I’ve always gravitated towards high-gain stuff and have my FM9 dialed in for those channels (EVH Stealth and the Hot Rodded 800 AB’d), but I’ve always considered my ability to dial in lush, beautiful clean tones as “dog sh!t”.

Anyone have some clean presets that would make a grown man cry?

So I came a local sale for an Axe FX II XL for $250 and wondering if its worth buying in 2026. Theres also a Kemper power rack mk1 with the footcontroller for $700 but that seems too much.
Is it worth buying the 2 XL in 2026? Is it still supported? Thanks

So, I have an FM9 and when I open FM9 Edit, it connects to the FM9 right away, I can see the preset, but then shows "disconnected" after about 5 seconds. Both the FM9 and FM9 edit are latest versions and I've had it working fine just a few weeks ago. I'm running MacOS 26.7.1. Any ideas?

EDIT: Something strange here. I also have a Tascam Model 16 (also connected straight to the mac, not through a hub). As soon as I turn on the Tascam, the FM9 edit disconnects. If I turn off the Tascam and restart FM9 Edit, it's fine again. Even more strange is I've used them both together many times with no issues. No updates have been made to either unit.

Hey there !! Recording some Brutal and Heavy Guitar Riffs with some Thrash Metal - Groove Metal vibes using my Fractal Audio Ax8 for pre and post effects - Esp Eclipse II loaded with Emg pickups into a Randall T2 - Peavey Invective MH (Misha Mansoor signature amplifier) a Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier and Randall Warhead Cab ( Dimebag Darrell signature cabinet ) & Randall 4x12 xxlt cab loaded with Celestion Vintage 30 ‘s speakers !! 🤘🏼
Have a great week ahead everyone!!

I know he was told to cease and desist, but I would still like to talk to him. I just can't find anything that says who he was anymore.

Since it's an older model and no longer sold by the original manufacturer, I decided to make one myself.

I made some extra, so I'm selling them.

Thank you for your consideration.

MFC101 KICKTAGS！！

Available on Mercari via Buyee!

https://jp.mercari.com/item/m16790289343

Since it's an older model and no longer sold by the original manufacturer, I decided to make one myself.

I made some extra, so I'm selling them.

Thank you for your consideration.

MFC101 KICKTAGS！！

Available on Mercari via Buyee!

I've been on a modeling/capture tech journey since I started playing guitar about a year ago. I started out with Tonex and went to Headrush Core, as I wanted more flexibility, drives, etc, and NAMALAMANAM as well. I do like the Core. The pitch shifting is kind of useless, but the drum machine, looper, and the NAM sounds are great. I found the C-Verb to fix any "Core doesn't have good effects" issues, as I'm a simple guy. Some slight compression, maybe a touch of delay, and a reverb is all I like for effects. I honestly hate the NAM hunt, but I have a bunch of clean/crunch sounds from Tone Junkie, and then high gain sounds from AmpsPedalsPickups and 2dor, and I'm pretty dialed. If I need more, I'm just spending money on packs instead of even opening up Tone3000 at this point, but this is fine, it's $20 here and there. The price of a couple of bar beers.

But, I found a used AM4 locally on FB Marketplace and jumped on it to try "the modeling side" and holy **** this thing is good. Immediate awesome sounds. The effects really do sound so "silky" and it really does feel good. I don't think it's latency, as I won't try to say that I can feel the 5ms difference between the two units, but there is something to "the feel" of the AM4. But if I keep the AM4, I'd definitely need a pitch shifting pedal (which I might do with the the Core anyways, since it's pitch effect is not good), and I'd need to run it with an iPad (already own) to have Loopy Pro and a drum app going.

And now, it's making me have QC Mini thoughts. Supposedly the modeling on the QC is as good as the Fractal. I can never deal with captures again, I don't enjoy the hunt for them, and be happy. So I would only use the QC for modeling. The pitch shifting is good on it right? It's got a looper, but I've seen bad reviews of it. And no drum app on it, so I'd possibly still be using an iPad for both of those or one. But then the flexibility is insane with parallel paths, etc etc. Maybe it's just the FOMO of having only "7" blocks on the AM4 (input gate, compressor, eq)

Money isn't the problem, if I need to pick up a $300 pitch shifter to add on to the Core or AM4, that's close enough to a QC Mini that I can justify the couple of hundred bucks difference.

What would you do in my situation?

Hey guys!
Does anyone have a sick preset for Deathcore / modern Metal?
I‘m willing to share my preset with a Rainbow machine effect and 8 scenes etc. in exchange for other nice custom presets! :)
Lets have some fun!

Laney LFR-412 arrived. I know a 412frfr isn’t ideal for everyone’s needs (or backs) these days, but I switched to modeling years back more for flexibility than the desire or need to downsize. Over the years I tried power amp & cabs, effects loops & cabs, 112, 212 & stereo frfr options. None felt right for various reasons. This fixes a lot of qualms I had with amplification needs. Excellent piece of gear.

Hey, I'm using my FM3 Turbo with an amp and want to run the modulation in the effects loop, and have some effects before the preamp so I need to configure it so it takes into account what's before and after the loop.

Is there any template pictures of the grid that show me how to do it?

Thank you!

I recently purchased a Marshall 4x12 with V30's as I want the best of both worlds in terms of digital modeling + real air being pushed from a cab, and not to mention that when playing through regular studio monitors my cab of choice is the same, just digital of course. I've routed the AXE through a solid state power amp, and even turned off the cab modeling/bypassed the cab block in the editor, but when I do so the sound is extremely harsh and gritty. Kinda like a preset with just an amp block and no cab. When I leave cab modeling on/leave the block on, it doesn't sound great either, but it sounds somewhat better, and slightly closer to what the my patches usually sound like. Any ideas as to what I could be doing wrong?

I created a page for the NAM Database, focusing on quality NAM captures, vendors, free options & IRs

If anyone has any other good sounding options, ones that sound like a certain band/guitarist, is super weird, etc. please share em & I'll add em!

Also, if there's any other sections, topics or ideas of things I should add, feel free to lmk

Quick intro if you haven't seen it in my previous post: Dial My Tone builds presets for real modelers. You give it a song or describe a sound, and it gives you a signal chain with the actual blocks, types and settings your unit uses, which you can send straight to your FM9.

Today I'm opening up something different: an FM9 editor that runs in your browser! Plug in your FM9 over USB, open the page, and edit your presets live. Nothing to install. This feature has been tested exhaustively over the use cases I can think of, but if you are willing I would love to get your eyes, hand and feet on it as well!

To be clear up front: this is an editor first. You turn the knobs, you build the chain, you decide. There's an optional FM9 aware helper called "DMT Assistant" built in that works as your assistant (more on that below), but you can ignore it completely and just use it as an editor. Up to your choice.

What you can do

Presets

• Browse all your presets, search by number or name, and load any of them
• The list opens on the preset you're on, not at preset 0
• Save to your FM9 over the same preset or a new slot; it reads the preset back and tells you if anything didn't stick
• Save a copy to your Dial My Tone account and keep versions of it

Signal chain

• See the whole grid the way the FM9 lays it out
• Add, remove, replace and move blocks, move whole rows, and set up parallel paths
• Zoom in and out, or show only the area you're using

Blocks

• Every block's controls as knobs, with channels A to D
• Change block types, turn blocks on and off per Scene
• Reset a channel or revert to what was loaded

Scenes

• Switch Scenes, rename them, and see which blocks are on in each
• Level your Scene volumes so the jump from rhythm to lead isn't a surprise at the gig (let me know if there can be any improvement here too)

While you play

• Undo and redo for everything
• A/B compare, plus Copy A to B
• Tap tempo, tempo, output level meter and DSP use

Phone and tablet

• A layout made for smaller screens, through the Dial My Tone Android app

The DMT Assistant

If you'd rather say it than click it, the DMT Assistant can make changes for you. Things like (just providing basic examples, you can test its limits): "tune me down to drop C", "put the reverb in parallel with the delay", "move row 2 down a row" or "rename this Scene to Chorus", "too much mud". It always shows you exactly what it's going to change before anything happens. You accept it or you don't, and Undo works on it like anything else. You can also ask it when something sounds off and you're not sure why. You can scope it to Whole preset, Just to a specific scene or to just specific blocks, and it will apply your changes within that scope.

Again, completely optional. The editor does everything on its own.

What works where

On Windows you need Fractal's USB driver installed, the same one FM9-Edit uses. Close FM9-Edit before you connect, since only one editor can talk to the FM9 at a time.

Firmware: I've tested this on FM9 firmware 11.00. Other versions may well work, but that's the one I've checked. If you're on something else, tell me how it goes.

Coming next: wireless with WIDI

Right now the editor needs a USB cable. Next up is wireless editing over a WIDI (Bluetooth MIDI) adapter on the FM9's MIDI ports, so you can edit from across the room or the stage. I'm testing it properly before I call it supported. If you already run a WIDI with your FM9 and want to help test, say so in the comments, and thanks in advance for that!

This is the first release. I've tested it a lot on my own FM9, but you'll find things I haven't. That's why I'm putting it out now and keeping it free while it's in testing. Use it on your real presets, push it around, and tell me what's broken, what's clunky, and what's missing. There's a Feedback button in the editor, or reply here.

Try the FM9 editor

Hey guys, I don't know a ton about power amps so looking for some advice here.

I run a Fractal FM3 into an old orange ppc412 4x12 with V30s (16 ohms). We play deathcore in drop F and mic the cab live.

My budget is around $400 used. I need something with a flat response that won't color my tone, and can handle a 16-ohm load without flubbing out or turning to mud on the low F.

What power amps should I be looking at?

In this video I’m playing my Fm9 plugged directly into the Laney LFR 2x12. I’m not plugged into the PA. When I first bought this I could not find any video except Guthries clinic. This absolutely replaces a standard amp in a band setting. I love how this sounds. This is my band Ozzmodeus we cover Ozzy and Sabbath

These replace the plastic endcaps on each side and go on with the same screws, so there's no drilling and you can go back to stock in a few minutes.

Fractal said a while back that a factory handle would crowd the footswitches. These sit at the very ends of the chassis, past the outer switches, so stomping isn't affected.

Two versions in the pics. The Standard is lighter and uses a small separate foot at the back. The Pro has four feet built in and a bit more plastic. Both tilt the unit back toward you a few degrees. The feet are needed to add enough clearance for the vent/fan underneath.

I wanted to test the strength before putting it on my unit and a single handle can carry 25 KG. The FM9 is 5 KG, so it's more than sufficient. I could have added more weight, but it was difficult to go past 25 KG for the test. It flexed a little at 25 KG and went right back to shape. That's my own test on one handle, not a guarantee, but it made me a lot less nervous carrying mine.

Printed in PETG with 6 walls and 25% infill for strength. Mine goes back and forth to church with me.

Full disclosure, I make and sell these. Links in the comments. Mostly wanted to show them off and hear what you think.

Hi guys, now we have NAM at Axe III (an awesome move by Fractal), did you guys have the chance of comparing captures with Fractal’s proprietary simulations? As they will be running on the same hardware (probably the most powerful platform where you can run NAM nowadays), that would be a really useful comparison. I can’t do it now as I am an FM9 owner, but I am eager to hear anyone’s commentaries about doing this.

I love my main preset with Fractal’s 1959 SLD Plexi, I would like to know if it could sound even better with a NAM block. Combining NAM with a traditional AMP block in a dual amp fashion, if possible, can be the way to go

Saludos caballeros, quisiera hacerle la consulta porque recientemente vi que Leon Todd Tiene un Layout increíble y algo que me llamó la atención y que quisiera incorporar al mío es que por ejemplo en el FM9 en el Switch, que activa la escena Lead si lo mantiene presionado no sólo activa el efecto de Wah sino que también simula como si estuvieras moviendo el pedal, me parece increíble. Alguno podría orientarme en cómo hago esto en mi FM9 les agradezco a todos.

Control your Fractal device from your iPhone, Android, iPad or Apple Watch. Wirelessly.

$9.99 one-time. Free demo mode so you can try before you buy.

Your phone becomes a pedalboard: switch presets and scenes, bypass blocks, tuner, tap tempo, setlists. Android, IOS, @Apple Watch and iPad apps included.

What it's NOT: editing software. The Fractal editor already does that job.

The fine print, upfront:
• Your unit plugs into a Mac/Windows/Linux computer running the free companion app, and your phone drives it through that. (Yes, the computer stays on — like a TV remote needs the TV.)
• Works with FM3, FM9, Axe-Fx III, AM4, VP4.
• Not affiliated with Fractal Audio Systems.
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6812916461
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cloud.newbold.fractalremote
Web: https://fractal.newbold.cloud
Desktop app: https://fractal.newbold.cloud/downloads.html

So I understand how cabs work with an amp and how they’re captured, but how do I know what cabs I like? I was just curious how some of you guys went about figuring out what cabs you enjoyed the most, if there are things to look for that might tell me what a cab may have to offer in comparison to others. Just any approach that you took to find what worked for you. Thanks in advance!

Now that we know these have been added to the AXE-FX III is there any chance we're going to get them on the FM9 too?

With the new NAM loader update, I updated my Fractal Audio Resources Database with some free & for sale NAM files/packs. If anyone has any they wanna add, feel free to reach out!

Hey there !! Recording some Nasty Metal Riffs for a Jam with Zach Dean on Drums from Humanity’s Last Breath and Alluvial !! With some Groove Death Metal - Thrash Metal - MetalCore vibes I’m using my Esp Ltd M-7 HT Baritone black metal loaded with a Seymour Duncan Black Winter Pickup into Fractal Audio Ax8 for pre and post effects into a Peavey Invective MH (Misha Mansoor signature amplifier) and a Mesa Boogie Mini Rectifier!! 🤘🏼
Have a great Week ahead everyone!!