Agreed @the1mrclean74. Rosh and Leon Todd have the best videos for Fractal gear that I've found. Just got the FM3 recently (for bass), and it's a lot more complicated than my HX Stomp, so these videos have been excellent.
@@RoshRoslin I have an FM3 purchased 8 months ago that I haven't even opened .. I know I have to update the firmware etc. but I got 3 quick questions.. What live monitoring setup gives the most authentic overdrive/clean tones ? Can you get Joe Bonamassa overdrive tones from his "Live at the Royal Albert Hall" dvd and Allan Holdsworth's overdrive tones from his "Secrets" cd - particularly tones used on "Peril Premonition" and "Joshua" ? Lastly ...The "Digitech 2101" has a patch titled "Floating Fifths" that I'd love to have in the FM3..You seem like one of the few people that could duplicate that patch in the Axe FX stuff... I know this costs .. please let me know ! Thanks
Thanks for this video. Coming from Helix, this has been a bit of a shock to be honest (I think a few other people made similar comments here). The sound of the FM3 seems to spank Helix but the switching and config is not even close. Snapshots and gapless switching seems like a no brainer for these types of devices and I definitely felt a bit of buyers remorse when I realized gapless switching is not really possible! I just assumed given the company (and artist roster) pedigree. Appreciate your videos!
I'm in the exact same boat and feel the exact same way! The sound on the FM3 is incredible, especially compared to the Helix, but Helix does true gapless switching and intelligent spillover that result in almost no artifacts. It's disappointing that the flagship unit (and by far the most expensive) is required for seamless switches between channels :(.
These are all good suggestions, but having tried them out, they are all compromises. I'm in a one guitar band and my switch from crystal clean to epic high gain *HAS* to be gapless. Using these techniques gets me close but getting crystal clean and epic high gain out of the same amp block is impossible. No internal drive pedal into a clean channel truly sounds great. Fractal has chosen realism and sound quality in the FM3 instead of gapless switching between presets/scenes. I think for 70% of guitarists this compromise works. On the other hand (or foot if you will since we are talking about floor based pedal processors) you have the Boss GT 1000. It's realism is miles behind Fractal's but what it can do is switch between presets and its internal version of scenes as fast as stomping a Boss pedal. A change from crystal clean with lush chorus to epic high gain with chorus off and different EQ settings? One tap, instantaneous. But you pay for that luxury with less realism and fewer editable options on an amp model. I used to wonder why so many pros used multiple Axe Fx IIs in their rigs and I get it now. For absolutely gapless switching, that's what you need. Just my $.02 on the subject.
There is only one amp block in the FM3 MK2 turbo. So the same switching rules apply. If you need absolutely seamless switching between amp channels, you'll need two amp blocks which are present in the FM9 and AxeFX3 (any model/variation)
Very useful. I’m still disappointed about channel (not preset) gap. I expected I could use multiple amps in my rig (one for clean and another one for high gain). Very cold shower.
If you need multiple amp blocks with seamless switching, I would recommend the AxeFX3. This allows you to have seamless switching between amp channels and amp blocks
@@RoshRoslin yes learned the lesson..! But your video-lesson helped me A LOT to enjoy FM3 with still no regrets. Actually, I can have fun with FM3 because of you.
Thanks for this video Rosh! Is it still true in 2024 that there's no delay in switching channels in a DRIVE block? That's not what I'm seeing with an FM3 running firmware version 7.0.
thanks @@RoshRoslin anyway to share ? I know you did another video without an amp on the FM3 and I'd love to have them all to learn setups and uses? CHEERS
Depending on the reverb type and the length, you may get a weird effect as the sounds change. Instead, I would recommend using scene controllers to change reverb sounds between scenes
I have an extra idea, don’t know if it could work. You can get an external preamp (one like MOOER Micro Preamp), with sim cab off, setted for example in a clean mode. Then put it in FM3 fx loop. Scene 1 (for cleans): FM3 amp bypassed, FX loop active (you are routed to MOOER clean preamp), FM3 sim cab ON (and go complete your chain with your favorite FM3 effect for cleans) Scene 2 (high gain): Fx loop bypassed, FM3 regular high gain chain. Could it work?
This could work, but I would find that it's unnecessary. I didn't cover this in the video but if you're going that route, just use another parallel route with a compressor or multibvand compressor block and you'll have a good clean sound as well. Use a mixer block to select between channels
It's too bad when that we assign the scene controller it can't use the same measurement as the original knob or switch. It would be easier to make the proper adjustments if we could see exactly what setting we are setting, such as dB, Hz, on/off, etc rather than just a percentage. Maybe they will update this on a future update. Great video though. Very helpful. I'm a brand new FM3 user, and didn't even know about this feature yet. Thanks!
I would say that gapless switching is now implemented with the latest updates on the FM3, you may not need scene controllers unless you desire to change the amp settings between scenes.
Is there a reason why fractal audio requires you to use scene controllers? Why can’t you just change the input drive level in each scene like every other modeler?
Agreed. I haven’t used Fractal gear since my AxeFx II. I don’t miss the scene controllers, which seem so kludgy compared to the modeler I’m currently using. I like the custom layouts you can make with the fm9 or fm3+fc6, But I’m not sure that’s enough of a feature for me to go back to fractal.
Rosh .. thank you for the video it was very informative. Seeing that you're a designer of poems for numerous famous people have you ever run into an excellent Van Halen preset for the fm3 or do you have one? Can you share it ? Teach us how make a VH preset ??
I have built several, but a good starting point is the eruption factory preset. I prefer the scene called "Variac+" I use this as a basis for most of the David Lee Roth era Van Halen tones. If you're going Sammy Hagar era, use the 5153 amp and matching cabinet
Hey John, I usually just build presets from scratch and they're constantly changing depending on what gigs I'm playing. Would be happy to help you build tones/presets for what you're looking for
When using scene controllers to get different levels of gain, how do you match the volumes? I add the gain in scene controllers 1 and then set the gain levels per scene. But then I try the same for the volume, but when I increase the volume in scene controller 2 it actually decreased the volume knob on the fm3. What am I doing wrong here? Thanks!
You can set another scene controller to control the volume output in the level parameter of the amp block. Or use a filter block, set to null and set each channel to be a certain volume quieter or louder Or use the scene levels in the output blocks. Plenty of options
This video series is PHENOMENAL!! Best videos I’ve found on the FM3, and I’ve watched a TON of them!! Thank you very much Rosh!!!
You're very welcome. Thanks!
Agreed @the1mrclean74. Rosh and Leon Todd have the best videos for Fractal gear that I've found. Just got the FM3 recently (for bass), and it's a lot more complicated than my HX Stomp, so these videos have been excellent.
This is a very informative video. Thank you so much for sharing these tech tips to help folks get the most out of the FM3.
Glad it was helpful!
@@RoshRoslin I have an FM3 purchased 8 months ago that I haven't even opened .. I know I have to update the firmware etc. but I got 3 quick questions.. What live monitoring setup gives the most authentic overdrive/clean tones ? Can you get Joe Bonamassa overdrive tones from his "Live at the Royal Albert Hall" dvd and Allan Holdsworth's overdrive tones from his "Secrets" cd - particularly tones used on "Peril Premonition" and "Joshua" ? Lastly ...The "Digitech 2101" has a patch titled "Floating Fifths" that I'd love to have in the FM3..You seem like one of the few people that could duplicate that patch in the Axe FX stuff... I know this costs .. please let me know ! Thanks
Thanks for this video. Coming from Helix, this has been a bit of a shock to be honest (I think a few other people made similar comments here). The sound of the FM3 seems to spank Helix but the switching and config is not even close. Snapshots and gapless switching seems like a no brainer for these types of devices and I definitely felt a bit of buyers remorse when I realized gapless switching is not really possible! I just assumed given the company (and artist roster) pedigree. Appreciate your videos!
I'm in the exact same boat and feel the exact same way! The sound on the FM3 is incredible, especially compared to the Helix, but Helix does true gapless switching and intelligent spillover that result in almost no artifacts. It's disappointing that the flagship unit (and by far the most expensive) is required for seamless switches between channels :(.
Thank You for this video, will be super useful, and was exactly I was looking for! Cheerz \m/
Glad it was helpful!
These are all good suggestions, but having tried them out, they are all compromises. I'm in a one guitar band and my switch from crystal clean to epic high gain *HAS* to be gapless. Using these techniques gets me close but getting crystal clean and epic high gain out of the same amp block is impossible. No internal drive pedal into a clean channel truly sounds great. Fractal has chosen realism and sound quality in the FM3 instead of gapless switching between presets/scenes. I think for 70% of guitarists this compromise works.
On the other hand (or foot if you will since we are talking about floor based pedal processors) you have the Boss GT 1000. It's realism is miles behind Fractal's but what it can do is switch between presets and its internal version of scenes as fast as stomping a Boss pedal. A change from crystal clean with lush chorus to epic high gain with chorus off and different EQ settings? One tap, instantaneous. But you pay for that luxury with less realism and fewer editable options on an amp model. I used to wonder why so many pros used multiple Axe Fx IIs in their rigs and I get it now. For absolutely gapless switching, that's what you need. Just my $.02 on the subject.
Great video Rosh! Any idea if this switching issue was resolved in the FM3 Mk 2 Turbo?
There is only one amp block in the FM3 MK2 turbo. So the same switching rules apply. If you need absolutely seamless switching between amp channels, you'll need two amp blocks which are present in the FM9 and AxeFX3 (any model/variation)
Very useful. I’m still disappointed about channel (not preset) gap. I expected I could use multiple amps in my rig (one for clean and another one for high gain).
Very cold shower.
If you need multiple amp blocks with seamless switching, I would recommend the AxeFX3. This allows you to have seamless switching between amp channels and amp blocks
@@RoshRoslin yes learned the lesson..!
But your video-lesson helped me A LOT to enjoy FM3 with still no regrets. Actually, I can have fun with FM3 because of you.
Thanks for this video Rosh! Is it still true in 2024 that there's no delay in switching channels in a DRIVE block? That's not what I'm seeing with an FM3 running firmware version 7.0.
Yes, everything is truly gapless in the FM3.
do you have this as a patch for the FM3 - Thanks and Cheers
No, I just made the video and dialed in the settings on the fly
thanks @@RoshRoslin anyway to share ? I know you did another video without an amp on the FM3 and I'd love to have them all to learn setups and uses? CHEERS
How do you take care of gaps if you are using two totally different reverb types from scene to another? Or two different delays?
Depending on the reverb type and the length, you may get a weird effect as the sounds change. Instead, I would recommend using scene controllers to change reverb sounds between scenes
I have an extra idea, don’t know if it could work.
You can get an external preamp (one like MOOER Micro Preamp), with sim cab off, setted for example in a clean mode.
Then put it in FM3 fx loop.
Scene 1 (for cleans): FM3 amp bypassed, FX loop active (you are routed to MOOER clean preamp), FM3 sim cab ON (and go complete your chain with your favorite FM3 effect for cleans)
Scene 2 (high gain): Fx loop bypassed, FM3 regular high gain chain.
Could it work?
This could work, but I would find that it's unnecessary. I didn't cover this in the video but if you're going that route, just use another parallel route with a compressor or multibvand compressor block and you'll have a good clean sound as well. Use a mixer block to select between channels
@@RoshRoslin thank you as always 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻😊 very much!!
It's too bad when that we assign the scene controller it can't use the same measurement as the original knob or switch. It would be easier to make the proper adjustments if we could see exactly what setting we are setting, such as dB, Hz, on/off, etc rather than just a percentage. Maybe they will update this on a future update. Great video though. Very helpful. I'm a brand new FM3 user, and didn't even know about this feature yet. Thanks!
I would say that gapless switching is now implemented with the latest updates on the FM3, you may not need scene controllers unless you desire to change the amp settings between scenes.
Is there a reason why fractal audio requires you to use scene controllers? Why can’t you just change the input drive level in each scene like every other modeler?
Agreed. I haven’t used Fractal gear since my AxeFx II. I don’t miss the scene controllers, which seem so kludgy compared to the modeler I’m currently using. I like the custom layouts you can make with the fm9 or fm3+fc6, But I’m not sure that’s enough of a feature for me to go back to fractal.
Rosh .. thank you for the video it was very informative. Seeing that you're a designer of poems for numerous famous people have you ever run into an excellent Van Halen preset for the fm3 or do you have one? Can you share it ? Teach us how make a VH preset ??
I have built several, but a good starting point is the eruption factory preset. I prefer the scene called "Variac+" I use this as a basis for most of the David Lee Roth era Van Halen tones.
If you're going Sammy Hagar era, use the 5153 amp and matching cabinet
@@RoshRoslin :)
Hi Great Video. Do you have any presets to share or sell please let me know Thank you
I make custom presets for clients so I don't sell any (for now)
Hi Buddy do you have any presets for sale from clean to ambience also with some od and a ld solo this is for worship, Please let me know Thank you
Hey John, I usually just build presets from scratch and they're constantly changing depending on what gigs I'm playing. Would be happy to help you build tones/presets for what you're looking for
Can this be done using different amp blocks?
The FM3 only has one amp block.
When using scene controllers to get different levels of gain, how do you match the volumes? I add the gain in scene controllers 1 and then set the gain levels per scene. But then I try the same for the volume, but when I increase the volume in scene controller 2 it actually decreased the volume knob on the fm3. What am I doing wrong here? Thanks!
You can set another scene controller to control the volume output in the level parameter of the amp block.
Or use a filter block, set to null and set each channel to be a certain volume quieter or louder
Or use the scene levels in the output blocks.
Plenty of options