FM3 Limitations

[Suhrbanez]

When I first bought an FM3 I was surprised to discover that it only has enough power to handle 1 reverb, and after inquiring I discovered that neither the MKII or Turbo models could do this either. I was told that if I want 2 reverbs I need buy an FM9, which is $800 more and too big for me.
How is it that it can have a bunch of blocks, but not an amp, cab and 2 reverbs? What am I not understanding here?

Id love to have a unit that is the size of the FM3, but has the power of a Quad Cortex, or HX Stomp even, and be able to have 2 amps/cabs, reverbs etc.

 

[Ugly Bunny]

The plex delay can be configured as a reverb.

Out of curiosity, what are you playing in a single sound/scene that you need more than one reverb block?

 

[Shask]

Unless you need 2 at the same time, you could set up the Reverb block with 2 channels of different Reverbs you could switch between.

 

[sprint]

Why surprised? - the number of instances available for each block in each unit is shown in the manuals available pre-purchase.

 

[Jamie383]

There aren’t two reverbs available in the unit, so having enough processing power is moot.

 

[Jamie383]

You can achieve reverb using the room settings in the cab block, or use the plex verb or set up the multi tap. I’m sure there are others.

 

[Bertotti]

There aren’t two reverbs available in the unit, so having enough processing power is moot.

Not really moot, you would like two reverbs at the same time then the power is completely relavent. A little pre purchase research would have cleared this up before hand but I am also guilty of missing things before a purchase. It would be nice to have two reverbs for me in some soundscape noodling. For the OP I’m curious of the desired use.

 

[Suhrbanez]

Thanks for the replies. I often use 2 reverbs, either room/ambience + other eg. hall, or spring + other etc.

Good tips on room settings in cab, thanks!

Not really mooting you would like two reverbs at the same time then the power is completely relavent. A little pre purchase research would have cleared this up before hand but I am also guilty of missing things before a purchase. It would be nice to have two reverbs for me in some soundscape noodling. For the OP O curious of the desired use.

I was quick to listen to the hype online and rushed to buy a unit, I should have researched in more detail, it was just an assumption as it was something I was just used to with all my other modelers.

 

[iaresee]

For $699 you could have two more reverbs in the form of a VP4!

 

[Rex]

How is it that it can have a bunch of blocks, but not an amp, cab and 2 reverbs? What am I not understanding here?

Every possible instance of every block has to be loaded into high-speed memory at boot-up. If it weren't, it would take forever to change presets.

High-speed memory is limited, so choices have to be made as to how many of which block should be made available. The designers had to choose between a second Reverb block or a bunch of smaller blocks. They chose the bunch of blocks.

 

[Smilzo]

When I first bought an FM3 I was surprised to discover that it only has enough power to handle 1 reverb, and after inquiring I discovered that neither the MKII or Turbo models could do this either. I was told that if I want 2 reverbs I need buy an FM9, which is $800 more and too big for me.
How is it that it can have a bunch of blocks, but not an amp, cab and 2 reverbs? What am I not understanding here?

Id love to have a unit that is the size of the FM3, but has the power of a Quad Cortex, or HX Stomp even, and be able to have 2 amps/cabs, reverbs etc.

The FM3 IS nearly as powerful as Cortex or HX... the difference is in the algos... they are very detailed and CPU demanding... FM3 could have run 10 low quality reverbs, if the number of istances were the target. You could make a distortion simply clipping the signal, Fractal could have done eq-clipping-eq and run a 100 distortions. But the target is different: high quality, analog-like musical output. Taste Fractal sping reverbs.

 

[Paul Bradshaw]

as someone noted earlier, you have multiple channels on each block,
i can understand the needs of say two reverbs and tails perhaps melting into another when switching back and forth

if that is vital to your setup, then an FM9 is a better option, but you can achieve that effect with one reverb block and perhaps delay to help things melt =)

I can understand your point, given how flexible the grid and the infrastructure is, we're 'limited' to the choice of blocks on the FM3, but combine that with 4 channels on each block, scenes and it balances out

 

[Paul Bradshaw]

I'll just add this, Leon just did a video on this FM3 + VP4 , and there's two reverb blocks on the VP4 =)
but i'd most likely go the FM9 route for that sort of money

 

[Ugly Bunny]

For $699 you could have four more reverbs in the form of a VP4!

Might as well just get an FM9 for that (total) price and footprint

 

[stephanfm3]

I'll just add this, Leon just did a video on this FM3 + VP4 , and there's two reverb blocks on the VP4 =)
but i'd most likely go the FM9 route for that sort of money

i really like the state leons fm3 is in

 

[GitGuy513]

Might as well just get an FM9 for that (total) price and footprint

Not really…heck when I kept seeing people making this lacking in critical thinking remark I was under the impression the FM9 was $1699.00. I happened to just see it is actually $1799.00. So it’s even less sensible in certain scenarios.

Let’s take the OP’s issue. He’s lamenting not being able to use two reverbs simultaneously. So it’s effects that is his main problem. He already has the FM3 and very likely long absorbed that expenditure. So suggesting to buy an FM9 will cost the OP $1100.00 more than getting a VP4. Add in the extra tax and it’s not such the great deal that it is made out to be. Keeping the discussion solely about effects IMO the additional effects with VP4 surpasses the FM9.

Another thing to consider is in my case I didn’t buy the FM3 for a small footprint but rather it was in my price range. There was no FM9 and the FXIII was way out of my price range. The footprint of the FM3 + VP4 is still quite acceptable. Seeing the midi implementation makes it even more appealing.

 

[Ugly Bunny]

Not really…heck when I kept seeing people making this lacking in critical thinking remark I was under the impression the FM9 was $1699.00. I happened to just see it is actually $1799.00. So it’s even less sensible in certain scenarios.

Let’s take the OP’s issue. He’s lamenting not being able to use two reverbs simultaneously. So it’s effects that is his main problem. He already has the FM3 and very likely long absorbed that expenditure. So suggesting to buy an FM9 will cost the OP $1100.00 more than getting a VP4. Add in the extra tax and it’s not such the great deal that it is made out to be. Keeping the discussion solely about effects IMO the additional effects with VP4 surpasses the FM9.

Another thing to consider is in my case I didn’t buy the FM3 for a small footprint but rather it was in my price range. There was no FM9 and the FXIII was way out of my price range. The footprint of the FM3 + VP4 is still quite acceptable. Seeing the midi implementation makes it even more appealing.

That's a whole lot of words to say you didn't really understand my post.

The gist was that between the cost of an FM3 and VP4, you're already in the neighborhood of an FM9. You're also taking up the same amount of real estate. That's it.

 

[Joshua_L]

Thanks for the replies. I often use 2 reverbs, either room/ambience + other eg. hall, or spring + other etc.

Good tips on room settings in cab, thanks!




I was quick to listen to the hype online and rushed to buy a unit, I should have researched in more detail, it was just an assumption as it was something I was just used to with all my other modelers.

maybe the things you used to do with other modelers are not necessary anymore.
Reverb, plex, and mutluitap delay are just fantastic in fractal world.

 

[GitGuy513]

That's a whole lot of words to say you didn't really understand my post.

The gist was that between the cost of an FM3 and VP4, you're already in the neighborhood of an FM9. You're also taking up the same amount of real estate. That's it.

And you cleverly, but not unnoticed used few words to say you didn’t understand my comment. I understood your post clearly. I gave caveats and qualifications to my points. This makes a big difference in the world of “big people” dialog. Your opinion about the FM3 combined with the VP4 is lacking in complete assessment.

And just to be a bigger prick…haven’t seen you around the FM3 section much @Ugly Bunny but if memory serves you’re the guy who’s never satisfied and finds fault in the smallest things.

 

[ruso]

Let’s take the OP’s issue. He’s lamenting not being able to use two reverbs simultaneously. So it’s effects that is his main problem. He already has the FM3 and very likely long absorbed that expenditure.

Research a product before making a purchase. That is the responsibility of the buyer as much as it is the responsibility of the seller to provide specifications. If a product doesn’t meet your needs, buy something else. If your needs change and the product doesn’t meet your needs, buy something else. It really is that simple.