The Fractal Thread

firepaulmusic

willo said:

Sounds great mate!

Cheers...

mrkb

New AM4 amp modeller announced

https://www.fractalaudio.com/am4/

https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/%F0%9F%94%A5introducing-the-new-am4-amp-modeler.216932/

Axe2Grind

That's a smart little unit and I like that it has USB C. If I didn't already have the FM3, I'd be tempted to get the AM4

Octavio

I do appreciate that Fractal don't jump on the YouTube shill bandwagon for a release.

MrTee

FM3 firmware 12 beta snuck under the radar yesterday too, with all the lovely bass/sansamp updates

thomasw88

AM4 looks a great unit.  Pair it with a couple of pedals and a wah and you got yourself a fantastic pedalboard there.

I've hardly used my VP4 since i got my FM9.   However I'd be tempted to get an AM4 as a backup and maybe move on the VP4

menamestom

I was going to get the VP4 at some point but might grab this instead.  Seems to miss the pitch block from the VP4 otherwise fairly similar.
Just need to look into the specifics, like can you use it with 4 effects blocks or does one always have to be an amp block?

My ideal would be one unit like this with pitch, amp and looper.  Zoom managed it with the G3 about 10 years ago.

mrkb

menamestom said:

I was going to get the VP4 at some point but might grab this instead.  Seems to miss the pitch block from the VP4 otherwise fairly similar.
Just need to look into the specifics, like can you use it with 4 effects blocks or does one always have to be an amp block?

My ideal would be one unit like this with pitch, amp and looper.  Zoom managed it with the G3 about 10 years ago.

You don’t have to use the Amp block - can have 4 effects blocks. There’s a difference in I/O specs so it isn’t as suitable for 4CM as VP4. There lots of questions answered in the Fractal Forum thread I linked.

thomasw88

menamestom said:

I was going to get the VP4 at some point but might grab this instead.  Seems to miss the pitch block from the VP4 otherwise fairly similar.
Just need to look into the specifics, like can you use it with 4 effects blocks or does one always have to be an amp block?

My ideal would be one unit like this with pitch, amp and looper.  Zoom managed it with the G3 about 10 years ago.

fm9? or fm3?

menamestom

mrkb said:

menamestom said:

I was going to get the VP4 at some point but might grab this instead.  Seems to miss the pitch block from the VP4 otherwise fairly similar.
Just need to look into the specifics, like can you use it with 4 effects blocks or does one always have to be an amp block?

My ideal would be one unit like this with pitch, amp and looper.  Zoom managed it with the G3 about 10 years ago.

You don’t have to use the Amp block - can have 4 effects blocks. There’s a difference in I/O specs so it isn’t as suitable for 4CM as VP4. There lots of questions answered in the Fractal Forum thread I linked.

Great thanks, will have a look through it when I get a chance.  Lack of 4CM not a problem and the fact you can still use it for effects only is great.

menamestom

thomasw88 said:

menamestom said:

I was going to get the VP4 at some point but might grab this instead.  Seems to miss the pitch block from the VP4 otherwise fairly similar.
Just need to look into the specifics, like can you use it with 4 effects blocks or does one always have to be an amp block?

My ideal would be one unit like this with pitch, amp and looper.  Zoom managed it with the G3 about 10 years ago.

fm9? or fm3?

I like the VP4 form factor and UI, which means it would go on my board with other effects and it looks quite quick and intuitive to use.  So the AM4 would do almost the same job but give me the excellent Fractal modelling if I needed it, for a reasonable price.

hollywoodrox

Leon Todd has an AM4 video out 

peteri

I use the VP4 with a Synergy IR20, analogue pedals in front of that.

I think that's the best of both worlds - I think the Fractal pitch, delay and reverb are absolutely worth the price of admission. And I now use the IR player instead of the built in Synergy one - because of more choices and panning.

I think the AM4 looks great, but don't see it as a competitor to the VP4 - if you look at the effects, a lot of the delay types etc. are missing, multi-tap delay etc.etc.

It will still sound great - but for effects VP4 is the one, for an amp/board backup or super simple setup - I think the AM4 is great and the switching options are really more flexible I think than the FM3.

If they'd done the modelling as they have - plus the full set of VP4 effects and the amp not taking an effect slot, now that would be interesting!

And I still think they missed a trick with the VP4, it needs one more output/input to allow 4cm and maintain stereo output - but I'd still stick to how I've done it, analogue drive pedals into an analogue amp just works from a gain staging perspective for me

DavusPG

Interesting move by Fractal, I suspect they'll do well with the AM4 and for many it'll more then cover all the bases.

As fun as it is to see new products, the FM9 is hard to beat for my needs. Whilst I like the idea of a VP9, it doesn't hurt to have the amps in the box should I ever need them. 

Saw a video from Leon Tood stacking the AM4 and the VP4, but unless I'm mistaken for not much more pedal board real estate an FM9 would give more? 

FarleyUK

Axe FX 3 FW 31 sounds pretty damn good!

John_P

Any thoughts on the AM4  or FM3?   

 Been a while since I had a fractal and debating a change from my quad cortex/nano cortex.   

I currently use a QC for function band where I need a bunch of scenes and the nanocortex for an acdc tribute to switch rhythm and lead.     


I was thinking an fm3 with the fc6 would give me both options.   But so would the am4 plus a midi controller.

I'm assuming that I can manage with 4 blocks using comp,  amp (inc boost),  mod, reverb (inc echo)  

Only big disadvantage to the AM5 is the absence of a pitch block which is super handy for occasional Eb songs so I'd need to added digitech drop.

I suspect the am4 is a lot quicker to edit.

What do we think?    Any other issues?