The Fractal Thread

ToneControl

Brow said:

Catthan said:

@Brow, let me know if you ever decide to take the leap; just got a FM3 mk2 turbo here which only got me gassing for the big boi rack unit.. bc it’s so good, not bc it’s lacking.
home studio player only these days so  portability  doesn't matter to me

Send me a PM with some details if you want to and I'll see if I can make something work!

ToneControl said:

Brow said:

I've had a Helix for 4 months and have used it for a few gigs, but for some reason I have the urge to add an FM3 to my collection 

I bought a Helix to go to jams. No way I'd de-rack my AF3.
After a while I couldn't put up with the lower quality modelling, so bought an FM9 - I am very glad I did.

The FM9 looks like a great bit of kit, but unfortunately I've not seen 1 anywhere near my budget at the minute so I've had to discount them for now.

for me I had to go for the FM9 because I had so many patches from my AF3 that I've been using for more than 10 years, but I assume the FM3 would still be 2-3 levels up from the Helix for sound

Brow

ToneControl said:

Brow said:

Catthan said:

@Brow, let me know if you ever decide to take the leap; just got a FM3 mk2 turbo here which only got me gassing for the big boi rack unit.. bc it’s so good, not bc it’s lacking.
home studio player only these days so  portability  doesn't matter to me

Send me a PM with some details if you want to and I'll see if I can make something work!

ToneControl said:

Brow said:

I've had a Helix for 4 months and have used it for a few gigs, but for some reason I have the urge to add an FM3 to my collection 

I bought a Helix to go to jams. No way I'd de-rack my AF3.
After a while I couldn't put up with the lower quality modelling, so bought an FM9 - I am very glad I did.

The FM9 looks like a great bit of kit, but unfortunately I've not seen 1 anywhere near my budget at the minute so I've had to discount them for now.

for me I had to go for the FM9 because I had so many patches from my AF3 that I've been using for more than 10 years, but I assume the FM3 would still be 2-3 levels up from the Helix for sound

I've found a non turbo FM3 semi locally so I'll see if I can take it for a spin n see how I get on!

*update* its sold before I could try it......

FarleyUK

I’ve just found something a bit odd when using the AFX3 with a valve amp….

I use it in ‘two cable method’ - guitar into AFX3, OUT4 into amp input, amp speaker into Reload 2, Reload 2 line out back into AFX3 IN4, then signal sent to OUT1.

Just took delivery of a new Friedman JEL20, and was surprised at the lack of gain; I connected it via its balanced emulated out to my interface, and the gain was there.

Looking at my AFX3 meters, I can see the OUT4 meter on the front is quite a lot lower than the IN1 meter…. Which would tell me that the OUT4 signal is lower than the IN1 signal….?

I know that OUT4 and OUT3 are at unity gain when the knob is fully clockwise (which they are) - but can anyone shed light on this? Have a missed something here?

I’m going to test it tomorrow by going into my TAE CORE and check the levels of the TAE in the software (and use the headphones to check the ‘actual’ gain levels etc.).

Gadget

@FarleyUK ;

I'm no expert on this, but some thoughts...

Have you checked the Input 4 level?

Have you set the Input 4 and Output 4 mono/stereo modes correctly?

Have you tried the Output 4 boost?

FarleyUK

Gadget said:

@FarleyUK ;

I'm no expert on this, but some thoughts...

Have you checked the Input 4 level?

Have you set the Input 4 and Output 4 mono/stereo modes correctly?

Have you tried the Output 4 boost?

Yep, it’s set to 0 in the grid - but not sure it would be that as it’s the lack of gain at the amp that’s the issue (so I’d imagine OUT4). 

OUT4 is set to copy l to r mode, and dial is fully clockwise. Input 4 is actually set to stereo as the Reload 2 goes into a Mimiq which is then stereo into AFX IN4. 

I’ve not tried the boost, but from reading the manual it’s more a pad for external gear. Will try it tomorrow!

FarleyUK

OK, think I've sorted it - the trick was to set the OUT4 boost/pad to +18, and now the OUT4 meter tickles the red and matches IN1 of the guitar perfectly  

Also just found this buried in the online Wiki: "When putting the Axe-Fx II or III in front of a real amp using Output 3 or 4 (FM9: output 3, FM3: output 2), maximize Boost/Pad to make sure the full range of the D/A converter is used. "

Gadget

Glad you got it sorted.

thomasw88

New beta firmware for vp4..
https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/vp4-firmware-v3-00-public-beta-2.214457/

VERSION 3.0 Beta 2 | July 24, 2025

NEW FEATURES, UPDATES, FIXES

✅ NEW! IR PLAYER BLOCK – Fractal Audio Systems pioneered the use of installable Impulse Responses (IRs) in guitar gear with the original User Cab feature in the Axe-Fx — later refining the format with UltraRes™ for improved realism and performance. An IR is an audio snapshot that captures how a speaker, mic setup, or acoustic space shapes sound. It’s most often used to recreate the tone of a guitar speaker cabinet, but also works for acoustic body modeling and other creative applications.

Highlights:

Load and mix up to two IRs per IR Player block.

One IR Player block per preset.

Store up to 256 IRs onboard.

Manage IRs via “Manage Cabs” or Fractal-Bot in VP4-Edit.

Adjustable level, pan, and length.

Mute an un-used IR to silence it and save CPU.

With Parallel/Stereo setting, IRs are processed as left and right.

In Series mode, IRs are processed sequentially in mono.

DRIVE BLOCK UPDATES

NEW “Angry Chuck” drive pedal model based on a JHS™ Angry Charlie™.

NEW “Guardian Photon Speed” drive pedal model based on a Greer™ Lightspeed.

Improved Drive block by modeling output buffer distortion where applicable.

Fixed: Sunrise Splendour High Cut switch now works correctly (On = Cut)

Fixed: Compulsion Distortion Mode switch now works correctly (LP = Low Pass, HP = High Pass)

OTHER UPDATES & FIXES

Eliminated a click that could occur in some cases when bypassing/engaging the wah.

“PEDAL 2” value now appears and functions correctly in all SETUP menu scenarios.

On the Controllers > Tempo page, the ENTER button now consistently maps to TAP TEMPO, regardless of which parameter has focus.

Reset Channel no longer displays odd values upon initial load.

The Exit button on the Tools Confirmation Dialog now works reliably in all scenarios.

Improved MIDI compatibility with controllers from Morningstar and Roland.

The type picker for effects is now smoother and more reliable. You can switch directly from the current type to any other type without cycling through each option in between. To set a type, turn A/B or SELECT to your desired type and press ENTER. Page right to edit parameters as usual.

Various additional small fixes.

thomasw88

Just ordered an FM9 from G66

Been using the VP4 since they came out and absolutely love the effects on these.    

willo

thomasw88 said:

Just ordered an FM9 from G66

Been using the VP4 since they came out and absolutely love the effects on these.    

Lucky you. I think it's great. Was a long term helix user. I find the Fractal much easier to dial in because the base sounds are so much better. 

thomasw88

willo said:

thomasw88 said:

Just ordered an FM9 from G66

Been using the VP4 since they came out and absolutely love the effects on these.    

Lucky you. I think it's great. Was a long term helix user. I find the Fractal much easier to dial in because the base sounds are so much better. 

I tried the helix, gt1000 for a good while and they don't come near the vp4 for fx.    I'll keep the vp4 cos it's ace and works brilliantly with my tsalkis mother ship but I really fancied one unit that does everything. Think initially I'll just get it to work with a valve amp but definitely interested in the amp modelling side.

willo

thomasw88 said:

willo said:

thomasw88 said:

Just ordered an FM9 from G66

Been using the VP4 since they came out and absolutely love the effects on these.    

Lucky you. I think it's great. Was a long term helix user. I find the Fractal much easier to dial in because the base sounds are so much better. 

I tried the helix, gt1000 for a good while and they don't come near the vp4 for fx.    I'll keep the vp4 cos it's ace and works brilliantly with my tsalkis mother ship but I really fancied one unit that does everything. Think initially I'll just get it to work with a valve amp but definitely interested in the amp modelling side.

It's worth reading the manual while you're waiting, if you've not already. Gets you up and running quickly. Although a lot will be familiar with your VP4 I assume. Enjoy!

Aidanspaghetti

Really hope they do a vp6 or such. Otherwise it'll be the hopefully inevitable Line6 Stadium fx.

thomasw88

It arrived yesterday. It sounds very good must say.


Appreciate I might be running before walking….

but is it possible to do 4cm to a valve amp And have a factal amp setup going foh in same preset. I guess you can do it by having 2 independent runs (split at the fractal amp block), but is it possible with one? If so does anyone have a preset or know of one that does that?

 Use case is I might want to use my amp or just go direct or even both (appreciate I’d have to change channels on both valve and fractal amp differently)

welshboyo

thomasw88 said:

It arrived yesterday. It sounds very good must say.


Appreciate I might be running before walking….

but is it possible to do 4cm to a valve amp And have a factal amp setup going foh in same preset. I guess you can do it by having 2 independent runs (split at the fractal amp block), but is it possible with one? If so does anyone have a preset or know of one that does that?

 Use case is I might want to use my amp or just go direct or even both (appreciate I’d have to change channels on both valve and fractal amp differently)

A bit more convoluted with the FM3 but yes easily achieved - there’s a Leon Todd video out there that explains it and also by using L/R outs and panning stuff you can get around the XLR thing too - again plenty of Fractal Forum posts to work it out - I used to run mine like that.

You could use a midi - TRS box for channel switching too…

welshboyo

@thomasw88 ;

Thread here about the Out2 4CM method

https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/solved-fm3-output.161944/page-2#post-1939929

DavusPG

thomasw88 said:

It arrived yesterday. It sounds very good must say.


Appreciate I might be running before walking….

but is it possible to do 4cm to a valve amp And have a factal amp setup going foh in same preset. I guess you can do it by having 2 independent runs (split at the fractal amp block), but is it possible with one? If so does anyone have a preset or know of one that does that?

 Use case is I might want to use my amp or just go direct or even both (appreciate I’d have to change channels on both valve and fractal amp differently)

I believe you said you've bought an FM9, so even easier on that. I run mine with a valve amp which has a built in loadbox out and then out of the FM9 to FOH post time based effects.

Recently built a preset with both the Fractal amp block and my amp which I've yet to test at gig volume, but it sounds good so far.

Easier to share presets with you than try to explain on here, so I'll ping you a message separately. 

Welcome to the club!

welshboyo

Doh, sorry!! Yes, piece of piss on the FM9

thomasw88

DavusPG said:

thomasw88 said:

It arrived yesterday. It sounds very good must say.


Appreciate I might be running before walking….

but is it possible to do 4cm to a valve amp And have a factal amp setup going foh in same preset. I guess you can do it by having 2 independent runs (split at the fractal amp block), but is it possible with one? If so does anyone have a preset or know of one that does that?

 Use case is I might want to use my amp or just go direct or even both (appreciate I’d have to change channels on both valve and fractal amp differently)

I believe you said you've bought an FM9, so even easier on that. I run mine with a valve amp which has a built in loadbox out and then out of the FM9 to FOH post time based effects.

Recently built a preset with both the Fractal amp block and my amp which I've yet to test at gig volume, but it sounds good so far.

Easier to share presets with you than try to explain on here, so I'll ping you a message separately. 

Welcome to the club!

That's awesome. Thanks. 

thomasw88

Dare I ask...     Peoples recommendations for a 1 or 2 amp/cab setup which covers clean to crunch for a live band scenario going to FOH and potentially output 3 going to return of my quilter toneblock (no cab sim req on the FM9)

For covers band  ranging from 50s to present day.   I can see me going down the usual rabbit hole of tweaking, so ideally just want to keep it simple with using one amp with multiple channels or two amps.  Ideally using the same cab/s.

This is what I really liked about the Tsalakis Mothership,  Its very easy to set up 4 channels on the unit that cover clean to heavy and easy to tweak a bit without having to get a spade and tunnel into the damn thing.

Theres so much in here its mind blowing.  starting to get to grips with editing on the unit as well as pc.  It's not as bad on the unit as some people have said .