The Fractal FM9 is the ONLY Pedal YOU NEED - Fractal FM9 2024 Review

[@ryansnydercg]

How do you feel about floorboard unit amp modelers?

[@ericvandruten]

Love it. Bought the Stomp because I needed a fly rig for touring, and never looked back. On loud volumes I still prefer Stomp + tube power amp + cab, or mixing that with IRs on FOH, but for practice and home use, it's stomp + headphones all the way.

[@fredfarkel2990]

I think for $1800 they could have at least included an attached wah/volume assignable pedal. I wanted to switch from amp sims to an all in one unit because I didn't want to get involved with midi floorboard units hooked to my computer/interface and am a big wah and vol pedal user. The fact I can't get the best tones out there plus foot controller attached is a deal breaker.

[@rossauce12]

​@fredfarkel2990 its all about $$$ . I tf s like amazon video. U buy a sub, then u gotta buy the better channels, then u gotta buy better movies and shows, o and more $ for better quality. I hate the way shit is now....

[@ericclark9770]

I got the FM9 Turbo back when there was a wait list for the unit - specifically because Fractal has a history of long term support / firmware updates for their units. Have been very happy with it.

[@ryansnydercg]

Yeah I waited for my mark 2 for about a month earlier this year. Always been a huge fractal fan for the exact reasons you said

[@dwayneanderson7108]

It doesn't do better amp modeling than the helix. It has better effects and better and more IRs. But the amp models in the helix are far superior. It's not even close between them...

[@themetalghost]

depends on if you've used one of these PC interface only modelers that use blocks. I'd suggest a Headrush product if you don't mind only using the touch screen and you want to just work with virtual pedals / amps / IR / also need VOX FX and the Prime does Amp cloning and hopefully more features on the now damn near once a year update. -. Just got an FM 9 turbo and there is a ton of things to learn and ways to use it so it definitely expands what you can do live or in the home studio with it.

[@ryansnydercg]

I didn’t realize the Headrush does vocal FX - that’s pretty cool

[@themetalghost]

@@ryansnydercg Yep the Prime and Core have the 16 blocks which can be split up to use half for guitar and half for Vox

[@ryansnydercg]

@@themetalghost well now I need to get my hands on one of these bad boys

[@themetalghost]

@@ryansnydercg Yeah, hoping for a big update firmware to drop around September . I got the FM 9 for Midi control blocks since the Prime can't send midi commands only receive. They add that and make the looper a block / better controls there it'll be sweet. lol

[@StratsRUs]

I'm happy with my Helix with all its updates to now. Obviously I say 'you do get what you pay for'.

[@paololombardi5327]

ottimo , bellissimo preset preso al volo. complimenti Mattia

[@richjohnson8261]

Can it do the Digitech Drop so I can play in E flat while in standard tuning? If not, it isn't the only pedal I need. But I'll check it out.

[@ryansnydercg]

Hahaha! It does have the feature. Although I still use my digitech drop pedal from my Axe FX 2 days when it didn’t have one.

[@RJManeri1]

can i use to record through my scarlett interface?

[@ryansnydercg]

You can. I’ve done it with a 4i4 before. However, it’s optimum if you record it via USB

[@dominiquez5643]

Spectacular review! Super useful! Getting one thanks to you!!!

[@ryansnydercg]

So glad to hear that. Enjoy all the killer tones!!

[@dominiquez5643]

@@ryansnydercgbought mine last night! Looove your review! So professional and loaded with the stuff that matters to curious like myself!!

[@spetnaz777]

I love my helix but I’m realizing that it can’t do everything right. When I add external pedals the amps just don’t take the load correctly and everything sounds compressed. It’s great if you keep all the pedals and fx within the helix but I haven’t heard any modelers successfully do this specific clean boosted sound I’m looking for. Do you know if the Fractal takes pedals well and can slam the front end of an amp close to what an analog setup could do?

[@ryansnydercg]

So in my experience, Fractal takes pedals better than my HX Stomp XL, but with that said, it’s not as good as an amp take them.

[@ericvandruten]

did you use the correct level settings for the input or fx loop you plugged the pedal into?

[@lordPix3lUK]

What about the fm3 mk2?

[@ryansnydercg]

FM3 is baller too. I just prefer the additional foot switches.

[@dazblade]

Aye, but is it relatively easy to use? Tired of using gear where you end up down a warren hole trying to find a great sound or rather sounds....

[@ryansnydercg]

The basic presets sound amazing. And you can get your own presets sounding good easily BUT you can go down a rabbit hole

[@ericclark9770]

Yes, it's costly. But Fractal Audio has a long history of continued support and firmware updates/upgrades - adding new/updated amp models, IRs, effects, and even dynamic cabinet ("Dyna-Cab") models. Over time, the initial cost premium works itself out over potentially years of use.

[@ryansnydercg]

Yes! They are highly customer focused and want to support their products long after the latest model comes out. I ran my Axe FX 2 up until this past January. And the only reason I got rid of it was so I could get the floor unit

[@rmp5s]

Besides form factor, what's the difference between this, the FM3 and the Axe-FX III?

[@ryansnydercg]

There is some processing power. I do believe the FM3 is limited to only one amp block and there are a few other limiting factors like only one delay per preset or something like that. And then on the flip side I believe the Axe FX 3 can run multiple IRs and some other FX the FM line cannot.

[@yourbore]

Great video, thank you! Im tired of the quad cortex hype. I'm not impressed. This is the way. 💚

[@ryansnydercg]

This is the way

[@EdExplores]

I’m selling mine on reverb. Love the sounds, but don’t like the UI

[@ryansnydercg]

I get that. The UI is cumbersome

[@justinplaysguitar]

Every guitar player should be playing a fractal. Fractal is simply the best

[@sboy1955]

I can adjust every routing option and every parameter in every fx, amps and cabs in seconds with my Helix in a gig scenario. Couldn’t do that with my FM9. Sonically neither of them sound like a real amp (but both good tools) so sent the FM9 back.

[@ryansnydercg]

I get that. I’ve always said the Helix/HX Stomps are great because if you want simplicity you got it. The tube screamer only has the three knobs the tube screamer has IRL

[@intenzityd3181]

I sold all my amps, because they (fractal and helix) sound identical from the audience perspective. I think a ton of guitarists just have real trouble with nostalgia and technology, evidenced by how gibson and fender still peddle garbage tech on their guitars because it's what their customers want.

[@borninkaraj]

I have the fm9. User interface is brutal. Very unpleasant to go through and change options

[@ryansnydercg]

Yeah there is a steep learning curve in the fractal stuff

[@adambrunner9462]

Love my FM3!

[@EggleMacon]

not the best review.

[@ryansnydercg]

Thanks for the feedback

[@alien4422]

It's way overpriced. I've bought some decent cars which were cheaper than this unit. I had an FM3 but now I'm using Tonex and I'm loving my Katana Go.

[@ryansnydercg]

Hahahahaha yea it’s much. I’ve heard great things about the Katana

[@thomaskihr329]

...and what was left of the car you put into a ToneX and a Catana Go. 🤣😂To each his own 😜

[@alien4422]

@@thomaskihr329 No. 🤡🤡🤡

[@alexharvin2870]

How are those gigs going running your katana go and/or tonex to front of house.

[@xthemaninthebox]

Katana is great, but sound wise aren’t even in the same atmosphere as Fractal.

[@LincolnCountyBand-st8yn]

Sounds terrible.

[@ryansnydercg]

It’s all subjective right ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@jconner3891]

Really? What do you use? If you say katana😂

[@4GuitarTrance]

Mine sounds great. Been a pro for more years than I like to count at this point, and this unit sounds almost as good as my preferred setup... 2 x 100w Marshall Super Leads, attenuated, in stereo, and 2 Fender Super Reverbs, in stereo. My FM9 is as good as any rig I've ever used, and better when you add in all factors for live playing. It takes some getting used to, takes a really good "amp-in-the-room" unit or units, and takes one being patient with the unit. Maybe certain users aren't that experienced with a lot of gear? More and more pros are using Fractal gear as time goes on, and are very happy with it. If you can't get great live sounds (and studio) with the FM9 then maybe look inward? Neal Schon for Journey let his Marshalls and EVH's go for the FM9. Whatever one may think of Neal Schon doesn't matter... he's been playing for years, is extremely critical of live setups, and is one of the best guitarists around... and has been since the late 70's. Guthrie Govan is using the FM9 exclusively now with 2 of the new Laney FRFR 212's (in stereo)... and loves it. Sorry... I just don't get people saying the FM9 "sounds terrible". It absolutely does not. I'm about as critical of my sound as anyone, and I love the unit. It has solved a lot of years' problems for me. Do I still like my rig mentioned earlier in my response? Of course. It is still my preference above all. But it's no longer practical lugging around all of that gear when I can get the same sound/tone, with more added bonuses, in such a compact rig. Having said that... I don't know whether you meant the FM9 sounds terrible, or this channel's representative sounds terrible demonstrating it. Either way, trust me, the FM9 is VERY capable of pretty much anything you want to squeeze out of it. It only takes time, knowledge, and patience.

[@ericvandruten]

@@4GuitarTrance - could I use your comment for a talk on False Arguments? Every paragraph contains at least one. And yes: the sounds in this video are terrible.

[@4GuitarTrance]

@@ericvandruten No! Accept truth and truth will set you free! 😛 So many people wanting to believe what they "feel" instead of what is real. Then again, as with me, you ARE entitled to your opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion... just not their own facts!