FM3 live routing: FOH on Out 1 + power amp & real cab on Out 2 – FX settings?

V

vaskats

New Member
Hi,
I’m using an FM3 with:
• Output 1 → FOH / PA (Cab block ON)
• Output 2 → Power amp (powerstage 170)→ real guitar cab Marhsall 1960BV 4x12 (Cab block OFF)
I route Output 2 before the Cab block, as suggested in the manual (page 35).
My questions:
  1. Do you place time-based and modulation FX (delay, chorus, tremolo, phaser, pitch, etc.) before the Cab block, so they go to both FOH and the real cab?
  2. If so, do you simply adjust mix / EQ (low-cut, high-cut) for the real cab instead of keeping it dry?
  3. For lead tones or clean tones, do you usually run delay to the real cab as well, and if yes, what kind of mix / filtering settings work best on stage?
I’m trying to keep full tone and feel on stage, while sending a cab-sim signal to FOH, without muddiness or harshness.
Any recommended FX settings or real-world examples would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks you all in advance!
 
This is the preset I use for doing what you're describing. I have PowerAmp modeling turned off since there isn't a way to have it on for Out1 and off for Out2. But with a little EQ on the Out1 I was very happy with it. It's a hi gain preset but may give you some ideas of what to do.

Basically the cab block is the last block in the chain and goes to Out1. Out2 takes a feed just before the cab block since it's going into a poweramp and cab.

The attached file is a fasbundle file so it includes the IR.
 

Attachments

vaskats said:
Hi,
I’m using an FM3 with:
• Output 1 → FOH / PA (Cab block ON)
• Output 2 → Power amp (powerstage 170)→ real guitar cab Marhsall 1960BV 4x12 (Cab block OFF)
I route Output 2 before the Cab block, as suggested in the manual (page 35).
My questions:
  1. Do you place time-based and modulation FX (delay, chorus, tremolo, phaser, pitch, etc.) before the Cab block, so they go to both FOH and the real cab?
  2. If so, do you simply adjust mix / EQ (low-cut, high-cut) for the real cab instead of keeping it dry?
  3. For lead tones or clean tones, do you usually run delay to the real cab as well, and if yes, what kind of mix / filtering settings work best on stage?
I’m trying to keep full tone and feel on stage, while sending a cab-sim signal to FOH, without muddiness or harshness.
Any recommended FX settings or real-world examples would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks you all in advance!
Click to expand...

I send the same effects to both outputs. So the only split is right before the cabinet block between the two outputs. Occasionally I will put an GEQ block before out 2 so I can adjust the feel of the power amp + cabinet without it affecting FOH. Mainly, FOH does not usually need a lot of low end in the guitar, but we all know how great a loud guitar palm muted can feel on stage. EQ boosts a little bit of low end.

You can feasibly do this in the Output EQ for output 2. But, I have inadvertently forgotten what adjustments I've made from gig to gig so, I find its better to just keep that flat and make the adjustments on a preset by preset basis.

Lastly, an GEQ block allows you to put the sliders on a performance page. With my dual setup presets, it's easy for me to adjust the 63 and 125 HZ sliders on a performance page for more chug without making the mains shake as a result.
 
what feed does the rest of the band get? do they want FX? do you want it? Stage/monitor is for you, FOH is for the audience.
 
Thanks a lot everyone for the detailed feedback, this is really helpful. Thanks for the fasbundle file!!!

I have a quick follow-up question regarding the comment about “putting sliders on a performance page.”
When you say that, do you mean: Assigning an Output 2 Global EQ (or a GEQ block) to Per-Preset Perform controls, or
using a GEQ/PEQ block before Out 2 and mapping its bands (e.g. 63 Hz / 125 Hz / highs) to the Performance page for quick stage adjustments?
If you could briefly explain how you set that up on the FM3 (which block + which parameters you assign), that would be great.
If there’s a specific guide, manual section, or forum post you recommend for setting up Performance sliders, a link would be much appreciated.
Also, regarding the live setup:
  • The band listens through monitors
  • FOH gets the full signal with cab sim and FX
  • On stage, I hear both my real cab (via power amp) and what comes back from the monitor
So ideally I want time-based and modulation FX to work for both FOH and my monitoring, without killing the feel of the real cab.

Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience!
 
I have used a setup like you initially described for several years now. I have compression and drive, then the amp, then mod and time effects, then a cab at the end for FoH. I use a GEQ block before output 2 just to have some on-the-fly control over what goes into the power amp and cab at the venue.

I wind up changing that at almost every show. It will feel different in every room, and feel different if the place is packed vs. empty-ish. Of course, outdoors is its own thing.
 
Last edited:
w4eae said:
I have used a setup like you initially described for several years now. I have compression and drive, then the amp, then mod and time effects, then a cab at the end for FoH. I use a GEQ block before output 2 just to have some on-the-fly control over what goes into the power amp a cab at the venue.

I wind up changing that at almost every show. It will feel different in every room, and feel different if the place is packed vs. empty-ish. Of course, outdoors is its own thing.
Click to expand...
Everything you’ve said makes perfect sense. Thank you for the feedback!
 
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