I think I'm finally going to do it

The fractal units sound great. Very realistic, I couldn’t tell differences. Only thing I wish from them is a bit more models…. I know. And I know you can do the tone matching and literally mod stuff yourself getting way in the weeds, but I know fuck all about schematics and all that.
 
VESmedic said:
I always offer to do blind test clips with it vs my amps and suddenly everyone disappears, weird :)
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I always think this point is overstated. The actual tone of what you hear is only part of the total picture, and it is what clips miss. There are dynamic interactions you get while playing that just dont show up in clips, but are very important in the overall playing experience. How the feel interacts with you. That is why pretty much anything can sound good, but feel very flat and boring to play.
 
tommythelurker said:
About ready to click the button (er pull the trigger!) on a Fractal FM3. Any last minute Go For It!/Don't Do It! ?😱😨🫣

Too short; want to read more:
Just recently learned of the FM3, much more palatable price than the Axe FX. Interested to see what it's all about but haven't had an opportunity to try without buying.

I've finally got all the tube amps I really want*, getting anything else would just be out of curiosity, running out of space, I'm not really a gear trader (only thing I've ever sold was a Digitech 2112). And I usually just want something easy and quiet to practice on without winding up the toobs (currently using a GK 250RL into a Marshall 4x12 for this).

So I figure all the Fractal amp model options will satisfy my curiosities and be a convenient option. I expect I'll use it with the Fryette PS-100 into the 4x12 cab. I just hope it's all it's cracked up to be, I'm still skeptical.

*My tube amps:
'83 Marshall JCM 800 2204
Ceriatone Plexi101 All Access
Mesa Mark V 90W
SLO "Clone"
Fender Blues Deville 4x10 for some Fendery tones
3 Marshall 50th Anniversary 1-watters (JTM-1, JMP-1, JCM-1)
Fryette PS-100 to tame things.
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Fractal stuff is great, and I always recommend it. I have used it for years. That being said, it is very different than playing a tube amp. You will have to tweak in your tones, and base that around what you run it through. This includes not only the tone, but learning how to get the dynamics out of it you want.
 
tommythelurker said:
Not thrilled about it but I've got a laptop handy so I think it'll be OK. And when I get tired of that I still have the real amps :)
But you just reminded me I was going try downloading the software and see if I can explore it without the unit hooked up.
edit: No offline editing :(


I don't think I'd like it with a cab IR through monitors, but I was hoping (and have heard) that bypassing the IR and using a power amp and cab would work well.
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It will take more tweaking, and more extreme EQing to get it sounding good through a poweramp and cab, but can be done. One thing I like is that I can easily replicate an OD, Gate, Amp, EQ type setup all in one easy preset. It is like a more processed chain than replicating all that with a shelf full of pedals.

Personally, I have NEVER liked playing through monitors, but I am starting to sway a bit in the last few months. The most recent updates to the FM3 have really helped clear up some of the low end mud that I didn't like about playing direct, and buying some IRs from EAS has helped also. Sometimes I use the FM3, other times I use the ToneX software, but I am finally coming around to at least saying it doesn't totally suck.
 
You know, when I saw clips of guitarists recording from the control room it seemed weird to me. Like don't they feel a little disconnected? But obviously it works for them, so just a matter of preference.

Shask said:
I always think this point is overstated. The actual tone of what you hear is only part of the total picture, and it is what clips miss. There are dynamic interactions you get while playing that just dont show up in clips, but are very important in the overall playing experience. How the feel interacts with you. That is why pretty much anything can sound good, but feel very flat and boring to play.
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Exactly. The actual experience / feel is what I'm wondering about. But some people claim they are able to get good feel out of it though, which makes me wonder if it's a matter of setup (or they just don't know what good feel is 😋).

Guess there's only one way to really find out, so I went ahead and placed the order. I don't expect it to replace my amps, but I think I'll enjoy it enough to at least make it worth while. Looking forward to it, even if it's still with a bit a skepticism.
 
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Shask said:
I always think this point is overstated. The actual tone of what you hear is only part of the total picture, and it is what clips miss. There are dynamic interactions you get while playing that just dont show up in clips, but are very important in the overall playing experience. How the feel interacts with you. That is why pretty much anything can sound good, but feel very flat and boring to play.
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Fair enough, I can agree with that for sure yes. I think everyone has a different opinion on “feel” and I think certain things are more important about that experience to others than it is to some. Like I may not even notice what you are experiencing and love ( or hate) about the feel experience of xyz amp or digital product, so i totally get what you’re saying. For me personally anyways I’ve never had a problem in this department and what’s important to with the axe however. Now the kemper I definitely had issues with, namely in the bottom end and how hyper compressed it felt and every profile feels the same, that I can totally say definitely was not all the way there for me anyways.
 
VESmedic said:
Fair enough, I can agree with that for sure yes. I think everyone has a different opinion on “feel” and I think certain things are more important about that experience to others than it is to some. Like I may not even notice what you are experiencing and love ( or hate) about the feel experience of xyz amp or digital product, so i totally get what you’re saying. For me personally anyways I’ve never had a problem in this department and what’s important to with the axe however. Now the kemper I definitely had issues with, namely in the bottom end and how hyper compressed it felt and every profile feels the same, that I can totally say definitely was not all the way there for me anyways.
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I think it is mainly younger people who have always played VSTs or with headphones that dont understand this. They have never truly experienced the feel of a 412 cab with a big tube amp chugging with them, shaking the walls along with them. Since this post is about someone used to using big amps and cabs, this is going to be important to them.

It has really only been in the last year or so the Fractal's low end didn't bother me, and I have had Fractals for years. The Fractal and the ToneX are the only things I have tried where I felt like I wasn't missing something about the feel, or that it was at least different, but equivalent.
 
I traded an amp for a FM9T and glad I did. It is an amazing tool... will it completely replace my tube amps? No, but it is so scary good and versatile.

I'm glad I dove in... no regrets! Lol...
 
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