All of those effects are covered by the FM3, FM9 & AxeFx III.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Fractal Audio Club
- Thread starter Challanger2
- Start date
I can't seem to figure out the right way to google this, or nobody has asked - does anyone have any idea if you can have MIDI block info only transmit on preset load instead of every time you activate that scene?
In my situation, I am playing a backing track from a Zoia patch. If I go back to the scene the preset loads on, it re-sends the program change to Zoia, stopping the track.
In my situation, I am playing a backing track from a Zoia patch. If I go back to the scene the preset loads on, it re-sends the program change to Zoia, stopping the track.
Hello FAS fam 
I recently got into bass guitar and already own a Fractal FM9 Mark II Turbo (which I love!) for my Fender Strat.
I'd love to get some sounds like the basslines in this classic mix, particularly the first half:
So I'm looking at the AustinBuddy Bass Tone Pack to get me started, wondering how the presets are for general funk / disco (Jamiroquai and sounds like the mix I linked above) and some 90s classics like Red Hot Chili Peppers (BSSM especially), Jane's Addiction, and U2 (Achtung Baby era)?
I watched the demo vids and I'm aware that the presets include some of what I listed, just trying to gauge how good they sound if anyone here has experience with them. Also how are the cabs and IRs that come with it compared to the stock stuff, are they substantial upgrades?
I recently got into bass guitar and already own a Fractal FM9 Mark II Turbo (which I love!) for my Fender Strat.I'd love to get some sounds like the basslines in this classic mix, particularly the first half:
So I'm looking at the AustinBuddy Bass Tone Pack to get me started, wondering how the presets are for general funk / disco (Jamiroquai and sounds like the mix I linked above) and some 90s classics like Red Hot Chili Peppers (BSSM especially), Jane's Addiction, and U2 (Achtung Baby era)?
I watched the demo vids and I'm aware that the presets include some of what I listed, just trying to gauge how good they sound if anyone here has experience with them. Also how are the cabs and IRs that come with it compared to the stock stuff, are they substantial upgrades?
Last edited:
Had a gig today and asked the FOH engineer if he'd prefer a DI signal or amp sim signal for the mains, he said DI. Just a local bar/concert venue, nothing crazy.
Good news: he said he loved the DI tone, super easy to work with and was on par with tones from festivals he'd mixed.
The tone was just a high pass filter at 40hz into an optical compressor pulling 8-12db gain reduction into the tube pre amp model with the power amp sim off. Got this fancy ass axe FX 3 and that's all FOH needs
My stage sound was great though, had a Mesa 400+ model into a ML Mesa IR into my bass array 410. Threw a bit of tape distortion on at the end too, made things pop a bit.
Good news: he said he loved the DI tone, super easy to work with and was on par with tones from festivals he'd mixed.
The tone was just a high pass filter at 40hz into an optical compressor pulling 8-12db gain reduction into the tube pre amp model with the power amp sim off. Got this fancy ass axe FX 3 and that's all FOH needs
My stage sound was great though, had a Mesa 400+ model into a ML Mesa IR into my bass array 410. Threw a bit of tape distortion on at the end too, made things pop a bit.
Hello FAS fam
I'd love to get some sounds like the basslines in this classic mix, particularly the first half:
So I'm looking at the AustinBuddy Bass Tone Pack to get me started, wondering how the presets are for general funk / disco (Jamiroquai and sounds like the mix I linked above) and some 90s classics like Red Hot Chili Peppers (BSSM especially), Jane's Addiction, and U2 (Achtung Baby era)?
I watched the demo vids and I'm aware that the presets include some of what I listed, just trying to gauge how good they sound if anyone here has experience with them. Also how are the cabs and IRs that come with it compared to the stock stuff, are they substantial upgrades?
I'm not really familiar with those genres, but I can say that I think the Austin Buddy bass pack is a good value. I don't use his presets as it, but I've saved a lot of his settings for effects in my blocks library. I've also saved a lot of his amp settings to use at the starting point for amps, especially the guitar amps use for bass like the plexi or hiwatt.
From that sound sample you sent, my thought be to start with the Citrus 200 model of the orange tube bass amp. It's a really solid model with a warm low end. FAS bass could also potentially work. The portaflex 115 dynacab might pair well with it.
Hi, I am very interested in the Fractal sound, from what I've listened in YouTube.
I wonder which one is better for me: FM3 in a pedalboard + Morningstar MC6 Pro + OC-2 + SA C4 synth + expression pedal; or just a FM9 + expression pedal?
In my current pedalboard, I have a Line6 Hx Effects + OC-2 + SA C4 + expression pedal. I am very picky with the octaver, and I feel and hear more beautiful the OC-2 than the model on the Hx or on the C4. I use the C4 mostly for envelope filters, as the synth part doesn't track very well with my bass.
Do you think that Fractal can sound as fast, dynamic and responsive as an OC-2?
What about envelope filters? My SA C4 is thicker than my Hx Effects (the autofilter from Hx can sweep higher freqs than C4 though). Will Fractal replace my C4?
I use my pedalboard with different approaches: 1. Regular bassist; 2. Soloist bassist; 3. Regular bassist that plays solos in a band context.
1 and 2, mostly a preset for a gig or song.
3, it uses to be in a jam context and I like to have every effect available for my creativity. Maybe, this is where the CPU usage is going to have more exigencies.
The signal chain I want to have is:
Bass
Compress
Momentary 5th string
Parallel path with 8ve up & 16ve up (prefiltered with a HPF@400Hz)
Oc2 (from Fractal or in the FxLoop)
Overdrive/dist/fuzz
Envelope filter
Overdrive/dist/fuzz
Modulation
Amp
Delay
Reberb
Looper
Limiter
As I am writing the signal chain, I am answering this question: Do you think the FM3 mark ii turbo can support the signal chain I wish? It can't.
Maybe, it isn't possible even in a FM9?
Thnx
I wonder which one is better for me: FM3 in a pedalboard + Morningstar MC6 Pro + OC-2 + SA C4 synth + expression pedal; or just a FM9 + expression pedal?
In my current pedalboard, I have a Line6 Hx Effects + OC-2 + SA C4 + expression pedal. I am very picky with the octaver, and I feel and hear more beautiful the OC-2 than the model on the Hx or on the C4. I use the C4 mostly for envelope filters, as the synth part doesn't track very well with my bass.
Do you think that Fractal can sound as fast, dynamic and responsive as an OC-2?
What about envelope filters? My SA C4 is thicker than my Hx Effects (the autofilter from Hx can sweep higher freqs than C4 though). Will Fractal replace my C4?
I use my pedalboard with different approaches: 1. Regular bassist; 2. Soloist bassist; 3. Regular bassist that plays solos in a band context.
1 and 2, mostly a preset for a gig or song.
3, it uses to be in a jam context and I like to have every effect available for my creativity. Maybe, this is where the CPU usage is going to have more exigencies.
The signal chain I want to have is:
Bass
Compress
Momentary 5th string
Parallel path with 8ve up & 16ve up (prefiltered with a HPF@400Hz)
Oc2 (from Fractal or in the FxLoop)
Overdrive/dist/fuzz
Envelope filter
Overdrive/dist/fuzz
Modulation
Amp
Delay
Reberb
Looper
Limiter
As I am writing the signal chain, I am answering this question: Do you think the FM3 mark ii turbo can support the signal chain I wish? It can't.
Maybe, it isn't possible even in a FM9?
Thnx
In general the octavers on the fractal are decent, but if you're looking for a specific sound and you know you like the hardware pedal, I'd opt towards using that. The rest will probably be close to the hardware limits of the FM3 and may depend on the specific models chosen.
I would lean towards the FM9. I think you may be able to get away with the FM3 for the exact signal chain you have there, but if you discover some cool stuff in the unit and want to add more, you'll be out of luck. FM9 would future proof you against more additions to your signal chain. FM9 also gives you two amps, so if you're going down the parallel processing route, then you can use a different amp for each path.
The problem I see is the form factor of a FM9 + expression pedal + OC-2.
A thing that I like a lot is digital +1 & +2 octaves up, analog octave down and dry signal... it is powerful, although FM3 and FM9 only have one Pitch Block available in a preset...
A thing that I like a lot is digital +1 & +2 octaves up, analog octave down and dry signal... it is powerful, although FM3 and FM9 only have one Pitch Block available in a preset...
I would recommend joining the Fractal Audio forum and ask some actual users their opinion.
Is that list of effects something that you'd need to have engaged and active for any given situation for your sound?
That's a TON of stuff going on at once. I would guess only the AxeFxIII could handle that load on its own.
Is that list of effects something that you'd need to have engaged and active for any given situation for your sound?
That's a TON of stuff going on at once. I would guess only the AxeFxIII could handle that load on its own.
I think the FM9Turbo could get you most of the way there. I'd keep the OC2, and you may run into trouble having both the temporary 5th string and parallel octaves since there's only one pitch shifter. The onboard synth block can come in handy as an alt, BUT Fractal has never addressed the synth tracking issue on the lowest E string notes. The other issue is whether the FM9 runs out of available memory with such a loaded preset.I want it all: small, quality, even more powerful...
Maybe some day there will be a floor pedal unit that can handle all of this, but it may be a few years away.
Parallel octaves will not be at the same time as the momentary 5th.
And I am not sure if I am going to use Amp and Cab blocks.
Another question, what about preamps, they don't have a dedicated section, where are they?
OK. Then you can program a switch so that one pitch block can do the octaves or the momentary 5th.
Cab block is very powerful for tone shaping on its own due to the channel strip section, which adds various mic/tape pre selections, drive and saturation.
Cab block also has high & low pass filters, proximity, and the channel strip has 2 band EQ. If you load a "null" or flat response IR, you can use all of the tone shapers in the cab block without the coloration of a mic'd cabinet, which is pretty cool on its own for emulating a bass DI into a console.
Preamps themselves are in the Amp block, and also in the Drive block (pedal preamps generally, but there's a tape machine preamp and Korg SDD 3000 delay preamp). Really, if you've never looked at the types of drives and amps available and the number of deep parameters you can adjust, it's worth digging into.
Do yourself a favor and RTFM and/or go on to the Fractal Audio Wiki page...and give yourself at least a few hours of free time to do so. There's a lot to digest.
Something else you can do is take any amp model and turn off the power amp modeling. Essentially gets you just the preamp of any of the amps.OK. Then you can program a switch so that one pitch block can do the octaves or the momentary 5th.
Cab block is very powerful for tone shaping on its own due to the channel strip section, which adds various mic/tape pre selections, drive and saturation.
Cab block also has high & low pass filters, proximity, and the channel strip has 2 band EQ. If you load a "null" or flat response IR, you can use all of the tone shapers in the cab block without the coloration of a mic'd cabinet, which is pretty cool on its own for emulating a bass DI into a console.
Preamps themselves are in the Amp block, and also in the Drive block (pedal preamps generally, but there's a tape machine preamp and Korg SDD 3000 delay preamp). Really, if you've never looked at the types of drives and amps available and the number of deep parameters you can adjust, it's worth digging into.
Do yourself a favor and RTFM and/or go on to the Fractal Audio Wiki page...and give yourself at least a few hours of free time to do so. There's a lot to digest.
Yes. And you can also lower the Master Volume parameter to keep the virtual power amp from going into SAG.
Keep in mind that with the amp models, there's Dynamics Parameters page that includes a basic compressor located post power amp (sim), which can help save using another compressor block if cpu and space is getting low. It has some nice settings that work well on bass.
OK. Then you can program a switch so that one pitch block can do the octaves or the momentary 5th.
Cab block is very powerful for tone shaping on its own due to the channel strip section, which adds various mic/tape pre selections, drive and saturation.
Cab block also has high & low pass filters, proximity, and the channel strip has 2 band EQ. If you load a "null" or flat response IR, you can use all of the tone shapers in the cab block without the coloration of a mic'd cabinet, which is pretty cool on its own for emulating a bass DI into a console.
Preamps themselves are in the Amp block, and also in the Drive block (pedal preamps generally, but there's a tape machine preamp and Korg SDD 3000 delay preamp). Really, if you've never looked at the types of drives and amps available and the number of deep parameters you can adjust, it's worth digging into.
Do yourself a favor and RTFM and/or go on to the Fractal Audio Wiki page...and give yourself at least a few hours of free time to do so. There's a lot to digest.
First time that someone tell me RTFM. I use to read it, this time I have read the FAS Wiki page, not complete though.My question about preamps are because I have found barely a pair of preamps dedicated to bass in the Drive section. Switching off the power amp stage can be a great discovery
That's a lot of requirements and signal chain, I think you'd want at least an FM9 Turbo for more blocks, processing power, and routing. The FM9 can handle a lot of routing and processing (including blending 2 amps!) but there are limitations of 14 blocks in series IIRC (and factor in CPU usage). At a glance I think you'd likely be able to accomplish what you want with some parallel processing (these would be above or below the main signal path in the grid) in a patch with some FX Loop usage for some of the physical equipment (which I do to use my Ram's head Fuzz, it's simple and easy to setup)
I agree with the other comments, post this to the Fractal Forum and they should be able to help you out. Personally I've been watching this series to get more familiar with the capabilities of my FM9, very helpful:
I spent days looking into the options for amp and cab modelling (originally for my guitar), I landed on Fractal because it had the most options and routing, best sounding FX, and is updated very frequently. Very glad that I decided to move past a traditional pedal board setup, a game changer for sure. Now I get to use it for bass too, awesome unit!
Last edited:
I would look more at the Amp block to be used as a traditional preamp stage. You'll find a ton of options there, though the vast majority are guitar amps and/or specific channels of guitar amps.
My question about preamps are because I have found barely a pair of preamps dedicated to bass in the Drive section. Switching off the power amp stage can be a great discovery
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
There is a generic Tube Pre, along with dedicated bass amp models ( Ampeg SVT, PortaBass, Orange, Mesa, custom FAS, Fender Bassman), but keep in mind that every amp model also has its own graphic EQ section and other tone shaping tools that make them flexible. On top of that, you can always add a GEQ or PEQ block anywhere to get even more tone shaping. It depends on what you're looking for. Marshalls and HiWatts can sound cool for bass if you want that vibe.
The game is all about the tone, and there are so many ways in which you can really shape the tone. I would say that you use the Amp Model for the general tone and drive characteristics, and if you then want that tone to sound like a particular type of cabinet, then add the Cab Block IR. But it's just as viable to use EQ and filtering instead of the cab block, but then you miss out on all of the channel strip goodies. I'd really love to see Fractal strip out just the channel strip into its own block. For bass, an amp model into a channel strip model is a great option for DI bass.
dr bonkers
Commercial User
- Jul 4, 2016
- 91
- 213
- Disclosures
- Founder of Dr Bonkers Soundlab LLC, ir provider to audio modeler world
In the Fractal shop, I now have 2 DynaCab packs, an Ampeg 810AV and a vintage B18 with the original Ampeg special design speaker.
More fun is being produced as we speak.
More fun is being produced as we speak.
Any chance we'll see these bass packs implemented as part of the DynaCab firmware?
It's great that you've got these cab packs officially affiliated with Fractal now. Congrats!
As I understand it, CabLab integrates seamlessly for audition with my FM9 Turbo acting as the audio interface. As I've never used CabLab4, I'm unsure of the full scope of the implementation. Ideally, I'd want to have FM9 Edit open along with CabLab4, with an existing preset's cab block being edited, so that I could hear the custom DynaCab IR in CabLab within the context of the existing preset. Is this possible?
