Series vs. Parallel Effects (Axe FX 3, FM9, FM3)

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Here's a great tip for your Axe FX or other Fractal unit.
This video takes a look at how to route series effects or parallel effects in their best possible ways in the Fractal ecosystem. I also discuss the benefits of running delays and reverbs in parallel for added clarity and control. Use these great tips on your search for THE TONE!
#MathewDale #Fractal #AxeFX3 #FM9 #FM3 #series #parallel #Guitar #Tone
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[@mjm661]

Thank you Mathew! I’m new to the fractal world with a FM3. This video is exactly what i was looking for. I wanted my delays and reverbs to be in the background but didn’t know how until now. Thank you

[@Steven-u5w]

Thank you so much for this video again, very very well explained The fractal multi effects modelling. This is a whole new game changer for me and coming from the line 6 pod XP with floorboard. Gosh hasn't technology changed and versatility signal routing assigning expression pedals to different features Josh, enjoy explorer experiment to your heart's content. God bless

[@mathew_dale]

Fractal does effect routing the best! Thanks for watching!

[@InactiveNode]

You are terribly good at these tutorials man. I've been running an AXEFX since the AxeFx2 and I'm learning stuff from your vids.

[@mathew_dale]

Thanks so much!

[@3556Heisenberg]

So well and clearly explained! Thanks for going to all the effort mate!

[@flytebandtampa2499]

Great video. I always have been a tube an board player, very particular on my tone. I went for the Helix and just couldn't get to enjoy the tones out of that. Now in week 3 with my FM9 and 2 full shows, I'm just about there in total satisfaction. Fractal is legit, and your video just answered one of my issues based in effect trails and none. Thanks! Keep em coming.

[@mathew_dale]

Glad the video was helpful! Thanks for watching. Similar boat for me. Always tube amps and analog pedals until I needed a direct solution. Now just about every gig is a Fractal gig for me!

[@m4ssi86]

that's a good advise, i also like to use parallel for delay and reverb.

[@sebrura]

I wondered why my volume got doubled running two delays in parallel. Now I know. Thanks!

[@s54b32i]

This was super helpful. Especially the bypass explanation

[@InsideTheSound]

great, will try it)

[@Paultheguitarist]

Excellent explanation.

[@stratplus]

Thank you, I love your videos about the Axe FX 3, FM9 and FM3. There's also another difference between the two in your example: because you put each effect on a separate path, the delay and reverb are added to just the dry guitar tone signal, but in series the reverb is added to the guitar tone + the delay. If both blocks were on the same separate signal in parallel, one effect would also affect the other one (like in the series example).

[@mathew_dale]

True. I've run effects like that before, but I really like the separation using multiple independent paths. Makes the delay and reverb a lot more articulate.

[@philjones8693]

Extremely clear explanations, thanks!

[@mathew_dale]

Thanks for watching!

[@scottpeters4401]

I use parallel FX a lot…The Mute in trick is great..I didn’t know it would do that…amazing piece of gear..

[@mathew_dale]

State of the art! Has me selling off a lot of tube amps. Incredible piece for sure. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@scottpeters4401]

@@mathew_dale I love mine….but not quite enough to get rid of my tube amps…I like using them together..

[@mathew_dale]

For sure! I’m still going to hang on to my 74 deluxe reverb!

[@JetEdz]

Awesome video! Thank you!

[@jeffwatson7811]

Just wanted to say thanks for all your axe videos they are super helpful. I feel lucky to have a FM9 and there is so much to learn I have just scratched the surface! I also play bass, some content for those of us doubling on bass would be awesome 😎

[@mathew_dale]

Thanks so much for watching! Bass videos are a great idea! I’ll see what I can cook up.

[@stanleyjoseph2181]

So we'll explained buddy. Cheers.

[@chukrock]

Excellent video.

[@mathew_dale]

Thanks for watching!

[@lucallieres]

Thanks man ! That's very cool !

[@mathew_dale]

You bet!

[@MoXyiD]

Awesome! Thanks for the good content man! Learned a bit here!

[@mathew_dale]

Awesome, thank you!

[@myerzmedia839]

Good stuff

[@danaparsons854]

again ,a real good video thanks

[@mathew_dale]

Thanks for watching!

[@jiagap]

Great video. Clear and helpful. Have you done videos, or know of, any that explain the basic set up the FM9 pedalboard using the AXE Edit?

[@mathew_dale]

Thanks for watching! For specific FM9 videos, check out Leon Todd and Rosh Roslin. Also, be aware that the FM9 has its own editor “FM9-Edit” so it will not work with “Axe-Edit.” Good news is that the FM3, FM9, and Axe-FX iii are all based around the same architecture so most video how-to’s will work for all save for a few blocks like the vocoder, RTA, and tone match. The FM9 has everting the FM3 has plus more, and the Axe has everything the FM9 has plus more. Happy tone building!

[@2005vinnievincent]

Great tips! Thanks so munch!🤘🤘☠☠

[@mathew_dale]

Thanks for watching!

[@ksharpe10]

Did you ever try running 2 amps??. in series, alot of people do parallel. Kind of love to see what happens if amps are stacked??.

[@mathew_dale]

I’ve done the parallel both for left and right and blended mono rigs but haven’t tried stacked series. If you did, it would mostly be using one of the amp blocks as a type of drive block. So I’d try a cleanish amp as always on and a dirty amp to drive the clean. Might come up with some cool tones.

[@JasonB5232]

Thanks, saved this to a Playlist because I always forget how this works. Running in Parallel why would someone use Input Gain to control the level instead of Level? I've seen it done both ways and the difference has never been obvious.

[@mathew_dale]

Thanks for watching and glad it was helpful! You could think of it like an FX send and return on a mixing console. Send (input gain) being how much signal is going in to the effect and return (level) how much going out. Different strokes, but I prefer to use the level control.

[@Dan_XF07]

Great video! Dude.. I'm selecting the ping pong delay in my presets, however it sounds with a stereo feel but not that thumping feeling from one side to the other. Do you have any idea what I could be doing wrong? I'm listening from a stereo headphones directly to the fm3's headphone output. Cheers!

[@mathew_dale]

Are you on the Fractal Forum? If you are you can message me at M.C.D. and send me the preset and I'll take a look.

[@dba4292]

So would it be safe to assume that if we run the delay and reverb in series those FX gets equal share of the signal, but if we run them in parallel they get less signal than they normally would? Or is this governed by their Mix / Volume settings respectively if that makes sense. Thank you for making this video :-) Also, in parallel do they stand out more compared to being in series?

[@mathew_dale]

Not exactly. Every time you split on the grid you create twice you signal (this is why your signal jumps if you run parallel fx without using the mute in or mute out option when bypassing). Series “stacks” your fx- so your delay repeats will also have reverb applied to them. Parallel fx keeps them (or other fx) separate. There’s little difference going parallel and going series with a mix knob with one effect but with multiple fx parallel can keep things separate and sound cleaner.

[@dba4292]

@ Ooooh ok I get it now. Just got the FX 3 unit 😊

[@julianmedranoa]

Loved the video and the explanation, I’d like to know if you can explain the best practices to cut the low end for clean tones, I am trying to record videos for KZbin but there’s always an annoying low cut around my tones.

[@julianmedranoa]

*low end around…

[@mathew_dale]

Sure thing! Most low end sculpting I do with the Cab preamp set to at least 80hz. I’ll also use a parametric eq after the amp and cab set to blocking and 24db/octave and around 100hz or so. I talk a bit about that in this video I’ll link below, but I’ll also add a more detailed explanation video to my list. Thanks for watching!

[@mathew_dale]

I Can't Gig Without Perform Pages (Axe-FX 3, FM9, FM3) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZq4hauZp6x8jJY

[@julianmedranoa]

@@mathew_dale I might missed that, thank you!!

[@ian__wilson]

Realise this is a year after the vid was made but do you know if there is any difference between the series and parallel options on CPU performance?

[@mathew_dale]

No difference with the blocks themselves but routing FX in parallel will use slightly more CPU due to the extra shunts used in the connections. Not much though.

[@anotherone9219]

In a mono setup is there a difference? Paralel o series?

[@mathew_dale]

Yes, parallel will keep the effects separated in mono as well.

[@rodolfoamaralguitar]

Hi Mathew. The Chorus on my Fm3 does not have mute in bypass mode. Is it normal?

[@mathew_dale]

Yes, that’s how the chorus block is. Use “Mute Out” for parallel chorus. There’s no “trails” to worry about with chorus so simply muting the output of the block will yield the results we want in parallel routing.

[@rodolfoamaralguitar]

@@mathew_dale thank you!

[@johnboy10]

Hey Matthew, if I wanted to send the Parallel FX out a different output would I create output block 2 for instance, then run a cable from the FX to output 2 ? What I want to do is record the FX separately from the Amp/Cab in my Daw. Thanks.

[@mathew_dale]

Sure thing! Are you running into an interface or usb from the fractal into your computer?

[@johnboy10]

@@mathew_dale I'm using the Apollo Twin MKII.

[@mathew_dale]

The grid layout would actually look the same either way. Yes- run shunts from the FX you want in separate channels to the output 2 block and DON’T run them back to the dry signal going to output 1. Same parallel settings. If using an interface, hook up to 2 channels right and left and create tracks in you daw selecting those inputs. If using usb, output 2 block is hardwired to input 3&4 selected in your daw. Make sure you pan the fx tracts hard left and right in your daw for that stereo goodness!

[@johnboy10]

@@mathew_dale Thanks so much, Mathew.

[@mathew_dale]

Gotcha (just saw the reply). It will be tricky to run the FX in stereo with the Apollo. Since there are 2 line level inputs on the back (I’m assuming that’s where the fractal is plugged in via xlr) you would need to do a mono line from output 1 to input 2 on the Apollo then mono from output 2 to input 2.