FM3 Firmware Version 3.03 beta 1

[MicroMort]

out 2 issue here for me... but pretty happy with it otherwise. Just like everyone else, looking forward to cygnus (but happy to wait). Also hoping for the pitch improvements to eventually come over.

 

[Romo82]

I would have to sell all my gear, guitars and FM3 included, to pay a lawer and alimony.

So, for now, let it be.... at least until I have a chance to play Cygnus.

What gear? You mean all this stuff you borrowed from your friends?

 

[REDD]

Just ordered my bass player an FM3, he's going to be clueless with it so I'll be busy! One question though which I'm kinda clueless. I've always ran stereo but if he runs mono can he just use left out or do I need to sum L+R?

 

[Greg Ferguson]

As a long time Fractal user, I love the constant strive for better sound but I wish they also put that much effort in the user interface on the hardware as there's a ton of fairly easy things to fix and improve that would make using the unit without Axe-Edit/FM3-Edit significantly better.

Get into the feedback loop with them on the wish list and give them mockups for improvements that can't be easily explained.

The hardware interface drives the majority of actions available/allowed in the Editor.

Personally, I'd like to see the Editor available on our phones and tablets, in addition to the computers. I always have at least my phone with me IF I needed to change something when away from home. I try to set up my Per-Preset Performance Controls for the things I'm most likely to adjust, as a just-in-case.

 

[Greg Ferguson]

Just ordered my bass player an FM3, he's going to be clueless with it so I'll be busy! One question though which I'm kinda clueless. I've always ran stereo but if he runs mono can he just use left out or do I need to sum L+R?

I'd sum L+R and always think towards allowing him stereo into the FOH system. Flexibility is good.

I think an FM3 would be a great bass rig. It beats carrying a real SVT and cabinet around.

https://wiki.fractalaudio.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mono_and_stereo might help.

---

Note: I just read this in the above page:

• use Output Mode Copy L > R instead of Sum L+R in the I/O menu

 

[Rex]

Just ordered my bass player an FM3, he's going to be clueless with it so I'll be busy! One question though which I'm kinda clueless. I've always ran stereo but if he runs mono can he just use left out or do I need to sum L+R?

That depends on your presets.

If you only use the left channel, you’ll lose everything in the right channel. Will that matter? Depends on what’s in your presets.

If you sum left and right, you could get phasing issues. Will that happen? It depends on what’s in your presets.

 

[badmagick]

If you sum left and right, you could get phasing issues. Will that happen? It depends on what’s in your presets.

Hmmmm.
So, if we choose all mono for effects blocks we should ok, correct? If not, what do we watch for to avoid phasing issues?

 

[Greg Ferguson]

So, if we choose all mono for effects blocks we should ok, correct? If not, what do we watch for to avoid phasing issues?

Read the page I linked to just above as it talks about this stuff.

 

[Douglas Costa]

What gear? You mean all this stuff you borrowed from your friends?

View attachment 82508

I don’t think they will want a Behringer V-Amp 2 and a Zoom 505II back.

 

[badmagick]

Read the page I linked to just above as it talks about this stuff.

Thanks! Very informative page. Phase issues is one of the the biggest complaints I hear from sound guys about modelers.

I think the bullet points at the bottom of that write up is the way I do it. Been a while, since I just set my stuff and went on my way. But now I’m going to double check.

 

[Rublalup]

It’s a shame (for me) that the few bugs of this beta haven’t been addressed. Specially the out 2 level bug is very problematic in my setup.

it’s been so long that I’m starting to believe that FAS is going to bring Cygnus in the next release and no stable 3.03 is going to be delivered

 

[teddis]

There has not been any comment in a while...thats for sure...... the OUT2 problem is not good....for me either....or the blank mini's.

 

[2204JCM]

As a long time Fractal user, I love the constant strive for better sound but I wish they also put that much effort in the user interface on the hardware as there's a ton of fairly easy things to fix and improve that would make using the unit without Axe-Edit/FM3-Edit significantly better.

Yeah, I'm sure its where to allocate limited resources (programmers).

 

[Greg Ferguson]

I have the full Helix Floor for comparison and it's a helluva lot faster and more intuitive to operate than the FM3. I've already posted a bunch of things on the wishlist and I hope some of them get implemented when they get the bigger things like 3.03 and the Cygnus update out of the way.

I think a big part of that is because Line 6 doesn't expose anywhere close to the number of settings and parameters that Fractal does; That makes it a lot easier to design an interface and to navigate it. They're targeting the plug 'n play crowd who don't want to tweak and don't want to learn the ins and outs of the internals of their pedals and amps, and that difference is why I sold my Helix and switched to Fractal.

I agree that there are some issues that should be addressed, both in the hardware interface and the Edit app, and maybe, at some point in a future firmware, they'll bring in some human-interface people who can work with the existing knobs on the hardware and redesign a bit.

 

[2204JCM]

I think a big part of that is because Line 6 doesn't expose anywhere close to the number of settings and parameters that Fractal does; That makes it a lot easier to design an interface and to navigate it. They're targeting the plug 'n play crowd who don't want to tweak and don't want to learn the ins and outs of the internals of their pedals and amps, and that difference is why I sold my Helix and switched to Fractal.

Yeah, I have a very solid understanding on how Tube guitar amps work. So Fractal stuff is right for me.
BTW: when I adjust certain parameters such a bias on the FM3 deep in my subconscious its saying "don't do that it's hard on the tubes"
LOL

 

[Greg Ferguson]

Phase issues is one of the the biggest complaints I hear from sound guys about modelers.

Give them a stereo feed and tell them to deal with it. If they're running a mono house system they'll still get phase issues, it'll just occur in their equipment and speaker systems.

 

[Greg Ferguson]

BTW: when I adjust certain parameters such a bias on the FM3 deep in my subconscious its saying "don't do that it's hard on the tubes"

Same here. I think Fractal needs to present an image of a tube glowing red and arcing, or an amp head smoking, on the panel when the FM3 wants to display its CPU warning.

 

[Rex]

Give them a stereo feed and tell them to deal with it. If they're running a mono house system they'll still get phase issues, it'll just occur in their equipment and speaker systems.

... where you can't fix it.

Better, I think, to make sure your presets are compatible with mono, in the method of your choice (L+R or L only).

 

[laxu]

I think a big part of that is because Line 6 doesn't expose anywhere close to the number of settings and parameters that Fractal does; That makes it a lot easier to design an interface and to navigate it. They're targeting the plug 'n play crowd who don't want to tweak and don't want to learn the ins and outs of the internals of their pedals and amps, and that difference is why I sold my Helix and switched to Fractal.

I agree that there are some issues that should be addressed, both in the hardware interface and the Edit app, and maybe, at some point in a future firmware, they'll bring in some human-interface people who can work with the existing knobs on the hardware and redesign a bit.

It's not really the number of parameters but fundamental differences in how they work.

Helix lets you jump between assigned effects with ease when using the capacitive footswitches and generally you are never taken out of the grid unless you are choosing a model, editing global settings or saving a preset. There's also a separate amp button to quickly go to the amp block or cycle between multiple amp blocks if they exist in a preset.

Fractal on the other hand does not even let you go to the previous block without first getting out of edit view back to layout, then navigating to your desired block and pressing edit again (I end up pressing enter often because the layout works differently from most other menus). Or cycling through every block with edit. Every view is a new type of screen, which has pros and cons. It's all kinds of little things that add up that make it clunky to use for anything more than a few edits here and there.

Axe-Edit/FM3-Edit is a joy to work with, I just wish they would elevate the experience on the hardware UI because it would not require any massive reworking, just small improvements all around to make it more intuitive to operate. There's a ton of good suggestions on the wishlist forums for both the Axe-Fx 3 and FM3.

 

[Fletcher]

I think a big part of that is because Line 6 doesn't expose anywhere close to the number of settings and parameters that Fractal does; That makes it a lot easier to design an interface and to navigate it. They're targeting the plug 'n play crowd who don't want to tweak and don't want to learn the ins and outs of the internals of their pedals and amps, and that difference is why I sold my Helix and switched to Fractal.

I agree that there are some issues that should be addressed, both in the hardware interface and the Edit app, and maybe, at some point in a future firmware, they'll bring in some human-interface people who can work with the existing knobs on the hardware and redesign a bit.

I have a Kemper, FM3, and HX Stomp. The helix stuff is definitely not plug and play. You can make a the amps sound good, but it takes a LOT of work. But even then it’s not as good as Kemper or ax fx.

However, tweaking the helix effects is very easy and they sound great. But I’m an odd ball and think they’re all good in their own way.