Yeah you're just plain wrong.
None of my analog or digital pedals create gaps. If yours do, then you're doing it wrong.
The FM9 is on a fairly lonely island as far as this problem goes.
This has nothing to do with dynamics in music. I create dynamics in my music but that's by choice, not due to forced limitations by a piece of equipment that could have been designed better.
I really have no idea why any real musician would be arguing for lower standards in the tools we use. Gapless switching is obviously better because it preserves the musical choice: If you want to mute somewhere, you can use your hand or your volume control or any number of deliberate means. You don't need fractal to insert it without choice.
What exactly do you gain by arguing in favor of a lessor outcome?
So much to unpack there. By your profile pic you don't look that young so I am surprised you didn't play analog gear before buffers were a thing. But by your statements you obviously did not. Maybe you haven't been playing that long? Some of the older analog gear had gaps and switching artifacts when you engaged or disengaged a pedal. This was true for flangers, choruses, analog verbs and delays. Some drive pedals caused a KABOOM when you switched them on with a spring reverb loaded amp.
I write and play jazz, fusion, and progressive rock. That music is loaded with transitions and dynamics. Many transitions involve a new patch for the subsequent part. As a player that plays some very challenging music loaded with dynamics and transitions live on stage, the gaps have never been a thing that concerned or bothered me. They abviously didn't bother players like Petrucci, Guthrie Govan and countless others either.
I'm not arguing for the sake of a lessor outcome. Just making some guesses about why this might be an issue for you.
Strings break, noisy power happens, tubes fry, cables short, and gaps and effect switching artifacts happen. Professional musicians with real talent find a way through with minimum impact to the performance.
I had a Helix - gaps or not I'll take my FM9 as a far superior piece of kit for what matters most to me - TONE!!!!!
It's like the hottie with an amazing bod and a gap in between their front teeth. I can deal with it while focusing on what's more important to me in the end game. It sounds like the FM9 could be gapless very soon.
I tried them all (Boss GT-1000, Helix, QC, etc.). I kept one - my FM9. You seem to be running it down solely for the gap that is obviously a thorn in your backside. At the end of the day (or the gig) - great tone and versatility matter more than dealing with some gaps that have never been an issue for me. Since they are such an issue for you maybe you bought the wrong gear for you.
