New smaller Fractal FM3 announced

John_P

Looks like it will have similar specs to the ax8 but in a smaller package with the ares modelling from the AX3.     I like the ida of having a small box with an exp pedal for some gigs that I can link to an FC12 or 6 as part of a bigger board - should be a very practical setup.

Priced at $999 I assume it will be somewhere around that price in £ when it is released in Europe.  

mrkb

Looks interesting, can use the other footswitch units to expand capability. Not any more processing power than AX8 though.

https://www.fractalaudio.com/tmp/190423-Fractal-Audio-Announces-the-FM3-Amp-Modeler-MultiFX.pdf

Fortheloveofguitar

Wonder how much it’ll be 

mrkb

Fortheloveofguitar said:

Wonder how much it’ll be 

They’re quoting 999 dollars, so probably about the same in pounds. But add in a FC6 controller and that’s another £600.
have added stuff AX8 is missing, usb audio, headphone jack, and much better on unit editing. Not sure I’ll get one immediately- need to see if amount of blocks are improved over AX8.

welshboyo

Just seen this on FB from G66..

https://www.fractalaudio.com/tmp/190423-Fractal-Audio-Announces-the-FM3-Amp-Modeler-MultiFX.pdf

Complete game changer and a much smaller footprint...Ok, not as many footswitches but if they get the whole switching preset thing licked I could see this being a great unit especially to reduce stage room.

Probably a bit more HX stomp competition than Helix thinking about it..

dunstanmus

It has FXIII Ares modelling so yes from me.

guitarfishbay

mrkb said:

Fortheloveofguitar said:

Wonder how much it’ll be 

They’re quoting 999 dollars, so probably about the same in pounds. But add in a FC6 controller and that’s another £600.
have added stuff AX8 is missing, usb audio, headphone jack, and much better on unit editing. Not sure I’ll get one immediately- need to see if amount of blocks are improved over AX8.

It has MIDI so you can switch with other (cheaper) controllers if you program it.

mrkb

guitarfishbay said:

mrkb said:

Fortheloveofguitar said:

Wonder how much it’ll be 

They’re quoting 999 dollars, so probably about the same in pounds. But add in a FC6 controller and that’s another £600.
have added stuff AX8 is missing, usb audio, headphone jack, and much better on unit editing. Not sure I’ll get one immediately- need to see if amount of blocks are improved over AX8.

It has MIDI so you can switch with other (cheaper) controllers if you program it.

Good point, I’m using a Morningstar MC6 at the moment which is amazingly capable for midi.

meltedbuzzbox

Gah I've just got a FX8!

I think I will get one of these and chop in the helix and the fx8 when I do

Fiftyshadesofjay

Bit underwhelmed really. Obviously it’ll sound great, Fractal stuff always does but I think it’s more likely to be around £1200 in this country, and in that case I’d much rather take a Helix floor over it.

Wonder how it’d fair as an FX only unit?

BintyTwanger77

This looks interesting. I like the addition of the headphone jack and what looks like a simpler UI than either of the bigger floor units.

Roland

Parallel threads merged

John_A

Looks like they’ve taken a few design influences from Line 6

like the stomp though, I’m sure I’d find 3 foot switches limiting, looks great though!

monquixote

Just looking at it makes me feel sad.

Jonathanthomas83

Weird how it's same specs as AX8.

sweepy

Awaits the flood of cheap AX8’s

octatonic

Faslink II greatly expands it beyond what the HX Stomp can do.

Pair this with an FC6 or FC12 and you have an insanely powerful rig with a very small footprint.
You could have the FM3 off the pedalboard too and just run an XLR cable to the FC controller.

mrkb

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Weird how it's same specs as AX8.

Cliff has stated that maintaining the current AX8 architecture is difficult after an employee left. Seems a bit extreme to launch a new product to avoid this! Surely there’s someone who could have got up to speed on the software side.

gibsongretschfan

Got really excited when I seen the XLR input... then realised it said Faslink.... then realised it was going to be over a grand.

Nope

John_A

mrkb said:

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Weird how it's same specs as AX8.

Cliff has stated that maintaining the current AX8 architecture is difficult after an employee left. Seems a bit extreme to launch a new product to avoid this! Surely there’s someone who could have got up to speed on the software side.

Wonder where they went, and how good their non-compete clause is

fretmeister

No doubt inspired by the success of the Helix Stomp, but at least double the price.
The Ares modelling may well be great - but will it be worth double? Nope.

And from a selfish POV as a bassist - Fractal's bass modelling sucks balls anyway.