The ONE DOWNSIDE Of Fractal Audio || (Axe-Fx III, FM9 and FM3) 

***Thoughts on the Fractal Pitch Shifting?***

The digitech drop is way better than my fm9 for virtual capo

100% agree. I love my FM9; I purchased it last year and already there’s been so many improvements in the firmware, but the VC is still lackluster compared to everything else in the unit. The latest firmware made the noise gates awesome, would be superb if they could improve the pitch block in a similar vein.

after revisiting this, the virtual capo sounded better on distortion, but the dual chromatic sounded better on cleans. dang it fractal! 🤣

Preach! People always ask why I still use my Drop Pedal with my Fractal units and it's because the Virtual Tuner is unusable on clean. I first noticed it when I'd play Say It Ain't So and that one note hangs...warble and tremlo city! My Quad Cortex does it flawlessly...but I don't like the tone of that unit as much.

Agreed, I also own the Digitech Drop and it's weird how it performs better than the virtual capo on my very expensive and otherwise perfect rack unit, I hope there will be an update one day but it's been that way for years.

Thats why i ended up buying a L6 hx one for the sole reason of having the drop tune technology at my disposal because i love using octaves and I play in many different tunings. There are other uses for the pedal but the reason being used is primary. Some might scoff at the idea which is fine lol but its been the utmost powerful way in getting the results I want. But hey, if either modeler can up their quality in pitching, then im all eyes and ears.

I've been using FAS gear for 15 years! The PS has always been one of those effects that was in there but never really stelar. I rarely use it and when I do I never go farther than a half step with a VC.

Totally agree! I thought is it just me that thinks the VC is not up to the job? Even half a step and it just doesn’t seem “in tune” I have recorded both standard and real detune half step and VC side by side comparisons and it’s not convincing enough for me. Im sure the Fractal VC could be improved seeing as Fractal does everything else perfectly.

This is definitely why I have my digitech drop..

If you have not yet, please post this on the wish list part of the fractal forum. Would love an improved vc

try it again with smooth tracking as opposed to fast. You will hear better results.

Set it to smooth.

Any reason you are on FW 23.05, as opposed to the 25.02 release? Just curious.

Im glad there is someone who has as much OCD as me lmao

I agree!

it's the same problem with the harmonizer. i tried harmonizer for some lead parts but it sounds awfull.

This has been a problem with Fractal since they introduced the pitch years ago. Compared to the other effects it's a joke, not sure how anyone could argue that it's not a weak point. The problem I'm seeing on the forum is they're in denial that it sucks compared to the other effects.

The Capo Poly also on the Line6 Helix works like total garbage compared to the old original Simple Pitch that’s in the helix. It sounds like the Fractal has the same problems. I don’t know why poly seems to be an issue.

Have you brought this to Cliff and the teams attention? - Bruce

I think the virtual capo worked better. Just had a small volume dip compared to the other one. virtual capo did seem to track better. Maybe adjust for the volume dip and see if you like it more? Of course if it has boat loads of latency nothing can fix that. Sucks because I'm so close to pulling the trigger on axe fx after they got gapless switching working, but it seems like helix still has the better pitch shifter. Come on fractal you can do it! 🤣

Yeah it’s not great… this is why I prefer having a few guitars with different tunings. It’s a pain to carry extra gear but it’s worth it to not sacrifice the tones you are after.

agree with you here, i tried my friend's QC and i immediately noticed that the pitch shifting was way better on it compared to my FM9. everything else was better on the FM9 though.

I play a lot clean/cleanish, virtual capo is really unusable 😢

Why are you hiding comments that link to Cliff’s response to your observations?

Why hasn’t Fractal looked at, licensed, or reverse engineered the EHX Pitch Fork? Superior tracking, no warble. Your “clean” example is startling and has stopped me in my tracks. To simulate baritone tuning, I use the pick fork. I can’t believe I would still need $100 pedal into front of a $2300 device. Edit & question: I noticed your Pitch Tracking was set either to 'Fast' or 'Smooth'. Referencing the Fractal-Audio-Block-Guide.pdf, they say on Page 67, for Pitch Tracking that, "...You can also turn tracking “OFF” for vintage-style “fixed” shifting." I could not determine if this was tested prior to your video. I do not yet own one of these units (yet), still researching, so your vid here gave me pause. Zack, could you test 'Off' and let us know if this makes a difference to your ear? - btw, in that same section for Pitch Block, there are some explanations for other settings that are noteworthy. Example, the tracking knob appears to do with the "sound length" of the splice. However, it doesn't say if a lower value or higher value is preferred. You demo showed higher only so you may have tested lower already, i just didn't see or hear it. I'm really curious what you find and hear after these mentions. Thanks Zack. I appreciate your time, testing, and potential response.

Operator error

You have Pitch tracking set WRONG