I bought a used axe fx 2 awhile ago and I wish I had known that the FM3 was so cheap. Would have gotten that instead. Seems like an overall upgrade in sound quality, minus the complexity or possibilities in huge presets. Plus it’s way smaller. Axe fx 2 takes up my whole ass desk. I’m thinking about selling this thing off and getting the fm3 instead. My only big gripe or concern is the inability to run two amp blocks and route them in a preset. How common is that if I were to, for example, browse the axe change and download presets? I’ve tried a good bit, but not enough to draw any real conclusions. I just want to know if I’d be missing out if I lost the ability to do this on the unit.

Anyone have a good Social Distortion preset for the FM9? I actually have a Les Paul Deluxe with Mike Ness pickups in it. I've tried both the 65 Bassguy and the Dweezel Bassman amp and I just can't quite get that same high end growl like you here in this song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-xZzumK_Y

I know Mike's Bassman is modded and it's not something that is in Fractal, but I'm getting pretty close and not sure how to boost that high end aggressive growl. I've tried both the SD-1 and Klon distortion pedals too, set to the same settings I've seen in some videos.

I'm getting an annoying quarter-note delay on EVERY present. Even when there's no delay, reverb or other possible delay block.

It's not latency as both sounds are equal in volume, but as if someone added a quarter-note delay to all presets.

Any ideas what is causing it?

Is there a way to set one foot switch to toggle between two different scenes? Or maybe toggle from one scene back to whatever previous scene you were on before?

Salutations! Currently running a Mesa/Boogie Mk5 combo amp, with an FX8 Mk2 that I’ve owned for many years. I’m running 4CM with the notched ring cables(FRS?) and sounds great! But, if I’m hooked up L mono thru the amp FX loop, can I plug a short cable and connect the R outlets together on the FX8 to get better delay sounds? How does that work? Guidance and advice welcomed. TY

I just bought the FM3 and a frfr Headrush and they should be here within the week. I want to make sure I have all the cabling I need so I can plug in and play once it arrives.

I'm totally novice at this so I don't know how to hook up anything. Would someone let me know what cables need to be hooked up to what in/outputs.

TIA

Almost every mid or high gain preset that I’ve played around with sounds super flubby, overly gainy and noisy…just terrible. To the point where I’m thinking I have a problem with my unit. Are there any basics that I’m missing here?

I’ve tried turning the instrument input gain down to 20%, using my headphones to rule out connection problems deriving from my Yamaha hs8 monitors (sounds roughly the same) which are using balanced xlr cables. I’ve made sure none of my presets are output clipping. The best solution I’ve found is lowering the input drive in tandem with input trim…which almost feels like a band aid than an actual solution. But it’s the closest I’ve gotten to more “normal” tones. Or maybe I’m on the right path? Most factory presets and downloaded presets (many from the same firmware) just sound like a fizzy, overly gainy mess otherwise. My logic on this is that fishman fluence modern pickups are insanely hot, but I think there’s more going on here that I’m missing. So like I said, running my monitors to this unit with xlr balanced cables, connected to my pc via usb. Axe fx is connected to a power strip that goes into a UPS (if that matters at all)

Hello,

Finally bit the bullet and bought an FM9. This thing is amazing. I purchased an FC-12 afterwards because I want to do the following: setup the foot switches on the FM9 to control the layouts on the FC-12. For example, the FM9 has 6 switches on the bottom row. I want to be able to click on switch 2 and get layout 2 to show up on the FC-12. I basically only want one layout on the FM9 that controls all the other layouts on the FC-12.

The problem is I cannot figure out how to do this. How do you setup the switch on once device to control what you see on the other? Every time I make a change to the FM9 layout it's just reflected on the FC-12. I am starting to think maybe I am thinking about this wrong? Do I need to think of it as one big layout? Basically 21 switches per layout? And not 2 separate devices with 2 separate layouts?

I’m a touring and session guitar player based in Nashville. I use my Axe FX III on the road and in the studio religiously and I couldn’t be happier. I have a pretty cool setup in my home studio for remote session stuff that I wanted to share with you all.

My main recording amps are a Friedman Dirty Shirley, a tuxedo Bassman, and a Morgan Tweed 20. I use a Suhr Reactive Load to feed my amps into the fractal and i use the cab block to load IRs. I use 3 IRs that I made with the help of an engineer buddy of mine - a Bad Cat 1x12, a Bogner 2x12 open back, and an old Marshall 4x12. These never get changed out, only swapped between each other depending on the amp or part I’m laying down.

My guitar goes from my pedalboard into Input 1 of the fractal and goes out output 3 with a humbuster into my amps. The amps come back from the Reactive Load into Input 3 for the IRs and any Fractal based effects. I then exit the Fractal output 4 in stereo into a Mobius, Timeline, and Big Sky that sit on my desk so I can have hands on control of my time based FX, and they return into the Fractal Input 4 in stereo. Then output 1 goes XLR into a stereo BAE 1073. The tones I’m getting are just wild and I’m having so much fun.

The reason this setup is so cool is because I have total control on where everything goes in the chain without having to deal with rerouting cables. I can setup the I/O to be either mono or stereo with the press of a button, I can put the Strymon stuff before or after the amp (a la FX loop), or even after the cab as if it’s studio gear.

If my 3 amps can’t accomplish a certain tone I’m going for, I can easily load a different amp in the Fractal to grab it quickly. If the strymons or my pre-board can’t do something, I can easily call up an obscure effect I might need in the axe. All of this without changing anything on my desk. It’s just incredible.

On the road I’m exclusively fractal and it’s been so much fun.

Just felt like sharing. Have a great day yall and happy thanksgiving

Would a EH Howitzer 15 W pair well with my FM3 and a 1x12 cab? I mainly play in a bedroom and occasionally at church.

Hi there.

I have an FM9 and I really like it.

I have used it recently for recording some guitar covers and for live.

Now live, they sound overly bright on occasion even with a LPF at 6000hz.

But with the same settings for recording a guitar cover, it sounds a bit dark.

So my question is, is how can I deal with the seemingly inconsistent tone? Don't get me wrong, the base tone is great and I love it.

I use ML sound lab reflex IRs - greenbacks mixed with V30s

Thanks

Noticed my favorite band (Big Wreck) has recently switched from using the Axe as an effects engine to driving the FOH sound. To compensate for the "wall of sound" band they are they've been using backline cabs for the stage feels. These cabs are powered by an rental guitar amp but only using the amps power section... I assume feeding the signal thru the FX loop. This got me thinking for our "bigger" outdoors shows where we can use cabs and not hurt people is it worth experimenting running a FOH and a CAB signal? Anyone do this?

Was looking for some input on stepping up to the Axe FXIII for anyone who took the leap. I was thinking of buying one during the sale and trying to sell the FM3 somewhere (if anyone has suggestions)

I do bedroom guitar stuff and strictly play for myself on headphones and studio monitors, have never used the pedal on the FM3 and adjust the scene on my PC. I do frequently run out of CPU which hence the upgrading.

Thanks.

So I have an fm3 on the way and I was looking for something small/portable to play it through.

I'm not gigging anytime soon so output isn't a huge concern. Just something I can practice on/bring to small jams.

I'm looking at the headrush frfr go rn, especially aince it has it's own internal battery.

Anyone have any recommendations for anything similar? I'm def not limited to the price of the headrush.

I just wanted to say that the FM3 is an amazing unit. I’m coming from a BOSS GT-1000CORE and this is just wild.

The fractal bot said it's tricky to go back so I just want to make sure.

Just sanity checking that this I/O setup makes sense.

I want to record stereo output from my FM9 to my interface, but I also want to record the DI in case I want to reamp. I've seen setups where the main tone is sent to the L channel and the DI to the R channel of the interface, but this would limit me to recording a mono tone from the FM9.

What I'm thinking about doing is getting a Radial J48 to record a DI while recording a stereo output from the FM9. My guitar would go into the J48, and then the XLR out on the J48 goes into my interface to record the DI. Then the Thru output on the J48 goes into the FM9. Then I can use SPDIF to record the tone coming from the FM9. And then if I wanted to reamp, I could send recorded DI from the SPDIF Out on my interface into the SPDIF In on the FM9. Is this a good setup, or should I do something else (like getting a DI box?)

Graphic for reference

https://preview.redd.it/le8g53iolk2e1.png?width=1043&format=png&auto=webp&s=ff6403063c6f56fd58e73812f279419b09e93416

https://preview.redd.it/oeo163vi1k2e1.png?width=1296&format=png&auto=webp&s=db7d91152e382fa28006813df473b60951fe35df

https://preview.redd.it/1ccr0ez02k2e1.png?width=1246&format=png&auto=webp&s=1cac90c993c7e1293d2bd1f536fac2ab1d78aed3

I'm trying to set up a freeze preset. I have a parallel chain set up with a digital delay and I mapped the input gain and feedback to to a momentary switch. Basically when the switch is unpressed the feedback is 100% and input gain is 0, so it holds whatever is being repeated, and when I press the switch the feedback goes to 20% and input gain to 100% so I can change whats being "frozen."

The concept works but for some reason the delay will lose volume over time after many repeats until it becomes barely audible. I figured at 100% feedback it would just continue at the same level forever but that is not happening. I think it has something to do with the EQ attenuating the signal slightly with every repeat but I'm not sure as there's no way to bypass the eq section to my knowledge. Some help would be appreciated!

Hey everyone,

Just got my AXE FX III and am really enjoying it so far, but I can't resist the call of buying lots of IR packs from York audio! Seems like a good company that's dedicated to the kinds of Amps/speakers I like!

Here's some nerd questions for you though.

1. Usually IRL you have wattage and output differences between cabinets/speakers that would prevent them from being used in a specific amp etc. I'm wondering if the AXE FX III negates this issue, for instance, in real life I can't really use a single 15 watt alnico blue speaker with a 100 watt Marshall amp without making major modifications, even then it's still unlikely. In the AXE FX, can I basically use any ol' cabinet IR with any ol' amp and have it sound OK? (I Know that certain speakers just don't jive with amps, I'm not talking subjectively, I'm talking is it at all usable?)

I would imagine that this isn't a problem in Fractal world but I truly have no idea, so if anyone can enlighten me that'd be awesome!

I also wonder, if anyone has any recommendations on the IRs. I definitely want to get some good Celestion Blue IR, some good Greenback IR, some G12H30 IR, and a good Jensen or JBL-style IR for Fender Twins or Princetons. Is York a good company for this kind of stuff? I'm not looking for high-gains, more clean and edge-of-breakup/overdrive tones.

Thanks!

Hi, I'm a Fractal FM3 owner, I also use it as audio interface with my Mac Mini so I need to manage volume very often, but the output knobs on the machine feels a bit uncomfortable and small to me. I'm thinking of placing a monitor controller before my Kali LP6 monitors. Are there any disadvantages like noising, sound degradation, or something like this to doing this?

I don't wanna spend too much for this purpose, Palmer Monicon, Mackie big knob etc. seems nice enough.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

I simply call preset 420 "69". Honestly, preset 420 is my lab test preset. But currently I'm using the 5153 stealth amp and cab combo with the newer envelope filter.

But what do you use preset 420 for? Reggae? Stoner metal/rock? Psychedelic Pink Floyd tones? Ambient spacey vibes?

Evening everybody!

I'm the proud owner of a new FM9! Got it just a few days ago and man it's just crazy how good it is. My only regret is I should have gotten it a year ago when I last word-dumped in this sub, thanks to everyone that commented that time.

Anyway I'm currently playing through some small Mackie speakers I had laying around that just aren't cutting it, and I'm looking to get a good set of quality monitors. I'm not an audiophile so there's no point in dropping thousands, but I'm willing to spend in the $600-700 if it's worth it.

After lurking in this and other forums I see to be leaning towards Yamaha, Adam, and Kali.

Sweetwater is having some deals (all below include stands and cables):

Yamaha HS8 and Adam Audio T8V both at $689

Yamaha HS7 for $625

Adam Audio T7V for $599

Kali Audio LP-6 V2 $499

Thoughts? The Yamahas are (almost) universally loved, though I've seen complaints of hissing. Adams also seems really solid, and a lot of people swear by the Kalis.

I'm a basement player and it's a fairly large open room, furniture and carpet and and not a studio at all with wall treating. Worth getting 8 inchers? Overkill and would sound bad or boomy, should stick to 6.5? This is a whole new world for me, assume I'm an idiot and we're off to a good start. Other suggestions also welcome. Thanks!

Hi I have just got my FM3 along side some Adam Audio T5V Studio monitors and I’m new to a setup like this so I’m confused. In the FM3 manual it says something like “output 1 defaults to -10db a low level consumer setting. To change this to +4db for pro level equipment” etc etc

My question is, there are 2 switches on the back of the monitors and a knob. The switches are HF 0,plus 2 or minus 2 and same for LF. The main output knob has markers at 0, -60 or +18.

I have nothing connected yet, but I want to be safe whilst also getting the most out of the equipment. I plan to go straight from the FM3 to the Monitors via XLR to XLR

Thankyou in advance

Hi all, I will be receiving my fm3 tomorrow and I’m trying to find the best way to go about commenting it all up.

My current setup is my guitar going into my Scarlett solo which is then going out to my Adam T5 monitors. Scarlett solo is set as ins and outs in Logic

Would/can the FM3 just replace the Scarlett?

If so, what’s the best method of direct monitoring? Also, how can I flick between monitor and headphone listening for night time use of FM3/FM3 within Logic?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated

I just wan to

• Use the FM3 on its one without the Mac
• Run FM3 through Logic like I was with my Scarlett
• Be able to mix and record through headphones and monitors separately when needed

Is Mission engineering EP 1 KP compatible with Fractal FM 9?

Rack mounting noob here. I’m going to be moving my AxeFx 3 to a rack after keeping it on my desk for years. Is the unit’s weight safe to be held solely by the front screws? No supports are needed?

Hi gang.

In anticipation of the Axe FX 3 Turbo arriving this tuesday I have a question about the Marshall #34 amp.

So, is this supposed to be as close to Slash's AFD amp or just similar?

If it is supposed to be the famous #36 / #39 that Slash did use on AFD, how do Cliff Chase know how to recreate it? Through trial and error, or did he use an actual blueprint of sorts?

Also, any tips on the Izzy Stradlin AFD tone? I always prefered him. I'm guessing a Mesa Boogie or Bassmaster? But I know he used a cab with 4x12 Celestion v30 on the bottom and EV12Ls on the top, or vice-versa miked top left and buttom right (saw this from a live in Australia video) Anyway to reproduce this? Use 2 cabs one with v30 the other with EV12Ls?

Thanks :-)