Long story long : I got the FM3 Turbo a few months and have been struggling to get useable sounds out of it. Even the stock presets sound very muffled and no presence or bite. I tried running through my headphones and they sound ok but nowhere near what I find when I hear demoing the unit on their YouTube channel. I have a Fender FR12 and everything sounds muffled and lifeless. I reset the global parameters and nothing worked I had been able to get good sounds fairly easily in the past with Guitar Rig, Amplitube and most recently Neural plugins running an M-Audio 2 X 2 in Reaper. Part of me is thinking I am so used to the Neural sounds that I should get the Quad or Nano but both are pricey blind purchases seeing my struggle with the FM3 . Right out of the box it should be a good sounding unit with some tweaking but instead of getting inspiring sounds it makes me put down the guitar . And if getting additional IRs is what it takes to get a good sound , then the unit is lacking to begin with. For reference , struggling to get Lukather modern rock tones both clean , semi dirty and full gain . Any input would be greatly appreciated

Hey everyone,

I’ve been having some strange issues with my Fractal AX8 and could really use some advice.

It seems like the unit reset itself when I turned it on recently. This was in between the sound check (working properly) and when I turned it back on after 40 minutes to start playing.

Instead of loading my latest patch, it booted up the first patch on the first page and all my preferences were gone (like output db levels and change on press or release). Besides this, I'm also seeing random glitches and lines appearing on the screen.

It was a nightmare 😵‍💫

Anybody has encountered anything similar? Would a factory reset help out this might be more of a hardware issue?

Thanks!

Hi all, just got an FM3. Using the headphones out into a beyerdynamic headphones sounds good, but when I run headphones out to a set of cheap logitech speakers (which is what I usually do using plugins and an interface), it sounds completely different and lacks almost all the gain.

I understand this isn't ideal and I should get a pair of studio monitors, but for the time being is there a way to get a decent tone using normal speakers?

Thanks!

Hi all, new to the forum. Returned to fractal land after many years and got an FM3 turbo which is brilliant. Just want to know if anyone has experience using the MD-BT01 for bluetooth connectivity and if so, can I route audio via my iPad/Phone to the FM3 (e.g. a song or backing track) via the bluetooth pairing?

Appreciate any feedback - cheers!

Is gone!

Where are people putting their "for sale" ads now?

i’m really stoked. this is my first modeler and i am aware of the learning curve but also of the depth and righteous tones you can get out of this. i didn’t want to start w an HX Stomp and then upgrade, i just went for it. i hope i can at least crack this thing’s and my own potential. i’ll open it after my gig on Tuesday because i am cramming to learn the set for a session band i was recently recruited in

I want to connect my FM3 to my cab using the power section of my Mark V 25 to be able to use some of the amp models. What is the proper way of doing this? And how would I dial in my amp?

Hey everyone,

So here’s the deal. Back in February 2020, after researching like crazy, I decided to order an FRFR speaker. It came down to the Atomic CLR and a Xitone Wedge by Mick. The CLR was sold out everywhere, and after reading all these glowing posts about Mick and his Xitone builds, I figured that was the way to go. So, I ordered a custom Xitone wedge, built in the US and shipped to Switzerland, and paid over $1,000 upfront.

Problem is, I never got it. No speaker, no refund, not even a partial. I was patient – it was right at the start of COVID, and he kept telling me parts were delayed. I understood that, so I waited. But months turned into years. Every time I reached out, there was some new reason: missing parts, sick family members, financial trouble. By the time I realized this might go south, I’d already lost my PayPal protection, so I was hoping for the best, trusting his reputation.

Now here we are, nearly five years later. I haven’t heard anything back from him in ages. I know some of you got your units, so I’m wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience or if there’s any way I could still do something about this, even from Europe. I’d appreciate any advice – or just to know I’m not the only one in this spot.

Thanks for reading.

Hi! Just a quick question, is it possible to power up FM9 using Cioks DC7 or Crux? 🤔

I’m trying to get periphery and meshugah tones without a bunch of plugins i saw a cheap Fractal Audio AXE FX ULTRA Multi Effects Processor should I get it?

Would love some advice/critical feedback on my thinking here:

I'm aiming to purchasing an Axe FX II (not considering the 3) in northern Europe, and have the following options:

Axe FX ii (original) €670

Axe FX ii XL+ (one broken encoder) €930

Axe FX ii XL (great condition) €1000

Clearly the first option is the cheapest and the person selling it seems reasonable (he'll let me play for 10-15min, and I'm bringing some tools to test it). It's purely for home studio use, won't use the foot pedal, and will basically live racked into a Jasper stand and plugged into an audio interface. I'll be sending both guitar (front input) and synth (back) input through it. I hope to use it for at least a few years before upgrading.

I know I am buying old gear at this point which comes with risks. My plan is to do everything via the desktop apps, but wanted to get folks opinion on whether the decade difference between the original and the XLs is worth the higher cost. My reading of this Wiki is that for my use case anyway, the XL isn't necessary (though would derisk some things, eg. encoders, more recent manufacturing, etc).

Quick context on my approach: I'm hoping to use it as an inspiration and recording machine, and really dig into the modeling side. I almost certainly won't be gigging. I have a background with maxmsp and modular synth, and learning about the axe fx line has been pretty inspiring. Just not 3k euro on an axe fx 3 level inspiring. >_> Yet.

Edit: Incredibly grateful for the advice and context that you all shared. I landed on the OG axe fx ii, after a fairly extensive test of it.

Hey, I am playing with the idea of getting a modeler, but have some doubts. I know that they are played to what are essentially PA speakers, but is there a way to connect the axefx products to a cab and push air like a normal amp would? Or would I strictly be confined to speakers and headphones?

Hey all,

I've had the FM3 Turbo since it dropped and I really enjoy it. The versatility, accessibility, and amount of parameters is unmatched and it's mostly perfect for my use-case. While it does many things well, one thing I haven't been able to dial in very well is a good fuzz tone.

I've tried all the fuzzes on offer in the editor, checked gains, tried eqing/hi pass/lo pass filters, tried different clipping diodes, compressing before and after fuzz, tried different guitars, different pickups, microphones, mic placements, different cabinets, dyna cabs, cab panning, etc. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but it's personally tough to wrestle a good fuzz tone out of this thing. I read that the FM3 doesn't have variable input impedance, and figure that must have some effect... but I imagine it should be easier than this and that surely it's operator error lol. Whatever I record sounds boxy and harsh. Trying to darken it takes away all the body, presence, and sustain.

Has anyone had any luck getting a fat fuzz tone? Especially interested in a "Sleep" style of fuzz, ala Dopesmoker. Their tone is so paradoxically perfect: it's present and full in the ways you want it to be, with plenty of audible top end, but somehow it still sounds "dark", which helps with listening fatigue. I know some of this is up to the mix, but it used to be easier dialing in creamy tones when I was using an amp and pedals (which I sold due to living in an apartment).

Everything I do sounds brittle, rolling off "tone" immediately kills at the sustain, but too much and it sounds fizzy. I can't be the only one struggling here! 😂 One of the settings I have found helps get in the ballpark is the bit crusher, reducing the bit depth helps get a snotty and blown speaker sound, but too much and it sounds shit. Can anyone offer any advice? Thanks! 🤘

(For reference, if relevant, here's my signal chain: RME Fireface UCX II -> Instrument in (+19db, inst. volume backed off to avoid clipping, +2 db preamp gain boost) -> RME stereo outs -> FM3 stereo ins -> (input padding= -10) -> FM3 analog outs -> RME analog stereo ins (+2db preamp gain boost)

Hey y'all, I own a FM3 for a year now and I love it. My only gripe is the lack of footswitches. Naturally the FC-6 would be the solution for my problems, but I find the 600€ price tag hard to swallow as I nearly could have bought a FM9, which has double the CPU of the FM3.

I also read about the Morningstar MC6 pro, which still costs about 330€ (plus taxes, so probably 400€) and probably won't work as easily as the FC-6 (but also has a smaller footprint than the FC-6).

So what would you consider in my place?

Hey y'all! A couple weeks ago, I fulfilled a dream/goal that I've had for the past couple years and landed an FM9 (Mark II). Its been an absolute blast so far - I run it through a Laney LFR-112 FRFR Cabinet, and it sounds incredible. Coming off a previous setup when I ran a Helix through studio monitors, this is just next level in terms of sound/tone quality.

All of this said, I haven't had a ton of time to dig into the unit just yet in terms of putting together my own presets & learning all the little tricks & intricacies of it, so I figured I'd come here and look for some tips on how to use it and hopefully find some neat things to try!

Hey guys, i'm kind of a noob and I have a question about the FM3. Currently I own an Axe Ultra, but since I travel frequently and I don't have a lot of money, I wanted something with built-in footswitches because i'm mainly playing Dream Theater songs so I need so switch back and forth between clean and distorded sounds. I get that the FM3 was a good choice, but is it possible to play with headphones + adding a backing track via the USB port for example ? I'm mainly playing in my flat so the less noise I make the better it is

Thank u guys in advance !

i have been a pretty straight forward player for 25 years, and this is my first time to get into a modeller. i don’t play too much metal, i have a hard rock band and session with bands that play more modern hits, like Bruno Mars, Katy Perry, etc where would be a good start to be learning about it? obviously the manual but if you can give me a few people to check out on youtube, that’d be awesome

Just wondering if this is possible, or if I'd need a separate piece of gear, and if it's not possible, maybe someone here would have an idea of how best to achieve it. I play neoclassical shred ala Malmsteen/Becker and one thing that you hear a lot, that sounds amazing, is a harpsichord type synth/key sound synch'd with the lead guitar, playing the same notes. A good example of this is the outro to Rising Force by Yngwie, and I've been trying to figure out how I could have this layered with my guitar in a live situation, without using backing tracks.

I've seen guitars with built in synthesizers that can do this, but I don't really want to shell out the cash for one of those; so I was hoping it might be possible to use the FM9 for this when I get one.

Is that possible, and if not are there any effects units that could do that? Obviously a backing track can work but you have to be really tight, and you can't do improvisation, plus I'd like to have it just for jamming and writing music. Thanks.

Like the title says, I'm thinking in joining the fractal audio family, I would love to buy a axe fx iii but is super expensive (for me), new is around 2900€ and used I find them around for sale for around 2200€.

But I found a axe fx ii mark i for sale for 800€ and I'm not sure if I should buy the second hand axe fx ii or wait and save for some months and buy the iii, my concern is if I buy the ii and I regreat it later on for not buying the "new kid on the block" and if the sound is different.

My main reason for buy a axe fx is because I would love to achive the metallica live sound ( maybe is dumb idea for buying one) and also do be able to blend amps, because I know the FM3 isn't possible to do that, I know that the FM9 is able to blend amps but is also expensive, around 2400€ new.

Should I just buy the ii mark i for 800€ or should I wait and buy a new or second hand iii?

Cheers!!

Looking to buy the unit for my rack and was wondering if anyone knows of any sales coming down the pipe. Im in canada so id be spending around $3700 to get one here and was looking to maybe save a couple hundred bucks.

Hi - 30 years playing, mostly with pedals and a backbreaking JCM800 2x12 combo. Spent the last 5 years in the Helix world and still rate it. Had the Helix LT until 3 months ago.

However I've got the opportunity to switch from a hybrid (HX Stomp + Pedals) setup. I play live - covers from the 70s-90s, and originals. I play mostly at home, where I also record.

I'm keen to hear the pros and cons of moving from what I know to the Fractal FM9 Turbo II (Championship Edition?). It sounds great and is highly regarded. What might catch me out? I've a gig coming up soonish so would like to be set for that.

Thanks in advance!

I'm trying to connect Amp head and Torpedo Captor X to my Axe Fx 3. I have the right XLR output going from the the Captor X into input 2 (right). I have the output 1 listed above and I'm getting no sound. I have my studio monitors in output 1. What am I doing wrong?

Excitedly setting up my new rig, which is based around a Friedman IRX and Fractal AxefxIII Turbo. Anyone else doing similar? How do you find it?

Sorry if this question has been asked a lot but I have a new FM3 on the way and want to get a nice set of headphones to go with it.

I live in a small apartment with roommates and can’t play loud so I thought I’d invest in some good headphones. I mostly play metal and have read some headphones are better for that than others. What are some of the best ones I can get for $450 and under? Thanks

Hi everyone,

Just a quick question for the guys here who has been around the block for a few years.

Has there usually been a black friday sale on FAS devices every year?

And if so, how much are they off? Usually. 20-25%?

Thanks

I just want something to change presets with but everything I look at has a million features I'll never use and costs far too much. Can I hook up a generic footswitch to flip between channels? If so, how?

Just made the purchase finally! Shortly thereafter, wondering how to fit my talk box in the feed. Planning on straight into PA with normal wedges or eventually in ears as monitors. I suppose in front of fm 9 is the only option? I currently run it last so effects are included in its signal. Not a game changer, but wondering about options during shipping.