FM3 quality as interface

kaiqueunderline said:
I'd say I can hear a slight difference in coloration. Now, which is which? I'd guess the first is SSL and the second is directly fractal.

But again, volume affects how we hear it, so it adds a layer of subjectivity to the test.

Another point is that, at least on monitors, here at home in my specific case, I can clearly notice that the sound becomes flatter when it passes through an interface than when it comes directly from the fractal.
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The recording order is SSL2 audio interface first, followed by FM3 audio interface (as stated in the article).

I prefer using FM3 (or Fractal Devices like FM9/AXE3) as a USB audio interface. It's subtle, but I feel it offers better sound (and latency.)
 
francis said:
The recording order is SSL2 audio interface first, followed by FM3 audio interface (as stated in the article).

I prefer using FM3 (or Fractal Devices like FM9/AXE3) as a USB audio interface. It's subtle, but I feel it offers better sound (and latency.)
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Yes I too when I need record guitars, FM3 ever. My post is because I`m so tired of change cables in monitor from fm3 to ssl2 KAKAKAKA, I want a solution that no put color in sound and make it practice.
 
kaiqueunderline said:
Yes I too when I need record guitars, FM3 ever. My post is because I`m so tired of change cables in monitor from fm3 to ssl2 KAKAKAKA, I want a solution that no put color in sound and make it practice.
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What about something like this or similar? Plug in the FM3 and SSL2 in the inputs and monitors to outputs. Not sure if these color the sound or not.

https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound-Balanced-Converter-Audio-Selector/dp/B07D7P7366

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2251832698448311.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt

EDIT: DISREGARD I believe you want to use the FM3 as the interface also via USB.
EDIT 2: Or after rereading the thread maybe this could be a viable option
EDIT 3: actually I have no idea what I'm talking about. Carry on.
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kaiqueunderline said:
Yes I too when I need record guitars, FM3 ever. My post is because I`m so tired of change cables in monitor from fm3 to ssl2 KAKAKAKA, I want a solution that no put color in sound and make it practice.
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I connected the my AXE FX3 to CH1 & 2 of the SSL2 MK1 via XLR, set the channel gain to 0, and turned the Monitor Mix knob all the way to Input.

This bypasses the SSL2's AD/DA.

As I mentioned, the sound changes due to the SSL2's intervention are subtle, so you can always turn the Monitor Mix knob toward USB to hear the COM side.

On Windows 10, the AXE3 is recognized as an ASIO audio device only in the DAW. Normally, the SSL2 is the ASIO audio device.
*The monitor speakers are connected to the SSL2.
*Also, a Fender FR12 is directly connected to the AXE3, allowing you to play with an "amp feel" regardless of the COM.
 
I had an SSL12 for a year. There was some slight coloration while playing/recording, but when I listened back to reference tracks there were definitely mix details that disappeared with the SSL. My mixes suffered a bit as well - I got rid of it and got something else with a little less personality, and better converters.

I also realized that presets I made during that time were less than par, and did not translate well. One less rabbit hole to go down...
 
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kaiqueunderline said:
My problem is having to plug the FM3 into another interface and not getting the true sound quality from the FM3; the interface's converters always end up coloring the sound. That's why I wanted to get the best possible sound from the FM3 as an interface too; on its own, it doesn't have that extra coloration.
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please refer to my signature. This goes for just about any audio interface made in the last 10 years. I have 3 Apollo X8s and a 60 dollar behringer interface and as far as converters, they sound fine.
 
Bruce Sokolovic said:
“Just go make music. I'd wager of the thousands of different things that might truly be holding you back in your creative endeavors, the quality of the AD/DA converters in the Axe FX is about as close to dead last in that list as you can possibly get”. Mr_fender
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True
 
kaiqueunderline said:
I have an SSL2 MKII. I like to use fractal connected directly to my Yamaha HS5, so ever that ai will play guitar I change the cables in Yamaha from SSL2 to Fractal. But when I use Fractal to listen music while I play, I think that don't have the same quality that SSL2, that get more low sounds and lost a little bit of definition. Have any configuration to improve the sound of FM3 when used as interface?
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Null test. Full stop.

Psychoacoustics, what your eyeballs are looking at, how much you spent on the equipment, even the smells in the air all have an effect on your perception of sound. A null test controlling for a single variable is the only way to know if there actually is difference. Even then, it'll only tell you one exists, not what one device is doing in particular.

Most current consumer A/D-D/As are super linear and have extremely little coloration on things. I think it's far more likely you're hearing some sort of harmonic trickery that SSL imparted in order to emulate the 4K series consoles of yesteryear.
 
The mic-pre's on SSL interfaces are definitely colored. A/B tests with the new interface were night & day. My frustration with the SSL was around reproduction of what I was already hearing. That's where the quality of the converters comes in - it doesn't necessarily mean better or worse - it's more about the sound going in matching the sound going out. If the color is what you're going for, great. If not, you have problems.

I spent a lot of time on my main presets, and hearing something different on recorded tracks without any processing was not working for me. Hence I made the switch.
 
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