Unnecessary fractal gushing. Please ignore if looking for productive posts

Evo

Just wanting to vent some happy to folks that might not roll their eyes in the same way the Mrs does when I talk about guitar stuff (don't do it...I see you there, don't make the joke...it's not that funny).

Picked up a Fractal FM3 in a trade for my kemper power rack a few weeks ago, and it's my first return to fractal since my AxeFX 2 maybe 12ish years ago.

Damn these things are ace!

Why isn't every function player using one of these??

I was fully expecting to need to invest in an additional footswitch as well, but no! It's perfectly doable to get your way around even a fiddly gig with just the three buttons. Sounds great, tiny footprint, IEC power cable, individual output volume knobs, it's been very well thought out!

I keep thinking I should upgrade to an FM9 or an AxeIII, but I just can't think of anything I need which the FM3 isn't doing. 

That's all.

Just wanted to capture a rare moment where i'm actually happy with a piece of gear before the itch to change it starts to set in again.

Nerine

Yeah, they’re good. I really liked the couple of FM9’s I had. 

Enjoy. 

ToneControl

I got an Axefx2 way back when they were released - and the foot controller too, then moved to an Axefx3, which was a level up again. I tried a kemper, but was not happy with any of the FX.

Then more recently I started going to jams, and bought a Helix, which sounded 2 levels down from the AF3.
eventually I gave up and bought an FM9, which I am very happy with - basically a slightly diminished AF3 with built in footswitch board. At present I would not buy an AF3 (unless I was playing arenas or building a high-spec studio), I'd just say go for the FM9

Evo

I think I’ve convinced myself that the thing to do is enjoy the FM3, with a view to waiting for the next gen to take a step up in the range. 

Then the FM3 becomes the “compact” rig and whatever the next gen brings becomes the main rig. That way nothing becomes redundant. 

thomasw88

Got a VP4 and then onto FM9 last year.   Spent a couple of months getting used to the FM9.

   Absolutely knocked the Helix/GT1000/Ampero 2   boxes I'd had before out the park.   Finally managed to replace my Boss DD500, Mobius, Neunaber immerse plus drives/wah pedal board.

The way its configured for live use, and the sounds which are awesome.  Dont think I could cope with just 3 footswitches tho

Highly tempted to get an AM4 for a backup but actually will probably just keep the boards I've got for now.

Would recommend you getting  a MVAVE chocolate plus with the Boss Midi cable.    Really opens it up and is dirt cheap.   I've got mine set to  FS A/B Preset up/down   FS C/D scene up/down.   Long press can choose any of the 4 scenes on each of the footswitches.  

Evo

I’ve currently got it set up so I can happily reach 8 scenes from the 3 switches, and tuner/preset up/preset down are tucked away on view 2 accessed with a long press on one of the switches. 

Happy days. 

I’m sure the additional switches would make things a little smoother but I’m honestly just not feeling the need for it at the moment. 

exocet

Evo said:

I think I’ve convinced myself that the thing to do is enjoy the FM3, with a view to waiting for the next gen to take a step up in the range. 

Then the FM3 becomes the “compact” rig and whatever the next gen brings becomes the main rig. That way nothing becomes redundant. 

FM3 is a great unit. I sold mine to get FM9. Reality is that I only need an FM3 plus a couple of external switches in the style made by (Otter?). I still play live and more often than not, space is always a constraint. I really don't use much of the "pretty stuff" that consumes CPU, just one amp, a couple of drives, a comp and basic delay no reverb..which is waste of time for what I play.

Roland

The Fractal stuff continues to amaze me, not just with the quality of the FX, but what you can achieve with them. I started off by keeping things simple, and that approach served me well for several years. 

 Last year I started a three piece backing band for a local singer. We like the stripped back format, but there are times when I want to add synth pads without adding a keyboard player. It turns out the Holdsworth settings in the Multi-Tap Delay, coupled with with the Pliades Reverb, provide a haunting pad. For intros it can be faded in using a Slow Gear volume setting to remove the pick noise. Elsewhere in a song I can use a control switch with a slow rise time to swell the pad.

Another great thing is that I can avoid repetition by configuring each song with different settings.

Yerman

Axe III here after 9 Years with a Helix ...worlds apart , no going back ! 

gearaddict

My fractal experience was with the AX8 and wasn’t very positive. Slow to change patches, stupendously complicated and I honestly didn’t think it sounded that great. I don’t get fractal. Someone send me a FM9 for free so I can see what I’m missing. 

exocet

gearaddict said:

My fractal experience was with the AX8 and wasn’t very positive. Slow to change patches, stupendously complicated and I honestly didn’t think it sounded that great. I don’t get fractal. Someone send me a FM9 for free so I can see what I’m missing. 

I quite liked the AX8. I got it after binning the Helix (in its defence, it was early incarnation and I didn't give it too much time before escorting it back to Andertons). I dropped the AX8 when I got the feeling  that it was a dead platform with no more updates taking place. That was 18 months after I bought it. I'm now on FM9 via FM3. It'll see me out.

Evo

gearaddict said:

My fractal experience was with the AX8 and wasn’t very positive. Slow to change patches, stupendously complicated and I honestly didn’t think it sounded that great. I don’t get fractal. Someone send me a FM9 for free so I can see what I’m missing. 

Genuinely, this attitude is very common not just with fractal but kemper, helix, neural, and other modellers too. Not necessarily the same specific issues but I often see the “I tried XYZ product once, thought it was awful” on posts. 

Just to put a little context in here, the AX8 was released over 10 years ago and the tech was based on the AxeFX 2 which was released almost 15 years ago. 

That’s tech that can legally drink in a pub in a few years. 

You’d also be surprised how often “it’s stupendously complicated” and “it doesn’t sound that great” appear together. That’s not to say it isn’t a downfall of the unit, but if there’s a steep learning curve then it’s a lot more common for people to just write off the unit as not sounding good before they unlock its full potential. 

The way I often describe fractal stuff is that it’s capable of sounding noticeably better AND noticeably worse than most other bits of kit. If simplicity and ease of use are your thing, then fractal probably aren’t your answer. 

Roland

gearaddict said:

My fractal experience was with the AX8 and wasn’t very positive. Slow to change patches, stupendously complicated …. 

Fractal ditched the AX8 architecture. FM3, FM9 and AFX III all have gap-less patch change, instantaneous scene change, stupendous sound, and are as complicated as you want them to be. If you want to see and hear what you’re missing then watch a couple of Leon Todd’s videos.

Admittedly the Fractal approach doesn’t suit everyone. We all think and work differently. 

Nerine

Fractal is the best. That’s about all there is to it, really. To say otherwise is just to be contrary. 

ToneControl

Evo said:

gearaddict said:

My fractal experience was with the AX8 and wasn’t very positive. Slow to change patches, stupendously complicated and I honestly didn’t think it sounded that great. I don’t get fractal. Someone send me a FM9 for free so I can see what I’m missing. 

Genuinely, this attitude is very common not just with fractal but kemper, helix, neural, and other modellers too. Not necessarily the same specific issues but I often see the “I tried XYZ product once, thought it was awful” on posts. 

Just to put a little context in here, the AX8 was released over 10 years ago and the tech was based on the AxeFX 2 which was released almost 15 years ago. 

That’s tech that can legally drink in a pub in a few years. 

You’d also be surprised how often “it’s stupendously complicated” and “it doesn’t sound that great” appear together. That’s not to say it isn’t a downfall of the unit, but if there’s a steep learning curve then it’s a lot more common for people to just write off the unit as not sounding good before they unlock its full potential. 

The way I often describe fractal stuff is that it’s capable of sounding noticeably better AND noticeably worse than most other bits of kit. If simplicity and ease of use are your thing, then fractal probably aren’t your answer. 

One thing might explain such an opinion - historically, factory presets have been quite poor really, and if you don't get into the patches to edit them, or buy a set of patches from an expert, then you won't get the full experience. Mind you. this is not unique to Fractal

BGG

Loving my FM3, picked it up here used maybe a year ago? Maybe less than that I think, I love it. 

A few of mates own the FM9 and keep on at me to upgrade, but I honestly don’t feel the need. No desire to run two amps etc and I love how compact it is, with decent space between switches unlike QC. 

gearaddict

Roland said:

gearaddict said:

My fractal experience was with the AX8 and wasn’t very positive. Slow to change patches, stupendously complicated …. 

Fractal ditched the AX8 architecture. FM3, FM9 and AFX III all have gap-less patch change, instantaneous scene change, stupendous sound, and are as complicated as you want them to be. If you want to see and hear what you’re missing then watch a couple of Leon Todd’s videos.

Admittedly the Fractal approach doesn’t suit everyone. We all think and work differently. 

At the time I wondered how much of it was personal taste. I spent a lot of time tweaking and it felt to me like the unit had a particular sound to it. I wondered if people who like fractal just like that sound. I did look at Leon Todd’s videos back then and I often preferred the sounds before he had tweaked them. I even sent my patches to experienced users who tweaked them and sent them back - the community is really nice and helpful…that’s for sure - but I never liked what others said was good.

I would love to try the new gen of pedals but the price is prohibitive. And I know the fractal workflow makes me insane. I prefer simple. 

Evo

gearaddict said:

At the time I wondered how much of it was personal taste. I spent a lot of time tweaking and it felt to me like the unit had a particular sound to it. I wondered if people who like fractal just like that sound. I did look at Leon Todd’s videos back then and I often preferred the sounds before he had tweaked them. I even sent my patches to experienced users who tweaked them and sent them back - the community is really nice and helpful…that’s for sure - but I never liked what others said was good.

I would love to try the new gen of pedals but the price is prohibitive. And I know the fractal workflow makes me insane. I prefer simple. 

In which case, I’m genuinely curious, why contribute to a fractal praise post?

Roland

Gearaddict provides a useful perspective. You and I might think it’s the best thing since sliced bread, but it’s not for everyone. That’s different to the “I don’t like it therefore I’m going to deride it” criticisms we so often see on forums.  

exocet

Roland said:

Gearaddict provides a useful perspective. You and I might think it’s the best thing since sliced bread, but it’s not for everyone. That’s different to the “I don’t like it therefore I’m going to deride it” criticisms we so often see on forums.  

I agree, the Fractal product workflow and deep dive parameter options are not for everyone. I'd actually like to try and AX8 again to evaluate the differences with current modelling algorithm. I remember liking the AX8 hardware layout and gigged it many times. The AM4 / VP4 platform does simplify the workflow for users who are not well versed in the ways of Fractal.

gearaddict

Evo said:

In which case, I’m genuinely curious, why contribute to a fractal praise post?

Well, you did ask why isn’t everyone using them!