What would the new-gen even have that the current gen doesn’t?

[Rock Chalk]

A touchscreen would be a big enough no......but AI?........f*$# no!!!!!

 

[Bodde]

To be honest I don’t really see what the next gen can offer us? Can the sound from the effects, cab, amp ect really get any better? Can we legit dial in better tones than we can now?

Sure. Even Fractal thinks it can be better. Otherwise they wouldn’t give us new firmware updates.

 

[Deadlifts_n_Riffs]

There’s been a lot of talk about what Fractal’s next gen product will be, but I don’t really understand what could be added to the AxeIV, FM3, and FM9 next-gen that isn’t already on those units now. The only thing I can think of is capturing, but that’s not really Fractal’s cup of tea. I do wish tone match was added to the FM3 and FM9, but I don’t think that will ever happen.

I’ve always mused to myself that in their quest to perfectly simulate a classic tube amp, Fractal will eventually have to go all-out - install a 50lb weight inside, have the virtual tubes degrade over time, and occasionally the unit will just power off for a bit, then start back up and give you no further problems for months or years. Throw in some odd pops and fizzes, and you’ll truly get the whole experience.

 

[creativespiral]

I'd like to see next AxeFX ecosystem expand to include guitar pickup options, guitar electronics, and high end digital wireless connectivity with the Axe unit.

1. A few different passive and active Fractal pickup models that can be installed in your existing guitar... single, hum, rail, piezo... from a tech standpoint, my instinct is they could create the most versatile pickups on market with additional modeling capabilities and sound shaping, plus allow a true "two-way" relationship between the pickups and Axe unit, and preserve that through Fractal wireless connection... So dynamics of impedance between guitar pickups and effects could be achieved, through a fully integrated Fractal system... For "Plug in Baby" Fuzz Factory type of capabilities. And then having the ability to get Fractal quality pickup modeling... guessing they would knock that out of the park.

2. Also, for wireless, I would love to have multiple channels of wireless in a single unit. For my EBMM Majesty, I've got two wireless units on strap for Piezo and Mag pickups, and then sometimes another wireless for monitoring. Would be awesome to have a single wireless unit that could send multiple channels from guitar, and receive stereo monitoring too.

3. In addition to traditional mag pickups, a Fractal hex pickup option as well... And expand polyphonic tracking, individual string processing, MIDI output and synth options in the Axe Unit. Something like the Fishman Triple Play, but with Fractal's attention to detail and direct integration with the Axe unit.

4. Further, if was a full ecosystem from pickups to Axe processing, there could be additional options for onboard guitar electronics / switching. Push/pull pots, switches, and dials which could control assignable parameters within the Axe unit, or alter how the Fractal pickups interact.

 

[BINKEY1]

I have decided to rule out the new helix stadium in favor of waiting for the next generation fractal FM nine

 

[fuzzydude]

I have decided to rule out the new helix stadium in favor of waiting for the next generation fractal FM nine

Your previous posts show you love touchscreen, so just get the Stadium if that's what you like. I'd rather buy the older non-Turbo FM3 than a Stadium.

If I closed my eyes and designed an amp sim with features I didn't want, lower processing quality, at a price that couldn't be justified, I'd come up with the Helix Stadium XL. There's WiFi/Bluetooth (HW will be outdated in 5 years), touchscreen (will be defective after warranty), clock, stopwatch, "Hype" knob? Good Lord why! No thanks.

 

[Holbert71]

 

[Sergius9]

Your previous posts show you love touchscreen, so just get the Stadium if that's what you like. I'd rather buy the older non-Turbo FM3 than a Stadium.

If I closed my eyes and designed an amp sim with features I didn't want, lower processing quality, at a price that couldn't be justified, I'd come up with the Helix Stadium XL. There's WiFi/Bluetooth (HW will be outdated in 5 years), touchscreen (will be defective after warranty), clock, stopwatch, "Hype" knob? Good Lord why! No thanks.

"Progress" is inevitable. Fractal will have to keep up with the Jones or risk being labeled as a dinosaur. They could choose to be themselves and keep a smaller niche of the market (I'd be one of those) btw.

I agree with you though. I'd rather have all the processing power dedicated to signal processing so I don't have to be looking at my CPU %.

 

[johnrobbfl]

An integrated touch-screen would be nice, although I would prefer native iOS/Android control if it was one or the other.

 

[Dave Merrill]

An integrated touch-screen would be nice, although I would prefer native iOS/Android control if it was one or the other.

All those controls on a tiny device?
Buy a larger format ios or Android device just for this?
Probably not, for me.

 

[Tremonti]

"They laughed at Louis Armstrong when he said he was gonna go to the moon. Now he's up there, laughing at them"

 

[vangrieg]

All those controls on a tiny device?
Buy a larger format ios or Android device just for this?
Probably not, for me.

Well at least those devices are in your hands or close.

Not sure what’s the attraction of having a touchscreen on the floor or in a rack. For me personally, on-device control was always a backup option, doesn’t really matter how well it’s implemented, it’s just never located conveniently. When I’m at my desk, I have a keyboard and a mouse closer. When I’m playing elsewhere, it’s much easier to mount a phone or a tablet on a mic stand or whatever than to crawl on the floor or go to the rack to adjust something.

There are people who have floor units (Fractal FMs or QCs or whatever) on their desks, in which case the controls of course become very accessible, but that whole setup is IMO weird.

 

[jclemensfl]

Well at least those devices are in your hands or close.

Not sure what’s the attraction of having a touchscreen on the floor or in a rack. For me personally, on-device control was always a backup option, doesn’t really matter how well it’s implemented, it’s just never located conveniently. When I’m at my desk, I have a keyboard and a mouse closer. When I’m playing elsewhere, it’s much easier to mount a phone or a tablet on a mic stand or whatever than to crawl on the floor or go to the rack to adjust something.

There are people who have floor units (Fractal FMs or QCs or whatever) on their desks, in which case the controls of course become very accessible, but that whole setup is IMO weird.

The solution to all of this is a USB-C port on the front of the unit. If you want plug in a touchscreen, great. If not, no problem. This would also potentially allow the next gen AXE to lose a rackspace, which is a big deal for those of use who tour and/or do fly gigs.

 

[BBN]

Well at least those devices are in your hands or close.

Not sure what’s the attraction of having a touchscreen on the floor or in a rack. For me personally, on-device control was always a backup option, doesn’t really matter how well it’s implemented, it’s just never located conveniently. When I’m at my desk, I have a keyboard and a mouse closer. When I’m playing elsewhere, it’s much easier to mount a phone or a tablet on a mic stand or whatever than to crawl on the floor or go to the rack to adjust something.

There are people who have floor units (Fractal FMs or QCs or whatever) on their desks, in which case the controls of course become very accessible, but that whole setup is IMO weird.

Because it allows a more intuitive experience.

I've been using Fractal since the Ultra, and to this day, when I want to 'move to the left' on he UI, I don't know if it's the 'regular arrow' or the 'page arrow' to move to the left. Sorry, but the UI (compared to other touch devices) has much that could be improved.

 

[vangrieg]

Because it allows a more intuitive experience.

Maybe, I was talking about why anyone even cares about what on device controls do.

But that’s a rhetorical question, doesn’t really require a response.

 

[fuzzydude]

The solution to all of this is a USB-C port on the front of the unit. If you want plug in a touchscreen, great. If not, no problem. This would also potentially allow the next gen AXE to lose a rackspace, which is a big deal for those of use who tour and/or do fly gigs.

This!!
If Fractal had to coddle those who need touchscreen for some reason, this would be the way to do it.
That way no one is ever stuck with a gimped up touchscreen forced onto $2k+ equipment after the warranty runs out.
Only problem is that, and this applies to WiFi/Bluetooth USB devices too, that Fractal would need to worry about supporting current and future devices.
All completely unnecessary, but so much better a solution than sticking the rest of us with the costs (besides USB host and supporting HW) of devices we might never need or use.

 

[Daveporter33765]

This!!
If Fractal had to coddle those who need touchscreen for some reason, this would be the way to do it.
That way no one is ever stuck with a gimped up touchscreen forced onto $2k+ equipment after the warranty runs out.
Only problem is that, and this applies to WiFi/Bluetooth USB devices too, that Fractal would need to worry about supporting current and future devices.
All completely unnecessary, but so much better a solution than sticking the rest of us with the costs (besides USB host and supporting HW) of devices we might never need or use.

Roadworthiness, ultimate reliability and true simplicity of operation are three of the best features of Fractal units. Hopefully nothing will be added to the next generation units just to satisfy a marketing team’s desire to match features of competitors’ units that end up sacrificing roadworthiness, ultimate reliability and true ease of operation.

 

[Chewie5150]

Probably a stretch here but would also be interesting if they did 2 versions of the new unit. One with the touchscreen and extra gizmos with an upcharge and the other more stripped down for touring types. Doubtful but fun to speculate. Can't wait to see what they cook up. I certainly wouldn't say no to a touch screen but I have my current unit in a rack next to my computer desk and have always just used axe edit running whenever i play.

 

[sprint]

Roadworthiness, ultimate reliability and true simplicity of operation are three of the best features of Fractal units. Hopefully nothing will be added to the next generation units just to satisfy a marketing team’s desire to match features of competitors’ units that end up sacrificing roadworthiness, ultimate reliability and true ease of operation.

Not to mention the added cost of items not needed by a segment of customers. If there was a cheaper stay put Axfx rack version with no on board UI at all (all access via AE / midi), that's the one I'd want to buy most to focus as much of my $ as possible on sounds.

 

[BBN]

If Fractal had to coddle those who need touchscreen for some reason, this would be the way to do it.

Coddle....LOL!

People that dislike technology evolution truly baffle me.
Reminds me of my wife (who is 12yrs younger than me) saying she would never get a cell phone that didn't have a physical keypad. "I'm never moving to a full touch screen!".