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Posted by: Phil66 Apr 23 2019, 09:19 PM

Link to the release pdf below

https://www.fractalaudio.com/tmp/190423-Fractal-Audio-Announces-the-FM3-Amp-Modeler-MultiFX.pdf

Posted by: Todd Simpson Apr 24 2019, 07:44 AM

Nice!!! Price is right too

Posted by: PosterBoy Apr 24 2019, 08:48 AM

I knew this would happen, 4 weeks after I buy the Ax8

Posted by: Mertay Apr 24 2019, 11:08 AM

But the differences reminded me of what zoom did when they updated their processors, the new obviously has improved software but for many the hardware was a no-go.

Lack of footswitches, no screen protection bar, no fast knobs for amp settings....anyway once the hype goes away I'm pretty sure like other fractal stuff the ax8 will also hold value pretty well so no worries.

Posted by: yoncopin Apr 24 2019, 12:45 PM

I thought of you as soon as I saw the post title. Don't worry, yours is no less good today than it was yesterday. It's a lot like smartphones, there's always a new unit around the corner, can't worry about that.

Line 6 really set the standard for new floor units, they are all taking direct design inspiration from the Helix. Screen & UI, control layout, navigation controls, colored footswitches, even the I/O on the back looks familiar.

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 24 2019, 06:29 PM

I don't see this one as a replace to Ax8 so the price of your device won't decrease if you preffer going for the new one.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Apr 25 2019, 05:32 AM

I agree. This doesn't look like a replacement, it's just to fill a price point that they didn't have before that all the other vendors did have. Something around $500.

Todd

Posted by: Phil66 Apr 25 2019, 08:19 AM

Apparently if you're on the waiting list for an AX8 they will transfer your request to the FM3

https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/announcing-the-fm3-amp-modeler-fx-processor.149900/

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 25 2019, 01:50 PM

That's weird!

Posted by: AK Rich Apr 25 2019, 04:35 PM

I think maybe that is if you change your mind about getting an AX8 and decide you would rather have the FM3. Also, I didn't think they had a wait list anymore for the AX8. Maybe Posterboy can tell us if he had to wait for his but from following his thread, it seemed like he got it pretty quick after ordering.

Posted by: Phil66 Apr 25 2019, 07:31 PM

That was only posted two days ago on the official Fractal forum. It all seems strange to me.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Apr 25 2019, 08:37 PM

It was only a matter of time before they finally made a product that was along the same line as the smaller helix/head rush units imho. I'm glad to see it happen. Folks can get an axe fx unit with built in foot control for a price on par with other units. I could see folks adding a controller board to it just to have more stomps and wah/volume.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Apr 26 2019, 08:21 AM

Cool, looking forward to coming demo videos.

Posted by: Mertay Apr 26 2019, 10:56 AM

There are interesting arguments going on about the unit, best is to be patient and wait for release/comparisons.

Its noted the ax8 and the fm3 will share pretty much the same processing power. So its not certain how crippled it will be compared to the axe fx 3 (no dual amps for fm3 as far as I understand), which also involves future updates.

Posted by: AK Rich Apr 26 2019, 04:32 PM

I think if i had to choose, I would go with the AX8 from what I have seen so far. I think it would be better suited for live use because of it having more foot switches. I actually have my eye on a used one here locally at the moment. The price is pretty good and includes a flight case, an expression pedal and a couple of the Fractal cables.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Apr 27 2019, 07:02 AM

It seems that they are trying to join other vendors in making a mid price unit to fill the gap between the really pricey units and the lower end of the market. Getting an AXE FX for about $500 is a bit of game changer imho. That's just barely more than I paid for my Eleven Rack. I'm glad to see them hit this market segment. Same tone, just less buttons and less I/O pretty much.

The AX8 is still a killer device as it's got the foot controller built in that this smaller unit just does not have. I'm betting we start seeing this unit with an FCB101 or something similar as a controller. That way you get all the foot control and all the tone and it costs about a third of getting a full axe fx 3.

Not to mention the used market. These will probably have high resale value, but still, a used one of these units, once used ones become available, could run $350. That's very reasonable and about the sweet spot where I'd look at getting one for myself. Looking forward to hearing more demos!
Todd

Posted by: Mertay Apr 27 2019, 08:11 AM

I read list price 1400, direct 1000 for the price of the unit?

Posted by: AK Rich Apr 27 2019, 06:57 PM

I doubt that the FM3 will be under $1000. Certainly not $500. All of the Fractal units have been holding their value pretty well too, at least around here when you can find them, They usually sell pretty quick too. The Eleven Rack on the other hand you can find for $100 quite often around here. I bought one with a nice case for $100 last summer just for the heck of it. My idea was that I would run my FX8 in the fx loop of the Eleven Rack and just use the amp and cab sims as a way to record direct and be able to use the fx and overdrives from the FX8.

Maybe the FM3 would be a good choice for me for recording but I think I would rather have the AX8 in case I wanted to have another unit that I could use live as well without getting another footswitch unit.

Curious to see where you found a price for the FM3, Mertay. I haven't seen it myself yet.

Posted by: Mertay Apr 27 2019, 09:16 PM

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/28862-fractal-audio-systems-announces-the-fm3

Made a search to be sure, but 1000 was on my mind before that link released. Maybe saw it on a forum post on thegearpage, can't remember.

Posted by: AK Rich Apr 28 2019, 06:42 AM

Cool, thanks Mertay. I'm confused though. As far as I know, the only way you can purchase Fractal gear IS factory direct. Unless something has changed and they are now supplying retailers, which I don't think is the case.

The FM3 doesn't seem to be listed at the Fractal site yet.

https://www.fractalaudio.com/

Posted by: maharzan Apr 28 2019, 01:11 PM

yes, its a $999 unit.. and can only be purchased on their site and probably G66 for EU.

Posted by: AK Rich Apr 28 2019, 06:33 PM

Here is some more info and discussion about the FM3

http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=FM3

https://forum.fractalaudio.com/forums/fm3-discussion.114/

Posted by: PosterBoy Apr 29 2019, 06:29 AM

After seeing more details I am less unhappy about getting the Ax8 last month.
I would need to get the FM3 and at least the FC6 for my needs which puts it at a size I can't easily get into a backpack.
The processing power is similar but the FM3 has the options of channels which is another game changer much like the XY feature was when that was introduced. So the FM3 is more efficient with the power it has, and it does have another processor for system stuff so the main process can concentrate on the amps and effects.

Posted by: Mertay Apr 29 2019, 03:11 PM

I read that some internal functions are disabled for the amps, the reverbs quality option runs lowest on default...

It's not that I expect it to sound bad or anything but wouldn't rush into it. Anyway, there is a very long waiting list it seems so we'll likely get more than enough comparison vid.s in time.

Posted by: AK Rich Apr 29 2019, 04:04 PM

It appears that the reverb quality on the FM3 is of the Normal Quality setting that you would find on the AX8 and FX8 which is the default for both of those units. The FM3 doesn't offer the High Quality setting that is available on the AX8 and FX8. The High Quality setting is only available as the default setting on the AXE III.

Having said that, I can tell you that the Normal Quality setting on the FX8, which I own, is very good and of a very high quality. I don't think I have ever had a need to use the High Quality setting.

Cut and paste from the wiki:

Reverb Quality

There are two Quality options in the Reverb block (not on the FM3): Normal and High. High quality uses significantly more CPU but provides world-class reverberation algorithms. In most situations, especially live, Normal Quality already provides desired results.

The Spring Reverb type doesn't differentiate between Normal and High Quality.

The Axe-Fx II, FX8 and AX8 default to Normal Quality, where the Axe-Fx III defaults to High Quality.

The FM3 does not support high-quality reverbs.

"Reverb uses a ton of CPU. On Axe-FX3 the reverbs have a "Hi Quality" mode that makes them sound better at the cost of more CPU usage. The FM3 will not support that Hi Quality mode. So if you listen to an Axe-FX3 with the "Quality" set to low, that's what FM3 will sound like." source

http://wiki.fractalaudio.com/axefx2/index.php?title=Reverb_block#More_information_about_Reverb