Surprised to hear that fractal has been able to develop and manufacture a new product like this considering the ongoing issues with labor, shipping, and microchips. Congratulations Fractal.
@@LeonTodd There's a patch from the "Digitech GSP 2101" rack unit called "Floating Fifths" that sounds fantastic ... I was wondering if you were familiar with that patch and if so could you replicate that patch in the Axe FX
To work around supply issues, they actually started making the FM9 "Turbo" using more powerful chips that were in more abundant supply than the originals. I just got one.
@@m.r.4455 That's it. We all know that digital world is always evolving but sometimes this crazy run to be the powerful is super annoying. And the things you buy today are almost already surpassed tomorrow. Analog is a little bit reliable time wise .
Great playing and great sound! I’m still living analogue and just moved into a super tiny house. I’m not selling my tube amps and pedalboards but you sold me on this unit. On the waiting list. Thanks!
@@edrosenquist6541 I ordered on September 15 but I was on the “other” list so was technically added to the list before the main waitlist went public on August 27.
This may have a year or so of waitlist, like the FM3. Are you sure you need all of this? As a FM3 owner, I'd say, that thing is more than enough for most guitarists.
@@6MileHouse Yeah, noticed after making that comment. Perhaps they've learned from the FM3 shipping disaster, where those on the waitlist got their units more than a year later. But still, a waitlist exists...
I, like so many others who have been a loyal AX8 user, felt a little underwhelmed with the form factor of the FM3 when it was released. While using the "brains" of the AXE FX was a great upgrade, I was so used to the way the AX8 functioned, I found myself saying, "I wish Fractal would simply make an AX8 type form factor with the AXE FX brains and FC switching." Well, here it is, and I have to say within minutes of finding out this was released, I sent my email off to be placed on the waiting list. I've been gigging with the AX8 since 2016 and I'm so ready for this unit to happily "retire" the AX8 which has served me so well. Thanks for the demo Leon. Looking forward to the same kind of instruction you provided me with the AX8. You were invaluable in helping me understand the power of that unit. Cheers mate!
I have really had a hard time trying to decide to move on from my AX8 to either the FM3 or the AXE III. What I just saw on this video is perfect. The ability to tweak the factory presets like your were doing with the per preset perform page on the fly without having to dig very deep or get into the editor shows this unit's versatility-the processing power in this floor unit makes it an easy decision and seals the deal for me. Thanks Leon for the great video.
Leon please do a video of "dual amp-WDW" with 3 FRFR cabs and a backing track using the USB for this. Most of us are still stuck at home with no gigs so backing tracks next best thing..lol
I entered the Fractal world with the FM3 (your videos really convinced me to go for it, Leon) almost a year ago and am really pleased with it 😊 This FM9 induces a bit of a “😰 did I pull the trigger too quick?” feelings but at the same time it’s really exciting news 🙂 That being said I’m happy with the FM3 I have and I still have a lot to learn about how things work… so I’ll keep on learning and will wait for the next flagship model to upgrade some day 😄
I'm definitely not smart enough when it comes to profiles to need the space an FM9 or Axe F3 offers. Today I think I'd still buy the FM3 since it's small enough to be perfectly portable for me and gives me all the experience I need for learning an amp modeler and effects pedals. Most of the time I'm just running an amp, cab reverb and delay anyway.
Thank you for the demo Leon. It is the AX8 of the new era I was waiting for . That's so cool . Probably have to wait a long time before I can get one in France. Have a nice day !
I was literally just looking for videos on using the FM3 with the FC6 and FC12 footswitches to determine which one to get, and then I saw the link to your video. This is exactly the product I'm looking for! Totally stoked for this.
I would love to see a "How to Setup the FM9, right out of the box" video. I am sure there are certain tweaks that need to happen to optimize the unit :-)
The only thing they forgot is an external trs switch so you can change channels on an external amp or effect. I currently have an FM3 running in 4cm so that I can have the versatility of using fractals amp models with my amp (which I love and can never give up) if I want. In order to use fm3 to control the amp channel switching I use one of the Suhr micro midi controllers with a midi block in each FM3 scene that tells the Suhr how to switch. This is totally workable solution for me, but imagine if I could eliminate the Suhr box and it’s power supply and all the midi cables…that would be heavenly. Next iteration maybe? Great job on the demo Leon, and kudos to fractal for the leap in performance. If they do a 20% off sale now, then I’ll buy one tomorrow.
Great playing and demo Leon. I'm interested in the more budget boxes but it's still cool to hear this and your riffs. I've got to wonder how this kind of gear will continue to improve in the future.
@@dantredogborsa7048 Most likely will eventually get an FM9 to replace the AX8, but for now I'm good. I only use about 2 scenes and about 3 effects. Which is why i went from the Ax8 to the Fm3.
Im going to be that guy and kinda wish they had the cpu power in the FM3 form factor. haha. So small and portable. That said, this is a wicked looking unit!
Great video. Been thinking about the fm3 as my next device. Now, I’ll have to re-think things around the FM9. It would also be cool to see a comparison of the three (what one has that the other one does not, etc). Also, would be cool to see how you have the ins and outs setup in your studio that you were talking about in this video. 👍🏻
The seamless channel changes and CPU capacity features is worth buying unit. Also my brother has Axe III and we can send files back and forth that will always work, not always the case with FM3.
As always, awesome playing. You have a very stylistic lead style that is refreshing and catchy. Would you say this is worth the upgrade, financially, from the AxeFx II XL?
Hey Leon I've been watching and listening for a while and love the sounds your getting out of the Fractal units I'm on the waiting list for the fm9 I was wondering if your gonna do any classes on to program and operate the fm9??
Man! I had the axe-fxII and the AX8, but what regret the the most was selling my AX8. I have the line6 hx-stomp with pedals..... I'm selling all and getting this...BLOWN AWAY!!!
This is the unit I've been waiting for, I figured they had a full size floor model in the works. My AX8 has served me well in the meantime even though it doesn't swap presets with my AxFx3. The full power of Cygnus sitting on the floor means no hauling a portable rack to major gigs. It seems that routing the time based effects onto a dedicated processor is the way to go. I suppose its back to the waiting list for me. And, since you asked, perhaps you could work some of Robin Trower's "Bridge of Sighs" tones into one of your five minute tone segments; you do have a way of nailing such things down. I should add that, at least for me, you are far and away the best guitar vlogger on RU-vid, please keep the good stuff coming ...
Ahh, so this is Fractal's answer to Quad Cortex, interesting. Glad I held off from buying QC, will probably give this a try to replace my old warrior Axe Fx Ultra. Thanks for the vid! You’re the best!
Hello, thanx for this vid. I'm not a modeller user at all. I find it very interesting, I'm blown away by both the quantity of possibilities and the quality of the sounds, but I see two/three things that prevent me from taking the plunge. 1) How many hours/days/weeks will I have to spend going through menus and sub-menus to virtually recreate even my current real setup, even though it's not very complicated. 2) I don't see the advantage over a standard pedalboard in terms of tap dancing on stage: I saw you switch to get to the scenes then choose one scene and then push the effects switch to be able to engage/disengage the effects. I don't see the point. 3) What is Fractal's policy in terms of support? Is it like Apple (programmed obsolescence of the OS, sudden end of support, urging you to change your hardware) or do they continue to upgrade even older products for a long time? My questions may seem silly, but that's what came to mind when I was watching this video. Regards
1) use the software editor and you can cook up a pretty complex rig within 10-15 minutes 2) think of scenes like a midi loop switcher on a big pedalboard (eg a gigrig). It let's you perform multiple channel changes and bypass/engage functions at once. 3) top tier support. Regular firmware updates with new stuff, very active forum and official support channels respond very quickly.
@@LeonTodd Thx for your answers. 1) I doubt I'll be ablle to do that in 15 mn, you're already used to it. 2) So I've now got 6 pedals in front and 5 or 6 in the loop. My amps are usally two or three channels. Of course I don't use all the effects all the time. So what you mean is that for stage purposes, I could have one scene with the four or five main combinations I use, stay in the same scene and use the switches to contrl the effects and not have all the affects plugged like in real life but only the ones I really use in each combination? 3) ok ie the AX8 still has updates?
This really may just be everything im looking for. I just got done building a PC for a studio setup and have been looking for something i can use for recording some of the prog-esque stuff ive written and can also be used live at my church. I was back and forth on a kemper stage/ quad cortex/ axe fx 3. But taking the Axe fx to play live wouldnt be as ideal. But I think the FM9 will really be the unit I've been searching for. Thanks for sharing!
The FM9 seems perfect! I likely would have got one had I not already purchased a FM3. I'm not GASing hard for this. My FM3 gets the job done, and then some!
Great review, as always, many thanks! Can you please make a video about the different options to amplify the signal of this kind of modellers? If they run through a PA system or a Hifi amplifier, they may sound good, but they feel stiff somehow. After building several classic amplifiers, I think it`s time for me to plan a combo for the FM9, with just a clean power amp, maybe switchable from 2*6V6 to 2*6L6, with the Celestion F12-X200 or the F12M-150 speaker. I think that should work better, and feel like a real amp.
I know this monster unit allows you to go 4 CABLE METHOD to an external amp, but the question I've got is whether it allows you to channel switch your external amp(with selected effects) using the fm9's switches?can you verify any of this Leon??? brilliant job as always
That would be my question too. If I can use this just as I use the FX8 MKII (just using the effects using my own tube amp tone and distortion). IMO amp sims in the Fractal don’t sound as good as Kemper and both sound too digital compared to the real deal. For those who say “but Metallica uses it live”, oh well, their guitar tone live absolutely sucks. Impressive how Kirk can make a USD 1M 59LP sound like a Squire with a humbucker and a Dunlop Wah plugged into a 15w solid state Crate amplifier.
i have an axe fx 3 already, so this isn’t really relevant to me as i don’t foresee myself buying one BUT I love experimenting with dual amps and cabs so it’s nice to see they’re introducing a floor model where you’re able to still run those! I don’t have any foot switches since i just play at home now but if i was to not have an axe fx 3 already id be getting this model for the foot switches and having the ability to run dual amps and cabs unlike the fm3.
Hey Leon, great video and great playing ( finally some Mistreated🥰). Question: I’m learning to play and consider myself to be an advanced beginner. Probably I will never play on stage because I started too late. Is the FM 9 over the top for home use? I like the display and the way you can “scroll” by using the buttons and how these different areas are visible and easy to activate.
Buy the best gear you can afford. Fractal stuff sounds great and it's inspiring to play, which ultimately leads me to play more. The more you play, the better you get.
@@LeonTodd Thx Leon, FM 3 or FM 9 with Elis 8?? Or Engl Fireball 25 / Ironball 20 SE with a cabinet from KUNZ. I grew up with the sound of Rainbow (Dio era) and love Queensrÿche, Extreme and also some “heavier stuff” like Lamb of God.
@@frankzimmermann1318 depends on whether you prefer playing through a guitar cab or not. For home use a modeler/monitor setup is going to let you play along to and match the recorded tones of your favourite albums a lot easier.
Thanks for the video. I would like to see a clear comparison between this unit and the Axe FX3. Like what would be the clear examples of that FM9 cannot do compared to the Axe FX3.
Future vids...... Hooking up analog pedals+Routing them...... WDW with a real amp n cab with the wet speakers being two blocks in the FM9 with classic 80's rack tones Cheers!
Yeah definitely picking this up to run 4 cable method with my Mesa Mark V. But Dude! Amazing playing man, you have wicked feel and control. Surprised you don't have more subscribers. Looking forward to hearing more from you, Take care man.
This one looks to be the "Goldie Locks" unit for me. I'm primarily concerned with live performance, so form factor is very important to me. The FM3 didn't cut it. The Axe FXIII is not something I want to schlep around. Now...they've finally come out with something that will replace my AX8!!
Yeah it's been requested heavily. The FM3 is perfect for what I need for most gigs I do but this is for the people who always need that little bit extra.
So I bought an AX8, almost immediately replaced by FM3, sell AX8 and buy FM3, only to be another waste of cash compared to FM9. Makes me just want to stick with my Kemper and call it a gig.
Hi Leon! Bought the FM3 not too long ago but put myself on waiting list as I cant pass up the additional power and switches. Will the FM9 be better suited in some way for 4 cable method? would you be able to put a current vid together showing with the FM9? Love your vids Leon, thank you for taking the time to do them. Always great content.
