An interesting signal processing capability of the FM3 is the “envelope follower,” which function enables setting a dry un-effected sound for the lower strings, and then as you play up the fretboard, the higher notes become wet and effected, with delay, reverb, etc. That’s a pretty cool feature that I’m not aware of existing on other brands/devices.
Here's an interesting thought, most, if not all these units say "do not operate unit in moisture or do not let it get wet" , for obvious reasons, BUT, do these companies know that most of our gigs down here in Florida, & others states, are outdoor gigs! Gigs that promoters plan out events rain or shine!!! Our gig industry has been changing for a long time now, either promoters have us play inside, especially during rainy season, or companies take advantage of this trend we've been facing, I wonder which one it'll be, LOL!!! Great video Tony, you're the only one who does this & we really do appreciate it, you ROCK my friend, be safe, Rock On & God Bless.
There is no IP rating for water and dust that I can see, and I did sort of pass comment on that about on the stage... but good point of Florida and very humid too. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Tony you have validated the reasons why I intend to buy an FM3. Fractal ecosystem is not for everyone for sure, but for me it’s perfect. The main problem with most modellers is the lack of complexity and the limitations on their algorithms compared to old Eventide and Lexicon racks for example. I agree most guitarists are not interested but the ability to create amps that don’t not exist in the analogue world is incredible. You are right about 3 buttons being limited, but you don’t have to buy the FC6. Just use a standard midi controller. I use a Line 6 HX effects as a midi controller for my rack units and it will work fine with the FM3. I personally don’t care if a model sounds the same as the real amp, what matters is if it’s sounds good whether recorded or live. Oh by the way scenes were originally on the Axe Fx 2 well before Helix.
Clearly you like the unit a lot. I have always found that the Fractal equipment is overly complex for most of the guys I speak to. So now they are attacking the cheaper 4 button pedal market - and honestly, that complexity has to go otherwise wait for the no sales of the new device. Sounds are subjective as I always said, but if some company (any company) claims to make an amplifier equivalent or 'clone' as they all do and it sounds like something else, then why would anyone do that except for misleading marketing? And that, sad to say for very many simulator companies applies 100%. You can use other means BTW as you say for the switches to enhance the only three on board this unit of course, but my point was the cost! £525.00 for that pedal is at best over expensive and at worst simply a rip off. Its certainly not justifiable, as you say yourself re the alternatives. But hey, if this pedal (or any other from anyone) is good to go for any buyer then, splash the cash :) and thanks for the post... and watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficial I agree the additional foot switches are too expensive. To be fair to Fractal they have said they would prefer not to model amps but only create FAS designs but customers want the models to be able to identify what they may sound like. In the end whether we still use Valve amps, profilers or modellers doesn’t matter once we are inspired to play through them.
The fact that so many pros use them speaks volumes. They sound amazing, and feel like a tube amp. Very roadworthy with great customer service/support too. Just enjoy your new processor Tony, you’ll love it once you have a proper tinker.
Ha I have been tinkering with FA since 2011 and they (to me) are like so many other solutions. Kemper are also used extensively by Pro musicians (not sure if that makes a difference) too. Which sounds best? And which is 'easier' to manage? Everyone has their choice. On this one the three buttons was IMO a strong negative and the £525 for a 6 button unit was way over priced. But improved overall in build quality somewhat from older stuff, but the complexity can be over bearing for many. I'm not against this unit (some earlier stuff was not great) and the tones are not really that bad, although they (like all of the simulators IMO) don't actually represent the tube amp particularly in the feel area of using them. Its just different. G66 service support I have no problems with and have always been very helpful. The forum? Ha those guys should be in the UK government :). Thanks for the post and for watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficial nope sadly i cant find, have you some photos of boards? The quality if too low for me to find them :) ( i like your videos because u are always telling the truth :)) fractals says only that it is premium op amps not cheap NE553x or TL07x :) i hope they use something from japan radio (NJM) or even better.
Thanks for another informative review Tony. I looked at buying this device but ended up buying a used Quad Cortex for exactly the reason you stated: The amps inside can be captures, (and I can capture my own) plus I generally need 4 buttons : Clean Crunch boost and lead so the FM3 was a no from me. (The Quad has 8 buttons). I'm happy with the 'old fashioned' USB connectors, they are still used on the Quad and my USB interface, I think they are bit more robust. Regarding the number of amps and cabs etc on the FM3, Don't forget, 99% of all guitar gear never leaves the home and is bought by people who cannot play well, but are looking for something to keep them interested, so don't be too hard on products giving loads of options. FYI I'm a pub rock guitarist with a H&K Switchblade all valve head and 4x12, a BlueGuitar amp 1, a Valeton GP100, and used to have Vox AC30, Marshalls etc, but I generally use a Boss Katana Artist Mk1 with a tube in the FX loop and it sounds as good as anything I have ever owned. If you wanna borrow my quad to take apart, just let me know....just don't break it :) Miff, Yorkshire
I agree, most customers without question use the gear at home and without 'ordinary' people the business would crash out. It matters not in the overall scene of things, but you're dead right on that - its something resellers never talk about (or makers for that matter). Maybe they're embarrassed :). The three buttons were and always will be a pain by themselves. The add on unit is sorely out of price at £535.00 here in the UK and their 'new' 4 button device for £700 or so shows the FC6 as crazy money. The IR's the amp numbers and for that matter the whole thing can quickly drive any user to spend hours and hours pratting about rather than making music. And the FM3 is as good as its more expensive siblings for that. Very complex with often stuff no one cares for (like non standard controls of amps). I used to play some pubs too :) great fun for sure. Ha I could look at the Quad of course, would save me buying one - its one reason I did not buy one yet - and the costs overall for the gear are painful. On top of that the government now want to charge me tax for no profit! Crazy people. Thanks for taking the time to post our experiences and opinion very useful for many I'm sure and thanks for watching.
Fractal audio stated at the time why they changed the processor, it was due to the chip shortage. Fractal units are as complicated as you want them to be. You don’t need a FC6, you just need to be creative with your foot switch choices. Have you actually spent any time using it, because it doesn’t sound like it? I used a helix live for 5 years, then switched to fractal during the lockdowns. I ended up doing 1 gig about a year ago on a helix, using my presets, and the difference between the feel was noticeable. Fractal products are so far the best in my opinion. I’ve tried a few cheaper units from Moore and nux, I also owned a kemper for 2 years. Fractal all the way.
Ah dancing the night away :) not for me. Hey if you like the FA stuff that's fine by me, after all you bought one! So did I. I have used most devices including Roland/Boss. Line 6. Kemper amp and player, Tonex, Head-rush, Fender Tone Master Pro and even the AXE-FX II and III. I have over the years kept what I think are best for me. I retain the Kemper since Jan 2012, the Line 6 Helix rack also since launch, the Fender Tone Master Pro (currently for reviewing) and some Roland/Boss gear along with some NUX gear too. Its true I have not spent weeks on this unit. Understand that my review shown here took me (as it is) three weeks of work and it is very different than the sales video's out there. I bought my FA gear - all of it and I'm sure that you will have learned 'something' from the review. It was also interesting about those small screens being 'bigger' and my thoughts at the time were ' I wonder how many users complained about the old smaller ones?' The FC6 was clearly developed to reduce the 'aggro' of operation with the 3 switches I think. Just a personal opinion of course. For the things I showed in general truthfully I don't need months of use, I look at hardware, speed of operation, things like those 'upgrades', the general complexity of the software and that sort of thing. To understand everything in the FM3 would literally in my opinion take months or longer. Me I just won't put the time behind the unit personally to learn 'every aspect' because I really already have lot's of gear and investing the time in the FM3 is really not something I will do. I'm surrounded by real amps (over 20) and to be honest those for me rule better than any of the simulators I have used to date. BTW I mentioned the 'obsolescence' route from personal experience and did not go back in time investigating whether FA had problems or not - truth is, many guys generally do not understand the obsolescence route and so I just threw that in as general information from manufacturing. Thanks for the post and while I did say I liked the FM3 different guys make different choices... thanks for watching too.
You mention that 98% of people don’t care about tweaking component values of an amp and that there is a pile of options that are not on the original amp. These products cater for that 2%. You have Metallica using them to play stadium shows where they are recreating the exact tones from the albums. They have techs who work for weeks to program them to get exactly that sound. They would look at a song and say “well that song was recorded with this amp but it was modified with XYZ component values”. The Fractal products allow you to recreate exactly that. If you don’t want that then you can reset to stock values with the push of a button. I know touring musicians who can’t live without their AxeFX.
Sure I understand your comment. They used to say John Petrucci, but of course he uses real amps... and the fx is relegated to effects? And think of it this way, I truly doubt that those 2% guys you mention would keep FA in business for a week. What does matter is that the device has to be easy to use (questionable), sound AND FEEL the same as a real amp, and of course be affordable and competitive with other similar devices. Just my opinion of course. Thanks for the post... and of course for watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficial thanks for your video and reply. You are right that the 2% doesn’t keep them in business but a bit like when Ferrari win an F1 race they sell a lot more cars the next day. People like to be associated with the best even if they can’t play (or drive) like them.
Mean Well makes good stuff. Usually around $30-$100 depending on the model (for consumers.. might be less in bulk). I have no opinion on Axe FX at all, but SMPS is reasonable. Lighter and cheaper than a transformer. Easy to replace if it goes out. Lots of amplifiers use switching supplies (guitar and bass amps, PA, Pro Amplifiers like QSC and Crown, etc).
I would not disagree with that at all, but power supplies from China can be substantially less than your quoted prices. Just trust me on that - I buy thousands. Switching power supplies generally are reliable, if you buy them from the right manufacturer... and if not they can be problematic. My research did show that 'Mean Well' do make lots of power supplies so maybe these are reasonable but only time will confirm that. I raised the SMD question because for some repair guys they simply don't have the hot plate, the magnification or in some cases the skill to change the components out. Thanks for the post and for watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficialfinally had time to finish the video. I appreciate your in-depth review. I will say that it’s pretty obvious that you have a bit of a stigma towards Fractal. I know they and their fan base has been disrespectful towards you. I think it’s interesting you keep going back, especially when you could spend less money and review some gear that you will probably like better. I’ll stay tuned either way. All the best.
Interesting info. The funny thing to me is most of these things have more processing than I think most will really use. Supporting different memory types I think isn't unusual since they don't know who will be using it and for what, but yeah, DDR3 is a bit long in the tooth, so this must be an older processor or Analog Devices is behind the curve of newer memory types? People say it's great all the different things you can tweak in their software, but you couldn't do some of those adjustments to a real amp unless you open it up and use a soldering iron and/or replace components. I don't know, I think it's just too much fiddling for my taste.
LOL The Fm3 DOES NOT have "more processing power than most people would use". Running some pretty basic FX chains, I maxed out the FM3's processing power when I simply tried to use Output 2 to get a DI. Absolutely freaking pathetic. On Kemper, you will literally never ever run into a processing power issue and it's like a decade older.
Have you opened a Quad Cortex? No one here on TH-camland has probably already opened one. Thanks for opening this FM3. Fractal maybe ahead on algorithm, but the quality tho
I did steer clear of the quad cortex - and you can laugh that I thought their name of the unit was right from the off calling it something that it plainly is not... ;-0 I might look at some stage though. Thanks for watching.
And I am sure that I can find many other artists that don't or won't use it or any of the other simulators too. Both comments are valid of course. Thanks for watching.
You have to spend a lot of time dialing it in or hire Cooper Carter to create presets for you. None of the modelers I have tried “feel” as good as a tube amp and I doubt you’ll find many experienced guitarists that will tell you differently. But they might tell you they’re good enough for the economy of gigging. The closest to getting the “feel” that I’ve tried is the quad cortex captures. The fm3 can get a better feel also if you spend time with it adjusting the power amp compression, sag helps quite a bit. It becomes more reactive but it’s still stiffer feeling than a tube amp and slightly less inspiring to play through. Still it’s a great unit and solves a lot of problems.
FM3's are way too expensive in Australia. Almost the same price as a Quad Cortex and more expensive than the Fender TMP and Kemper Profiler.... FM9's are about $500 more than Quad Cortex in Australia.
Ouch. Well most stuff is getting so expensive these days and honestly I wonder where that will all end. I saw Sam Ash going out (I used to go there to specific branches and always interesting - its sad) and there really has to be a limit on all of it. In the UK Mesa Boogie are basically for most now not affordable really so I get your point re the prices. Thanks for watching appreciated and useful post.
No body on TH-cam does reviews to Tony's standard and tell you the good, bad and ugly. Plus have some sympathy for him, it has taken many hours to make this video, he bought it with his own money which is why i watch his reviews and not those grifters from the other channels. As for this FM 3 what can i say, grossly overpriced and clearly has more than a few issues. The manufacturing costs are peanuts compared to the MSRP, yes they have to develop the firmware but does it realy add that much to the final price ? Another one bites the dust ! bung it on Reverb and get some of your money back Tony. Great to see you again, Take care.
Thanks for those kind words. This took me three weeks to create and was not that easy. I did try and make as much a truthful overview of what I saw. Interesting it was better made than the older stuff I saw before - and this made in China. Ha I might well sell it, but I'm still looking at the unit for now. I have Kemper, Line 6, Roland Boss etc. too so it is what it is really. Re the ones less 'kind' with this stuff I am not surprised and that seems to follow FA wherever they go. They simply don't like this stuff being shown in this way. Me? I'm just a paying customer... but that makes little or no difference. In any case... if someone gains from this review then it was worth creating. Thanks... and for watching too and those kind words of support.
I appreciate Tony's approach, which is pretty unique for gear videos. I learn a fair bit from him. Do I agree with every one of his conclusions? No, but that does not take away from the value of his content. I wish he would avoid statements about specific reviewers. It feeds the trolls and distracts from the good work. Best.
@@tonymckenzieofficial none. Just went Through a brunch of modelers and found out what Works for me ( QC / Tonex). I have friends that use and love Fractal stuff for reasons that You don’t.
fractal audio were completely honest on why the turbo versions came into existing and advertised the " force upgrade " due to shortage of certain components
Well fancy me guessing that. I have seen it before with other gear - but honestly I did NOT research the old ad's of Fractal Audio. Thanks for the post and for watching.
The effects are fine IMO, but the incredible depth of amp modifications away from the original amp (and other effects too for that) are seemingly IMO excessive and it adds a layer of complexity beyond all the other simulators I know of and have used. Thanks for the post and for watching - appreciated.
I made it in nearly an hour before i got fed up with the sarcastic negative overtone. Watching with a view to buy i soon realised that many of the self proclaimed "interesting points" didnt point anything out which seperates this from any other electronic product being manufactured. I think i will turn to the pro musicians who are generally gravitating to this product range as opposed to someone who clearly has some kind of grudge against fractal and not much to really say. I think, waffle removed, this video could have been 30 minutes long without losing any useful information. I do like this reviewer. And the concept of this approach. But he clearly has an issue with this product. Which clearly adds a pre destined negative vibe to the whole thing. Not helpful for anyone genuinely open to whats out there. They are expensive yes. But do the folks at fractal develop the software, functionality and modelling for free in with the price. A guitarist benefits from this part too. Plus the regular well concieved updates. Not just the bolts that hold it together. He mentions not getting paid to have a favourabke opinion. But neither should it be this much of a grudge fest. It's disappointing when many of his reviews are so well put together.
great news... you won't have to listen to my reviews any longer. It's always been very clear that some guys simply don't like seeing ANY objections - not even those with the THREE stupid buttons that should have been at least 6 but that's OK. I can see the 'pro's' dancing around on that stage now... not. Thanks.
@@tonymckenzieofficial My reply to this somehow disappeared. Dude is the nicest and most helpful of all FAS content creators. And can annihilate the fretboard on top of that. Seems like a weird case of punching up just because Cliff "yelled at you" all those years ago.
You need to 'snap out of it' really with your attitude - it was wrong from the start. If you can't take what I show in ANY of my inside and out video reviews, there is good and bad in all of them, then clearly you and your cohorts are in the wrong place. Frankly I care not about the fanboys or anything else related to those types. I showed what I saw as a paying customer with my PURCHASED device. If you like some YT channel then PLEASE go there. You will not be missed here, particularly when you are rude to me because I have an opinion. And as for running rings.. th-cam.com/users/shortsM8j0oa6nWhE now push off.
Quite the deep dive this time !!! As much as I like technology, and I am surrounded by 0s, 1s, and many analog modules, I am not tempted by Fractal. I am satisfied with my guitars going through pedals, to my Blackstar, through my UA Ox, and into my ProTools. I am very far from having discovered all the various results possible from that setup !! Thanks for the video and your great efforts to inform us !!!
Ha me too in the 'day job' :) I work 10 to 4 these days but I love what I do at work... not related to this channel at all. Yes the FM3 can do so much, but personally I think the 'extra' changes to the amp and effects that originals did not do change the unit to being complex. I guess its whatever works for each of us. But FM3 is not really for me. Interesting though to see inside and the software etc. how it is in 2024 and how it sounds etc. Video review took three weeks to create :( and probably too long. Some might not quite 'get it' :) but that's OK. Thanks for the post and of course as always for watching.
I think as a choice the FM9 would be better... and after looking in the FC-3 I wondered where the £525.00 was spent... certainly I never found it. Thanks for watching.
Hi Tony. Always great to see your vids. I'm probably a bit older than you but you speak my language and I've learned a lot from you. Big thanks and I wish you all good things for the future.
Oh man, this took me three weeks to complete. I do think making these for something like this is maybe something to do occasionally rather than having to live on doing it. 2 hours! even I was surprised :) In any case great you watch the stuff... its appreciated and thanks.
You do a great job and I really appreciate it. If I could talk to my younger self over 50 years ago I’d avoid so many buying mistakes. I’d love to be able to tell the new guitarist out there not to be influenced by the hype especially from the big names like Gibson. I cleared out so much gear a few years ago and now have 3 good amps and 4 nice guitars. The tech gear has to be spot on for my needs and I take your channel very seriously in this regard. Thanks again.
Fractal is a joke and this review confirms it. I just sold my FM3 Mk I and feel sorry for the guy who bought it lol. I've switched over to Kemper and it's worlds better.
great playing Tony. Another great informative video. Just got some new Adams monitors and i quite like them. Now as one does when they have a gear problem i must need a new uprade in the interface department...lol. Cheaper than crack and better for ya too...cheers
:) Maybe... or not... but some of the things I saw I would not put this one 'at the top of my list' really. But that's OK... and thanks for the post and for watching.
Tony; thank you for another thorough, informative and honest review. Regarding tap dancing with just the three foot switches, you mentioned also getting the FC6 controller. Adding the prices of those two together would get close to the FM9 with all those extra foot switches. Had you considered that ? Either way, I appreciate the in-depth look at the interface and you've confirmed what many others have said - namely that it's far too complicated. Looking forward to your review of the Fender TMP. Keep up the great work !
Indeed I DID consider the FM9. But I thought really that the combination of the FM3 and FC6 allowed for a smaller footprint when 3 buttons would suffice. It IS an interesting aspect and the FM9 includes another processor and a few other things so is probably better value overall. I will look at the FC6 internally and as a short review but I don't really expect to see much in there - but I could be wrong, we shall see. As always some people shoot the messenger and that is frustrating really, but thanks for your great post. I have always found the FA gear more complex than is really necessary, and I am surprised that they simply don't have a 'simple' mode and an advanced mode for the people that really do want to spend the time with all of that, I can't see why. The Fender I failed to remove the cooling off the processor and as yet I have NEVER actually seen what the processor is. I always like to confirm what they are. But thanks for watching - appreciated.
Firstly I am not under review... I did not complain, but I did complete a real review (clearly you are not used to them) that showed exactly what you get (as a paying customer) when you buy one of these units. The review is conducted in exactly the same way as it was for every other simulator I have reviewed (and that includes most competitive devices) and this one was ultimately pretty much like most. Don't like the review? Don't watch it. I guess you skipped the parts that are irrefutable... right. And lastly, just so you know what happens with playing when gear inspires you its this: th-cam.com/users/shortsM8j0oa6nWhE Now you're free to leave and please don't come back.
@notalkguitarampplug-insrev784 I get it, but the Tonex is lacking in some areas so is it a really fair comparison? Well I guess it depends what someone wants. Some have said to me about FM3 - its the best and 2% pro etc. well all well and good but what about the other 98% of users :). Tonex does have some issues too particularly relating to the initial software that 'authorizes' installation of the rest of it all. Tonex is not too bad especially for that price. Thanks for watching.
Funny how in terms of pure amp sounds, none of these crazy expensive boxes like Fractal, Kemper, QC etc, sound any better than the free Neural Amp Modeler.
I think it’s basic Karma in that Cliff has to reap even a tiny bit of what he sows. I’m sure he watched every second of this exhaustingly sarcastic review (his Fanboi’s have). Anyway, he has one of the most acerbic online personalities in existence. Honestly Cliff’s attitude gets so tiresome he doesn’t even realize how selfish he is at times. And it’s that exact selfish nature that brings out the worst in people, from pensioners to posers.
My god. I'd suggest you take a couple of years off and learn how to play the guitar, but I honestly don't know if it will make a difference. Have you considered reviewing cellphones instead?
Ah I have seen fanboys like you before. When I play well it's because I am inspired by the gear. Here's a video where I am inspired, unlike with this device: th-cam.com/users/shortsM8j0oa6nWhE now please... push off.
@@tonymckenzieofficial watched that. My point still stands. Get hold of a teacher. They say you're never too young to learn ...but you may put that saying to the test
Thanks for showing the inside! Very interesting!
Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for watching.
An interesting signal processing capability of the FM3 is the “envelope follower,” which function enables setting a dry un-effected sound for the lower strings, and then as you play up the fretboard, the higher notes become wet and effected, with delay, reverb, etc. That’s a pretty cool feature that I’m not aware of existing on other brands/devices.
Well that's different - I have not seen that before either... thanks for the info and for watching.
Here's an interesting thought, most, if not all these units say "do not operate unit in moisture or do not let it get wet" , for obvious reasons, BUT, do these companies know that most of our gigs down here in Florida, & others states, are outdoor gigs! Gigs that promoters plan out events rain or shine!!! Our gig industry has been changing for a long time now, either promoters have us play inside, especially during rainy season, or companies take advantage of this trend we've been facing, I wonder which one it'll be, LOL!!! Great video Tony, you're the only one who does this & we really do appreciate it, you ROCK my friend, be safe, Rock On & God Bless.
There is no IP rating for water and dust that I can see, and I did sort of pass comment on that about on the stage... but good point of Florida and very humid too. Thanks for watching.
Thanks Tony you have validated the reasons why I intend to buy an FM3. Fractal ecosystem is not for everyone for sure, but for me it’s perfect. The main problem with most modellers is the lack of complexity and the limitations on their algorithms compared to old Eventide and Lexicon racks for example. I agree most guitarists are not interested but the ability to create amps that don’t not exist in the analogue world is incredible. You are right about 3 buttons being limited, but you don’t have to buy the FC6. Just use a standard midi controller. I use a Line 6 HX effects as a midi controller for my rack units and it will work fine with the FM3. I personally don’t care if a model sounds the same as the real amp, what matters is if it’s sounds good whether recorded or live. Oh by the way scenes were originally on the Axe Fx 2 well before Helix.
Clearly you like the unit a lot. I have always found that the Fractal equipment is overly complex for most of the guys I speak to. So now they are attacking the cheaper 4 button pedal market - and honestly, that complexity has to go otherwise wait for the no sales of the new device. Sounds are subjective as I always said, but if some company (any company) claims to make an amplifier equivalent or 'clone' as they all do and it sounds like something else, then why would anyone do that except for misleading marketing? And that, sad to say for very many simulator companies applies 100%. You can use other means BTW as you say for the switches to enhance the only three on board this unit of course, but my point was the cost! £525.00 for that pedal is at best over expensive and at worst simply a rip off. Its certainly not justifiable, as you say yourself re the alternatives. But hey, if this pedal (or any other from anyone) is good to go for any buyer then, splash the cash :) and thanks for the post... and watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficial I agree the additional foot switches are too expensive. To be fair to Fractal they have said they would prefer not to model amps but only create FAS designs but customers want the models to be able to identify what they may sound like. In the end whether we still use Valve amps, profilers or modellers doesn’t matter once we are inspired to play through them.
The fact that so many pros use them speaks volumes. They sound amazing, and feel like a tube amp. Very roadworthy with great customer service/support too. Just enjoy your new processor Tony, you’ll love it once you have a proper tinker.
Ha I have been tinkering with FA since 2011 and they (to me) are like so many other solutions. Kemper are also used extensively by Pro musicians (not sure if that makes a difference) too. Which sounds best? And which is 'easier' to manage? Everyone has their choice. On this one the three buttons was IMO a strong negative and the £525 for a 6 button unit was way over priced. But improved overall in build quality somewhat from older stuff, but the complexity can be over bearing for many. I'm not against this unit (some earlier stuff was not great) and the tones are not really that bad, although they (like all of the simulators IMO) don't actually represent the tube amp particularly in the feel area of using them. Its just different. G66 service support I have no problems with and have always been very helpful. The forum? Ha those guys should be in the UK government :). Thanks for the post and for watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficial did you build any of your own presets or look at the various ways to map the footswitches? It’s super capable.
which brand/model Preamps /OpAmps are fractal using in fm3/fm9???
Should be able to see them in this video? Thanks for watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficial nope sadly i cant find, have you some photos of boards? The quality if too low for me to find them :) ( i like your videos because u are always telling the truth :)) fractals says only that it is premium op amps not cheap NE553x or TL07x :) i hope they use something from japan radio (NJM) or even better.
Thanks for another informative review Tony. I looked at buying this device but ended up buying a used Quad Cortex for exactly the reason you stated: The amps inside can be captures, (and I can capture my own) plus I generally need 4 buttons : Clean Crunch boost and lead so the FM3 was a no from me. (The Quad has 8 buttons).
I'm happy with the 'old fashioned' USB connectors, they are still used on the Quad and my USB interface, I think they are bit more robust.
Regarding the number of amps and cabs etc on the FM3, Don't forget, 99% of all guitar gear never leaves the home and is bought by people who cannot play well, but are looking for something to keep them interested, so don't be too hard on products giving loads of options.
FYI I'm a pub rock guitarist with a H&K Switchblade all valve head and 4x12, a BlueGuitar amp 1, a Valeton GP100, and used to have Vox AC30, Marshalls etc, but I generally use a Boss Katana Artist Mk1 with a tube in the FX loop and it sounds as good as anything I have ever owned.
If you wanna borrow my quad to take apart, just let me know....just don't break it :) Miff, Yorkshire
I agree, most customers without question use the gear at home and without 'ordinary' people the business would crash out. It matters not in the overall scene of things, but you're dead right on that - its something resellers never talk about (or makers for that matter). Maybe they're embarrassed :). The three buttons were and always will be a pain by themselves. The add on unit is sorely out of price at £535.00 here in the UK and their 'new' 4 button device for £700 or so shows the FC6 as crazy money. The IR's the amp numbers and for that matter the whole thing can quickly drive any user to spend hours and hours pratting about rather than making music. And the FM3 is as good as its more expensive siblings for that. Very complex with often stuff no one cares for (like non standard controls of amps). I used to play some pubs too :) great fun for sure. Ha I could look at the Quad of course, would save me buying one - its one reason I did not buy one yet - and the costs overall for the gear are painful. On top of that the government now want to charge me tax for no profit! Crazy people. Thanks for taking the time to post our experiences and opinion very useful for many I'm sure and thanks for watching.
Fractal audio stated at the time why they changed the processor, it was due to the chip shortage. Fractal units are as complicated as you want them to be. You don’t need a FC6, you just need to be creative with your foot switch choices. Have you actually spent any time using it, because it doesn’t sound like it? I used a helix live for 5 years, then switched to fractal during the lockdowns. I ended up doing 1 gig about a year ago on a helix, using my presets, and the difference between the feel was noticeable. Fractal products are so far the best in my opinion. I’ve tried a few cheaper units from Moore and nux, I also owned a kemper for 2 years. Fractal all the way.
Ah dancing the night away :) not for me. Hey if you like the FA stuff that's fine by me, after all you bought one! So did I. I have used most devices including Roland/Boss. Line 6. Kemper amp and player, Tonex, Head-rush, Fender Tone Master Pro and even the AXE-FX II and III. I have over the years kept what I think are best for me. I retain the Kemper since Jan 2012, the Line 6 Helix rack also since launch, the Fender Tone Master Pro (currently for reviewing) and some Roland/Boss gear along with some NUX gear too. Its true I have not spent weeks on this unit. Understand that my review shown here took me (as it is) three weeks of work and it is very different than the sales video's out there. I bought my FA gear - all of it and I'm sure that you will have learned 'something' from the review. It was also interesting about those small screens being 'bigger' and my thoughts at the time were ' I wonder how many users complained about the old smaller ones?' The FC6 was clearly developed to reduce the 'aggro' of operation with the 3 switches I think. Just a personal opinion of course. For the things I showed in general truthfully I don't need months of use, I look at hardware, speed of operation, things like those 'upgrades', the general complexity of the software and that sort of thing. To understand everything in the FM3 would literally in my opinion take months or longer. Me I just won't put the time behind the unit personally to learn 'every aspect' because I really already have lot's of gear and investing the time in the FM3 is really not something I will do. I'm surrounded by real amps (over 20) and to be honest those for me rule better than any of the simulators I have used to date. BTW I mentioned the 'obsolescence' route from personal experience and did not go back in time investigating whether FA had problems or not - truth is, many guys generally do not understand the obsolescence route and so I just threw that in as general information from manufacturing. Thanks for the post and while I did say I liked the FM3 different guys make different choices... thanks for watching too.
Tony you are always the best
Some tell me I'm not... especially on this review. But I guess its all subjective ;-). Thanks for watching.
Welcome back, Tony! Looking forward to this video.
It took me three weeks to create. I hope it's useful and thanks for watching.
You mention that 98% of people don’t care about tweaking component values of an amp and that there is a pile of options that are not on the original amp. These products cater for that 2%.
You have Metallica using them to play stadium shows where they are recreating the exact tones from the albums. They have techs who work for weeks to program them to get exactly that sound. They would look at a song and say “well that song was recorded with this amp but it was modified with XYZ component values”. The Fractal products allow you to recreate exactly that.
If you don’t want that then you can reset to stock values with the push of a button.
I know touring musicians who can’t live without their AxeFX.
Sure I understand your comment. They used to say John Petrucci, but of course he uses real amps... and the fx is relegated to effects? And think of it this way, I truly doubt that those 2% guys you mention would keep FA in business for a week. What does matter is that the device has to be easy to use (questionable), sound AND FEEL the same as a real amp, and of course be affordable and competitive with other similar devices. Just my opinion of course. Thanks for the post... and of course for watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficial thanks for your video and reply. You are right that the 2% doesn’t keep them in business but a bit like when Ferrari win an F1 race they sell a lot more cars the next day. People like to be associated with the best even if they can’t play (or drive) like them.
Ha good point... I'm told I can't play all the time :) but I certainly can when inspired... this gear did not do it... Oh well. Thanks.
Laughing at all the triggered fractal fanboys in the comments who clearly missed the point of yet another great review by Tony
They never 'get it'. Thanks for watching.
Mean Well makes good stuff. Usually around $30-$100 depending on the model (for consumers.. might be less in bulk). I have no opinion on Axe FX at all, but SMPS is reasonable. Lighter and cheaper than a transformer. Easy to replace if it goes out. Lots of amplifiers use switching supplies (guitar and bass amps, PA, Pro Amplifiers like QSC and Crown, etc).
I would not disagree with that at all, but power supplies from China can be substantially less than your quoted prices. Just trust me on that - I buy thousands. Switching power supplies generally are reliable, if you buy them from the right manufacturer... and if not they can be problematic. My research did show that 'Mean Well' do make lots of power supplies so maybe these are reasonable but only time will confirm that. I raised the SMD question because for some repair guys they simply don't have the hot plate, the magnification or in some cases the skill to change the components out. Thanks for the post and for watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficialfinally had time to finish the video. I appreciate your in-depth review. I will say that it’s pretty obvious that you have a bit of a stigma towards Fractal. I know they and their fan base has been disrespectful towards you. I think it’s interesting you keep going back, especially when you could spend less money and review some gear that you will probably like better.
I’ll stay tuned either way. All the best.
Interesting info. The funny thing to me is most of these things have more processing than I think most will really use. Supporting different memory types I think isn't unusual since they don't know who will be using it and for what, but yeah, DDR3 is a bit long in the tooth, so this must be an older processor or Analog Devices is behind the curve of newer memory types?
People say it's great all the different things you can tweak in their software, but you couldn't do some of those adjustments to a real amp unless you open it up and use a soldering iron and/or replace components. I don't know, I think it's just too much fiddling for my taste.
Actually good summing up and I agree. The startup time was a bit poor... thanks for watching.
LOL The Fm3 DOES NOT have "more processing power than most people would use".
Running some pretty basic FX chains, I maxed out the FM3's processing power when I simply tried to use Output 2 to get a DI. Absolutely freaking pathetic.
On Kemper, you will literally never ever run into a processing power issue and it's like a decade older.
Have you opened a Quad Cortex? No one here on TH-camland has probably already opened one.
Thanks for opening this FM3. Fractal maybe ahead on algorithm, but the quality tho
I did steer clear of the quad cortex - and you can laugh that I thought their name of the unit was right from the off calling it something that it plainly is not... ;-0 I might look at some stage though. Thanks for watching.
You're never going to forgive Cliff for calling you a Chucklehead, are you? You can keep making these videos, but he's not going to take that back.
This was an entirely independent review that shows what I found as a paying customer. Thanks.
Hi. You say its passible for tone compared to tube amps. I think Def Leppard would say more than just passible !
And I am sure that I can find many other artists that don't or won't use it or any of the other simulators too. Both comments are valid of course. Thanks for watching.
You have to spend a lot of time dialing it in or hire Cooper Carter to create presets for you. None of the modelers I have tried “feel” as good as a tube amp and I doubt you’ll find many experienced guitarists that will tell you differently. But they might tell you they’re good enough for the economy of gigging. The closest to getting the “feel” that I’ve tried is the quad cortex captures. The fm3 can get a better feel also if you spend time with it adjusting the power amp compression, sag helps quite a bit. It becomes more reactive but it’s still stiffer feeling than a tube amp and slightly less inspiring to play through. Still it’s a great unit and solves a lot of problems.
FM3's are way too expensive in Australia. Almost the same price as a Quad Cortex and more expensive than the Fender TMP and Kemper Profiler.... FM9's are about $500 more than Quad Cortex in Australia.
Ouch. Well most stuff is getting so expensive these days and honestly I wonder where that will all end. I saw Sam Ash going out (I used to go there to specific branches and always interesting - its sad) and there really has to be a limit on all of it. In the UK Mesa Boogie are basically for most now not affordable really so I get your point re the prices. Thanks for watching appreciated and useful post.
They’re nowhere near the price of a QC in Australia…dunno where you shop bro…
for Eu is top range price sadly
No body on TH-cam does reviews to Tony's standard and tell you the good, bad and ugly.
Plus have some sympathy for him, it has taken many hours to make this video, he bought it with his
own money which is why i watch his reviews and not those grifters from the other channels.
As for this FM 3 what can i say, grossly overpriced and clearly has more than a few issues.
The manufacturing costs are peanuts compared to the MSRP, yes they have to develop the firmware
but does it realy add that much to the final price ?
Another one bites the dust ! bung it on Reverb and get some of your money back Tony.
Great to see you again, Take care.
Thanks for those kind words. This took me three weeks to create and was not that easy. I did try and make as much a truthful overview of what I saw. Interesting it was better made than the older stuff I saw before - and this made in China. Ha I might well sell it, but I'm still looking at the unit for now. I have Kemper, Line 6, Roland Boss etc. too so it is what it is really. Re the ones less 'kind' with this stuff I am not surprised and that seems to follow FA wherever they go. They simply don't like this stuff being shown in this way. Me? I'm just a paying customer... but that makes little or no difference. In any case... if someone gains from this review then it was worth creating. Thanks... and for watching too and those kind words of support.
I appreciate Tony's approach, which is pretty unique for gear videos. I learn a fair bit from him. Do I agree with every one of his conclusions? No, but that does not take away from the value of his content. I wish he would avoid statements about specific reviewers. It feeds the trolls and distracts from the good work. Best.
Post understood... and thanks for watching... appreciated.
good to see your Beck strat in action, sounds sweet. not for me these units, I have a Katana 100 watt and it works for me
Many say the Katana gear is great. I MUST review one one of these days. Thanks for watching. Yes this video took me three weeks!
Tony, Fractal stuff is for people who like to dig deep and tweak stuff, there’s nothing wrong with that.
So how many surveys have you completed? That comment is purely anecdotal. Thanks for watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficial none. Just went Through a brunch of modelers and found out what Works for me ( QC / Tonex). I have friends that use and love Fractal stuff for reasons that You don’t.
fractal audio were completely honest on why the turbo versions came into existing and advertised the " force upgrade " due to shortage of certain components
Well fancy me guessing that. I have seen it before with other gear - but honestly I did NOT research the old ad's of Fractal Audio. Thanks for the post and for watching.
I'm not quite sure how much information I glean from constant statement :"Well it is what it is"
I guess you should watch the 2 hours then? Thanks.
i have no knowledge on electrical stuff, but I know that the fractal reverbs and multidelay are top class
The effects are fine IMO, but the incredible depth of amp modifications away from the original amp (and other effects too for that) are seemingly IMO excessive and it adds a layer of complexity beyond all the other simulators I know of and have used. Thanks for the post and for watching - appreciated.
@@tonymckenzieofficialso….just don’t change anything, then? I do use the extra functionality. It’s not a requirement though.
I personally wanted to see how the foot switches were assembled.
I have the FC-6 and that review is coming up... thanks for watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficial thanks. I specifically want to understand what the SSS switches are and how they work. Thanks. 🙏
I made it in nearly an hour before i got fed up with the sarcastic negative overtone. Watching with a view to buy i soon realised that many of the self proclaimed "interesting points" didnt point anything out which seperates this from any other electronic product being manufactured. I think i will turn to the pro musicians who are generally gravitating to this product range as opposed to someone who clearly has some kind of grudge against fractal and not much to really say. I think, waffle removed, this video could have been 30 minutes long without losing any useful information.
I do like this reviewer. And the concept of this approach. But he clearly has an issue with this product. Which clearly adds a pre destined negative vibe to the whole thing. Not helpful for anyone genuinely open to whats out there.
They are expensive yes. But do the folks at fractal develop the software, functionality and modelling for free in with the price. A guitarist benefits from this part too. Plus the regular well concieved updates. Not just the bolts that hold it together.
He mentions not getting paid to have a favourabke opinion. But neither should it be this much of a grudge fest. It's disappointing when many of his reviews are so well put together.
great news... you won't have to listen to my reviews any longer. It's always been very clear that some guys simply don't like seeing ANY objections - not even those with the THREE stupid buttons that should have been at least 6 but that's OK. I can see the 'pro's' dancing around on that stage now... not. Thanks.
The Australian guy is a legend who can play circles around you in his sleep. Among probably a bazillion other things.
Indeed he can. But not once has he (or any of the others) actually showed you what you're really buying have they? Thanks for watching.
@@tonymckenzieofficial My reply to this somehow disappeared. Dude is the nicest and most helpful of all FAS content creators. And can annihilate the fretboard on top of that. Seems like a weird case of punching up just because Cliff "yelled at you" all those years ago.
You need to 'snap out of it' really with your attitude - it was wrong from the start. If you can't take what I show in ANY of my inside and out video reviews, there is good and bad in all of them, then clearly you and your cohorts are in the wrong place. Frankly I care not about the fanboys or anything else related to those types. I showed what I saw as a paying customer with my PURCHASED device. If you like some YT channel then PLEASE go there. You will not be missed here, particularly when you are rude to me because I have an opinion. And as for running rings.. th-cam.com/users/shortsM8j0oa6nWhE now push off.
And still have the problem with usb port which soldering from the main chip and kill it with static... For that price... Whats wrong with you Cliff?
Thanks for the post... I was surprised it was an 'old' style USB too. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for this video
Well thank you for watching.
🎉🎉🎉🎉
Yummy :)
Quite the deep dive this time !!!
As much as I like technology, and I am surrounded by 0s, 1s, and many analog modules, I am not tempted by Fractal. I am satisfied with my guitars going through pedals, to my Blackstar, through my UA Ox, and into my ProTools. I am very far from having discovered all the various results possible from that setup !!
Thanks for the video and your great efforts to inform us !!!
Ha me too in the 'day job' :) I work 10 to 4 these days but I love what I do at work... not related to this channel at all. Yes the FM3 can do so much, but personally I think the 'extra' changes to the amp and effects that originals did not do change the unit to being complex. I guess its whatever works for each of us. But FM3 is not really for me. Interesting though to see inside and the software etc. how it is in 2024 and how it sounds etc. Video review took three weeks to create :( and probably too long. Some might not quite 'get it' :) but that's OK. Thanks for the post and of course as always for watching.
FM9 por favor☝️🤙👏👏👏
I think as a choice the FM9 would be better... and after looking in the FC-3 I wondered where the £525.00 was spent... certainly I never found it. Thanks for watching.
Hi Tony. Always great to see your vids. I'm probably a bit older than you but you speak my language and I've learned a lot from you. Big thanks and I wish you all good things for the future.
Oh man, this took me three weeks to complete. I do think making these for something like this is maybe something to do occasionally rather than having to live on doing it. 2 hours! even I was surprised :) In any case great you watch the stuff... its appreciated and thanks.
You do a great job and I really appreciate it. If I could talk to my younger self over 50 years ago I’d avoid so many buying mistakes. I’d love to be able to tell the new guitarist out there not to be influenced by the hype especially from the big names like Gibson. I cleared out so much gear a few years ago and now have 3 good amps and 4 nice guitars. The tech gear has to be spot on for my needs and I take your channel very seriously in this regard. Thanks again.
Thanks for the kind words... some don't like me 'showing' what you really get... but at least I try. Thanks.
Fractal is a joke and this review confirms it. I just sold my FM3 Mk I and feel sorry for the guy who bought it lol.
I've switched over to Kemper and it's worlds better.
I cannot disagree... check my Kemper reviews... thanks for watching.
Why are they using those old strap cables in there instead of the newer and better connectors
Who knows. I just filmed it :) Thanks for watching.
Which new cables are you referring to?
31:04 the most important sequence of the video = doesn’t have the tube feel
Never will
@notalkguitarampplug-insrev784 I agree. Tones are not bad, but the feel IMO was missing. Generally similarly on most/all simulators of amps. Thanks.
@PainterDans - indeed, they might do it at some stage, technology is a funny thing, but I never found it yet. Thanks for watching.
The closest ive played, beleive it or not, is my katana 100 head...
great playing Tony. Another great informative video. Just got some new Adams monitors and i quite like them. Now as one does when they have a gear problem i must need a new uprade in the interface department...lol. Cheaper than crack and better for ya too...cheers
I have not tried those, but I believe you :) ... thanks for watching.
Overpriced yes, great product yes, best unit on the market yes, imo.
:) Maybe... or not... but some of the things I saw I would not put this one 'at the top of my list' really. But that's OK... and thanks for the post and for watching.
Tony; thank you for another thorough, informative and honest review. Regarding tap dancing with just the three foot switches, you mentioned also getting the FC6 controller. Adding the prices of those two together would get close to the FM9 with all those extra foot switches. Had you considered that ? Either way, I appreciate the in-depth look at the interface and you've confirmed what many others have said - namely that it's far too complicated. Looking forward to your review of the Fender TMP. Keep up the great work !
Indeed I DID consider the FM9. But I thought really that the combination of the FM3 and FC6 allowed for a smaller footprint when 3 buttons would suffice. It IS an interesting aspect and the FM9 includes another processor and a few other things so is probably better value overall. I will look at the FC6 internally and as a short review but I don't really expect to see much in there - but I could be wrong, we shall see. As always some people shoot the messenger and that is frustrating really, but thanks for your great post. I have always found the FA gear more complex than is really necessary, and I am surprised that they simply don't have a 'simple' mode and an advanced mode for the people that really do want to spend the time with all of that, I can't see why. The Fender I failed to remove the cooling off the processor and as yet I have NEVER actually seen what the processor is. I always like to confirm what they are. But thanks for watching - appreciated.
Watching roughly an hour of you complaining (I skipped herer and there) and then hear you playing is too funny :D
Firstly I am not under review... I did not complain, but I did complete a real review (clearly you are not used to them) that showed exactly what you get (as a paying customer) when you buy one of these units. The review is conducted in exactly the same way as it was for every other simulator I have reviewed (and that includes most competitive devices) and this one was ultimately pretty much like most. Don't like the review? Don't watch it. I guess you skipped the parts that are irrefutable... right. And lastly, just so you know what happens with playing when gear inspires you its this: th-cam.com/users/shortsM8j0oa6nWhE Now you're free to leave and please don't come back.
ToneX eats for breakfast both kemper and fm3 (for amp sounds, not fx of course)
I agree I had an FM3 be it for a very short time and though if sounded good it is very expensive when compared to Tonex or the Kemper Player.
@notalkguitarampplug-insrev784 I get it, but the Tonex is lacking in some areas so is it a really fair comparison? Well I guess it depends what someone wants. Some have said to me about FM3 - its the best and 2% pro etc. well all well and good but what about the other 98% of users :). Tonex does have some issues too particularly relating to the initial software that 'authorizes' installation of the rest of it all. Tonex is not too bad especially for that price. Thanks for watching.
Completely subjective. I’ve had ToneX since launch, and even the best captures are just decent.
secret go and play do songs no matter what equipment
Not quite... I wish it was that easy... if you watch the video you might realize that there is much time involved. Thanks for watching...
Funny how in terms of pure amp sounds, none of these crazy expensive boxes like Fractal, Kemper, QC etc, sound any better than the free Neural Amp Modeler.
That could be true - I have not tried the free NA modeller but thanks for posting it and for watching.
Looking at the board, I'm amazed humans can build such a item.
Did humans reverse engineer from alien technology ? I think so.
It was clearly made on a machine... thanks for watching.
2 hours of speculation and drivel.....? No thanks.
It's not speculation when I see the power connector glued in is it?
I think it’s basic Karma in that Cliff has to reap even a tiny bit of what he sows. I’m sure he watched every second of this exhaustingly sarcastic review (his Fanboi’s have). Anyway, he has one of the most acerbic online personalities in existence. Honestly Cliff’s attitude gets so tiresome he doesn’t even realize how selfish he is at times. And it’s that exact selfish nature that brings out the worst in people, from pensioners to posers.
This review was completed in the same way other inside and out reviews have been. Thanks...
My god. I'd suggest you take a couple of years off and learn how to play the guitar, but I honestly don't know if it will make a difference. Have you considered reviewing cellphones instead?
Ah I have seen fanboys like you before. When I play well it's because I am inspired by the gear. Here's a video where I am inspired, unlike with this device: th-cam.com/users/shortsM8j0oa6nWhE now please... push off.
@@tonymckenzieofficial watched that. My point still stands. Get hold of a teacher. They say you're never too young to learn ...but you may put that saying to the test
@@tonymckenzieofficial that video doesn’t really help your case.