AM4 as all-in-one unit?

A

adamag98

New Member
My AM4 is my entry to Fractal, modelers, and multi-fx units. I’m not in a band and don’t gig other than the occasional jam with friends.

That’s my background to help understand my confusion.

I see it said again and again the AM4 is great on a pedalboard, and the FM3 is the step up for an all-in-1 giggable unit.

Why couldn’t the AM4 be all you need? Both can plug into PA’s or a power amp pedal, both have amps and effects. I understand that the FM3 can stack more devices in more ways, but that’s just adding more tones/sounds you can create.
 
It is for me. I'm a keyboard/rhythm guitar player in a band and the AM4 is my entire rig. Gives me everything I need and then some.
 
I'm moving from the FM3 down to the AM4. I will absolutely need to incorporate some other stuff I have on hand for some odds and ends, but those are edge cases. AM4 alone meets like 99% of my day to day playing.
 
adamag98 said:
Why couldn’t the AM4 be all you need?
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Why couldn't it be? It can! It all depends on YOUR needs.

I am "old". I LOVE playing the blues, which is a minimalistic genre; It's me, my guitar, and my amp, and nothing else in the fight. If I can't get the sound I want from those, I don't want it, and, those three are quite capable of some very good sounds. The AM4 is, basically, right down my alley. I have Fractal's bigger siblings, but for my goals the AM4 is quite capable. My other Fractals make me very happy, but I could very likely be totally happy with the AM4. Time will tell.

The issue is YOU need to decide what you need. Yes, the FM3 is the next step up, and it's a fun, and really cool unit. But it's entirely possible that it's more than you need, just as a big Marshall amp and cab might be more than you need if you're playing coffee houses, right?
 
I would certainly think it could be. Focus more on playing and just making it work. None of that is a bad thing. If there are times when you might actually need more effects, a VP4 or a pedal or 2 in pre- and/or post- could likely cover it. I am looking forward to getting an AM4 someday, hopefully soon.
 
adamag98 said:
My AM4 is my entry to Fractal, modelers, and multi-fx units. I’m not in a band and don’t gig other than the occasional jam with friends.

That’s my background to help understand my confusion.

I see it said again and again the AM4 is great on a pedalboard, and the FM3 is the step up for an all-in-1 giggable unit.

Why couldn’t the AM4 be all you need? Both can plug into PA’s or a power amp pedal, both have amps and effects. I understand that the FM3 can stack more devices in more ways, but that’s just adding more tones/sounds you can create.
Click to expand...
You kind of answred your own question! Comparing the AM4 to the FM series is apples to oranges! They both have there place not just in application but in price as well. It's really a grab the right tool for your budget, needs whatever that is and go play it!
 
It comes down to what you need. The FM3 allows for:
  • Way more footswitch programmability, but one footswitch less.
  • More effects in a single preset.
  • Double the scenes to switch between.
  • Footswitch expandability via FC controllers.
  • Pitch and multitap delay effects. There are other blocks missing from the AM4, but those are IMO the major ones.
If you don't need any of that, AM4 can easily serve as your all-in-one.

I find with my real pedalboard, I rarely have more than 2-3 effects on at the same time. Therefore the AM4's "amp/cab + 3 fx" limitation is not a real issue for me.
 
I went through a few iterations on a Pedaltrain Metro 20 board with the AM4 in the middle. I was able to fit one pre AM4 pedal and another in the insert loop.
A few of the pedals I tried going into the AM4 were a JHS Colour Box V2, Boss SD1 and DigiTech Ricochet. None were really needed.
I tried two different pedals in the loop. A Strymon El Capistan V2 and a Deco V2 (primarily used as a flanger). I set them both up with MIDI coming out of the AM4 to make preset changes easier.
Both pedals were unnecessary for me because the AM4 has both delay and flanger covered extremely well.
Truth is drive-amp-delay-reverb or amp-mod-delay-reverb is all I need.
Quite often it will just be amp-reverb.
I’m gonna toss the AM4 onto a Metro 16 board and add an EV2 expression pedal when they are back in stock, and call it a day.
The AM4 can easily be an all-in-one.
Of course your use case may vary.
 
It’s for me as well. The only thing I will add is a volume/wah pedal, and I will not use a pedalboard or additional footswitch. You can use AM4 without a footswitch; it is only open to learn and practice.
 
Am4 has been serving as my All-in-one since arrival. I have the FM3/Fm9/Axefx3 and haven't been found lacking.

If you need more sounds for your playing situation, just build different presets.
 
Very near the top of the product web page for the AM4:

The AM4 is a compact powerhouse. It’s perfect on a pedalboard, sits neatly on a studio desk, fits in a backpack with room for expression pedals, or slips into an overhead bag as your grab-and-go fly rig. With USB audio and a headphone jack, it doubles as a mobile guitar-recording setup with your Mac or PC. It’s our most compact all-in-one unit ever.
 
I'm in the same boat as Greg, although more hard rock/light metal. Most of my FM9 presets are Drive, Amp, Cab, maybe a time-based effect or two, and some post EQ. Even when I was gigging with the Axe-FX III, there were only 2-3 songs that ventured beyond that, with pitch and multiple effects, virtual capo, or whatever. I love the FM9, but I've thought seriously about down sizing to the AM4.
 
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