FM9 - Basic Setup & Preset Ideas

[@RyanFormato]

Who is here because they just got an FM9 turbo? Me!

[@ghirapi]

Lol me too

[@gabriel_levi]

SAME!

[@davidhallowell3457]

Ditto

[@jessearias12]

How long did you have to wait to get yours?

[@gabriel_levi]

@@jessearias12 I had been on the waiting list for about a year. Production seems to be picking up again, you should get an invite soon!

[@kendallboyd2472]

Here because I just got my FM9 last week!!! YAY! Now trying to forget some of what I know from the Axefx II XL+ for the slightly different workflow of the FM9.

[@sboy1955]

Thanks for putting this out for all of us. Sounds great! As a Helix owner/operator for 7yrs+, my first reaction is that the FAS user interface is very complicated, kinda like the cockpit of a 747. Helix ease of use is more akin to falling off a log.

[@LeonTodd]

The Helix UI is very well thought out and well implemented, and I generally find my HX Stomp very smooth to use. The FAS stuff opens up a massive amount of control to users, which can certainly feel overwhelming. Sticking to the "authentic" tab of the amps/drives definitely helps as that removes all the extra fun/distracting stuff.

[@sboy1955]

@@LeonTodd - Yessir, I think hanging around on the surface with factory presets and scene functions is a good place to stay for a few hours/days. Thanks, your videos are a ton of help.. I am actually waiting on my FM9 right now and trying to get ready for it.

[@jeffmcalpin2369]

Please do a video on the footswitching functionality. I have several presets that have up to 7 scenes and would like to know how to do this and other things on the fm9. Thank you!!

[@r.llynch4124]

Hoping all is well down under mate. You help so many so thanks for all your hard work.

[@LeonTodd]

Living the dream mate - we just started a weekly residency and have got a bunch of shows lined up over the next few months. Gigged the FM9 last night and it was rad!

[@r.llynch4124]

@@LeonTodd Running down a dream. That's what life is all about, :)

[@deanbibb3680]

You beautiful mad genius! I miss my DEP-5! What a great unit and almost completely forgotten today.

[@LeonTodd]

Love that unit, so many creative effects

[@curlzwalk]

LT the #1 Fractal demo Dude!! Love your content! Thanks for all you do! Blessing to you and your family!! : ) Peace be with you.

[@LeonTodd]

Thankyou my friend, likewise!

[@Steven-u5w]

FM9 this seems a very useful piece of gear to have in the studio. I'm going to have to check it out

[@LeonTodd]

You should!

[@randomdude2531]

This all sounds so awesome. Thank you for doing this from a somewhat confused new FM9 owner.

[@LeonTodd]

Glad it helped you out!

[@stevenmgyori3826]

" Mornin' Leon!" Thanks for the Tutorial and Tips! Enjoyed the Ocean views, Thanks for sharing brother and Be Well All!

[@LeonTodd]

Thanks! You too!

[@jameslugo]

The best get started with an FM9 video. I love this video.

[@LeonTodd]

Thanks my man :D

[@francescocagnacci]

Leon thanks for this! I have been watching your channel for a while. This year I'll start working to afford this fm9 (or as soon as it comes to Italy!) Thanks leon

[@RL10]

Saluti dall'Italia

[@LeonTodd]

Congrats!

[@stevensrp2music985]

I’ve been looking forward to a your demo of this and not at the same time lol. This thing looks so amazing and I really don’t need to spend the money hahaha. Also that shoreline background is slick

[@MOAB-UT]

I thought the same about his slick editing (ocean waves.) It looks amazing because IT IS! Get on the list!

[@LeonTodd]

Thanks! I didn't take the footage but i wish I did.

[@MOAB-UT]

@@LeonTodd Ansel Adams didn't make the landscapes he is famous for photographing either- but he showcased and shared them with others.

[@guitargames]

Thank You! So Much Information, Glorious Presentation. As Alway's...These units are a wonderland!

[@miked5487]

So looking forward to this!

[@danandrews2650]

Excellent as always Leon. Thank you for doing these! I am on the wait list but keeping FM3 as backup :)

[@LeonTodd]

Same here, FM3 in the spare bag is the best backup ever!

[@metatron333ascension]

i cant wait. i want the FM9 some kind of bad.

[@cardp17]

great video for a newbie, leon! thanks! wondering if the #380 preset you walk us through is shared in the presets library?

[@LeonTodd]

That should be in the factory presets :)

[@johnshields6539]

Just got mine today Leon, ain't got a clue how to use it LOL that's why I'm here and why I bought one because of the sounds your getting outta this thing, helix user but just can't do the amp models too thin no body , use it mainly as an effects board through my amp, So how do you compare this against the helix, and cheers for the great videos really appreciate them Leon, and hello from Ireland ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

[@Harrysound]

Hi Leon thanks for the video. Is there a way of making the FM9 change the screen to the last activated effect. kinda like how you would select something in AXE Edit on the AXE 2 and the front panel would change to that black too....

[@deans.4705]

Great work Leon. I notice that you put your PERFORM on template 8. Is there a way to have a stomp enable perform (template 8) and then another to go back to the OMG9?

[@markchristopher4165]

Finding this a bit late, but wow, what a great video. Thanks for this!

[@LeonTodd]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@bartnettle]

I want one! It must be almost impossible to stay in just plain amp cab, room tones like your first preset with such a powerful device on hand. You really have some amazing fx tones; ideal with the footswitches on it. Guitar synthesis in such a portable device. Wow

[@Joop5000]

Hey Leon, which do you like better, the Axefx lll or the FM9?

[@63strings63]

Do you run the unit wide open on volume and control from your powered FR FR ?

[@CarlosFerreiraOfficial]

Hi, Leon, I do not see any input labeled as return or send in the back. Does it have an effects loop for external pedals that can be added to the chain?

[@LeonTodd]

They're the in2/out2 jacks

[@CarlosFerreiraOfficial]

@@LeonTodd Got it. Thank you!

[@cragginshred]

Good stuff, thanks! Where can I get the LT TV mix IR?

[@LeonTodd]

Look for it on Axechange

[@waynegram8907]

LEON TODD< can you make a video on how to use the Fractal FM9 USB interface because I think you can connect an external I/O USB interface that is 8 or 16 inputs and outputs to connect to analog guitar pedals and use the fractal as an switcher looper system to turn on/off analog guitar pedals and configure the routing. Have you looked into this?

[@misticformula1485]

Awesome tutorial! What kind of interface are you using?

[@LeonTodd]

UA Apollo.

[@drose339]

Please do a comparison between FM9 and Quad Cortex if you can! Thx

[@maxx_thor]

Appreciate if we can connect (Sydney here) to seee if you can help me with my FM9 pedalboard project. Waiting for my FM9, but already building my pedalboard which contains external pedals (mostly utilities), and thinking on the latest ISP hum extractor (CHN1 guitar, CH2 amp send/return) to be added to the project. wonder how FM9 can deal with that (FXLOOP block, and i dont see any marks on the back for FX send return, is it using OUT2/3-IN2? trick then using correspondant blocks inside to route) and where to put it to cut amp block hiss with no real amp. all without using any gate from FM9.

[@URMyTorment]

Can you set this thing up so you can assign external expression pedals to control things like delay volume, or to phase between 2 amp setups? Like a clean fender tone into a heavy drive mesa?

[@LeonTodd]

Yes indeed

[@URMyTorment]

@@LeonTodd dagnammit¡!! Looks like I'm 4k poorer and a shit tonne happier as soon as I get an email from fractal...🤣 cheers Buddy nice skills too btw

[@LeonTodd]

@@URMyTorment :D

[@waynefaircloth3423]

Thanks Leon, for the setup tips. GREATLY appreciated :-)

[@LeonTodd]

No worries, thanks for the most excellent suggestion!

[@sebarodri100]

Hi Leon, I love you videos mate! I was wondering if you can do an acoustic patch, I plan to use the FM9 for acoustic and vocals. Cheers.

[@BobBob-rt1vl]

great playing!

[@MattMacKo]

Anyway you can A + B against the quad cortex & kemper floor against the FM9?

[@HarrisonBeam]

Tone is on point man, Would love to hear the Fractal model of the Korg SDD Delay and Preamp, Eyeing an FM9 (would be first ever Fractal product)(Coming from Line 6 Helix and HX) and wanting to know what that sounds like since i can’t find any clips of it. Keep up the killer work man, you’re killing it!

[@LeonTodd]

There's a dedicated SDD preamp emulation in the drive block which is awesome. Check out some of the Edosounds U2 demos with the fractal as they use that and it sounds dead on!

[@mjones53]

well that was incredible !

[@mikegibsonincognito4580]

Is there any setup templates you can load that allows me to plug in and play?

[@LeonTodd]

Depends on your setup - are you using a full range setup or using a power amp and guitar cab? There's over 380 factory presets that cover pretty much everything to get going.

[@clanyongco2908]

Hey todd! What roadcase do you have for your fractal fm9? What are the dimensions recommended?

[@Sodacake]

I've always held off on buying amp modelers, but I think the FM9 is for me.

[@MOAB-UT]

I felt the same way. Your patience is paying off- get on the list! It could still take a while (potentially 2022 to get called.) IMO, this (FM9) is THE ONE to get. Even if they come out with a touchscreen and more CPU years from now, I don't see the current FM9 becoming obsolete anytime soon. You can probably get about 95%+ of the same tones you could out of the AxeFXIII only this one comes in a convenient floor/desk form factor and it has 9 more footswitches- that's a tough combination to beat. It's a much bigger gap in capability between the FM3 and the FM9. I think we are going to see a ton of FM3's popping up on Reverb soon.

[@_mysilentblue2227]

I own an AXE-FX3 and the fractal products are so frigin killer. You won't be sorry, the tones are great. Also its a tweakers heaven, and also super basic if you not.

[@MOAB-UT]

@@_mysilentblue2227 That is a great point that many miss. They think it HAS to be complicated. It does not. You can make, or grab 5-10 killer patches and mostly just stick to those. FAS simply gives you the OPTION to go as deep into the tone rabbit hole- if you choose to. I basically play R&B so 2-3 dirty patches- 2-3 clean patches and 2-3 in between and I'm happy. On top of that, I like custom patches if I am trying to sound like a specific song/artist. Where do you go for custom patches (or do you make them yourself) e.g., Little Wing by Hendrix or various Led Zeppelin songs have unique tones. Leon probably sells (or gives away) plenty- haven't explored that route yet. I am still waiting to be called for my FM9!

[@LeonTodd]

Gigged it for the first time laat night and it's definitely in that "just right" zone in terms of power and functionality. So fun

[@MOAB-UT]

@@LeonTodd I'll bet. Almost all of your Axe-FXIII patches should easily and fully transfer over to the FM9 too. Nice ocean waves background- as usual, top notch production and content!

[@robertsimpson5801]

Leon, would you mind giving your thoughts on the FM9 vs tHE Quad Cortex for live use? I would appreciate your point of view!

[@MOAB-UT]

You didn't ask me but my vote is FM9. The foot switches aren't as crowded together and IMO the tones and ultra res effects are better on the FM9- and there's more of them. Several owners of the QC have said that. In fairness, benefits of the QC I suppose are the nice touch screen interface compact size and tone capture. Sadly no PC interface for editing as of now. Honestly to me it's not even close FM9 all the way. Especially since you asked about live performances. If you are just sitting in your room capturing tones and playing with a touchscreen then maybe you might fancy a QC. I would not want to be relegated to having to make adjustments on the screen all the time with no other options. Then there is the price. The QC costs more than the FM9. Even if it were flipped and the FM9 were a few hundred more I would still get the FM9 without hesitation. You are essentially getting a floor version of the famous AxeFX 3. A more fair comparison would be the FM3 versus the QC and guess what I would still go FM3.

[@robertsimpson5801]

@@MOAB-UT I appreciate your input, too! I do think the firmware on the QC is certainly more mature, and I really like having scribble strips over the foot switches; that is less confusing to me than having to look at the screen in some kind of performance mode. Assuming that someone has their sounds setup ahead of time, I don’t think there is a clear winner for live performance, in my mind. I think that the QC also has encoders too control parameters (the rotating foot switches). The housewives are definitely close together on the QC, though, which is definitely a disadvantage. I do like the hybrid footwork solution that Fractal came up with in the FM3, and I am glad that they are implementing it in the FM9, as well. I think more modelers should have that option!

[@MOAB-UT]

@@robertsimpson5801 Good points Robert. Scribble strips are nice and the QC is no slouch. If it suits your needs better go with the QC. I'm sure you'll still be happy. Personally I am going with the FM9. I could buy either one. In a lot of ways I find Fractal to be the more mature product. Several other QC owners have said that. It doesn't even have a PC interface. I've seen a lot of people go from the QC to fractal but I have not seen a lot of people go from Fractal to QC...but again whatever works for you.

[@LeonTodd]

Both totally capable, comes down to what features you will/won't use and how you go about building presets. Could probably make a fairer comparison down the track when/if the QC gets everything they promised pre-launch.

[@MOAB-UT]

@@LeonTodd The irony with the QC is you need to pay a premium price "today" and as you stated, hope that "everything they promised pre-launch" actually happens. Personally, I was shocked that they chose not to include any of their incredible plug-in's with the unit. The lack of a proper PC editor in 2021 is also not acceptable- not at a very premium price of $1,849.00. My $500 Boss Katana Artist amp has one. The overwhelming consensus is that it was released a couple of years too early and many are still waiting for the complete package. Either one can be played live but for these reasons and more, I would still go with the FM9 all day long.

[@matthewcampbell2327]

Leon, how do you get around the selecting a scene that utilizes a different amp channel without the sound interruption. I'm coming from an AX8 and using scenes was seamless, but the FM3 has a significant gap when I change scenes that have a different amp channel.

[@LeonTodd]

Use two amp blocks. The amps have their own dedicated DSP core so you can always run 2 of them.

[@rolandmengedoth2191]

What Strings size and type do you use for the Drop C Tuning ?

[@LeonTodd]

Elixir Nanoweb 10-52

[@kevinbolton5]

Leon I'm a formal 80s 90s Guitarist. Thanks for the great in depth tutorial on Fractal gear . Question I noticed on your effects your mix is at 100% , do you adjust the mix level of the effect blocks with a mixer block? Or from each individual block ?

[@kevinstewart8120]

Are you using a boost or volume increase for any of your leads?

[@LeonTodd]

yes, in the output block you can set the scene volume per scene. i generally use a 3dB boost for leads.

[@josuemoraruiz]

Did you remove the PEQ from the second preset, the one with the bass chain, because of the cpu limit?

[@LeonTodd]

Yeah it let me free up a little more space for extra bass goodies.

[@jonathankidd7921]

Hi Leon. I received my FM9. One thing that I’m confused about is the out 1 level control doesn’t control the SPDIF level into my Apollo interface like the FM3 did. Is this normal and the same on your FM9? Is there something I need to enable in the I/O menu for out 1 control level to affect SPDIF level?

[@LeonTodd]

Same behaviour here. The FM9 and Axe-Fx III behave the same way regarding SPDIF - I'm not sure why TBH.

[@binface9]

what's the beach scene?

[@jean-paulaugustin8915]

Hi Leon, thanks for this great overview. Is that possible to play, let's say a "G" that sound as an "A" using the FM9?

[@LeonTodd]

yes, there's multiple pitch shifter types

[@jean-paulaugustin8915]

@@LeonTodd Thanks, nice to play the same song without a capo

[@jonathanwelch809]

Can this give me the tones of Slipknot, Killswitch Engage, Classic Rock, 80s Rock, or EVH all in one and only using some computer monitors without a actual amp or cab set up?

[@mikezimmerman5633]

Hey Leon thanks for your tips! I would like to see a tutorial on double lead settings for like Boston style or '80s leads, and thanks for everything you're doing man watch you all the time love your videos and love ragdoll 👍🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸

[@tommyvercetti6217]

Can I hook this up directly to monitors ?

[@LeonTodd]

Yes

[@skipneumann1]

Are these presets available on your Patreon page? Great video! Thanks

[@LeonTodd]

You can grab my blocks library for free from the FAS forum and build them yourself pretty easily :)

[@smoothJose1]

Leon youve been my guide through owning an ax8 bought recently. Is it worth the update?

[@LeonTodd]

If you love the AX8 you'll love this - way more power (dual amps!), more effect types, more I/O and more flexible footswitching.

[@smoothJose1]

@@LeonTodd Thank you so much

[@jamesnorton7601]

Leon I can't remember if you did a lesson on Black Flag. But if you didn't. Maybe you should. That begining tone has some Tabor esque quality. I think this box has too much stuff for a guy like me

[@bionno78]

FM# : Scenes Revert ... hope they fix it on next FM3 firmware .. now it doesn't works ...

[@davidshankle7359]

Great.

[@armoredsaint6639]

Hay bud is the FM9 easier to set up than the axe fX3? I bought the FX3 and ended up selling it a month later because it was just too confusing and too many pages to go through to get a tone! 6-7 pages behind anything you wanted to set was just way too much for me So I'm hoping the FM9 might be a little easier to Navigate through I mean to be honest with you bro I don't care about setting ampsag and things that I have no idea what they even mean!

[@stacks4943]

Alright now… fm9 or quad cortex..? 🍻

[@anthonymlg6083]

Excellent !

[@reedl2353]

Leon, I'm rapidly becoming a fan of your videos. Will the FM9 do guitar synth sounds? For instance, say I'm playing in a Judas Priest cover band and I want to do the intro to Turbo Lover (don't hate, it's a great song). Can the FM9 do that sort of sound?

[@Spasmatic]

Hey Leon, killer sounds from down under !! Now I gotta sell some stuff for this bad boy, but it those patches, more than worth it !! Question: Your large tones with delay and reverb, how do they translate from medium to large arenas ? Are you making scenes for them with the FX mix dialed back ? Thanks, and RAWK ON !!, The Hilton

[@trentwaterman7049]

Thanks bro

[@yanossnicklefritz7064]

Since using the Edit program interface on the computer for my FM3, I no longer want to touch the controls on the unit. It's such a pain in the grass to the use the controls on the unit. Leon moves thru them with far less frustration then me and I'm sure doesn't have the same thoughts in particularly frustrating moments of getting his shotgun and blowing the FM9 into pieces.

[@Rickles]

AXE-Edit is a fantastic tool. I don't gig so I only use the interface on my AxeFX once in a while just to keep fresh and practice a bit. It's usable but takes effort. Axe-Edit is awesome though. Protip- Absolutely store your most important settings to the performance global, and performance per preset pages. This gives you quick access to whatever settings you'd want on the regular like amp volume, treble, an effects mix, virtual capo offset etc.

[@yanossnicklefritz7064]

@@Rickles It is good to be able to use the controls on it and I can, but it is far more tedious and unfriendly. Using the edit makes it so much easier to find and adjust all the parameters and options. I did want to shoot it a couple times though in the beginning. But 12 gauge would cost me $1200. And I'd be out one FM3.

[@lukather1]

When is it looking to drop ?

[@LeonTodd]

They're shipping now to a waitlist.

[@lukather1]

@@LeonTodd I’m on from announcing but in Uk ! So won’t hold my breath ! 12 months

[@benyoung8376]

This or quad cotex? .. hmm..

[@jamesryder9158]

I want an FM9 turbo

[@3000KTM]

hmm 70% cpu 🤔 doesnt seem that much better than the fm3 considering the blocks your running. be nice to see them running side by side with these same blocks to see the cpu difference

[@LeonTodd]

The 9 has dedicated amp and verb/delay cores so it depends on what you're using. You can basically add 2xHQ verbs, delay, amp and cab to anything that's running on the 3.

[@3000KTM]

thank you , i just saw that in your other vid 👌

[@binface9]

225/0 - dude!

[@bartnettle]

How do you get one?

[@cleverg1555]

Me seeing this video with a zoom g3xn 👁️👄👁️

[@joshsmith7033]

Pro Tools???? W...why?!?!

[@MrDavemiley]

I love everything about the Fractal units except the Clean amp sounds, .

[@Maysha6bona]

THIS IS BUGGING ME! I can't understand if it's a bunch of people with a dog walking in the background or just people (one being very fast I might add). Please free me from this mistery.. I feel that knowing if there's a dog or not, is the most important thing I wanna know TODAY.

[@rockstarjazzcat]

definitely a dog in there

[@sneakerjoe23]

Great video but Jesus everything just sounds like fizz

[@frankzimmermann1318]

@Leon Todd, hey Leon, I‘ce got a pretty weird problem with my FM9 turbo and my speakers. Can i PM you via messenger? CU, Frank