The joy of downsizing

[aflynt]

Some people may be able to handle long presses mid-song, but that always seems to mess me up and cause my hands to briefly not function properly. Still, with the FM3 I'm able to quickly switch between up to 6 different sounds mid-song utilizing secondary, alt presses. Between songs I'll do long-press type stuff to get to other scenes or song layouts or tune. I still do use an additional dual momentary switch as stand-in switch in the layouts to let me engage /disengage a boost or toggle between more and less reverb, so it's kind of a 5 button minimum for me.

I initially had a Morningstar MC8, but I found that to actually be less practical in a gigging situation than just the FM3 and dual stand-in switch. The integrated FM3 switches are just more flexible, visible and reliable. I kind of wish they made an FC3 or FC2 actually. FC6 seems like more of a 'should have bought an FM9' kind of deal to me.

-Aaron

 

[laxu]

Some people may be able to handle long presses mid-song, but that always seems to mess me up and cause my hands to briefly not function properly. Still, with the FM3 I'm able to quickly switch between up to 6 different sounds mid-song utilizing secondary, alt presses. Between songs I'll do long-press type stuff to get to other scenes or song layouts or tune. I still do use an additional dual momentary switch as stand-in switch in the layouts to let me engage /disengage a boost or toggle between more and less reverb, so it's kind of a 5 button minimum for me.

I initially had a Morningstar MC8, but I found that to actually be less practical in a gigging situation than just the FM3 and dual stand-in switch. The integrated FM3 switches are just more flexible, visible and reliable. I kind of wish they made an FC3 or FC2 actually. FC6 seems like more of a 'should have bought an FM9' kind of deal to me.

-Aaron

Yeah holds are best left for things like a tuner, switching view modes or presets. Things you don't need to do on the fly but e.g between songs.

I really wish Fractal had made a FM4 instead of a FM3. 3 is never the right amount of footswitches for anything, and only makes sense when you are making a pedal the size of a HX Stomp, Strymon Big Sky etc. FM3 is way, way bigger than that and could have easily fit a 4th footswitch by spreading the footswitches and displays closer to the edges, like the HX Effects does.

I really hope their next gen design is more like the VP4 but with a modern touchscreen interface.

 

[2112]

The "trigger on release" hold function is one of my favourite things about the Fm3/FM9/FC12. I find it quite relaxing to press and hold for a bar or two leading into a new section and then just stepping off the board to activate my lead scene or a lo-fi filter sweep.

 

[metropolis_4]

I struggle a bit with the fact that adding a hold function means the press action isn’t triggered until release. Sometimes that makes fast transitions sloppy.

I also have a habit of not immediately lifting my foot (I struggle with EQD pedals because of this).

I have a Plan B where each switch only has a press action and I trigger the things I would use a hold for with external stand-in switches. So far I haven’t had to do it, but I’m sure a need for it will eventually come up

 

[Eagle]

Axe 3 is hardly a difficult rig to use or move around.
I’m not sure I get the down size.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Axe 3 is hardly a difficult rig to use or move around.

It needs a rack.

 

[metropolis_4]

Axe 3 is hardly a difficult rig to use or move around.
I’m not sure I get the down size.

For me it started as a move away from a “one big thing that does everything” rig and back to a modular approach.

I originally planned to do this show with the fm3 and a pedalboard, but space ended up being tight and I decided to give it a try with just the fm3. And it worked better than I expected

 

[Lysander]

The "trigger on release" hold function is one of my favourite things about the Fm3/FM9/FC12.

Having just recently gone back to Fractal land, you really miss how flexible footswitch assignments are when using other products.

 

[OrganicZed]

Having just recently gone back to Fractal land, you really miss how flexible footswitch assignments are when using other products.

Lots of people have critiques of the Fractal UI, but the UI that actually matters when you're playing the guitar (foot switches and expression pedals) is really great IMO.

 

[metropolis_4]

Lots of people have critiques of the Fractal UI, but the UI that actually matters when you're playing the guitar (foot switches and expression pedals) is really great IMO.

1000% agree! I’ve said this for years, and ultimately the UI that really matters to me is when I’m performing

 

[laxu]

Lots of people have critiques of the Fractal UI, but the UI that actually matters when you're playing the guitar (foot switches and expression pedals) is really great IMO.

The footswitch stuff is good, as long as you work with it from the editor and get your head around the layouts and whatnot.

I think the modifier stuff is too complicated and there's no clear way to figure out "what exactly is mapped everywhere", or to turn it on/off without removing assignments. It's definitely an area that could benefit from a big usability overhaul with maybe some sort of "simple" vs "advanced" operation mode. Like if you just want to map a wah or volume pedal...do you really want to start scratching your head about modifier curves etc?

I feel like it's a classic case of Fractal approaching it from a programmer's point of view, rather from what would be intuitive for an end user. It's a very powerful system, but realistically how many users ever touch ADSR, LFO etc stuff on a guitar product?

 

[metropolis_4]

The footswitch stuff is good, as long as you work with it from the editor and get your head around the layouts and whatnot.

I think the modifier stuff is too complicated and there's no clear way to figure out "what exactly is mapped everywhere", or to turn it on/off without removing assignments. It's definitely an area that could benefit from a big usability overhaul with maybe some sort of "simple" vs "advanced" operation mode. Like if you just want to map a wah or volume pedal...do you really want to start scratching your head about modifier curves etc?

I feel like it's a classic case of Fractal approaching it from a programmer's point of view, rather from what would be intuitive for an end user. It's a very powerful system, but realistically how many users ever touch ADSR, LFO etc stuff on a guitar product?

But that’s all related to building/configuring, not the UI you are interfacing with while performing/playing.

 

[OrganicZed]

The footswitch stuff is good, as long as you work with it from the editor and get your head around the layouts and whatnot.

I think the modifier stuff is too complicated and there's no clear way to figure out "what exactly is mapped everywhere", or to turn it on/off without removing assignments. It's definitely an area that could benefit from a big usability overhaul with maybe some sort of "simple" vs "advanced" operation mode. Like if you just want to map a wah or volume pedal...do you really want to start scratching your head about modifier curves etc?

I feel like it's a classic case of Fractal approaching it from a programmer's point of view, rather from what would be intuitive for an end user. It's a very powerful system, but realistically how many users ever touch ADSR, LFO etc stuff on a guitar product?

I really appreciate the constructive feedback that you and the other prominent voices on the forums have put forward about how the UI could be tangibly improved. There is no doubt it could be more intuitive without losing functionality. I was not diminishing the validity of the UI critiques, just simply calling attention to how good the switching is once setup for the needs of the individual.

I do actually use the LFOs and I have programmed my FC to do layout links and per-preset overrides. Nerds status confirmed.

 

[laxu]

But that’s all related to building/configuring, not the UI you are interfacing with while performing/playing.

I think it's directly related, that you might get frustrated if e.g simple expression setup is not easy to figure out.

The way it works when you have everything setup the way you want is a pretty low bar. Display something, have tap/hold functions.

To me it's all about the things you can map to those functions, with momentary/latching behavior etc. That's all good stuff on Fractal, and I like that you can build your own way of working rather than having to adapt to how the modeler maker wants you to work.

 

[metropolis_4]

I think it's directly related, that you might get frustrated if e.g simple expression setup is not easy to figure out.

The way it works when you have everything setup the way you want is a pretty low bar. Display something, have tap/hold functions.

To me it's all about the things you can map to those functions, with momentary/latching behavior etc. That's all good stuff on Fractal, and I like that you can build your own way of working rather than having to adapt to how the modeler maker wants you to work.

To me there are 2 different UI’s involved with any device:

The first is the UI used to build/program the device to prepare it for playing.

The second is the UI used for performing. What I’m actually interfacing with in the heat of battle in the middle of a performance.


The second one is the most important to me, and it’s the one where I think Fractal is head and shoulders above everything else on the market (except maybe Line 6 which is somewhere equal in my mind)

 

[Sascha Franck]

The second one is the most important to me, and it’s the one where I think Fractal is head and shoulders above everything else on the market (except maybe Line 6 which is somewhere equal in my mind)

Well, I would actually throw Boss in here.
There's very little you can't do with the footswitches on the GT units. Sure, FAS takes that a bit further, but Boss is no slouch at all here. Sure, there's some things missing, such as scenes/snapshots, but once you do your homework, you can get quite close (besides, due to trail spillover, instant switching and global blocks, you can sort of compensate for that lack). Just too bad their amp modeling is pretty much behind.

 

[Baba]

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.

This is a very good point, and the monitors don't even have to be "the best" or, some $3k each boutique model. If your tones are good, and the monitors are at least "good", a lot of volume really changes your satisfaction level, IMO.

So funny, my Stomp XL lets me "downsize", and I'm primarily a clean, crunch, high gain, lead player, BUT, I still like to sprinkle in the occasional chorus and delay. Always have.

If you put a gun to my head, yes, I could play any gig with a OG 3-button Stomp, or just one distortion pedal in front of a clean amp, but . . .

 

[BROCKSTAR]

The "trigger on release" hold function is one of my favourite things about the Fm3/FM9/FC12. I find it quite relaxing to press and hold for a bar or two leading into a new section and then just stepping off the board to activate my lead scene or a lo-fi filter sweep.

is this also on vp4? Sorry for newbie question, still learning my way around the vp4

 

[BenIfin]

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

Totally agree.

In the last 2 years I've dropped from 7 electrics down to 2, plus my old sentimental-never-to-be-sold Tele which is in parts being re-sprayed. I play my main guitar all the time and keep the 2nd purely as gig-string-break-insurance ... yet I can't even remember the last time I broke a string at a gig or rehearsal !!

Never played guitar more and haven't been this happy since I was 15 and got my first Amena SG Copy bolt-on-neck and the Coronet 3w 1 x 8 Amp - all up $99 AUS back in 1976 - now those were the truly blissful days - I literally wore that neck out - I remember when I first finally succeeded in fretting and playing my first barre chord - what a day

Same with my modeling gear - had it all and had all of it at one time at many points - decided to stick with the FM3 and keep the Stomp because its so easy and fun to use - and as we say around here, never sell a HX Stomp - great tones and who know what L6 will do with HX.

My Ipad rig sounds and works -amazing- stable, glitch free and audibly as good as anything, but ultimately have hit the wall with static Captures [yet again] - so the iPad and the iRig Pro Duo are going.

Never been happier and calmer, less F.O.M.O and less "grass is greener".

YJM wont agree :) but as is often, if not always the case in life, less really is more

Enjoy !!!

 

[TSJMajesty]

is this also on vp4? Sorry for newbie question, still learning my way around the vp4

Yep.