s a match for 3 switches
I also use 3 sounds, but I want to be able to solo boost, gainboost, and toggle gain sounds between “fit for neck pup/ bridge pup.
I can do it with a 3 switch, but requires hitting 2 switches at once for some stuff. Doable…but dedicated switches is a little more monkeyproof.

 

[norminal]

That’s a match for 3 switches
I also use 3 sounds, but I want to be able to solo boost, gainboost, and toggle gain sounds between “fit for neck pup/ bridge pup.
I can do it with a 3 switch, but requires hitting 2 switches at once for some stuff. Doable…but dedicated switches is a little more monkeyproof.

You could also do an A/B toggle for each switch, giving you a total of six different tones. The cool thing about the FM3 is that it’s extremely flexible in regards to switching.

But yeah, I can definitely see the appeal of having a dedicated switch for each tone. The FM9 has been on my radar since its release, but I’m holding out for the next iteration. I’m pretty content with the FM3 at the moment.

 

[AFKAEjay(retired)]

You could also do an A/B toggle for each switch, giving you a total of six different tones. The cool thing about the FM3 is that it’s extremely flexible in regards to switching

I like to use 1 or 2 presets, and get what I need with stomps or scenes. Allows me to edit my stuff at the gig (cuase I use 2 amp blocks tops).
You can be a rockgod with this scenario…but not for me

But yeah, I can definitely see the appeal of having a dedicated switch for each tone. The FM9 has been on my radar since its release, but I’m holding out for the next iteration. I’m pretty content with the FM3 at the moment.

Does it take midi over usb, and does it provide power over usb? Optional midicontroler over usb is easy/cheap enough.
My “big modeler” offers IOs and some stuff I need for very specific situations, but if I only did “guitars in a band”, I’d probably go that route myself. Small floor unit, and a small controller added when you need more control.