FIRMWARE RELEASE NOTES
Make Backups - Use Fractal-Bot in FM9-Edit to back up your Presets and System prior to upgrading.
Upgrading from version 8 or older? SCROLL DOWN and read the important notes for versions 9.0 – 9.02.
VERSION 11.00 | January 19, 2026
NEW FEATURES & UPDATES
The FM9 is now up to date with Axe-Fx III firmware release 31.03. This version uses FM9 DynaCabs 1.09.
AMP BLOCK UPDATES
● New “Deluxe 6G3” amp model based on the bright channel of a 6G4 “Brownface” Deluxe.
● Improved Preamp Modelling delivers more accurate harmonic response and better feel, especially as the amp
is driven harder—for example, when using a boost or overdrive.
● Improved Phase Inverter modeling - Went through every model with a fine-toothed comb and adjusted power
amp and phase inverter parameters as needed to reflect new modeling.
NOTE: The Preamp Tube Hardness parameter functions differently now. Existing presets are automatically
updated to the default value for the selected amp model.
● Improved Power Amp Modeling brings a more controlled low end, especially for non- Master Volume amps.
● Added “Suhr Reactive Load” Speaker Impedance Curve.
NEW DRIVE PEDAL MODELS
● New “PI Fuzz – Bass” model based on a Deluxe Bass Big Muff Pi.
● New “NoAmp Bass DI” based on a SansAmp™ BassDriver DI.
● New “NoAmp Bass Pre” based on a SansAmp™ BassDriver DI with the speaker emulation bypassed. This can
be used into a Cabinet block or as a boost into an Amp block.
● New “Royal Bass DI” based on a Noble™ Bass Preamp DI. The model has been modified with more gain so that
it can be overdriven. With the Drive knob at 5.00 the gain is the same as the actual preamp. Also, instead of a
Low Cut switch, the model uses an adjustable Low Cut control.
NEW COMPRESSOR MODEL
New “Citrus Juicer” based on the Dan Armstrong Orange Squeezer™. The original pedal has a single knob, but the
model adds additional parameters for extended flexibility. On the original, the ratio and threshold vary with the specific
components used and the internal bias trim. As a starting point, set Threshold to –26.0 dB and Compression to 8.0,
then adjust to taste. The new Half-Wave detector type used by this model is also available for other compressor types,
offering different attack and release behavior and a slightly grittier character.
NEW GRAPHIC EQ MODELS
● Added “7 Band Pedal” Graphic EQ type based on a Boss™ GE-7.
● Added “7 Band Bass Pedal” Graphic EQ type based on a Boss™ GE-7B.
NEW SURROUND DELAY
Added “Surround Delay” type to the Delay block. This type produces “rotating” echoes that seem to move around the
listener. The Rotation parameter determines how rapidly the echoes rotate. With Rotation at 100% the echoes will rotate
180 degrees each time (front, back, front, etc). At 50% the echoes will rotate 90 degrees (front, right, back, left, front,
etc.). Negative values will cause the echoes to rotate in the opposite direction.
NEW DYNACABS & CAB BLOCK IMPROVEMENTS
● Added “1x8 Princetone” DynaCab™ captured from a 5F2 Tweed Princeton w/ a very nice sounding 8” Jupiter
speaker. Added corresponding Speaker Impedance Curve.
● Added “1x12 Black Magick” DynaCab captured from a Supro Black Magick with a Jensen P12Q speaker. Added
corresponding Speaker Impedance Curve. Thanks to Supro for their cooperation on this official release!
● Added “8x10 SV Bass” DynaCab captured from an Ampeg SVT. Added corresponding Speaker Impedance
Curve. Thanks to Mike "Dr. Bonkers" Santasiero for the files from his DynaCab Pack, "Dr. Bonkers 8x10 SBB
Bass". If you like the factory DynaCab “sampler” you can purchase the full pack for Cab Lab at
https://shop.fractalaudio.com
NOTE: Updated auto-impedance mapping in the Amp block to use the new DynaCabs where appropriate.
● Added “Auto Align” switch to the Cab block for DynaCab mode.When ON, individual DynaCabs at any distance
are automatically time-aligned to ensure proper phase. When OFF, increasing mic Distance also adds the
corresponding delay, simulating real-world microphone behavior where delay increases with mic distance. With
either setting, the individual alignment Delay parameters can still be used to add additional delay.
Note that the actual delay can be less than the displayed delay as all IR delays are normalized to the shortest
delay (so as to minimize overall latency). The Align tab has been changed to display the delay in ms rather than
mm to reduce confusion with the Distance parameters. NOTE: Existing presets will have Auto Align set to ON as
this was the prior behavior.
PITCH UPDATES
● Improved tracking in the Pitch block, now aligned with Axe-Fx 31.03. This results in better performance for
Virtual Capo and other types. The Tracking mode supports NOTES and CHORDS, providing optimized detection
for each. The Tracking Adjust parameter has been removed, as this behavior is now handled automatically.
● Increased upper range of the pitch detectors to approximately F♯6 (High E, 24th fret, whole step bend).
● Increased range of High Cut control in Pitch block. The High Cut can now be reduced to as low as 200 Hz.
Existing presets will not update automatically and may need to be updated.
● Added Triggering to Arpeggiator type in Pitch block. When Threshold is set other than “OFF” the arpeggiator
will trigger when the input signal exceeds the threshold. Also changed the behavior of Arpeggiator so that
when the sequence is finished the sequence resets to the first step (rather than stopping at the last step).
● A new Tracking Mode parameter has been added to the Synth and Ring Mod blocks. It has two options:
○ Guitar – Default behavior, optimized for standard guitar range.
○ Bass – Shifts detection down one octave. In this mode, tracking works down to approximately F♯0.
OTHER UPDATES
● Added On/Off switch for the Metronome. This can be controlled remotely by setting the desired control source
in the MIDI/Remote -> Other menu.
● Improved Auto-Swell type in Volume block. The new algorithm features a dynamic threshold which tracks the
average level of the input signal. The Hysteresis control determines how much the short-term level must drop
below the average level to reset the gate. The Threshold control determines the absolute threshold at which the
gate will close.
● Improved Envelope Follower in Multitap and Plex blocks.
● Improved “Dwell” for spring Reverb types.
● On the FM9 Mark II, changed the mini LCD contrast function to allow finer control over a more usable range.
● New warning shown in the mini-tuner graphic when an external S/PDIF clock is not detected or at a frequency
other than 48 kHz. Check the Word Clock setting in the Audio I/O Setup menu if the warning appears.
FIXES
● Changed name of “1x12 Brit G12M” impedance curve (obtained from a 1x12 CJ11) to “1x12 Div13 CJ11”.
● Corrected Spillover “Off” behavior to prevent a burst in some cases when using Delays and Reverbs
https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/spillover-off-with-reverb2-over-preset-changes.216138/
● Disabled preset changes while the STORE page is displayed to prevent “behind-the-scenes” preset changes.
● Fixed a freeze when selecting unavailable Modifier.
● Fixed a gain issue in the Wah block.
● Fixed a resistor value in the Blackglass 7K model. Remastered the model as a result.
● Fixed Amp block first stage bias point can get corrupted and produce unwanted distortion.
● Fixed incorrect gain in Colortone Booster and Colortone OD models.
● Fixed Modern Gate type can get stuck closed if input above threshold during boot.
● Fixed some parameters can't return to exactly 0.0 with knob control after going to min or max.
● Fixed wrong Preamp Hardness being loaded for amp models with pentode preamps (i.e., AC-20 EF86).
● Fixed wrong time constant in Herbie models (not significantly audible).
● Fixed wrong value in Deluxe Verb Normal model. Remastered model as a result.
● Fixed a wrong value in Deluxe Verb, Double Verb, Super Verb, Vibroverb, Div/13 FT37, Double Verb Silverface.
● Fixed wrong volume curve on Output 3 level knob when using a global EQ.
● Improved accuracy of Sustain control vs. position in PI Fuzz models and addressed a stability issue.
● Moved "Mix" tab after "Advanced" tab in Drive and Delay blocks.
● Various other small fixes.
