FNG looking for basics with FM3

[badamsky]

Hey there! First Fractal ever. Been using tube combos and outboard processors for live performance all my life, so using a modeler is brand new for me. Looking for some advice getting started.

IR Bundles: what do you like? I play in an 11-piece funk/soul/R&B band, so 75% clean rhythms. In all I'll bet I use two dozen sounds total on my current processor (TC Electronics G Major), so not looking for anything too out there as far as rigs and presets go, but I'd rather choose from a variety of presets rather than build my own from the ground up.

Foot controllers: what do you like for live performance? Damn, the FC6 is pricey, but I'll buy it if I must. I've been using a Rocktron MIDI Mate for a dog's age, so I'm used to using the bank-and-patch method of navigating through my presets. I'd like to stick with something I could program like that, but if I gotta unlearn 30 years of habit, so be it.

The whole band is on in-ears, so not worried about FRFR's. If anything, I'm looking to decrease teh amount of gear I have to tote.

Thanks in advance boys and girls. Looking forward to your input

Bill

 

[Rex]

Hey there! First Fractal ever.

Welcome to the funhouse, @badamsky!

IR's: what do you like?

Doesn't matter what I like. What do you like? Start with IRs that are similar to what you're used to. As time goes on, experiment with others. You don't know what you really like until you've had a thousand speaker cabs at your disposal.

...I'd rather choose from a variety or presets rather than build my own from the ground up.

Start with the factory presets — particularly the first bank of them. There's a tone in there for just about any application.

Foot controllers: what do you like for live performance?

I like Fractal's FCs.

Damn, the FC6 is pricey, but I'll buy it if I must.

There is no "must." You might find that you need nothing more than the three footswitches on the FM3.

I've been using a Rocktron MIDI Mate for a dog's age, so I'm used to using the bank-and-patch method of navigating through my presets.

If all you're doing is switching presets or bypassing a couple of blocks, the MIDI Mate will work fine for that.

 

[Sean D.]

When I started with in-ears, I noticed the guitar did not "resonate" (feedback, note blossoms) it sounded pretty dead to me. What I came to realize is my guitar did not have any of its amplified signal going back through the pick-ups. My solution is an inexpensive FRFR (Alto TS-212) which I put in front of me like a traditional monitor at a relatively low volume. I don't need to hear it... my guitar does. If you've been performing with stage volume, you'll notice a big difference in your sound through your in-ears if you don't have any.

As far as IRs go, I am not overly particular as many of the posts I read suggest many other are. I find one I like (from the included IRs) and go from there. With the parameters in the Cab Block, I can pretty much dial up a sound that sounds good to me and works well with the group. Don't be afraid to experiment, this is not like traditional gear, you can't break it by using crazy settings.

 

[badamsky]

When I started with in-ears, I noticed the guitar did not "resonate" (feedback, note blossoms) it sounded pretty dead to me. What I came to realize is my guitar did not have any of its amplified signal going back through the pick-ups. My solution is an inexpensive FRFR (Alto TS-212) which I put in front of me like a traditional monitor at a relatively low volume. I don't need to hear it... my guitar does. If you've been performing with stage volume, you'll notice a big difference in your sound through your in-ears if you don't have any.

As far as IRs go, I am not overly particular as many of the posts I read suggest many other are. I find one I like (from the included IRs) and go from there. With the parameters in the Cab Block, I can pretty much dial up a sound that sounds good to me and works well with the group. Don't be afraid to experiment, this is not like traditional gear, you can't break it by using crazy settings.

Thanks Sean, you're actually not the first to tell me that about FRFRs so I'll have to take this to heart. Once in a while I'll mute the speaker on my Mark V when I need low volume live and there's def that presence missing onstage as well. Cheers!

 

[chris]

many times the difference between a full range speaker and an amp/cab is that people tend to aim the full-range up at their face, so they need less volume, get way more highs and it feels more directional.

the amp/cab however is facing straight forward, aimed at your ankles, so you turn up and crank the highs since you aren't directly in the throw of the speaker. the 1st row gets killed, but we don't ever know.

simple things like that make a huge difference.

 

[badamsky]

Welcome to the funhouse, @badamsky!



Doesn't matter what I like. What do you like? Start with IRs that are similar to what you're used to. As time goes on, experiment with others. You don't know what you really like until you've had a thousand speaker cabs at your disposal.



Start with the factory presets — particularly the first bank of them. There's a tone in there for just about any application.



I like Fractal's FCs.



There is no "must." You might find that you need nothing more than the three footswitches on the FM3.



If all you're doing is switching presets or bypassing a couple of blocks, the MIDI Mate will work fine for that.

Thanks, mang!

 

[unix-guy]

When I started with in-ears, I noticed the guitar did not "resonate" (feedback, note blossoms) it sounded pretty dead to me. What I came to realize is my guitar did not have any of its amplified signal going back through the pick-ups. My solution is an inexpensive FRFR (Alto TS-212) which I put in front of me like a traditional monitor at a relatively low volume. I don't need to hear it... my guitar does. If you've been performing with stage volume, you'll notice a big difference in your sound through your in-ears if you don't have any.

As far as IRs go, I am not overly particular as many of the posts I read suggest many other are. I find one I like (from the included IRs) and go from there. With the parameters in the Cab Block, I can pretty much dial up a sound that sounds good to me and works well with the group. Don't be afraid to experiment, this is not like traditional gear, you can't break it by using crazy settings.

Try using the Gain Enhancer mode of the Output Compressor in the Amp block.

It's designed to emulate the acoustic coupling you're referring to.

 

[stdout]

@badamsky I’m a new user as well. I have a midi controller and initially was thinking of using it to extend the FM3’s switch capabilities. But as I became more familiar with how the footswitch functions work I decided to try using a 2-button external switch to serve as a pair of Stand-In switches. And I‘m blown away at how much a $20 switch adds to the usability of the FM3. This video talks about using a FC-6, a Stand-In switch, and a midi controller (he’s using a Morningstar MC6 which is a wonderful piece of gear.)

 

[chris]

Hey there! First Fractal ever. Been using tube combos and outboard processors for live performance all my life, so using a modeler is brand new for me. Looking for some advice getting started.

IR Bundles: what do you like? I play in an 11-piece funk/soul/R&B band, so 75% clean rhythms. In all I'll bet I use two dozen sounds total on my current processor (TC Electronics G Major), so not looking for anything too out there as far as rigs and presets go, but I'd rather choose from a variety of presets rather than build my own from the ground up.

Foot controllers: what do you like for live performance? Damn, the FC6 is pricey, but I'll buy it if I must. I've been using a Rocktron MIDI Mate for a dog's age, so I'm used to using the bank-and-patch method of navigating through my presets. I'd like to stick with something I could program like that, but if I gotta unlearn 30 years of habit, so be it.

The whole band is on in-ears, so not worried about FRFR's. If anything, I'm looking to decrease teh amount of gear I have to tote.

Thanks in advance boys and girls. Looking forward to your input

Bill

I can do a livestream in the next 10 minutes or so if you’re around. Let me know.

gonna start streaming now, not sure how long i'll be on. https://forum.fractalaudio.com/thre...fm3-11-10-2020-9-15pm-est.161430/post-2007226

 

[Sean D.]

Try using the Gain Enhancer mode of the Output Compressor in the Amp block.

It's designed to emulate the acoustic coupling you're referring to.

I started with the AX8, and to my knowledge, the AX8 didn’t have that feature. I have messed with it on the FM3, but stacking m speaker on my rolling case really doesn’t add much to load in and my band and I have gotten used to the stage volume.

 

[Chromatizm]

Rocktron MIDI Mate

Were you able to make it work? I've got a good offer but not sure if I should go for it. Switching scenes/presets and bypassing the blocks is all I need with it.

 

[laxu]

IR Bundles: what do you like? I play in an 11-piece funk/soul/R&B band, so 75% clean rhythms. In all I'll bet I use two dozen sounds total on my current processor (TC Electronics G Major), so not looking for anything too out there as far as rigs and presets go, but I'd rather choose from a variety of presets rather than build my own from the ground up.

Just use the factory IRs. They are great and there's enough to choose from for a lifetime. I typically mix a SM57 and Royer 161 or BD M160 mic together in the cab block. Use the level control for the 2nd IR to adjust its balance vs the first slot.

Factory presets are a good starting point. Remember that any preset out there won't be made by a player with the same playing style, guitar(s), output systems etc so consider presets as starting points to make them to your liking.

Foot controllers: what do you like for live performance? Damn, the FC6 is pricey, but I'll buy it if I must. I've been using a Rocktron MIDI Mate for a dog's age, so I'm used to using the bank-and-patch method of navigating through my presets. I'd like to stick with something I could program like that, but if I gotta unlearn 30 years of habit, so be it.

I like the XSonic Airstep. Programmable with a phone app, compact and lightweight.

Other popular option is Morningstar MIDI controllers. This is the route I would go now because they have some Fractal integration built in and a display which the XSonic lacks.

FC6/12 are very expensive for what they are but will offer better integration with Fractal. This might be a quality-of-life thing that may make them worth the money. Learn to work with the built in footswitches on the FM3 first. The FC6/12 are exactly the same in functionality.