Fractal Audio Club

[mastermachetier]

No touring house or individual ever allowed me to rent one.

Once I have the new recording space completed in Arizona, if anyone wants to let me borrow their cab for a few days, I would be glad to shoot IR files of it.

if your ever in Boston! Hit me up haha

 

[jimfist]

All the guitar amps are effective bass amps when paired with a compatible bass cab. Just ignore the name of the model. The topography of many bass and guitar amps are similar if not identical. Fractal also gives you the ability to swap out tone stacks, which gives you more possibilities than any of the L6 or QC named bass models- which also lack the ability to do tone stack swaps.

Several IR producers give presets in their packs for that exact reason of opening up people's ears to those possibilities.

Aye! That's where my knowledge ends right there. I wouldn't know where to start to know how to change out components to make a guitar amp model into a bass amp. It's all p!ssing in the wind at that level, though in the past, I've come up with some really good bass tones using HiWatt and Marshall guitar amp models. Mostly it's a matter of gain adjustment and grappling with tone stack EQ center frequencies.

Personally, I still view Fractal's bass efforts from the vantage point of what they officially include in firmware. I haven't checked, but does Fractal have any bona fide stock bass presets among the hundreds included?

 

[jimfist]

if your ever in Boston! Hit me up haha

Cool, another Mass-hole! We're lucky having manufacturers like Fractal, Source Audio and Fishman in the north greater Boston area.

 

[dr bonkers]

Aye! That's where my knowledge ends right there. I wouldn't know where to start to know how to change out components to make a guitar amp model into a bass amp. It's all p!ssing in the wind at that level, though in the past, I've come up with some really good bass tones using HiWatt and Marshall guitar amp models. Mostly it's a matter of gain adjustment and grappling with tone stack EQ center frequencies.

Personally, I still view Fractal's bass efforts from the vantage point of what they officially include in firmware. I haven't checked, but does Fractal have any bona fide stock bass presets among the hundreds included?

I have offered to build presets for bass to included stock in the unit, but they basically just ignored the request. I do have a couple posted to their forum if you do a search.

Some of my bass cab ir samples are included in the 3, FM3, and Fm9.
They are noted here: Dr Bonkers Soundlab® Bass and Guitar Cab Impulse Response (IR) Files Are Licensed In Your Favorite Hardware and Software – Dr. Bonkers Soundlab LLC™

 

[jimfist]

I have offered to build presets for bass to included stock in the unit, but they basically just ignored the request. I do have a couple posted to their forum if you do a search.

Some of my bass cab ir samples are included in the 3, FM3, and Fm9.
They are noted here: Dr Bonkers Soundlab® Bass and Guitar Cab Impulse Response (IR) Files Are Licensed In Your Favorite Hardware and Software – Dr. Bonkers Soundlab LLC™

Are these presets on Axe-change? I haven't even gone there yet to be honest. I'll have a look. thanks!

 

[dr bonkers]

Are these presets on Axe-change? I haven't even gone there yet to be honest. I'll have a look. thanks!

They are in the bass section of the forum and in the Axe-FX III preset sections of the forum.

 

[Veldar]

All the guitar amps are effective bass amps when paired with a compatible bass cab. Just ignore the name of the model. The topography of many bass and guitar amps are similar if not identical. Fractal also gives you the ability to swap out tone stacks, which gives you more possibilities than any of the L6 or QC named bass models- which also lack the ability to do tone stack swaps.

Several IR producers give presets in their packs for that exact reason of opening up people's ears to those possibilities.

See if it was an older unit and I was trying to make it work I would accept that as a work around.

For 5k Aud I want a name that sounds like Aguilar to sound like an Aguilar with miminal fuss

 

[jimfist]

See if it was an older unit and I was trying to make it work I would accept that as a work around.

For 5k Aud I want a name that sounds like Aguilar to sound like an Aguilar with miminal fuss

IMO this is a valid point of view. As @dr bonkers mentioned above, even his efforts to build bass presets was essentially ignored by Fractal. All we can do is speculate the reasons why this blind spot exists on the part of Fractal. Economics alone? This is the bitter pill I've had to learn to swallow about Fractal. Other than that, I can't say enough about how good their products are (I'm on my third Fractal unit - AxeFx Ultra, AxeFxII, and now the FM9 Turbo), though the bassist in me gets annoyed every so often.

 

[SteveFromBerlin]

+1000

I've said it before: Pleeeze just make a few more bass heads. I swear, it'll bring in more buyers!

I also don't understand why certain FX are being kept from the FM3. As a bass player I would love to split my frequencies but this very block is only for the more expensive units. I'm able to get around by using more complicated signal chains but for the money, I really would like not to be forced to do so.

FM3 Owner here. Still, I think the company would benefit greatly if they included at least 2-3 more common bass amps. E.g. Gallien Krueger, Acoustic, Trace Elliot. I mean, when a potential buyer weighs up which modeler to buy, he will find at least 10-15 models with Line6. As a result, they're much more likely to go for it, which is a shame since the modeling in the Fractal is so good.

 

[dr bonkers]

As a bass player I would love to split my frequencies but this very block is only for the more expensive units.

The crossover block is usually sacrificed by Fractal on the lower units due to the amount of processing power it demands versus other fx blocks.

It's one reason why I have caught flack from Fractal for not recommending the AX-8 or FM-3 for bass players. I can't see recommending a unit fir bass players where you need to use multiple filter blocks to accomplish the same net effect as the single crossover block would accomplish.

 

[Les Fret]

+1000

I've said it before: Pleeeze just make a few more bass heads. I swear, it'll bring in more buyers!
.

Yes, and add a second pitch block on the FM9. That's keeping me from ordering one to replace my Axe fx II....

 

[jimfist]

Frustrating for bassists, no doubt. We all know how killer Fractal stuff is, but the "what if" regarding bass accommodation is enough to drive you crazy. Lost opportunity, or shrewd business move? As members of the "club", we've paid our price of admission to b!tch about things. Oh well. Somehow, I'm lured back in. Honestly, all this aside, I'm loving the FM9.

 

[jimfist]

Interesting development in the cabinet IR simulation block for those who have the AxeFxIII...
They've overhauled it to include Dynamic IR "Dyna-Cab" technology. You choose the speaker and mic, and then you can move it across the speaker (center cap to cone edge), and distance from speaker grille cloth ( further away captures more room ).

It's more intuitive and requires fewer IRs of the same speaker, minimizing the tedious searches for the "right" IR combinations. This is a beta feature right now, only for the AxeFxIII, and Fractal has said bass cabinets would be included in Dyna-Cab technology. They're retaining the "classic" previous version TYPE, for those who have settled on their IRs and don't want to get into the Dyna-Cab thing.

The result will be fewer Dyna-Cab selections for speaker type, and 3 mic types to choose from (ribbon, Dynamic, condenser), but early reviews are raving about how much easier it is to dial in cabinets, and sounding "better" than before (subjective). Hoping this will be made available for the FM3 & FM9, and not just an AxeFxIII exclusive.

 

[dr bonkers]

Interesting development in the cabinet IR simulation block for those who have the AxeFxIII...
They've overhauled it to include Dynamic IR "Dyna-Cab" technology. You choose the speaker and mic, and then you can move it across the speaker (center cap to cone edge), and distance from speaker grille cloth ( further away captures more room ).
View attachment 5012937

It's more intuitive and requires fewer IRs of the same speaker, minimizing the tedious searches for the "right" IR combinations. This is a beta feature right now, only for the AxeFxIII, and Fractal has said bass cabinets would be included in Dyna-Cab technology. They're retaining the "classic" previous version TYPE, for those who have settled on their IRs and don't want to get into the Dyna-Cab thing.

The result will be fewer Dyna-Cab selections for speaker type, and 3 mic types to choose from (ribbon, Dynamic, condenser), but early reviews are raving about how much easier it is to dial in cabinets, and sounding "better" than before (subjective). Hoping this will be made available for the FM3 & FM9, and not just an AxeFxIII exclusive.

Still awaiting details from the mothership regarding how to create these. I will try again to find out.

 

[jimfist]

Still awaiting details from the mothership regarding how to create these. I will try again to find out.

I'm under the impression it's not going to be easy for anyone who isn't with Fractal. We'll see, I guess. Curious how many bass Dyna-Cab IRs they'll offer. Probably not many, so we'll still need a supply of 3rd party IRs.

 

[Surfsup]

Part time bass player, newly acquired FM9 (< 2 days), purchased for my skinny guitars, but getting ready to find some FM9 bass presets. Thought I’d join the “club” and follow this discussion. I have yet to do much with the link below but thought I’d post it here.

so... whole bunch of bass presets... some tone matches... some unconventional bass amps...

 

[Texan]

Part time bass player, newly acquired FM9 (< 2 days), purchased for my skinny guitars, but getting ready to find some FM9 bass presets. Thought I’d join the “club” and follow this discussion. I have yet to do much with the link below but thought I’d post it here.

so... whole bunch of bass presets... some tone matches... some unconventional bass amps...

If you have the extra $$, the Austin Buddy pack is well worth the money as are the Bergantino IR’s and Celestion Pulse IRs.

my main settings that I use at every gig are based on the Austin Buddy settings and using the Bergantino and Pulse IRs.

I’m playing everything from Flock of Seagulls and Journey to Motley Crue and Tool and get complements at every show on how it sounds like the album.

The setlist function is great too if you are gigging.

 

[Surfsup]

If you have the extra $$, the Austin Buddy pack is well worth the money as are the Bergantino IR’s and Celestion Pulse IRs.

my main settings that I use at every gig are based on the Austin Buddy settings and using the Bergantino and Pulse IRs.

I’m playing everything from Flock of Seagulls and Journey to Motley Crue and Tool and get complements at every show on how it sounds like the album.

The setlist function is great too if you are gigging.

Thanks for the info and will keep that tucked away, definitely will look into that setlist function asap. Until I decide for sure to keep it, I plan to scrounge around for some already workable free presets. As for the skinny guitars the unit (tonally) is an upgrade to my 7+ yr old Helix, just not sure it’s a $1700 upgrade (but it is really good). If I can’t easily run it with my bass and acoustic guitars, which the Helix does, then I might send it back?

 

[Texan]

Thanks for the info and will keep that tucked away, definitely will look into that setlist function asap. Until I decide for sure to keep it, I plan to scrounge around for some already workable free presets. As for the skinny guitars the unit (tonally) is an upgrade to my 7+ yr old Helix, just not sure it’s a $1700 upgrade (but it is really good). If I can’t easily run it with my bass and acoustic guitars, which the Helix does, then I might send it back?

you can definitely run all of that with the FM9. Keep in mind there is a learning curve and this unit is insanely customizable.

the included IRs are not bad, but the Celestion, York, Dr Bonkers and Ownhammer are on a different level than the stock IRs.

Another point is that your studio speakers vs live system has a difference in the EQ and this will be reflected. If you are using headrush speakers, there is a thread at the Fractal site over how to use the global EQ to truly flatten the Headrush frfr’s.

 

[Surfsup]

Yep, own and use Ownhammer and 3Sig IRs for years.. excellent captures. I should be able to convert them for Fractal.. on the list of things to look into.