Im another person who has sold my guitar amp and pedals and bought the FM9. It has been amazing, the quality of the models and the effects are just amazing. The addition of Dyna Cabs has made getting tones so much faster and easier. I haven't gigged with it yet, but for recording it has been a life saver. The investment is completely worth it
I love my fractal gear, Im a big Mesa guy and the Mark series on the ax fx are phenomenal! the delays and reverbs are miles ahead of any other modellers imho too.
I Started use Fractal 3 year ago on an FM3. Now it's 1 year with AxeFX III Turbo and I absolutely love it! The quality of amps are incredible, from small combo's to metal killer mesa stuff, and in every update there's not only new amps or pedals but also improvement of modelling algorithm. It's a continue searching for perfection. Cliff it's definitly a genius!
Agreed. With the Dynacab the whole "option paralysis" isn't really an issue anymore. Don't wanna tweak? Just use the original Tone tab and touch nothing. Want more control use the ideal tab. It is easily laid out and intuitive. More than it gets credit for.
When showing the switches, there are even more opportunities for switching. For example, you can have four scenes on one switch - short press switches 1 and 2, long press switches 3 and 4. So you can have all eight scenes on two switches and leave the last one to quickly access a few other views :)
I totally agree. I have the Axe-Fx III, Quad Cortex and Helix. There's nothing like Fractal. I like the QC because of its ease of use and small size plus it's super powerful. The Helix was my first modeler and I love it too. I think they all sound different enough that I really have no plans of selling any of them. I don't really care about capture technology.
I still have an Axe II XL - it sounded amazing 9 years ago, and it still sounds amazing and I still use it almost everyday. I also still have tube amps, a solid state amp and still use a pedal board. I use them all and they are all great !
I had the FM9 and the Helix floor at the same time, so I could switch between them. Didn't matter how much I tweaked the Helix, the Fractal always sounded better. Also the feel is better on the Fractal.
I've been a Fractal user for over a decade. Had an Axe Fx II. Had to sell it for a variety of reasons. Went back to all analog. Was never thrilled and kept pouring money into pedals. Had a flood which wiped out all my gear. Went through just about every modeler before going back and getting an FM3. Now run it through a CLR, and I can't really imagine needing anything else, ever. If you really dive in, you can get any sound you need out of the FM3. It's important to take the time to learn the intricacies of the amps you really love in the unit, and Leon Todd is an amazing resource for that. If you are a home hobbyist and have been on the fence, get an FM3. Come over to the Fractal Forums and we will help you navigate things. Enjoy the holidays, everyone!
Still doing the best I can with my AX8 and it really sounds good, and have reasonably good feel as well. I sometimes go 4cm with my Engl rig to enjoy the full tube experience 🙏🏻 You playing is out of this world mate!
I think the tones are excellent on both, although I think the Helix drives are superior, and it is definitely true that the Fractal has such a fine degree of control that you can make it do pretty much whatever you want. That being said, I had an FM3 and later an FM9T, but I went back to Helix because I prefer the workflow, especially when it comes to snapshots vs scenes, but also the onboard UI. Ultimately, I got rid of my Fractal units because I found that I always gravitated back to my Helix/HX Stomp - if a later generation of Fractal units comes with a killer UI, it will absolutely rule the modelling world IMO.
Killer UI ? lol the helix editor is a mess !! Sliders ? WTF !! Which amps have sliders to adjust controls ! Poor and annoying ! If you’re buying something for its UI rather than tone ! You’re heading in the wrong direction ! 🤯
@@lukather1 I literally said that I think there isnt much, if anything in it, in it tonally. As to HX Edit, if you can't cope with sliders over knobs, that's on you! And I said if Fractal had a killer UI... (Hint, it doesn't) And I was talking about on unit UI anyway.
I recently sold an FM9 Turbo for a Stomp XL, also for the better UI on the unit. Both sound great, though the Fractal admittedly sounds better than anything out there IMO, including real amps. I'm happy being able to easily dial in tones w/ the HX, though.
Something good happened with recent upgrades, it sounds better, feels better, reacts to guitar volume better, and it takes external pedals in front (something I have always wanted). Great unit and with USB it is so easy to record now. There is no way I can crank my tube amp to get such a good sound to "tape" as I am getting from Fractal these days. The last important thing: you pay once, then with major updates it feels like getting for free a brand new more powerful device. That's why Fractal is and will stay #1.
I sense a Silver CZcams Creator Plaque in the force..... Sunday? Congratulations in advance John. I hope the algorithm gives you a nice bump when you hit this milestone.. You've come a long way in a short time since the incident that sparked your "bARK invest" Tee-shirt lol.. Cheers and Merry Christmas to you, Lenny, Elodie, the sausages (especially Eva) and your family and friends.
sold my FM3 a while ago because I wasn't using it that much, just that one preset I made. thinking : ' I don't need that much of a machine for what I do'. now about one year later I ordered a FM3 again because I miss it so much. that's how good it is
I just ordered the FM3 a few minutes ago after doing a ton of research (including several of your videos, so thank you for that 🙂). I've been very well versed in the ways of Line 6 for more than 20 years. I own a Helix Floor, HX Stomp and HX Effects and enjoy each, but this will be my first experience with Fractal. Looking forward to diving in!
I originally owned an FM3 but then moved to the FM9 for the foot switches and more processors. Found that in most cases the FM3 held its own and with the smaller foot print maybe better for some users. I also own a Helix HX Stomp and use mostly for a looper board. It has decent amp/FX for the most part and I pair it with a multi midi ft switch unit. If you are looking at getting initially into modeling under $1K I would go with the HX Stomp or a used FM3. IMO the FM9 with its larger foot print maybe overkill for most new users. In any case, would agree with John and his assessments and will not be making any moves to go with other modelers. That being said, most modelers these days are decent sounding especially if you pair with a complimentary playback system. Choosing the right playback system for any one situation is the hard one to figure out and will probably be the most difficult to settle in with.
Wow, I really like this slightly new direction with some very hard hitting chords. Really added a cool dimension to the opening track and makes your wonderful soloing really standout over the clean, chorused stuff. Killer as usual!
HX Stomp owner here. What we often hear is that NAM has the most realistic amp sounds, I know my Stomp very well I can copy these NAM tones every time, using compressors and eq’s at times. I’d be surprised if I could not match the Fractal tones.
Really appreciate how you break things down. Do you prefer your helix for gigging or still go with the fractal? Maybe a vid explicitly focusing on which modeler you find best live?
I moved to fractal from headrush both pedalboard models. Now have axe fx 3 mk 2 turbo and Fm3 turbo love them best modellers I’ve ever used and have used quite a few over the years
I recently bought an FM9, after using a Helix for years. I still have a ton of love for the Helix, but when the rubber hits the road, the fractal sounds better. I don't know if all the amp models are better or not (I sold the helix before the fractal arrived, so couldn't do a head to head comparison), but the effects, esp the reverbs and delays, are hands down better. As well, it feels like a more realistic representation of what it would feel like putting an analog signal chain together. I'd have no problem gigging with a helix tomorrow, I still think it's a great unit - and I'm really jealous of the Freqout pedal! That's the only external pedal I use with the fractal. I think for now, at least, the fractal is the right device for me...I feel no need to check anything else out.
your playing, tone, and technique is unbelievable!! I'm not a fanboy of fractal, but I do own an axe fx 3. I have tried the others like kemper, line 6, but kept coming back to fractal. It is unfortunate they dont have an easier capture process, but their unit is supposed to have controls representative of the real amp that was modeled. I play mine through either a rack mount tube power or solid state power amp. I also have some laney powered cabs I use as well. With either power section or speaker device those modeled amps sound so close to the real one without touching any dials. I still have fun comparing my tube amps to the axe fx 3, and even more these days I wonder why I still have some of them.
If I wasn't so reliant on stereo/dual amp rigs (sometimes I even use 4), I probably wouldn't have jumped off the FM3 waitlist and preordered a QC in late 2020. Being the only guitar player in my band, always running two amps just gives so much stereo width that I wouldn't want to give up.
Okay I always adore listening to you play but this one right here... I literally JUST sat down with the video on in the background to work on my bass rig and that first big chord hit... maaaaaan let me tell you. Instant jaw drop. This that GOOD shit.
Moved from tube amps & pedals to Helix, 4CM at first then ditched the amp altogether. After 5 years with Helix I moved over to Fractal and haven't looked back. Helix is a great unit, and their community and support is fantastic. I love the depth and breadth of the Fractal ecosystem and the regular firmware updates, that's a very nice perk. I also find that the Fractal grid layout is superior to anything else in it flexibility and power. Anything I can imagine, I can sonically create with my FM3, or FM9. It's liberating.
I’m in the market for something like this. Like most musicians today I need the flexibility of having multiple amps and effects in a single unit. I’d much rather use amps and pedals for mostly everything but that’s just getting extremely impractical unless you have lots of money. I was extremely excited when the first Ax-FX unit rolled out. They do cater to the people I grew up with and my style and are tailored to a more professional crowd and that’s where I want to be so I’m seriously considering this unit in particular so ty for this video. I’ve been considering all the others but when I take a step back and think about what do I REALLY want.. Not just need, I think this is leaning more my direction. I’ve always operated off of the axiom that it doesn’t matter how practical your trying to be when purchasing gear if it doesn’t excite you then you’re probably going to regret the purchase. For people that lean more into clean tones and are more flexible in their style of music the other units are probably amazing to them but I’m always going to be a high gain boutique amp guy at the end of the day and that’s more of an afterthought for most of these units and that’s completely understandable but I find it very interesting how the one piece of gear that is geared more towards my tastes actually does those other things better as well. That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily for everyone because they are obviously more technical and a lot more work to set up so that might place it low in the usability scale for a lot of guitarists. Let’s face it. Simpler is always better with guitar. Other instruments can’t add complexity no problem like piano or bass but guitar is such a complex instrument to learn and use we’re always looking to find the simplest solutions to do anything just because it can really get overwhelming if you don’t manage it
Highly encourage you to get the FM3. I have a beginner's front panel guide on my YT channel. Then get to know how to use Axe Edit, and truly, the sky's the limit.
Was not expecting you to that hard at :39. Whoa! I haven't dipped my toe into fractal from the cost per investment, but it's something I have my eye one.
As someone who,has had helix,kemper,and fractal.when I got the fm3 I sold the helix,and the kemper racks.got the money and bought a quad cortex.its on the way.the fm3 is where its at with price and versatility.i love that you can tweak the circuit with tubes,and bright caps and such.should I have the means to upgrade later.ill definitely get a fm9.but I'm trying to see what the cortex is about.i hear good things so far
Yup. UI and form-factor are their greatest opportunity for improvement. Fender’s unit is hardly bigger than the FM3 and has 10 switches. Perfect form-factor if you ask me!
@@joshpetermann but only 6 of the ToneMaster's are really usable for scene switching. In my opinion nothing can touch the QC when it comes to formfactor. (maybe the HX stomp, but that's different again) It's even smaller and has 8 foot switches for scenes.
@@joshpetermann Very good point on the power supply! The QC is really made to be put on and powered by a pedal board, but the power supply they ship it with is just horrible. I immediately bought a second one as a backup, because I don’t trust it to not break at some point. That is actually a big reason why they could fit it in such a small footprint. I really don’t need scribble strips tho, when the font is even bigger on the big display and very easy to see/read and understand.
@@josuastangl7140 Yup! I’m personally hoping for a QC “Pro” with a internal power supply and a little more robust built quality to make it a little better as a standalone unit. My Fractal units are built like tanks so the QC just feels a little fragile in comparison.
I agree. The people who tend to disagree are those who haven’t owned Fractal gear. 😂 I’ve landed on the FM9T after owning Kemper Toaster, Kemper Stage, Helix Floor, HX Stomp XL, AxeFX III, Quad Cortex, etc. …that being said, I still hate the UI and hope to God the next generation of Fractal modelers take a page out of Line6/Neural DSP’s book. ToneMaster Pro’s form-factor is also absolutely perfect, so I’m watching Fender’s modeling career with great interest lol.
I don't have a Fractal, but it is probably still King as far as I can tell. It has a dense/thickness in tone that I really like, and can be often heard in CZcams videos by Leon Todd. The huge variety of sounds available is compromised by the extensive and long menu lists. I find that way of trying to find a sound to be mind numbing, and my eyes glaze over when I see long lists of words. This is supposed to be about sound, and presenting that visually as a sonic spectrum of different parameters might be a faster way of finding desired tone. I also think auditioning sounds with a loop can be very useful.
Interesting discussion. I’ve used both Fractal and Helix and tones in both are phenomenal (as you’ve so well demonstrated in scores of videos on this channel). The Helix is my choice only because it’s so simple and logical to use.
Another thing that's nice about HX Stomp is that there's a plugin version, so it's easier to go back and forth between pedal, and into the DAW. Makes it a very practical creative tool, for collaboration too.
This is why I only own Fractals as my modeling gear. Been with them since the first model. Everything else is tube, solid state, or oh yeah, one tone capture device..my Tonex.
a while ago most people would only be able to afford 1, maybe 2 decent amps... now the possibilities are endless. What I mean is, yes, there is a big price difference between some of these units, but the most expensive unit is still less expensive then a top of the line amp. I will always go for the best feel and best sound... always. What I heard in the intro sounded very special...
I agree. I sold off my ax8 and have been regretting that decision based on the quality of models on other units I’ve bought since. But.. the reason I jumped off to begin with was the UI. Hoping they improve that on their next generation..
It’s only complex if you don’t understand it. It gives you options to change any parameter you can think of. It was overwhelming at first but once you learn it you are set from there on out. It’s worth the time because their models sound so lively
@@freedomdance7601yeah, as a software engineer, the customizability of the fractal, fm3 for me, makes sense. And once you learn it, you know it. Of all you’re looking for is to turn it on and play you can do that to, you don’t need to dive into the actual guts. But I do agree from an esthetic and touch screen obsessed society it does lack a little in out of the box usability.
I want an FM3 because of the tones and their echosystem tweakability but I already have an HX Stomp, and even if I sell it I’d still be under budget to buy one of these. Plus the fact that Line6 has provided a lot of updates that keeps my GAS down for a big modeler… but maybe one day
After a recent experience when it took eight months to repair a Helix, I'm thinking about moving to an FM9. In the US, at least, an FM9 is actually less expensive than a Helix Floor. I have an LT and after my experience and some things I've heard online concerning reliability, I don't think I'll buy another. I'd really like an AxeFX but $2400 plus another $500 for a foot switch? I don't think so.
Waiting next generation of fractal that I hope will be more friendly for bassists: more bass amps, more bass overdrives, crossover (yeah, can emulate it using parallel chains and 2 EQs, bot there will be no room for postEQ), smaller footprint.
An opening AND closing jam....nice. 👏👏That looks like it could be quite intimidating, just so, so much to explore. Still just using a PC/Plugins for my sound and it gets me inspired to play. So far so good.
Short answer: Yes. Due to their early and mature algorithms in the modeling industry. Pros don't mind menu diving & reading hefty manuals. The only thing that can compete is catering to the bedroom players & hobbyists with ease of use, with it being the UX or smart physical design and product support.
Great intro; the themes used in the latter half (with the chorused/phased lead, and EJ lead) deserve to be fleshed out-another one to flag for a future EP? -Tom
For me, they are. I literally want for nothing with my Fractal except maybe an FRFR that looks really cool (or to actually decide on a cab to run it through).
It seems really great, but I'm still too old school, even if I have the Dream 65 and Iridium. I only need 3 amp sounds and my analogue pedals. Digital modulation doesn't do it for me, I prefer my mxr phaser, Boss waza Chorus and mxr flanger, the only other digital pedals I have are delays and reverbs, but with analogue dry through, got to keep that original tone.
I also agree with Fractal still being king of modelers, the possibilities for tone creation are almost limitless, way too many options in effects, amps, cabs, parameters... you can make it sound like you want and however you want. It sure may take time to learn how to use understand its parameters, but all this is worth it and your tone just gets better and better, reaching the possibility of making it sound as good as a tube amp. It surprised me that Petrucci said in Rick Beato's interview that Neural DSP is the closest one in making it sound as real as a tube amp, but I guess experience is talking here and probably his Mesa modeling is just better or simply damn good.
It depends on the model…fractal doesn’t get every model to be better than other modellers. I still think that the TMP has the best fender models (with stock IRs) for instance, and line 6 have some excellent models, some of which are are a hair better than fractals.
John from what I am hearing out here in CZcams land, the tones you just used are at another level. Very high definition compared to anything else. It's not that the other modelors sound bad, they all can get great tone. But let's face it. It's hard to beat Fractal tone.
I have an Axe fx iii, I think at v9 fw, they. release nearly every other month hence 23.04. That is like getting new pedals, amps, speakers plus many great supporters like Leon Todd, Brett Kingman etc. regularly do presets. I dont use capture, because I dont need it as i dont have the amps to capture. I mess with Mooer and Nux at the other end of the scale and would be great if they caught up, but I doubt. I have funded my Axe by. selling my pedals. $4000 pedals vs £2000 of Axel, no brainer. I just sold my board with power supplies, cables etc for half the price of my Axe no pedals!!
Thanks for sharing, mate. I'm just debating on whether I should upgrade from the FM3 (the first revision) to FM9 or FM9 Turbo. Thought about the other modelers but decided to stay with Fractal
Get the Turbo version, bro. Some people don't need faster power to change Presets to another, or to another FX, etc.... They're probably happy using the regular version. I'm the only guitar player in my few bands and I need something that I can switch between CLEAN to GAIN to ACOUSTIC and to another AMP in the same song, etc. This Turbo version will do it faster. However, if you're the guy, who rarely changes anything, during a song, then you might not need the Turbo. Recording will be find as well. For me, TURBO is it!
I have a Kemper, Helix Floor, Fm3 I think they're all great, use Kemper, Helix has a huge community, HX Stomp, Native, everything your heart desires. FM3 most content, great device I love the Helix and its interface. I don't need touch or any more frills. Fm3 terrible display interface. Although I'm toying with the FM9 ;() the most time i grab the helix quickly
after using valve amps for 20+ yrs, and trying all the other modellers and been so disappointed, I picked up an FM3 last year. Nothing comes close tone and functionality wise. For me.
I too far prefer modeling over profiling/captures. I'm easily satisfied where the quality of the model sufficiently represents the type of amp that that model is labeled to sound like. Much more than getting the most authentic experience of the actual amp being modeled being in the room. I'm more concerned with extensive and flexible routing and parameter control. And in these areas, Guitar Rig Pro, Amplitube, NDSP plug-ins, and the Helix makes me pretty darn happy. Though I have no experience w/Fractal units, having read the manual I'm confident that would please me just as well.
To use this in a gigging context, what is the rest of the rig? Does this run into an amp? Does this replace an amp and plug straight into speaker cabinet?
Is it still best played through the power section of an amp into a cab? It’s not a world I’ve really got into but for home playing I’d still want it to feel like I’m playing an amp through 12” speakers. I can’t get my head around playing through monitors.
Hi John, love your content and I’ve been curious to ask you if you’re now a full time CZcamsr currently? And if someone at your current state would be able to able to earn enough to May be make a living out of it ? you want
YOu missed 2 things Fractal is ahead of everyone on. The first is routing. No one comes close. The other you really can ONLY do on the Fractal units, ia create your own. Someone mention Drive units. On the fratal you can tweak to such a level, that you can, in effect create your own version of a pedal. Combine that with routing, and having 2 such in parallel, and it's even more the case. Holds true for Amp models as well. Take a basic amp model, tweak down to component level effectively, create a new amp.
"best" and "king of" are not really good terms as they are subjective. The true measurement of a device is what you get for the amount of money you spend vs the functionality you get worth the device. The Line 6 devices win this evey single time. For full disclosure, my favorite device is the FM9. But't cant ignore that the Helix Floor is the best dollar to value device.
Yeah it's nice you can change the resistance of your digital capacitors but does it sound that much better than the competitors? Do these reverbs rival Strymon?
We’re at the point of diminishing returns as far as tone improvements go. They can all sound just as great as the next. So what matters now in the conversation of “best” is number of models/algorithms, flexibility, and workflow. Fractal wins 2/3 of those.
Agreed. I would love a Fractal unit. Sadly, even the FM3 is beyond my budget and really I don’t play well enough to justify one. I love my HX Stomp and happy to stick with it, but I might sell a couple of guitars one day and go for an Fm3. Who knows! Great info as always.
With the new Helix amps and cabs that sound on par with the more expensive modelers, I think I would not get anything significant if I traded my own HX Stomp.
@@newstuff1107 The 3.7 update is great. I appreciate Line 6 supporting their older gear and adding stuff regularly. My HX Stomp is the best bit of kit I’ve ever had. I suspect I’d gain little from a Fractal either but you know what guitarists are like for ‘Gear acquisition syndrome’.
It’s hard for anyone with a decent ear/hands to disagree that Fractal are indeed still the kings of modeling. Some others have a decent product as well, BUT no one does it better than Cliff and his team.
I had the FM9. I learned how to use it. It sounded excellent, but I absolutely hated, HATED, the user interface. The workflow was lousy in comparison to the others. Also, I didn't need all those amps or effect. I guess others may "need" them. The Fractal community was also a huge turnoff. I have Helix, QC, Kemper and ToneX. My current favorite is the TMP. YEARS of modeling experience and I'm favoring the TMP for the sound and feel. The interface is great, but ultimately what matters most is sound and feel. While it doesn't have a lot of content, it has everything I need and then some. As for aliasing, I saw a video that claimed the TMP had the least aliasing. I don't know if that's true and I don't care. Sound and feel above technobabble. At the end of the day, you sound pretty much the same on all of them.
@@DavidEidelberg Lol there are no pros going to the TMP full-time. Go ahead and list them if you're so confident. Every demo we've heard has digital artifacts and the distortion patches sound terrible. I'd play a Pod before I gigged or recorded with one of them. Either way, they don't compete. Helix and AxeFX blow the TMP out of the water at a much more attractive price point. I feel bad for anyone who actually buys a TMP then is stuck with a piece of junk when they abandon it in a year and stop doing software updates.
It is said that when John plays, the animals in the forest stops to listen and the trees grow a tiny bit faster.
I am that animal, I am that tree
Great observation … love it👍
Im another person who has sold my guitar amp and pedals and bought the FM9. It has been amazing, the quality of the models and the effects are just amazing. The addition of Dyna Cabs has made getting tones so much faster and easier. I haven't gigged with it yet, but for recording it has been a life saver. The investment is completely worth it
I love my fractal gear, Im a big Mesa guy and the Mark series on the ax fx are phenomenal! the delays and reverbs are miles ahead of any other modellers imho too.
I Started use Fractal 3 year ago on an FM3. Now it's 1 year with AxeFX III Turbo and I absolutely love it! The quality of amps are incredible, from small combo's to metal killer mesa stuff, and in every update there's not only new amps or pedals but also improvement of modelling algorithm. It's a continue searching for perfection. Cliff it's definitly a genius!
Agreed. With the Dynacab the whole "option paralysis" isn't really an issue anymore. Don't wanna tweak? Just use the original Tone tab and touch nothing. Want more control use the ideal tab. It is easily laid out and intuitive. More than it gets credit for.
When showing the switches, there are even more opportunities for switching. For example, you can have four scenes on one switch - short press switches 1 and 2, long press switches 3 and 4. So you can have all eight scenes on two switches and leave the last one to quickly access a few other views :)
I totally agree. I have the Axe-Fx III, Quad Cortex and Helix. There's nothing like Fractal. I like the QC because of its ease of use and small size plus it's super powerful. The Helix was my first modeler and I love it too. I think they all sound different enough that I really have no plans of selling any of them. I don't really care about capture technology.
I still have an Axe II XL - it sounded amazing 9 years ago, and it still sounds amazing and I still use it almost everyday. I also still have tube amps, a solid state amp and still use a pedal board. I use them all and they are all great !
I had the FM9 and the Helix floor at the same time, so I could switch between them. Didn't matter how much I tweaked the Helix, the Fractal always sounded better. Also the feel is better on the Fractal.
I've been a Fractal user for over a decade. Had an Axe Fx II. Had to sell it for a variety of reasons. Went back to all analog. Was never thrilled and kept pouring money into pedals. Had a flood which wiped out all my gear. Went through just about every modeler before going back and getting an FM3. Now run it through a CLR, and I can't really imagine needing anything else, ever. If you really dive in, you can get any sound you need out of the FM3. It's important to take the time to learn the intricacies of the amps you really love in the unit, and Leon Todd is an amazing resource for that. If you are a home hobbyist and have been on the fence, get an FM3. Come over to the Fractal Forums and we will help you navigate things. Enjoy the holidays, everyone!
Still doing the best I can with my AX8 and it really sounds good, and have reasonably good feel as well. I sometimes go 4cm with my Engl rig to enjoy the full tube experience 🙏🏻
You playing is out of this world mate!
AX8 and FX8 user here. 😉🤘
@@GabiLotcu🙏🏻👑🤘🏻🫡
I think the tones are excellent on both, although I think the Helix drives are superior, and it is definitely true that the Fractal has such a fine degree of control that you can make it do pretty much whatever you want.
That being said, I had an FM3 and later an FM9T, but I went back to Helix because I prefer the workflow, especially when it comes to snapshots vs scenes, but also the onboard UI.
Ultimately, I got rid of my Fractal units because I found that I always gravitated back to my Helix/HX Stomp - if a later generation of Fractal units comes with a killer UI, it will absolutely rule the modelling world IMO.
Killer UI ? lol the helix editor is a mess !! Sliders ? WTF !!
Which amps have sliders to adjust controls !
Poor and annoying !
If you’re buying something for its UI rather than tone ! You’re heading in the wrong direction ! 🤯
@@lukather1 I literally said that I think there isnt much, if anything in it, in it tonally.
As to HX Edit, if you can't cope with sliders over knobs, that's on you!
And I said if Fractal had a killer UI... (Hint, it doesn't)
And I was talking about on unit UI anyway.
I recently sold an FM9 Turbo for a Stomp XL, also for the better UI on the unit. Both sound great, though the Fractal admittedly sounds better than anything out there IMO, including real amps. I'm happy being able to easily dial in tones w/ the HX, though.
@ChrisSoignier lol. Very interesting.
Something good happened with recent upgrades, it sounds better, feels better, reacts to guitar volume better, and it takes external pedals in front (something I have always wanted). Great unit and with USB it is so easy to record now. There is no way I can crank my tube amp to get such a good sound to "tape" as I am getting from Fractal these days. The last important thing: you pay once, then with major updates it feels like getting for free a brand new more powerful device. That's why Fractal is and will stay #1.
I sense a Silver CZcams Creator Plaque in the force..... Sunday? Congratulations in advance John. I hope the algorithm gives you a nice bump when you hit this milestone.. You've come a long way in a short time since the incident that sparked your "bARK invest" Tee-shirt lol.. Cheers and Merry Christmas to you, Lenny, Elodie, the sausages (especially Eva) and your family and friends.
killer opening jam, man !
I love that you can enjoy great updates in the future ... sound so clear and punchy !
sold my FM3 a while ago because I wasn't using it that much, just that one preset I made. thinking : ' I don't need that much of a machine for what I do'. now about one year later I ordered a FM3 again because I miss it so much. that's how good it is
I just ordered the FM3 a few minutes ago after doing a ton of research (including several of your videos, so thank you for that 🙂). I've been very well versed in the ways of Line 6 for more than 20 years. I own a Helix Floor, HX Stomp and HX Effects and enjoy each, but this will be my first experience with Fractal. Looking forward to diving in!
I originally owned an FM3 but then moved to the FM9 for the foot switches and more processors. Found that in most cases the FM3 held its own and with the smaller foot print maybe better for some users. I also own a Helix HX Stomp and use mostly for a looper board. It has decent amp/FX for the most part and I pair it with a multi midi ft switch unit. If you are looking at getting initially into modeling under $1K I would go with the HX Stomp or a used FM3. IMO the FM9 with its larger foot print maybe overkill for most new users. In any case, would agree with John and his assessments and will not be making any moves to go with other modelers. That being said, most modelers these days are decent sounding especially if you pair with a complimentary playback system. Choosing the right playback system for any one situation is the hard one to figure out and will probably be the most difficult to settle in with.
I’ve been playing since taking lessons in 1981 and you still inspire me every time.
Nice work brother.
I have an FM9 and Helix LT. I enjoy them both.
Wow, I really like this slightly new direction with some very hard hitting chords. Really added a cool dimension to the opening track and makes your wonderful soloing really standout over the clean, chorused stuff. Killer as usual!
HX Stomp owner here. What we often hear is that NAM has the most realistic amp sounds, I know my Stomp very well I can copy these NAM tones every time, using compressors and eq’s at times. I’d be surprised if I could not match the Fractal tones.
Love my Fractals, so much great great tones, switching options in these units
And having gigged mine regularly for years, reliability!
Really appreciate how you break things down. Do you prefer your helix for gigging or still go with the fractal? Maybe a vid explicitly focusing on which modeler you find best live?
I moved to fractal from headrush both pedalboard models. Now have axe fx 3 mk 2 turbo and Fm3 turbo love them best modellers I’ve ever used and have used quite a few over the years
Fractal sounds are so impressive. Not to mention, the feel of it sets it apart.
I recently bought an FM9, after using a Helix for years. I still have a ton of love for the Helix, but when the rubber hits the road, the fractal sounds better. I don't know if all the amp models are better or not (I sold the helix before the fractal arrived, so couldn't do a head to head comparison), but the effects, esp the reverbs and delays, are hands down better. As well, it feels like a more realistic representation of what it would feel like putting an analog signal chain together.
I'd have no problem gigging with a helix tomorrow, I still think it's a great unit - and I'm really jealous of the Freqout pedal! That's the only external pedal I use with the fractal.
I think for now, at least, the fractal is the right device for me...I feel no need to check anything else out.
your playing, tone, and technique is unbelievable!! I'm not a fanboy of fractal, but I do own an axe fx 3. I have tried the others like kemper, line 6, but kept coming back to fractal. It is unfortunate they dont have an easier capture process, but their unit is supposed to have controls representative of the real amp that was modeled. I play mine through either a rack mount tube power or solid state power amp. I also have some laney powered cabs I use as well. With either power section or speaker device those modeled amps sound so close to the real one without touching any dials. I still have fun comparing my tube amps to the axe fx 3, and even more these days I wonder why I still have some of them.
If I wasn't so reliant on stereo/dual amp rigs (sometimes I even use 4), I probably wouldn't have jumped off the FM3 waitlist and preordered a QC in late 2020.
Being the only guitar player in my band, always running two amps just gives so much stereo width that I wouldn't want to give up.
Okay I always adore listening to you play but this one right here... I literally JUST sat down with the video on in the background to work on my bass rig and that first big chord hit... maaaaaan let me tell you. Instant jaw drop. This that GOOD shit.
Moved from tube amps & pedals to Helix, 4CM at first then ditched the amp altogether. After 5 years with Helix I moved over to Fractal and haven't looked back. Helix is a great unit, and their community and support is fantastic. I love the depth and breadth of the Fractal ecosystem and the regular firmware updates, that's a very nice perk. I also find that the Fractal grid layout is superior to anything else in it flexibility and power. Anything I can imagine, I can sonically create with my FM3, or FM9. It's liberating.
What do you play your fractal through ?
The FM3 being about 3x the size of an HX Stomp is the dealbreaker to me.
If there was a small Fractal I’d use it.
Love my FM3!
I’m in the market for something like this.
Like most musicians today I need the flexibility of having multiple amps and effects in a single unit.
I’d much rather use amps and pedals for mostly everything but that’s just getting extremely impractical unless you have lots of money.
I was extremely excited when the first Ax-FX unit rolled out.
They do cater to the people I grew up with and my style and are tailored to a more professional crowd and that’s where I want to be so I’m seriously considering this unit in particular so ty for this video.
I’ve been considering all the others but when I take a step back and think about what do I REALLY want..
Not just need, I think this is leaning more my direction.
I’ve always operated off of the axiom that it doesn’t matter how practical your trying to be when purchasing gear if it doesn’t excite you then you’re probably going to regret the purchase.
For people that lean more into clean tones and are more flexible in their style of music the other units are probably amazing to them but I’m always going to be a high gain boutique amp guy at the end of the day and that’s more of an afterthought for most of these units and that’s completely understandable but I find it very interesting how the one piece of gear that is geared more towards my tastes actually does those other things better as well.
That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily for everyone because they are obviously more technical and a lot more work to set up so that might place it low in the usability scale for a lot of guitarists.
Let’s face it.
Simpler is always better with guitar.
Other instruments can’t add complexity no problem like piano or bass but guitar is such a complex instrument to learn and use we’re always looking to find the simplest solutions to do anything just because it can really get overwhelming if you don’t manage it
Highly encourage you to get the FM3. I have a beginner's front panel guide on my YT channel. Then get to know how to use Axe Edit, and truly, the sky's the limit.
@@thehumblepundit9790 thanks! I’ll check it out if I do decide to purchase it
Was not expecting you to that hard at :39. Whoa! I haven't dipped my toe into fractal from the cost per investment, but it's something I have my eye one.
As someone who,has had helix,kemper,and fractal.when I got the fm3 I sold the helix,and the kemper racks.got the money and bought a quad cortex.its on the way.the fm3 is where its at with price and versatility.i love that you can tweak the circuit with tubes,and bright caps and such.should I have the means to upgrade later.ill definitely get a fm9.but I'm trying to see what the cortex is about.i hear good things so far
Money aside, I guess the only thing that speaks against Fractal is the form factors? Like, why does that large pedal only have three foot switches?
Yup. UI and form-factor are their greatest opportunity for improvement.
Fender’s unit is hardly bigger than the FM3 and has 10 switches. Perfect form-factor if you ask me!
@@joshpetermann but only 6 of the ToneMaster's are really usable for scene switching.
In my opinion nothing can touch the QC when it comes to formfactor.
(maybe the HX stomp, but that's different again)
It's even smaller and has 8 foot switches for scenes.
@@josuastangl7140 No internal power supply + no scribble strips = immediate loss on form factor (even though I have one lol). 😝
@@joshpetermann Very good point on the power supply!
The QC is really made to be put on and powered by a pedal board, but the power supply they ship it with is just horrible.
I immediately bought a second one as a backup, because I don’t trust it to not break at some point.
That is actually a big reason why they could fit it in such a small footprint.
I really don’t need scribble strips tho, when the font is even bigger on the big display and very easy to see/read and understand.
@@josuastangl7140 Yup! I’m personally hoping for a QC “Pro” with a internal power supply and a little more robust built quality to make it a little better as a standalone unit. My Fractal units are built like tanks so the QC just feels a little fragile in comparison.
I agree. The people who tend to disagree are those who haven’t owned Fractal gear. 😂
I’ve landed on the FM9T after owning Kemper Toaster, Kemper Stage, Helix Floor, HX Stomp XL, AxeFX III, Quad Cortex, etc.
…that being said, I still hate the UI and hope to God the next generation of Fractal modelers take a page out of Line6/Neural DSP’s book. ToneMaster Pro’s form-factor is also absolutely perfect, so I’m watching Fender’s modeling career with great interest lol.
I still love my AXE2. Yes, if you haven't tried Fractal, you owe it to yourself to go and try. haha
I don't have a Fractal, but it is probably still King as far as I can tell. It has a dense/thickness in tone that I really like, and can be often heard in CZcams videos by Leon Todd.
The huge variety of sounds available is compromised by the extensive and long menu lists. I find that way of trying to find a sound to be mind numbing, and my eyes glaze over when I see long lists of words. This is supposed to be about sound, and presenting that visually as a sonic spectrum of different parameters might be a faster way of finding desired tone. I also think auditioning sounds with a loop can be very useful.
Interesting discussion. I’ve used both Fractal and Helix and tones in both are phenomenal (as you’ve so well demonstrated in scores of videos on this channel). The Helix is my choice only because it’s so simple and logical to use.
Fractals sound great but for me they are just too different to use on the fly, nothing beats the Helix for user friendly
Another thing that's nice about HX Stomp is that there's a plugin version, so it's easier to go back and forth between pedal, and into the DAW. Makes it a very practical creative tool, for collaboration too.
Helix Native is definitely a big plus for Line6 if you get it for free with a Helix unit.
This is why I only own Fractals as my modeling gear. Been with them since the first model. Everything else is tube, solid state, or oh yeah, one tone capture device..my Tonex.
a while ago most people would only be able to afford 1, maybe 2 decent amps... now the possibilities are endless. What I mean is, yes, there is a big price difference between some of these units, but the most expensive unit is still less expensive then a top of the line amp. I will always go for the best feel and best sound... always. What I heard in the intro sounded very special...
John grew up with his parents, his dog Henry and his sister; Henrietta. Because of this, Henry had to be put down.
😢
😂
Any chance of describing his history with tattoos?
In fact the song in this video is dedicated to Henry. It brings a tear to the eye when you realise that.
@@simonhall2682 _beep boop 1 like = 1 prayer for Henry_
Their UI is just way too convoluted for me to use everyday. I love their tones, but their UI is just not user friendly.
Good thing the audience can’t hear the UI 😝
@@x3a3x399.999999% of fractal users are not playing in front of audiences
I agree. I sold off my ax8 and have been regretting that decision based on the quality of models on other units I’ve bought since. But.. the reason I jumped off to begin with was the UI. Hoping they improve that on their next generation..
It’s only complex if you don’t understand it. It gives you options to change any parameter you can think of. It was overwhelming at first but once you learn it you are set from there on out. It’s worth the time because their models sound so lively
@@freedomdance7601yeah, as a software engineer, the customizability of the fractal, fm3 for me, makes sense. And once you learn it, you know it. Of all you’re looking for is to turn it on and play you can do that to, you don’t need to dive into the actual guts. But I do agree from an esthetic and touch screen obsessed society it does lack a little in out of the box usability.
I want an FM3 because of the tones and their echosystem tweakability but I already have an HX Stomp, and even if I sell it I’d still be under budget to buy one of these. Plus the fact that Line6 has provided a lot of updates that keeps my GAS down for a big modeler… but maybe one day
After a recent experience when it took eight months to repair a Helix, I'm thinking about moving to an FM9. In the US, at least, an FM9 is actually less expensive than a Helix Floor. I have an LT and after my experience and some things I've heard online concerning reliability, I don't think I'll buy another. I'd really like an AxeFX but $2400 plus another $500 for a foot switch? I don't think so.
Buy a merc or Ferrari ! ?
Not like fractal is perfect…Fractal fm3 have usb hardware issues..
Waiting next generation of fractal that I hope will be more friendly for bassists: more bass amps, more bass overdrives, crossover (yeah, can emulate it using parallel chains and 2 EQs, bot there will be no room for postEQ), smaller footprint.
An opening AND closing jam....nice. 👏👏That looks like it could be quite intimidating, just so, so much to explore. Still just using a PC/Plugins for my sound and it gets me inspired to play. So far so good.
Short answer: Yes.
Due to their early and mature algorithms in the modeling industry. Pros don't mind menu diving & reading hefty manuals.
The only thing that can compete is catering to the bedroom players & hobbyists with ease of use, with it being the UX or smart physical design and product support.
You are a good musician.
Any multi will sound and play well.
The fractal sound is really good. I always enjoy watching the video.
Great intro; the themes used in the latter half (with the chorused/phased lead, and EJ lead) deserve to be fleshed out-another one to flag for a future EP? -Tom
My FM9 gets constantly updated and the sounds are amazing.
For me, they are. I literally want for nothing with my Fractal except maybe an FRFR that looks really cool (or to actually decide on a cab to run it through).
I don’t see this changing anytime soon. IYKNK. Also, you should come discuss some of this stuff at TheGearForum, John!!!!
It seems really great, but I'm still too old school, even if I have the Dream 65 and Iridium. I only need 3 amp sounds and my analogue pedals. Digital modulation doesn't do it for me, I prefer my mxr phaser, Boss waza Chorus and mxr flanger, the only other digital pedals I have are delays and reverbs, but with analogue dry through, got to keep that original tone.
I'm getting more and more tempted to buy a FM3 instead of buying more NDSP plugins. The possibilities with Fractal Audio is almost infinite.
I also agree with Fractal still being king of modelers, the possibilities for tone creation are almost limitless, way too many options in effects, amps, cabs, parameters... you can make it sound like you want and however you want. It sure may take time to learn how to use understand its parameters, but all this is worth it and your tone just gets better and better, reaching the possibility of making it sound as good as a tube amp. It surprised me that Petrucci said in Rick Beato's interview that Neural DSP is the closest one in making it sound as real as a tube amp, but I guess experience is talking here and probably his Mesa modeling is just better or simply damn good.
It depends on the model…fractal doesn’t get every model to be better than other modellers. I still think that the TMP has the best fender models (with stock IRs) for instance, and line 6 have some excellent models, some of which are are a hair better than fractals.
Yeah, I agree. I'd buy the FM3 again if I were in the market for a nodeler. No regrets at all.
John from what I am hearing out here in CZcams land, the tones you just used are at another level. Very high definition compared to anything else. It's not that the other modelors sound bad, they all can get great tone. But let's face it. It's hard to beat Fractal tone.
I have an Axe fx iii, I think at v9 fw, they. release nearly every other month hence 23.04. That is like getting new pedals, amps, speakers plus many great supporters like Leon Todd, Brett Kingman etc. regularly do presets. I dont use capture, because I dont need it as i dont have the amps to capture. I mess with Mooer and Nux at the other end of the scale and would be great if they caught up, but I doubt. I have funded my Axe by. selling my pedals. $4000 pedals vs £2000 of Axel, no brainer. I just sold my board with power supplies, cables etc for half the price of my Axe no pedals!!
God Bless you! You are the best.
You forgot to mention that you can always add on another FC6 or FC12 controller pedal which makes that FM3 even better.
and even more rediculously expensive ...
Thanks for sharing, mate. I'm just debating on whether I should upgrade from the FM3 (the first revision) to FM9 or FM9 Turbo. Thought about the other modelers but decided to stay with Fractal
Get the Turbo version, bro. Some people don't need faster power to change Presets to another, or to another FX, etc.... They're probably happy using the regular version.
I'm the only guitar player in my few bands and I need something that I can switch between CLEAN to GAIN to ACOUSTIC and to another AMP in the same song, etc. This Turbo version will do it faster. However, if you're the guy, who rarely changes anything, during a song, then you might not need the Turbo. Recording will be find as well. For me, TURBO is it!
I have a Kemper, Helix Floor, Fm3
I think they're all great, use Kemper, Helix has a huge community, HX Stomp, Native, everything your heart desires.
FM3 most content, great device
I love the Helix and its interface. I don't need touch or any more frills.
Fm3 terrible display interface.
Although I'm toying with the FM9 ;()
the most time i grab the helix quickly
after using valve amps for 20+ yrs, and trying all the other modellers and been so disappointed, I picked up an FM3 last year. Nothing comes close tone and functionality wise. For me.
Line 6 = Windows
NDSP = Android
Fender = Apple
Fractal = Linux
I’m using the fm9, and can’t see myself changing for at least 5 years.
How do you find long pressing in a gigging scenario?
Thanks for the amazing playing and content as always!
I too far prefer modeling over profiling/captures. I'm easily satisfied where the quality of the model sufficiently represents the type of amp that that model is labeled to sound like. Much more than getting the most authentic experience of the actual amp being modeled being in the room. I'm more concerned with extensive and flexible routing and parameter control. And in these areas, Guitar Rig Pro, Amplitube, NDSP plug-ins, and the Helix makes me pretty darn happy. Though I have no experience w/Fractal units, having read the manual I'm confident that would please me just as well.
Has it ever been ?
Most amps, most effects, most frequent updates, and flexible footswitching. But has anyone ever complimented the Fractal interface?
To use this in a gigging context, what is the rest of the rig? Does this run into an amp? Does this replace an amp and plug straight into speaker cabinet?
Is it still best played through the power section of an amp into a cab? It’s not a world I’ve really got into but for home playing I’d still want it to feel like I’m playing an amp through 12” speakers. I can’t get my head around playing through monitors.
Loving these intros dude.
they give you alot for the price line 6 is great and the price range is great with all the things they give you.Line 6 and fractal are imo the best.
The 4 channel switching per block, is that seamless? No audio hits ?
Never played one, sad to say......had I been able to when I chose the Helix LT maybe I'd have gone that way instead?
Fractal Audio is 🔥. John Cordy is John Cordy duh! I enjoy my AXE FX 3 very much, hours and hours of enjoyment.
Hi John, love your content and I’ve been curious to ask you if you’re now a full time CZcamsr currently? And if someone at your current state would be able to able to earn enough to May be make a living out of it ? you want
Are you wearing your pager on your cap?
YOu missed 2 things Fractal is ahead of everyone on. The first is routing. No one comes close. The other you really can ONLY do on the Fractal units, ia create your own. Someone mention Drive units. On the fratal you can tweak to such a level, that you can, in effect create your own version of a pedal. Combine that with routing, and having 2 such in parallel, and it's even more the case. Holds true for Amp models as well. Take a basic amp model, tweak down to component level effectively, create a new amp.
"best" and "king of" are not really good terms as they are subjective. The true measurement of a device is what you get for the amount of money you spend vs the functionality you get worth the device. The Line 6 devices win this evey single time. For full disclosure, my favorite device is the FM9. But't cant ignore that the Helix Floor is the best dollar to value device.
Nobody in the audience cares about the price of your gear, they care what they hear
Does it do modulation better than HX?
Yeah it's nice you can change the resistance of your digital capacitors but does it sound that much better than the competitors? Do these reverbs rival Strymon?
We’re at the point of diminishing returns as far as tone improvements go. They can all sound just as great as the next.
So what matters now in the conversation of “best” is number of models/algorithms, flexibility, and workflow. Fractal wins 2/3 of those.
Yes if not better as good as if not on parr with Eventide
Love my fm3. Don’t believe it has a Nobels yet tho…?
Been thinking about doing a fm3 and tonex combo
I have all the units. The fractal axe3 is king and it isn't even close.
Ahh, but they have no MAGNATONE, no one does, YET!!!!
❤ beastly
I agree
Agreed. I would love a Fractal unit. Sadly, even the FM3 is beyond my budget and really I don’t play well enough to justify one. I love my HX Stomp and happy to stick with it, but I might sell a couple of guitars one day and go for an Fm3. Who knows! Great info as always.
With the new Helix amps and cabs that sound on par with the more expensive modelers, I think I would not get anything significant if I traded my own HX Stomp.
@@newstuff1107 The 3.7 update is great. I appreciate Line 6 supporting their older gear and adding stuff regularly. My HX Stomp is the best bit of kit I’ve ever had. I suspect I’d gain little from a Fractal either but you know what guitarists are like for ‘Gear acquisition syndrome’.
@@JohnMcGFrance lol! Yes I see what you mean!
My fm9t is the best thing I've ever bought for myself as a guitar player after 22 years of fingering the G string
John "Decent" Cordy ;)
It’s hard for anyone with a decent ear/hands to disagree that Fractal are indeed still the kings of modeling. Some others have a decent product as well, BUT no one does it better than Cliff and his team.
UAFX pedals sounds better. But John hates them for no reason.
lol obviously! If John says there no good ! They’re not !! 🛑 lol 😜
Kemper
I had the FM9. I learned how to use it. It sounded excellent, but I absolutely hated, HATED, the user interface. The workflow was lousy in comparison to the others. Also, I didn't need all those amps or effect. I guess others may "need" them. The Fractal community was also a huge turnoff. I have Helix, QC, Kemper and ToneX. My current favorite is the TMP. YEARS of modeling experience and I'm favoring the TMP for the sound and feel. The interface is great, but ultimately what matters most is sound and feel. While it doesn't have a lot of content, it has everything I need and then some. As for aliasing, I saw a video that claimed the TMP had the least aliasing. I don't know if that's true and I don't care. Sound and feel above technobabble. At the end of the day, you sound pretty much the same on all of them.
What's TMP?
ToneMaster sounds comedically bad
@@BrendanMakesMusic Plenty of pros using them. Maybe it’s you?
@@DavidEidelberg Lol there are no pros going to the TMP full-time. Go ahead and list them if you're so confident.
Every demo we've heard has digital artifacts and the distortion patches sound terrible. I'd play a Pod before I gigged or recorded with one of them.
Either way, they don't compete. Helix and AxeFX blow the TMP out of the water at a much more attractive price point.
I feel bad for anyone who actually buys a TMP then is stuck with a piece of junk when they abandon it in a year and stop doing software updates.
Comment for the algorithm.