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Fractal FM3 FM9 vs Quad Cortex vs Helix and others.

#61
GroovinOnFunk said:
Plugin integration is around the corner. At that point this will slaughter the competition IMO
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Maybe, maybe not, but certainly the QC will be more attractive with plug-in integration, albeit long, long, LONG, overdue. (IIRC, wasn't this feature supposed to have been implemented YEARS ago, as marketed?) But that is also to say that the competition just sits on its hands and watches the parade go by....which doesn't happen. IMHO all the current players will do just fine in the future simply because different people have different needs and preferences. Plug-in implementation is all well and good, but what if you simply prefer the general sound, feel, and features of "modeler X" vs. the QC? In that case, the plug-in attraction becomes largely moot. Regardless, lots of great options these days.
 
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#63
jimfist said:
Maybe, maybe not, but certainly the QC will be more attractive with plug-in integration, albeit long, long, LONG, overdue. (IIRC, wasn't this feature supposed to have been implemented YEARS ago, as marketed?) But that is also to say that the competition just sits on its hands and watches the parade go by....which doesn't happen. IMHO all the current players will do just fine in the future simply because different people have different needs and preferences. Plug-in implementation is all well and good, but what if you simply prefer the general sound, feel, and features of "modeler X" vs. the QC? In that case, the plug-in attraction becomes largely moot. Regardless, lots of great options these days.
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Yeah. Some are still using Axe Fx II or AX8.. All matter of taste.

Honestly i dont think they will add the plugins soon.. Also Neural DSP won't release a new Multi-FX unit soon. They probably wait until they fully fixed all the things for the QC with updates and will use that knowledge to learn more about making the next product.

Besides that, i noticed fractal released a new product every 3-5 years. Turbo versions of fm3/fm9 were only released because they had to use other chips because shortage of them.. which just happen to be 10% faster..

You could assume they are already busy with making a new unit... But this is only speculation based on their past products release interval :)

I do wonder what their new user interface will be like. Most people avoid fractal because of the interface. They would gain a lot of popularity + sales when they would make it much easier and simple to use. (also for beginners.. like QC and helix, which are very easy to use)

Edit: lol.. i did not know it, but there is also a topic about fractal release dates and such on another forum. I was not the only one who noticed a pattern hahaha: Axe FX 4 in 2023?

2006 Axe FX Standard
2008 Axe FX Ultra
2011 Axe Fx II
2014 Axe Fx II XL
2015 AX8
2016(?) FX8
2019 Fm3
2021 Fm9
2023 Fm3 turbo
2024 Fm9 turbo

I predict a new unit within 2-3 years haha.
 
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#64
One of the top players in my area is on the fractal, can’t go wrong. Footprint is great on those things.

Ögon said:
From my online research, the helix stomp xl, quad cortex and Fm3 seem to fit me most.
But i have to agree.. the helix seems to sound a bit dull compared to the QC and Fm3 and it has less sub low end.

Thought about the QC and the Fm3.. QC has more way more bass amps / captures, much easier to use. Although the Fm3 is more difficult, the guitar sounds are very awesome. My decision for the Fm3 is based on that.. cant judge bass sounds because online bass sound demo's of the Fm3 / fm9 / axe fx are very rare, sadly.

Made the decision to buy secondhand. QC cant be found secondhand in my country.
Found the Fm3 and will try it out when i recieve it. :)

i know the QC has more bass options, but im not the guy who uses 100 sounds.. i prefer a few good onces, set and forget like a real pedalboard with a good amp, will have to try if the Fm3 has good bass sounds.. If not, i sell it and i buy the QC new somewhere. :)
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#65
If I could afford it, I'd probably still have my FM4 with its corresponding controller. Just because it's a killer unit and does so much and can be utilized in many situations. Just depends.

However, I had the HX stomp and HXFX before I had the FM3. I don't have the FM3 anymore and I still have my Helix stuff. And a quad cortex now haha

With that said, I thought the Fractal sounded "better" on most things. Dirt specifically. But I ended up getting options paralysis on the Fractal and it was way too deep for me over time. At first it was amazing but I messed with it more than I played it. The Helix and QC stuff goes deep and has a ton of options but they are simply more simple to use for me. And sonically, in the end, I think that yes, I can hear the difference, but it's really negligible IMO. The Helix and QC sound almost as good if not better in some instances. But it's like what @jimfist said earlier, there are pros and cons to all of them. You just have to try them and see what pros weigh out the cons for you and your situation. They all do something better or worse than the next IME.

Kemper is one of the only big ones I have no exp with at all.
 
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#66
I think where it's getting complicated it's because of the "one device do it all".

I'm in the process of resurrecting my Eleven Rack where it will be used as a 3-channel amp only (clean, crunch and drive) using a power amp and a 4x12" (or 1x12") cab.

I will program my midi footswitch to call a "solo" (gain pedal + compressor + delay) for each and that's it. If I want additional effects they will come from my TC M300 processor in the effects loop or from overdrive/distortion/phaser pedals in front of the 11R. So I would enable effects as regular pedals and independetly of what channel I'm currently in. That way I won't have to create and maintain (depending on guitars and cabs and rooms) zillion of patches.
 
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#67
Well, it's been said a ton of times how deep and complex the Fractal gear can be. The types of players who are comfortable geeking out on Fractal gear (that's me!) tend to be just as comfortable playing bass or guitar as they are behind a mixing desk, doing engineering or mixing chores. This is what those types love about their gear. It gives you so many options and ways to fine tune the sounds that it tends to be overwhelming unless you already have a good grip on what all the deep parameters are there for. Understandably, this can scare off prospective buyers as well as those who've taken the plunge and found it wasn't for them.

On the other hand, it's pretty cool how many big name pros are using the AxeFxIII/FM3/FM9, so there's no denying it's great gear. There's so much great gear available right now, we have to appreciate how good these times are....and hopefully continue to get better.
 
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#68
Yeah, QC and Helix are more plug and play if that is your thing (everybody is different). I much prefer the flexibility that Fractal offers (which comes with complexity of set up and editing). That said, I still use some analog effects that digital does not do well (gated fuzzes, envelope filters, analog octaves, etc.). Mainly effects where I like the variability and glitches.
 
#71
I was really hoping that the Quad Cortex would do the trick for me, but the initial release growing pains chilled me on that and I never pulled the trigger. Hopefully, having learned a few things from the original QC, Neural's next flagship pedal processor will have nailed things down and expand on existing features.
In the meantime, Fractal released the FM9 which, though it wasn't the perfect solution for me, I already know their design & navigation, and have 100% confidence that the product is good-to-go from day one. I don't think anyone touches Fractal for bug fixes and firmware updates, and generally addressing problems (many times via their forum). Plus, it's manufactured close to home.
 

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