🔥Introducing ICONS - Amp Modeling + FX - Plugins & Standalone

That assumes he's recording...
Ya - not much - other than recording myself against backing tracks to hear how I'm progressing (or not 😳) in playing ability. So even tho there may be some interesting stuff to explore there as Mr TheOtherDave mentions, it's not worth the cost for me when I already have all the models in Ax3. If some day I get into recording more, I can see how this plugin would be a great investment and provide alternative
workflows for getting Fractal tones into recordings even with the hardware option also on hand (not to mention the portability of it).
 
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Longtime FM3 and FM9 owner here. I’m stoked to see Fractal finally enter the plugin arena! However, as an avid plugin user (UAD, NDSP), I’m a bit puzzled by FAS strategy.

At a $299 price point, the value proposition feels out of step with the market. While I’m sure the quality is world-class, the "36 amps of one style" approach feels heavy-handed for a plugin. A curated, categorical approach would be far more effective for the "in-the-box" crowd. For example:

Modular Collections ($99 each): Individual "American," "British," "High Gain," "D-Style", etc packs featuring the top 9 models for each category.

Bundle Discounts: Incentives for users who want to "collect them all" over time.

The primary demographic for plugins consists of younger players and project studios. They need versatility without a massive investment. Since software sales are mostly profit once R&D is recouped, a lower barrier to entry just makes sense.

I also don't buy the "cannibalizing hardware" argument. Hardware will always reign supreme for live use—no plugin is replacing a floorboard on stage. This is simply an opportunity to capture a different market.
 
@FractalAudio @Admin M@

Can you please give us some more details about DynaCab HD? I think this is the most exciting thing about the release.

I read on another forum where you said that the AxeFx III doesn’t have enough memory to run it, so it won’t be coming to it.

Which curiosity beckons, any plans to have a DynaCab HD Plug In/Standalone that we could run our hardware models into for maximum tone?

Can you throw us poor AxeFx III owners a bone and add the 57 Off Axis mic options to the Mesa cabs in the AxeFx III? That is undoubtedly the most 57 Off Axis mic’d cab out there.

Anyways, congratulations to you and the team for another awesome product. I’m excited to see where it takes us and what the future holds for us tone sluts.
 
@FractalAudio @Admin M@

Can you please give us some more details about DynaCab HD? I think this is the most exciting thing about the release.

I read on another forum where you said that the AxeFx III doesn’t have enough memory to run it, so it won’t be coming to it.

Which curiosity beckons, any plans to have a DynaCab HD Plug In/Standalone that we could run our hardware models into for maximum tone?

Can you throw us poor AxeFx III owners a bone and add the 57 Off Axis mic options to the Mesa cabs in the AxeFx III? That is undoubtedly the most 57 Off Axis mic’d cab out there.

Anyways, congratulations to you and the team for another awesome product. I’m excited to see where it takes us and what the future holds for us tone sluts.
Cliff said this:
DynaCab HD has higher temporal and spatial resolution and uses a LOT more memory. There's also 11 mics vs. 4.

Here:
https://thegearforum.com/threads/fractal-icons-plugin.10851/post-459785
 
Longtime FM3 and FM9 owner here. I’m stoked to see Fractal finally enter the plugin arena! However, as an avid plugin user (UAD, NDSP), I’m a bit puzzled by FAS strategy.

At a $299 price point, the value proposition feels out of step with the market. While I’m sure the quality is world-class, the "36 amps of one style" approach feels heavy-handed for a plugin. A curated, categorical approach would be far more effective for the "in-the-box" crowd. For example:

Modular Collections ($99 each): Individual "American," "British," "High Gain," "D-Style", etc packs featuring the top 9 models for each category.

Bundle Discounts: Incentives for users who want to "collect them all" over time.

The primary demographic for plugins consists of younger players and project studios. They need versatility without a massive investment. Since software sales are mostly profit once R&D is recouped, a lower barrier to entry just makes sense.

I also don't buy the "cannibalizing hardware" argument. Hardware will always reign supreme for live use—no plugin is replacing a floorboard on stage. This is simply an opportunity to capture a different market.
In many countries, like Brazil, USD 300 can represent an entire month of salary. Even so, the standard for guitar tone remains extremely high, and the competition is tough. For those who may not realize it, Brazil is home to world-class guitarists such as Kiko Loureiro and Mateus Asato.

You really have to want Fender in the box inside your DAW — especially when truly world-class, great-sounding tones can be achieved even for free, like the UADx Showtime ’64 Tube Amp, which UAD released at no cost recently for a limited period,— to justify that kind of investment.

Beyond that, there are plenty of free or accessible options:
  • Neural Amp Modeler and ToneX CS with free Fender captures
  • AmpliTube 5 CS
  • Overloud TH-U Essentials (~USD 39)
  • UAD Guitar Amp Bundle (~USD 100) with 4 amps
It’s also worth mentioning that buying the UAD Dream ’65 pedal allows you to use the corresponding amp plugin as well, combining high-end hardware with the same tone inside your DAW.

Not only you — me and a lot of others don’t get this strategy at all.
 
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Dweezil's Bassguy and the '65 Bassguy are secret Marshalls with the right mods too
THIS! Also, aren't some of the Mark series amps based on some blackpanel Fenders? Would be fun to mod one to hell to cop some of those tones. This release is surprisingly versatile the more I think about it.
 
Jeez, I’ve misread the pricing. It’s $99 per grouping of about 9 amps each, and the $299 is just the deal for bundling them instead of paying for $99 x 4.

So the plugins are actually technically just $99, which means $11 per individual amp model if we assume each will have 9 amps.
 
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Вот почему я так думаю. Цена останется высокой… потому что она может себе это позволить.

The price remains high because it is necessary to cover the risks associated with a possible hack. Since everything created by man can be hacked, there would be a desire and resources. Fractal products will be especially desirable for pirates, so they will throw all their efforts into it. And taking all this into account, the plugin should not be cheap in order to collect good money before it is broken, ideally last for 5 years. I have no doubt about pirates, they break everything.
 
I’m trying to understand licensing/features... Do the individual ICONS Fullerton volumes ($99 each) ship with the same effects suite as Fullerton Complete ($299), and the main difference is simply that Complete bundles all amps/cabs/presets into one plugin? Or are there any extra effects/features reserved for the Complete version?
Also what is the volume with the most gainy amp?
Thanks
 
Plate guy here too, but remember, you're in the box, where there are lots of cool reverb plugins available, many of which have plates. It doesn't have to be from Fractal to be good. (Outside of amps i mean :) )
I think the opposite. I like Fractal amps, but honestly I like the captures I find on Tone3000 for NAM just as much, or TONEX captures. On the other hand, I kind of agree with Steve Vai and Petrucci: FAS effects are studio-grade, and they’re reason enough on their own to dive into the Fractal ecosystem.
I’m going to wait and see what the next plugin offerings look like before I pull the trigger (I hope a Everything offer) , but I wouldn’t have hesitated for a plugin that included all the pre/post effects—especially their amazing reverbs. (It’s a shame the FAS Reverb plugin was discontinued…)
 
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