Should you buy a Fractal FM9 or Neural DSP Quad Cortex? A new users experience (so far!)
Vložit
- čas přidán 11. 06. 2024
- Should you buy a Fractal FM9 or Neural DSP Quad Cortex? A new users experience (so far!)
Wanted to give my first months thoughts on these 2 new powerhouse units! I am super happy with both of them and the tones they are able to achieve. I wanted to do this comparison since they are in the same price range and are marketed towards those users wanting an "all in one" modeler. Let me know what you all think!
For the best price on a Quad Cortex, check out Sweetwater imp.i114863.net/qnaX9y
Tip Jar - paypal.me/stevensterlacci
Gear I Use (Amazon Affiliate)
Guitar Related
Line 6 HX Stomp amzn.to/3cl8M5N
Line 6 HX FX amzn.to/3fD4JDJ
Reunion Blues RBX 2E Double Bag amzn.to/3d1iw4B
Studio Headphones (Cans) amzn.to/3cmfZ5t
My Favorite Cables amzn.to/2WNhZxg
Strings I use amzn.to/2yHd5tv
Suhr Reactive Load IR amzn.to/2yHsOJ1
Picks! amzn.to/2Ackm4R
Guitar Rack amzn.to/2YNxhVa
Camera and Lighting Related
Camera amzn.to/3ckvDhF
Best Lens for M50 amzn.to/3fE4iso
Camera AC Power amzn.to/36BpJXr
Camera Shotgun Mic amzn.to/37v88AR
Camera Batteries amzn.to/2TLh1AL
B Camera amzn.to/3biNYuj
Cell Phone Mic amzn.to/2YMwoMu
Vocal Mic amzn.to/3fBPafy
Tabletop Lights amzn.to/35JptFu
Light Ring amzn.to/3bmiyDc - Hudba
For the best price on a Quad Cortex, check out Sweetwater imp.i114863.net/qnaX9y
For the FM9 - shop.fractalaudio.com/
Hey Steve, thanks so much for videos like this. You are a real blessing for players like me. Really respect your opinion and you have helped shape my playing/tone quite a bit.
That really means so much to me! Thank you for watching and supporting
Great video sir! You exposed the pros and cons from both units in a very fair way. You got yourself a new subscriber.
Greetings from Brazil!
Thank you Brazil! I appreciate you very much
This was a really helpful comparison, thank you!
Thank you for checking it out! Mean a lot
Great review man, good luck at your gig!
On the FM9 you can press the big button which takes you to Layout page, then navigate to the block you want to tweak and press edit. I know it's not as fast as the QC touch interface, but it's pretty simple once you get used to it.
Thanks for the tip!! I just messed with that and like it. Thanks
I forced myself to not use axe edit for like a week and now I’m a master at using the hardware.
I know a guitar player and he said this thing is giving him a headache.
Great job, brother. Thanks a ton! Subscribed today!!
Great job there Steve and non biased review as well.
Its no secret, i really really like my QC, i love the simplicity, Its like you said Its plug and play within minutes. but I am very sure i would be enjoying the heck of both of them.
Thanks for checking it out! QC is such a cool unit!
Steve, excellent video!! Love it man!!! Very informative...
Thanks bro
6:55 great explanation - live setups is what I look for in these videos
Glad to help! Thanks Dan
QC is so easy to dial! I’m just waiting for the next updates, because as a first gen modeler, it needs to improve as you mentioned. To me, a capture’s marketplace will be the real game changer for this.
I look forward to that as well! Hopefully they can really kill it with updates and set themselves apart
I bought a Quad Cortex after watching it. I love it; it sounds great. Great video! I really appreciate the in depth, honest comparison. Sounds like you can't go wrong sound wise.
You can't go wrong with Kemper, Fractal, or QC.
Great video man
Thank you Lucas!
Great video! Would have loved to see a little more interactions with both units and comparing how each of them handle the same thing (actually seeing the processes). Would also be cool to see both dialing in the same sound (amp, effects, etc) just for a comparison of an A/B test. Great overview though! 👍🏻
That might be a cool idea! Set up a basic preset with a pre determined rig and see how long it takes each to make
Got my QC last week and within hours I was gig ready. In fact, I used it this weekend. That said, I agree with your frustrations. The power supply choice alone has me scratching my head
I'm probably going to get a QC since I'm also a bass/piano/vocalist and the inputs are super versatile that way... But man the foot switches on the Fractal! The hold function alone is keeping me on the fence, nevermind the channel switching options. They both sound great, and it's a great time to be a guitar player!
Agreed man! The i/o and separate paths is very nice in the QC. The open format may be better for you with the different instruments and especially vocals... cant go wrong either way !
the most important thing (in my opinion) is, these units (helix,kemper,fractal audio or quad cortex) are not just amp modelers like the pod 20 years ago.these are very powerful devices who are just like a computer and sometimes it can take a lot of time to master these units and i know it can be very very frustrating and confusing...just like buying a new computer;)
Absolutely! Definitely can't just plug in and play lol its worth the time saved over its lifetime rewiring a pedalboard or chasing a bad cable and swapping pedals every few weeks!
Nice video Steve!
I have a QC and FM3 - so close to your comparison. I agree with most of your assessment. I like them both but prefer to play the QC live. Also, being able to Capture pedals, in addition to amps, is awesome!
Definitely agree on the captures! fm3 seems tough to use live. FM9 is a perfect size for me. I hope the qc gets the needed updates fast. I love using both
@@SteveSterlacci - I'm also coming from using the Helix/Stomp platform for several years, so we're on a similar journey. I agree - the FM3 has some live challenges that the FM9 covers in Spades. If I didn't already have the FM3 I probably would have gone with the FM9 as well as it's got everything you need without anything you don't. But also agree with the sheer volume of options the Fractal ecosystem presents. It's both their biggest Pro AND Con, IMHO.
All great products tho - especially if you use each ti it's strength.
Absolutely! When you just remove the idea of all those options and just stick to basics, it becomes infinitely easier!
Thank goodness for you. I had the money burning a hole in my pocket and started to convince myself I needed an FM9 when I'm totally happy with my QC. The option paralysis and laptop at rehearsal reminded me why I sold my FM3. Impulse puchase averted!
Glad to help! LOL
Great video
Excellent Video and style. Subbed. I'd like to see the QC Capture Kemper Profiles. This was a game changer for me. John Cordy captured a stock Morgan 20 from Kemper and I was stunned. Aside from that I'll be tuning in. Look forward to the shows. Take Care.
Interesting! Capturing a profile is something I may try with my favorite Helix presets. See what happens!
@@SteveSterlacci Great Idea, maybe the Fractal also just for curiosity. Here is the Video I refered to just in case it has some clues on how its done. But if QC proves to be consistnat as displayed by Cordy, that is a very big deal. Thanks Steve ! czcams.com/video/RF3bX4wCHF8/video.html
@@plexidust5101 thanks! I will definitely try it out
Hi man great video as usual. Do you think that the reverbs and delays inside the QC are on pair with the ones inside the FM9?To me the Fractal Rev and DL are magical. They surround notes in a way that is hard to find even in a single pedal. What do you think about the QC? Are they magical as fractal ones? Thank you for the kind reply. 👍😊
Great video as usual!
Would want to see and hear your own tones on them (:
Ultimately for the performing guitarist - which of them would you say gives the more complete experience overall?
Also if you could Frankenstein your own unit out of all existing ones (fm9, DSP, HELIX etc.) what would you take from each one (if at all?)
I'd say Helix is still the ultimate performing platform. I'd like the size and captures of QC, cabinet section and some amp and reverb models of fractal and the user interface and floorboard and models of Helix, but with the touch screen capability of QC
Hi Steve! Great video and channel! Curious, are you not using the Helix anymore? If so, where does it stack up in your opinion?
Hey Don! Still using all 3. So far, nothing has been blowing me away to the point of ditching helix. But the FM9 is closest to doing so . QC needs a few years to mature before its ready for the big time IMO
As a hobbyist, I’ve found the Neural stuff that I’ve tried (plug-ins so far but am tempted by QC) fantastic. As you say at the end, Neural have a knack for producing great sounding presets and also for making it easy to tweak sounds. I have spent so many hours working on Helix tones (via Helix Native) and I still don’t like them nearly as much as the Neural ones I get in minutes. I know Helix has amazing sounds, I’m just not experienced enough to get them. What I would ultimately love to see would be a NeuralDSP plug-in that matches the QC like Helix Native does the Helix floor.
Great video with straight forward explanations... as much as possible, at least. lol I'm getting ready to dive into the world of modelers for the first time, and the decision between QC vs. FM9 vs. Helix vs. Kemper has been a bit paralyzing. I've got it down to the QC vs. FM9, and thanks to your video, I'm leaning towards the QC for reduce option paralysis from what I understand in your video. While I want to learn as much as I can about the product, I still want to get a usable tone relatively quickly and worry about tweaking with time.
How simple is it to get a good tone relatively quickly on the FM9 vs. QC? If it's quick to get a great basic tone either way, the FM9 would appear to be the way to go.
From what I gather, you can run two amps together in a scene for both products? Does one of the products combine amps together (ie, a Mesa and a Friedman) better than the other?
If you've tried this, how would the QC or FM9 sound connected to a power amp and then into a traditional guitar cabinet? Not so sure I'm quite ready to go down the FRFR route.
Again, thank you for the great video. I'm new to your channel and a fan of your work. Keep up the great content! Subbed.
I just subbed. I'm also a Helix Floor user. I'm very basic in my approach because I'm still learning. So these other models are also an eye opener. Would it be a good idea to get a second 112plus to provide yourself a bigger/warmer live/stage tone?
If you want it, I am content with 1x12. The reason i got into digital was to travel lighter and have less gear, so I am the wrong one to ask 😅. I have a 112 and 212 though but never used them together
This video is a great advertisement for my helix lt! It's easy to make changes and enjoyable to use with great tones!
What's your take on using it in conjunction with an additional midi controller? Been reading you can do much more with it that way, using a single footswitch on the midi controller to perform multiple functions on the QC, thus in a round about way compensating for some of the current short falls of the QC foot knobs.
My up front take is that these should be all in one units and should not need a midi controller for basic functions. If i went that route, I'd use an HX FX with qc in the loop and control it via midi and snapshots
Thank you Steve !! I don't have either of these units so can only base my opinion on what I read/hear from others but to me it looks like these companies have put a lot of effort into the technical part of the units (lots of power, lots of models, lots of parameters, capturing functionality) but didn't pay as much attention to how most people would use the device as did the nice people at Line 6. To me your review actually confirms how great of a job Line 6 did with their Helix family of products. Perhaps the Fractal and the QC sound better (I don't know), but to me the ease of use of the Helix is way more important. I've seen a couple of video's on the Fractal and the amount of parameters that can be tweaked is just insane ... perfect if you're a sound engineer and you're looking to get your tone from 95 - 99% of what you want, but for an average user like me just unnecessary (again, just my personal opinion). With regards to the QC, I understand that the capture function is great for people who own nice amps yet prefer not to take these amps to their gigs. But when you think of it, most people get a modeller for the reason that they don't (want to) own amps. It is tempting to consider buying new gear like this, but for now I'll stick to the Helix. Keep up the good work, much appreciated !
Thanks for watching and for the well thought out comment. You're on the money with the Helix stuff having the best end user gigging experience.
@@SteveSterlacci THANX A LOT To YOU BOTH. that was the really most useful comment to me so far
All good points. Personally the Axe Fx III has been the best musical investment I have ever made by far. I've played and recorded more in the one year I've had it than the previous 5 years combined. Personally I spend most of my time navigating through the front panel just so I don't have to rely on the editor, but some of the menus are a bit confusing and don't necessarily correspond to where they are on Axe Edit.
I have to get more savvy with the front panel editing. I am coming around more and more! Loving the sounds it can provide for sure!
Hey Steve! Thank you for your review, that was really helpful. I have a question though, I'm currently using an acoustic guitar with 2 in build Microphones and an other one extra from the outside. I saw i just have 2 In channels on the quad, do you know if I also have phantom power on those channels?
And the other question, do you know why fractal decided to make just one In channel on such a monster pedal?
Best regards from Germany!
Luigi
I just got a Helix a few months ago, so I'm going to stick with that for a while. I have not ever played on a Fractal product, or the QC, but I'm sure they sound amazing. Seem to from what I've heard on CZcams. I will say this, I've tried a few different pluggins for guitar, (ML Sound Labs, Guitar Rig, and a few others) and I downloaded the Neural DSP Archetype Gojira, and was blown away. It's been a while since I was unable to get up because I was enjoying the sounds so much.
Well, you won't get that in QC yet. Plug in implementation is far away. Helix is an amazing workhorse choice
I have spent 5 years dialing in my helix, and it sounds killer. I have specific needs in terms of routing that I would like to know if the others can handle, but since they’re not in stores, I’ll probably never know. Good luck with them!
Thanks Bill! I think Helix is still the best all in one gig solution. That videos coming 😉
So that’s like another version of what Kemper does, correct?
Best comparison on the internet because of your honesty. No fanboi-ism. Cheers.
I appreciate that very much! Thank you for checking it out and adding to the conversation 🤘🤘🤘
Very good and fair comparison. I think your Fractal comments and criticisms are pretty spot on. I was an AX8 user for years and just got my FM9 - I did consider the QC before the FM9 came out, but, believe it or not, the biggest turn off was the cheap power source connection and cord. I have been a Fractal user since the ULTRA and they have always been good to me - other than going first to the FM3 which I would not purchase, and waiting so long to develop the FM9. But that was their call. Just got my FM9 yesterday and have only played around for less than an hour. First impressions are that it is an amazing upgrade to the AX8, but you are so right about having so many options you can become paralyzed or distracted from playing. But the tones and the advancement of more DSP, and the reverbs and other effects are absolutely wonderful. Thanks for the GREAT review and the plug for Chad Boston, he lives near me and I have been to his home to check out his Helix.
Thanks Richard! Chad is the man 😎. Hope to have earned your sub 🤘
@@SteveSterlacci OK, I subscribed. I want to encourage you to do an introduction to the FM9 Edit software. You are a good teacher. Thanks.
@@jiagap thank you! I will be doing plenty of walkthroughs and workflow ideas!
I wish I could have both for about 2wks to play with and explore. Before determining which unit to keep
Thank you 😀
Welcome!
Thanks, I'm also a touring musician, this video is excellent!
Glad to help! Safe travels this year 🙌
@@SteveSterlacci Thanks!
I have both. For the QC it is still too early but I think it sounds better especially with single coil guitars. It's a shame they advertised their product way too early. Still waiting for a lot of features. Like you said, hybrid mode, the editor, the cloud. Maybe in a few more years the dust will settle and we will see. RIght now. Wins go to Fractal for effects and ease of use (navigating parameters immediately and mapping buttons). QC is slightly quicker for me at getting the sound I want.
Great episode Steve! I am looking at QC, Helix and Fractal as my next big purchase and which ever unit provides the best useable presets/default sounds will win. The interfaces all seem workable in a gig setting. However, the QC multi-function mechanics of the foot switches scare me into thinking they won't last. As a product developer and engineer, that aspect worries me and dont want to have to replace/repair an $1800 unit because of a $10 switch failure, The Helix light touch activated foot switch for programming mode seems a far more elegant way to make a switch multifunctional with fewer moving parts. On the other hand Helix's less developed presets dont make it attractive either, so Fractal may win. Still researching though. Keep up the great gear rundowns - they are very helpful and I appreciate your bonafide performance experience as a barometer as to what is and is not, gig worthy.
Thanks Jeff! They are all really incredible units. I have to revisit the Helix presets and do a similar video on it and see where I wind up. I always hear presets suck, but honestly have never found out for myself. I am sure I will be happier than the haters! LOL you are very correct on the user experience of Helix being most elegant too!
I was at the waitlist for the QC but once I had my first gig with the FM3 that was it for me. The sounds and feel are unbelievable. It feels more real in your hands than the helix imho. Not sure if the audience can tell the difference, but I enjoy playing it a lot more. The effects are amazing too and once you get used to editing on your laptop editing on the unit becomes easier as you understand the flow.
I really like the size and touch screen on the QC tho and would like to try one eventually…
I just decided to buy the FM3. is there a long learning curve? You play trough a real amp or just trough monitors. ? The Sound samples of the FM3 on YT are very very good...I hope the buy is worth it....
You will learn your way as you go. Just be patient with it! There is no right or wrong way to use it. I use headphones and FRFR with no amp
@@SteveSterlacci thanks. I hope it is good enough to replace my Tube Amps / pedals…I want to be able to play trough headphones and dedicated speakers on a high level sound wise…
@@SteveSterlacci I just bought the Valeton 200 Pedal Board for about 350 USD. It does not even come close to amps / pedals…I can only use it with headphones for playing when I cant loud…
@@1972Georges I play the FM3 into a Fryette PS2A and a real cab and as soon as I plugged it into the Power Station I’ve put me Mesa TC-50 and Fractal FX8 for sale. I’ve had a pedalboard with analog pedals and the FX8 (or the FM3) pedals are better than the real ones as you have much more parameters to tweak. You can run the FM3 through a power amp and real cab using output 2 without the cab SIM and at the same time run it to FOH using an XLR to TRS (or XLR to XLR) using output 1 with the Cab SIM. By using the Power Station as a power amp you get the sound and feel of a real tube amp while having many options of pre and power amps (200+ from the FM3) so it just doesn’t make sense to keep any other tube amp head imho. Cheers!
QC after trying lots of different units I found the QC so easy to get a good sound a to organise into a usable order
Man, not sure if you will ever read this but I'm really struggling to choose between QC and FM9. My scenario is: I play Black Metal and I need one of those to be used in live shows but I need to run both my guitar and vocals through it. I will need at least a compressor/delay and lots of reverb on vocals and overdrive/amp/cab/reverb/delay on guitar. We play to a metronome so I always setup my vocals/guitars' delay to the correct bpm of the exact part of the song I'm playing.
I saw some people saying that the FM9 would not be able to handle all of that at the same time with its CPU (is it true?). As they are both very expensive, I really would like to make the right choice, do you think both of them can handle that amount of stuff with their CPU? If not, which one would suit me better in this case?
Thanks a lot for your videos man, really love how clear you explain stuff, it really helps people that know nothing about gear like me.
Hello! I am reading and hopefully can help! You have XLR inputs on the QC. The FM9 has only 1/4 inch so you would need adapters. If you are running a mic in, I would probably suggest QC because it does seem to handle bigger presets better. In your case, 2 independent chains. Plus, if you find the right captures, life becomes easy!
@@SteveSterlacci In this case I will watch more videos about the QC, starting with the videos you did using it live, to learn more about it. Thanks a lot for your help, man! Really appreciate it.
I’ve done the leg work with an axe fx 2 for 5 years so I’ll be happy when my fm9 arrives next month
Thats definitely the right choice for ya!
Its weird cause the reason I love my axe fx so much is theres so many combinations of things that you can and can go so deep into the amps and cabs that the tone you create is all yours no one elses it just has so much more potential for unique tones that's why all the fractal guys recording albums have such amazing unique tones guys like Owane, Adam Rafowitz, Sithu Aye , and Plini (before he unfortunately switched) and I could keep going on and on
I am sure the list could be just as long with whatever unit a pro decides to use. There is no lack of flexibility anywhere i dont think. I am getting more used to the fractal and enjoying it much more than the QC for now too
As a past gigging guitarist myself of waay too many years I care to remember, I always have a wee chuckle when I watch folk complain about shortcomings in 'ease of use'. I could have done with a little more 'ease of use' myself in the past, however, once set up, I had little/no complaints during a gig. The gear I had the longest was a Mesa Triaxis, 2:90 and G-Force FX unit. I controlled this with a Roland FC200 foot pedal. It allowed the use of control/expression pedals etc. There was a lot (MASSIVELY more compared to today's 'learning' systems, lol) of learning initially but, when configured, it was an EXTREMELY versatile setup.
Advice? make darn sure you get to the gig well beforehand for that crucial soundcheck/tweaking (and understand the basics of what a filled venue makes to your sound....EQ dampening etc - but don't worry). No soundcheck possible? Use what you know of the room/venue/hall as your base. Understand the crucial reverb and master EQ sections of your FX. If you're mic'ing into an established system then the PA dude will advise (primarily those master reverb / eq levels). Above all, do your homework well before hand on your system, and the venue. Uber above all, try not to worry if your not 100% happy with your sound...now one ever is...Rule #1: Enjoy yourself !!
Well, when they all have the ability to sound good, ease of use becomes more important when tone is subjectively negligible. Rule #1 still applies
as much as I can see the need of a desktop editor, I like that I do not need to carry anything else than my QC when I go to practice or gig. adjustments on the units on the fly are super easy
For sure! But building a rig from scratch is much easier on the pc IMO. Touch screen is def awesome though!
Tweak on the unit, build on a computer. There is no better way. Fractal is still above all imo if you are willing to get your hands dirty. QC was released too early almost like a pre beta product, it has potential to be good but fractal is good
5+ years using Helix live 3 - 4 nights a week , awesome bit of kit, sounds good, easy to use, reliable... Tried a friends FM9 for a few gigs, sounded great but just waaaaay too many options, made my head spin.....Got my QC a few weeks ago, and while yes it's lacking in some area's , in others it's light years ahead of the Helix, especially the feel . The QC just feels better under the fingers, and get or capture the right amp and it's pretty much game over. The QC is in it's infancy , can't wait to see/hear how it evolves. Things like FX, amps, functions will all grow with future firmware updates I'm sure, but for now, I'm just diggin the ride man, absolutley lovin it...xox..P.S...Great vid BTW...:)
I hear this a lot... people saying the Fractal is way too complicated, or way too many options. I could understand someone who is not tech oriented to be initially intimidated, but keep in mind, you don't have to use any of that stuff. I would rather have those options and not need or use them, them have a manufacturer dumb it down for me, and take those decisions away from me in the name of 'ease of use'. You can get great tones, and never touch any of those deep settings under the hood. In fact, in Cooper Carter's master classes, he tells a story of how Maroon 5 played an encore live at the Super Bowl, in front of millions of viewers, with a factory preset. Just picked a Trainwreck amp patch and went for it. Likewise, you could start with an empty grid, throw on an amp, and cab and go. Add a couple of effects to taste... it's really only as complicated as you make it. I gigged Helix for 5 years, and it was truly revolutionary. But when I look at the screen now, its like going from Legos to Duplo blocks lol. That said, I would like to see Fractal create a bigger/better screen for their floor units, rather than the same one that is used on the rack unit. Keep the contrast and resolution, just double it or triple it in size. If it were up to me, I'd have a display the size of QC, with the contrast/resolution of Fractal, with the capacitance switches like Helix for quick access, and bigger/better scribble strips. I like the newer Fractal strips, but still prefer the Helix white on black. Fractal now offers a way to inverse video on the strips but I don't think its as readable as Helix. Lot's of great options tho, and the competition between manufacturers will only make for better gear for all of us in the future.
Long time Helix user here. Just got my FM9 on Thursday. It sounds great but editing on it is way too much trouble. Line 6 have got it nailed when it comes to UI.
What would be a good home practice amp/speakers to buy with this modler?
Nice review! To me, captures just sound a little more realistic than models. Also, I have had experience with fractal and it's too tedious.
I would love to see you do a comparison between the fm9 and helix.
Is the QC worth it if I don't have gear to capture? Sounds like there's plenty of options already in the Cloud?
Yes absolutely
Hi Steve, so i thought id give an update! i bought an FM9 and have QC for sale.. i have to say, for me,, the FM9 is miles ahead of the QC.. and i owned the QC for 2 years.
I hounestly have owned the fm9 a few days, and already have far better tones than the QC.. theres alot to be said for a desktop editor ;-)
One thing i would say is the ABCD channels are a game changer.. 4.01 as of this week is awsome. QC owners dont know what they are missing!
Its all very personal.. it might be the best thing for me, but not for everybody else.. i get it. Thanks for the reviews, it has massivly helped me make a choice. So a huge thank you
I absolutely can't blame you. I would pick FM9 if I had to only choose one. Thank you for watching and supporting!
I too am stumbling through the FM3's learning curve but I think its worth it. This is the first modeller I am actually keeping. Got an FC-6 to go along with it. Line 6 is great but as it has been said here, the feel is a whole other thing and the Fractal FEELS awesome. I have compared the FM3 with a real Friedman Smallbox/real pedalboard through a captor load box/DI and it's so close! The closest it can be. With some work and tweaking it becomes very difficult to hear the difference. Thanks for the awesome videos Steve.
Thanks for checking it out! I do get the feel thing with the fm9. I'm trying to see if it can still out gig helix in other ways as well. Only 1 way to find out!
@@SteveSterlacci I. Can’t wait to see that video!
Steve, great video. Very fair assessment of the two devices. I have Helix Floor and QC. I've found QC much easier to get a great tone without a lot of endless tweaking. Helix seems to have issues with high end that QC doesn't have. What clear though is that all of these devices are fantastic and capable of great tones and gig-ready use. Really appreciate your insights as you are using these for real.
Thanks Jim! I appreciate you taking the time and commenting. You're right about the weird high end thing. I have worked around it on Helix and still prefer the overall user experience of Helix with the scribble strips and command center
I think that if you use IR from Ownhammer your opinion will change drastically!!!!! I couldn’t get a good tone with Helix Cabs. Once I got Ownhammer the difference is so great. A lot of clarity and definition.
I would recommend editing on the FM9 itself. IR selection and switching methodologies are really the big initial hurdles to get over.
Also; why wouldn't you just stick with the Helix as it sounds like it already does what you need it to do without driving yourself nuts?
I am learning and getting better! Why? Because I have a problem 🤣😅. I wanted to expand the content on my channel from being just Helix and if it sounds better, use it on tour
@@SteveSterlacci I know something about problems :) Good luck on your progress \m/
Lol, you make good content, Steve. Actual guitar playing is getting better, too ;)
Thank you!
Thanks for the video, Steve. Looks like my number’s coming up soon on an FM9 Turbo. Wondering if, after a year, it’s gotten easier for you to work with?
Oh yeah it has! I can fly through anything I need at this point. Took a lot of work, but now its all easy
Cool. I’ve had the QC for three months. Really like it but I do miss an editor feature. Got an HX Stomp…so I know what I’m missing. Also would rather have my backups on my computer. Autonomy.
Captures are great but I’m wondering just how necessary. I’m a pedal guy with two awesome clean amps. Pedals capture well but the stock pedals sound as good.
I’ll make a decision when the FM9 arrives. Doubt I’ll keep both. Stomp’s a keeper (thanks for all those vids 😊). Portable Powerhouse!
@@bobprince1539 i think you're making all the right decisions!
I’ve always been good with technology, but until recently, that didn’t translate to my guitar. I was happy with some pedals and an amp. The HX Stomp was a great jumping off point and now I’m getting more comfortable with these modelers. Don’t want to be intimidated by the FM9. I’ll give it a good look. Thanks for the pat on the back.
Mind if I ask if you have a fave of the three for clean to mid OD on a Strat?
For the QC (and everthing else in my rig actually) I use a GC Pro to provide the switch functionality remotely so I can keep it safe and still useable off to the side.
Even in 2022 midi is your friend.
It feels like this device really needs midi! I wish it could assign multiple bypasses to one switch without using scenes though!
I think people overstate the difficulty of editing the fractal on the fly. With no laptop I can dive in and make the changes i need in seconds. I also tried the helix but found the fractal way easier to edit and make good sounds. Relying solely on captures seems really limiting to me. Like I’d have to only have the amps I already own or buy someone else’s capture as opposed to over 200 amp channels in fractal that sound good right out of the box. And as you mentioned if your overwhelmed by the variety of things you can change in fractal, you also don’t have to. Just the basic controls should get you some great sounds.
Using basics was my main suggestion in the video as well. Its not so much that its overstated, it's just not practical to new users. I have my first gig with FM9 tonight and was able to do some tweaking at soundcheck which felt very good lol so I am coming around more on that front. Like I said, new user stresses!
@@SteveSterlacci it’s the first modeler I’ve owned. Coming from a regular pedalboard all the same thought process carries right over. As a new user I found it extremely intuitive.
@@WolfGuitarsandGear thought process, yes. Its more understanding how to navigate the pages than anything. The rest is easy and intuitive. I do wish for more than 4 scene controllers. Definitely a downer vs hx and qc
@@WolfGuitarsandGeardo you miss your pedalboard? Im thinking to build one or go for fractal
I broke both of my arms on a ATV about 20 years ago. My right arm was broken in 5 places and my recovery time was extremely long. Anyway it ended me as a guitarist. Professionally I mean.
Well IM BACK! And I’m also about broke so keep that in mind as I ask this question.
I play mostly 80s Big Hair Metal, Satriani, EVH basically anything that was popular in the 80s. I used to really like the Digitech modeling pedal boards Like the GNX III & IIII etc.
Does anyone have any suggestions for an affordable multi FX board! I’m thinking around $300-$400 bucks. I could swing that. 😊
Really good video. BUT the only thing it has convinced me to do is to keep hold of my Helix for longer until you see which one develops to a better level of usability. 😀
I don't blame you! So far, Helix still takes the cake. But FM9 is getting more and more fun to use
Or until Helix 2.0 comes out...
@@normt6226 been waiting for that for ages! It’s really old technology and needs an update instead of being repackaged. 2022 and no App, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection… 😩😩
Danny Miranda of BOC uses Fractel. I'll go with that.
You can really get a great sound out of any of these devices. I have to say that the difficulty with using the Fractal gear is overstated here. After the initial learning curve with the Fractal units (which really doesn't take that long) you can build a great preset with clean, crunch, lead and effects in just a few minutes. It is easier with the editor but if you take a little time with the unit you can edit pretty quickly on that as well. There are many more parameters you can adjust with the Fractal and that is what maybe gives it the edge for me. You don't have to really get into any of that stuff, but if you want to... 😉
For sure! I do still find myself frustrated using it, even after the initial curve. I get that its super capable, but the other units like QC and Helix are just easier IMO. I keep trying with the FM9 though. I plan on mastering it and conquering the universe 🤣😅
Agreed. The fractal stuff is amazing. Have Kemper as well. They are both outstanding. The fractal is a hell of a lot more versatile though. Can be what ever you want. Profilers do what the profile does…+\- 20%. Outside of that…it gets sketchy.
What do you want to see from these 2 units in future videos?
Coming!!
Country and Southern rock tone examples; acoustic; all the examples Neural does are for 7 string hard edge tones which are good but that is all; need to see some versatility
Totally agree John! That's where I typically live tone wise.
How about let's hear how they sound? Not just talking about them?
BTW if you have any questions about the Fractal I am a long time Fractal owner. and I also owned the QC as well.
@@AmericaWhatsup there will be plenty of those coming! I have some playing demos of them on the channel and I plan on doing some preset building videos as I get better on them. So far I think I am competent enough on FM9 to gig comfortably. Looking into how to maximize the scene controllers. Coming from Helix, we are able to control up to 8 parameters per snapshot (similar to scenes)
Any tips on getting more than 4 parameters changing through scenes? Like if I use the same amp, i would like to not just change the gain, but the whole tone stack to accommodate the gain levels. Any tips would be appreciated!
Great Video, but no need to change from my Kemper! The Market for Kemper Profilies is so big.....so many free ones. The QC has to grow a lot to be really interesting to me! An PC Editor is really important today!
Are either one of these units as robust with I/O as the helix even?
I don't have exacts in front of me, but i know fractal has 2 sets of stereo XLR outs, other than that seems almost all the same
Used the FMP||| and sold it after 3 months. Haven’t tried the QC. How do they compare price wise? Dollar for dollar which is the better value?
At this point and until qc gets updates, the fm9 is my choice. I believe theyre the same price or within $100 of each other
You can change a lot more than 4 parameters per scene on the fm9, you can attach more than one parameter to each scene controller and.. you have channels (which also allow to change model within a block besides parameters, unlike helix and qc snapshots)
Yes, but the block is also stuck in that position where in helix and qc, can be placed wherever you want (make 3 ODs stackable into each other for example) and however many you can until you run out of dsp. Also, I am researching more about scene controllers and it looks like the settings are universal if you set more than 1 parameter to them. Like all the parameter changes have to fall in place per Sc? I am hoping to figure it all out.
@@SteveSterlacci what do you mean with "stuck"? You can't move it between scenes but you can't either on the Helix or QC, and there are 3 drive blocks in the fm9, not 2.
Sure you can't stack 8 drive blocks like in other platforms but.. do you really need that? 😅
Regarding scene controllers, yes the scene controller setting is the same for all attached parameters, but parameter values can be set differently by editing the modifier curve (min, max, mid, slope, etc..)
@@carmelodl8407 so do you set the scene controller on a value of one parameter, say gain, and then assign a second parameter, but use those modifiers to make it work within the percentages you already used on the SC? My head hurts, but I think I am following...
I don't foresee me running into the issues I stated, but would like to know how, if I ever needed to lol. I may be totally over thinking it too
QC just doesn’t look “robust” to me.
It looks more like a “studio-only” product, and to me, I just can’t see this being road ready, and being that I’m already a Fractal user (AX8 and AXE FXIII) as well as a Helix (Flagship) owner, I guess I’m already biased, as I’m more familiar w/ those products, but the lack of amps and goodies in the QC keeps me from buying “future” updates, that may, or may not be coming anytime soon… I want my tone and I want it now!!! Haha
Thanks Steve, for being an honest guy and all your help and hard work in bringing us these videos!
Best! ✌🏼
Thanks for checking them out! I totally get what you mean by studio use for the QC. I think potentially, the best unit is the QC in the loop of a Helix for global domination...
I will say this about the QC is that I've had some accidents with it that I was expecting damages and didn't even get a scratch. One time my cat knocked a cordless drill off my desk which hit the display directly on the floor below. I was absolutely amazed it didn't even get scratched.
1:18 You can do the same on the Fractal. I put a Marshall JCM 900 and the Peavey Invective head into my Axe Fx3.
Fm9 doesnt support tone capture
Both units look cool, Helix is still my go to. Great Video.
Thanks brother!
@@SteveSterlacci Still used the Helix this past weekend and being able to edit on the fly with the Helix is still my favorite. Once I “port” over my templates over to the QC I’ll be using the QC. It’s still a work in progress but both the Helix and QC are a breeze.
Fantastic video. I am a former Helix user now an FM3/FC6 user. I love the Helix works on the unit. I miss that. However, the Fractal sounds Soooo much better. It took a lot to get to learn the FM3 but well worth it. Great job man!
My only experience is with Helix but do you really believe that? Even with the same IR's? I know many people feel they are extremely close, I would love to find out for myself.
Touch screens are so prone to failure, I would have a hard time committing to a QC. So let's suppose the touchscreen fails. Is that a showstopper, or is there an emergency work around? As an AX8 owner looking to possibly upgrade simply cause I'd like more DSP, the longer term unreliability of touchscreens has me seriously considering FM3, FM9, or AXE3. I wonder if Neal with Journey would trust his show to a touch screen?
Schon is now using an FM-9
Almost a year since youve made this, and I now have The QC and Fm9 turbo. Everything you said still holds true. Im trying to put some time in on both but Im torn on what to keep or get rid of. Im finding the fm9 to be quite tedious and time consuming to get a live gig ready all setup to my liking. The effects are fantastic. The Qc interface is simple to use and very intuitive. Amp models, captures and drives are really good. It however seems to be lacking in reverbs and delays especially. For all its power, its really not very flexible in creating live gig performances. Your limited to the number of scenes you get or using just one amp in stompbox mode. Even the new hybrid mode ( thats coming ) will be a little limited. QC needs some of what the fm9 and kemper has in terms of being able to flexibility to change buttons, turn on and off multiple efect states at once easily from within a performance. Ultimately, neither have replaced my kemper yet in alive context because I know I can grab it and easily get through any gig and cover amything sound wise with good tone.
Yeah we will see about this next QC update thats supposedly huge. But will it be enough? Who knows...
@9:33-10:12
I’d have to disagree just a little bit. Being a QC user and taking it out to play live, you don’t need to have the swipe up screen to up to get edits done on the fly live (the screen displaying the 8 performances or pedal blocks). The top right corner of the QC tells you what mode you’re currently on. (Whether it’s Scene Mode, Stompbox Mode or Preset Mode) if you’ve memorized where you’ve routed the footswitches you can turn on/off the pedals or go through scenes and still have access to the main screen displaying the pedal routing - meaning: if you have to change something on the fly you just tap on the block and change the parameters that need to be changed. Granted, It just won’t look as pretty or polished as compared to a screen with custom labels or displayed stompboxes, if that makes any sense.
On the other hand, I will agree that hybrid mode is a much needed feature that needs to come in a future update and prayerfully it comes soon! 🙏🏼
Great video btw! Very informative nonetheless!
Thanks for adding Victor! If we had scribble strips that said what the FS were assigned to, then definitely. I personally dont want to memorize every footswitch for every preset that I use. Between scenes and stomp mode, thats a lot of blind memorizing!
@@SteveSterlacci Facts! 💯
Question: this video is 9 month old. Does the quad cortex got any netter in terms of more effects since then? I hear, they added The Dreamscape Pedal recently…
They have definitely added a bunch! The list is on their site i believe
@@SteveSterlacci Thanks!
Quad Cortex for sure. I plan to use the quad to replace my pedal switcher and amp. I will rely on my timeline, big sky and h9 for all time based effects. These effects will switch midi via Quad Cortex. All my pedals will fit neatly on a novo 24.
Doing the same
Let me know how it goes for you
I think I will stick with the Helix. I wish I could A/B these modelers to compare the sound & feel. I wish the Helix was smaller. I'm gigging a lot and most gigs I have no room on the floor. The Helix is pretty good but sometimes I miss the feel of my amps.
I will still be using my Helix a ton! Its honestly not a lot smaller than Helix at all. Even without the exp pedal!
Steve, I just bought mine FM9 more than 7 weeks ago. I've been playing around every day, then I was finally able to get my dream sound. However, it wasn't that easy though. Lol. One my first day, I already saw that fractal FM9 is NOT as seamless what people claimed. Now I know for sure, Fractal does have a gap (or a small noise or clip'ish sound) between one amp to another or Channel to another Channel (or Preset to another Preset). This is what I agree with your video. On one or two Amps and/or Channels are seamless, BUT not most. I bought mine it's because I needed to be seamless changing between channels during my real LIVE gig, but it's NOT. I do love my sound though and I'm not going to return mine, but it would have been nice if Fractal would allow showing my a few "negative" points on FM9. In my 7 weeks experience, FRACTAL will not show any review less than "5 Stars." Lol.
Well, they just announced there will be seamless amp switch in the next update! So there is hope!
@@SteveSterlacci Hey, that would be great, IF the gap/clip'ish will help. I went from a 5 piece band to a trio, so I really really hope this gap-seamless will help us simple trio band. Thanks again, Steve. I will be looking forward on Fractal's update.
For the nerd studio guy for recording, re-amping , sound desigh , create the new sound . Can you suggest me brother ?
Helix Native and save the cash if you don't need hardware! For re amping and tweaking, out of these 2 the FM9 goes wayyyyy deeper with editing. Almost too deep lol its kind of paralyzing
Helix desktop editor drove me crazy... ;) With FM3 Edit it felt like home. :) And a general tip for Fractal: don't tweak knobs that you don't understand. :D
HX edit is the easiest of all IMO. How long ago did you have it? Could be an older version compared to what's out now?
@@SteveSterlacci I had HX Stomp ca.1-1,5 year ago. I guess in terms of guitar gear I prefer knobs to sliders. ;)
Whatever works best for ya! As long as you're inspired to create 🤘🤘🤘
No editor is why I got rid of my Ultra. A while after the AxeII came out they dropped support for the Ultra and the only way to edit on desktop was to get the editor via 3rd party and it didn't play well with my computer. So I was stuck editing on that little green screen. A company that drops support that quickly for pricey units isn't getting my money, not that they care. They could have gone to a pay model or something for older units as there are a HUGE number still in use and up for sale all the time. But I guess they couldn't be bothered. Built in obsolescence.
That's exactly why i use an old Marshall 2203 and a boost pedal :D
Whats why?
Yeah, the QC has lots of promise. I was on the Tier 1 waitlist and backed out for the FM3. Now I also have the FM9. For me, I’m not interested in captures at all. I’d rather have a nice selection of detailed models and dial them in, but that’s me. Still, having that function available is cool. I like QC size and form factor. I’ll definitely look again in a couple years once it’s had some updates.
You'll probably want to stick with the fm9 if you don't want the captures! Its a BEAST
@@SteveSterlacci Also, keep in mind that a) you can use the same Scene Controller for controlling multiple parameters and b) there are 4 channels of controllers so you technically have 16 Scene Controllers per preset. You can use Control Switches to make multiple parameter changes (32 per I think?) and then assign the state of the control switch per scene. so theres a fair amount of power there, but the learning curve is steeper.
@@aviator_bryan i haven't seen anything about that on the internets. Is it in the manual somewhere? I would think if more than 1 parameter is assigned to the controller, they would need to not conflict with each other. Like one would have to be in a bypassed state while it controls one thats active? Definitely interested in hearing more on this
@@SteveSterlacci the footswitch functions guide expands on it a bit more. There’s it to cover between scene controllers, manual controllers, modifiers, control switches etc.
@@aviator_bryan thank you! I will dive into that manual this week 🤘. I appreciate the tips
Is the QC changing presets seem less ? No audio gap?
You have scenes that can seamlessly change, including amps. No seamless preset switching
I love your channel I don't like how you post those 7 second tiktok vids all the time and clog my feed though.
They should come up in a separate feed. Unfortunately, they're a part of the game to try to gain traction. I am not proud of any of those and hate doing them as well
Used to have racks of dx7s and AKai samplers .. hesitating having to go back to small edit screens at least live
its not so bad!
Hendrix had two pedals straight into the amp and he got pretty good sounds
Why any one needs a fractal with 560 amps with 300 cabs and 3,000 effects is beyond me
I'm going for the fm9 or the Axe fx 3 mk2, I keep seeing post about people having issues with the QC, some die from nothing others have some weird software error that in some cases can't be fixed and when they reported neural did not answer to them for weeks, others have loose screws inside... that last one got me worried because I never heard or seeing something like that in a unit of this price range, the price is almost 2k us dollars for having these kind of issues is just unacceptable, I understand that Joyo pedals, nux, hotone or moer can be possible to have those kind of failures on the hardware because of the price but not from a device that cost almost 2k...
I haven't heard many of those horror stories. So far its fine for what it does..but still feels very incomplete
@@SteveSterlacci in the facebook official group of the quad cortex nobody post serious problems, but in the other group that I am it's another history, the group is call Neural DSP - QUAD CORTEX - User Group Original, the reality of many QC users is there.
Great video , I love Fractal But I have an ADD mind , So I’m grab go and play QC would be my pick , but in reality If I was a touring musician or gigging out a lot , I would use these, but at the moment I’m not, so I don’t really need them , although I lust for them , I’ve streamlined my gear to owning 3 amps , ViOX AC15 , Fender Deluxe Reverb and a Marshall Studio 20 and a small pedal board with 4 pedals ,Timmy, Hotcake OD’s , Naga Viper boost, Memory Man Nano,all I need for now , but someday …..
Got a QC about a week ago to compare to my Axe-Fx III. Frustrating doesn't even begin to describe the user experience. The whole cloud thing is a hot mess. To download a capture you have to install an app on your iPhone, then search for the capture(s) but there's no metadata so searching is a crapshoot. Then you tag the captures you want to download. Then you go to the QC and download them. That's if you can find them because they're just sorta randomly located. And don't get me started on the Wi-Fi performance. If you're not within 20 ft. of your router then chances are you won't be able to connect.
After futzing with it for several hours I finally got something that sounded okay but not nearly as nice as the Axe-Fx. Add to that the complete lack of any kind of effects content. The modulation stuff is a joke. The pitch shifter sucks. The reverbs are passable.
As far as amp sounds go it's nothing special. Some of the models are okay but a lot are mediocre. I tried several dozen captures and they all have this weird thing gong on in the high frequencies.
The UI for the cabinet stuff is nice but beyond that everything feels half-baked and incomplete. I'm returning it. If I were in the market for a new modeler I'd go with either the Axe-Fx III or the FM9.
I get that frustration big time. Making your own is definitely best, or finding a reputable uploader makes life way easier. Live Ready Sound and Tone Junkies are great. Totally get where you are coming from tho!
I want to love the fractal stuff but…..I bought the Axe Fx111 worked with it for about a month and finally sold it. There were so many things you had to tweak and so many pages to go through to do that I found myself getting lost I mean who wants to adjust amp sag and a whole host of other things that I have no idea what they do nor do I ever want to know what they do and it’s seven pages behind something else that was two pages in for just a single affect or portion of the tone! I don’t want to have to have a masters degree from MIT just to figure out how to turn on the unit! I’m back to a real amp in the room with pedal board!
For some people thats all ya need!
Pressing the button that says ON will turn ON the unit.
The drama OFF switch is the one you really should be looking for.
All of that editing is not necessary with the AxeFX. You can get great tones using the same basic controls as a regular amp. Those options are available on advanced pages for people who wish to dig around but please don't make it sound like deep editing is necessary. It's not.
Yes. I don't want to buy something I'm spending a lot of time on just trying to get it to sound good.
both great!..i prefer FM9
Will have to admit, I'm a little bummed by the QC and FM9 vids, But only because you are one of the guys that convinced me that the Helix was the right thing to do. I've had it for over 2 years now, and I'm still amazed by it's power and flexibility. I'm looking forward to Helix v. 2.0 (hardware-wise). I think Line 6 is VERY aware of what QC brings, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to see how they make it their own.... Thanks as always, pal! Give Jess a kiss for me!
Thanks Tim! My Helix isnt going anywhere, so don't worry. I am trying to expand my audience and reach. Got a little burnt out doing almost 80 videos on helix, ya know?! My next gig vlog is all helix though!
@@SteveSterlacci I hear ya, Steve. I can't imagine what it's like being a Tuber! Gotta be a real challenge coming up with ideas to cover, much less the work it takes doing the production. You're doing great, man! I just wish you had more subscribers! I got turned on this month to another couple of guys you might want to check out if you've got time; Johnnathan Cordy and Paul Davids. Johnnathan is a Line 6 user who has some really nice things going on tone-wise, and Paul Davids has like 2.5M Subs. Can't believe YT didn't point me to him sooner! I also follow Chris Buck. Holy Crap! That guy's a monster!
Which is easier to use between helix and quad core?
To make a preset, about a tie. To make adjustments on the fly on a gig, helix by a mile
Interesting. Great vid 😎
Thank you!