Fractal Audio FX8...

This pedal maybe really nice to replace the so-so effects of our GM36:  Fractal Audio FX8

I have (and will be sold shortly) the Axe FX-II but I never liked how complicated it was to use. It never made sense to me and I spent more time tweaking it than playing guitar through it.

Thoughts?

You may also want to look at the new Line 6 Helix (good YouTube videos on this) which is suppose to be a head to head competitor to the Fractal FX8 effects quality but also has high end amp models on board if you choose to use them too. The Helix looks to be extremely easy to setup and program.

I'm actually comparing both of these now to use with my GM36 in the effects loop 4CM... just waiting to see what the reviews look like since they're both brand new devices.

I also am seriously considering either an Axe FX8 or Line 6 Helix.

I run my GM with a board that has a Switch Dr Looper which handles my GM channel switching in addition to changing presets on an Eventide H9, Strymon Timelime and various loops housing a Shiba Drive and Wampler Ego. With the Timeline and H9 I can get some great sounds, but it feels like it's way more complex than it should be and on my first gig I had a patch cable go on my board which meant that between songs I was under the board trying to fix it!

I want a simple solution, preferably all in one, hence my interest in the FX8 and Helix.

I don't particularly like the thought of using modelled amps as on one level that kind of negates the need for the GM. That said I think a more versatile clean channel would be handy. My worry I guess is that I'd constantly be using modelled amps and I bought the GM to get away from that - I had an Eleven Rack and active speaker prior to the GM - I would really like to stick with 3 or 4 go to tones from the GM which I then embellish with effects.

The biggest concern for me with the above units is how good the effects are. Having got used to the Strymon and Eventide ones I wouldn't want to downgrade and the experience of Line 6 products I've had over the years doesn't fill me with confidence, although admittedly its been a long time since I last used a Line 6 product. From what I've heard the Fractal effects are top drawer though.

Please keep me updated with what you do.

I came from a pedalboard of 17 pedals on a pedal train pro ! Prior to that I owned a boss gt100. I've also owned marshals and orange amps.

Got to say the gm36 does EVERYTHING I NEED. could the digital effects be better ? Yes but I'm at the point now where I want as little between me and my amp as possible.

I want a simplistic set up with as little cables as possible.
I have found this with the gm36!

Being a pedal junkie, Once I was satisfied the gm36 could do everything I needed it to do, I quickly sold all my pedals and it was the best decision i have ever made.

having a simple setup has improved my playing as I'm playing more and twiddling less.

Beat the GAS , kept it simple !

I use an Eventide H9. Not like Eventide`s sound quality has nor will ever be a question. It`s not the be-all-end-all but it pairs up nicely with the GM36 and its sync`d so that one controller runs them both simultaneously.

I like Fractal`s approach, just not sold on their products.

Cheaper alternative, I use the Line6 HD500X - I've used it in both 4CM and single cable mode. The HD has all the midi control, and has all the effects. I don't use any of the HD's amp models, because my GM is my tube "modeler" - with real tubes.

Namklak

I used to use a bossgt100 with the four cable method (ie only using the gt for its effects and control functions) but no matter what I did I could definitely hear the gt100 influencing the amps sound.

I was told this is not possible however the gt added a small level of compression to the Amps sound and it drove me nuts! It was a very small difference but it was noticeable enough to bug me. I tried every conceivable setting to get it to be 100% transparent but could not. I am sure the ad converters (analogue to digital and back again) had something to do with it ? This Is just a guess though!

Granted the gt is NOT in the same sonic territory as the eventide or axe fx however the reason I moved away from all the gadgets was to

PLAY MORE AND TWEAK LESS! I spent / wasted s full year trying to get the gt to sound good!

I have found that simplifying my set up is making me a better guitarist as I now practice more, use less effects and am concentrating on the fundementals of playing and singing rock music. I'm now a set and forget kind of guy

For those people who are into numerous styles of music - I fully understand the requirement for a multi effects unit - I mostly play rock and the clean channel takes care of everything else for me.

I have to constantly remind myself NOT to get GAS as even though I have adopted this new philosophy , after reading your posts I checked out both units and started looking at specs etc then said - I DONT NEED THis (for the style I play and sing)

However YOU must use what works for you and what turns you on - sonically

I have a Fractal FX8.

It is simply SUPERB!

My son plays in a band too. He likes the look of the Heilx, as do I, but I have owned a LOT of Line 6 equipment & I can never really get the sounds that I want from it. It always promises to deliver but almost certainly fails to do so. Generally the biggest complaint from me would be that it invaraibly sounds very Digital and lacks in warmth.

If my son goes the Helix route I will report further but for me I can honestly say that the FX8 is a very good way to go. It works like a dream with the GM36.

Fatjac I DO NOT WANT TOP HEAR THIS - STOP IT!

AS IT WILL BECOME another piece of musical kit i HAVE TO HAVE ! - STOP THE GAS - Help me .....

Understood! No more from me then...

Fatjac wrote:I have a Fractal FX8.

It is simply SUPERB!

My son plays in a band too. He likes the look of the Heilx, as do I, but I have owned a LOT of Line 6 equipment & I can never really get the sounds that I want from it. It always promises to deliver but almost certainly fails to do so. Generally the biggest complaint from me would be that it invaraibly sounds very Digital and lacks in warmth.

If my son goes the Helix route I will report further but for me I can honestly say that the FX8 is a very good way to go. It works like a dream with the GM36.

This is great to hear - I am sooooooo close to ordering the FX8.

Having never owned any Fractal gear I'm curious to know whether the verb and delays on the FX8 will be good enough to replace my Eventide H9 and Strymon Timeline - if so then selling those would significantly reduce my guilt at splashing out on the FX8. From the research I have done it would appear that the FX8 could do everything the Timeline does, but that keeping the H9 might be handy, not least as it saves using loads of CPU on the FX8, which I understand the reverbs do.

I was also seriously considering the Helix but also have never been impressed by any Line 6 products and don't want to get caught up in amp modelling. I'd rather stick with the tones from my GM36!

Davus PG wrote:

Fatjac wrote:I have a Fractal FX8.

It is simply SUPERB!

My son plays in a band too. He likes the look of the Heilx, as do I, but I have owned a LOT of Line 6 equipment & I can never really get the sounds that I want from it. It always promises to deliver but almost certainly fails to do so. Generally the biggest complaint from me would be that it invaraibly sounds very Digital and lacks in warmth.

If my son goes the Helix route I will report further but for me I can honestly say that the FX8 is a very good way to go. It works like a dream with the GM36.

This is great to hear - I am sooooooo close to ordering the FX8.

Having never owned any Fractal gear I'm curious to know whether the verb and delays on the FX8 will be good enough to replace my Eventide H9 and Strymon Timeline - if so then selling those would significantly reduce my guilt at splashing out on the FX8. From the research I have done it would appear that the FX8 could do everything the Timeline does, but that keeping the H9 might be handy, not least as it saves using loads of CPU on the FX8, which I understand the reverbs do.

I was also seriously considering the Helix but also have never been impressed by any Line 6 products and don't want to get caught up in amp modelling. I'd rather stick with the tones from my GM36!

I have played with the Timeline but never an H9. I am not big into reverbs really but I understand that everything that they do can be replicated BUT will require some serious manual reading! They don't come straight out of the box. There are MANY people on the Fractal forum saying that they have ditched those pedals that you speak of and others that have totally dispensed with their pedal boards.

IMHO the quality of the effects are superb! Even the drives are really useable which is normally the worst part of any multi effects unit.

I am a fairly simple user inasmuch as I want drive, wah, modulation, delay and verb etc but I want to simply push one pedal and get a complete change. This is entirely possible with scenes on the FX8. 8 scenes per patch of any combination of the effects that you choose for that patch. XY switching allows a change of most effects to a completely different one. Each scene can send out midi message to control the GM36. Seriously the possibilities of combining the 2 are endless.

Yes the reverbs are CPU drains but I think they are working on that and you do have the facility to use normal quality rather than their best. I can't tell the difference with my old ears!

Buy one, you won't regret it.

here`s the things about effects; brand loyalty is like ford/chevy/dodge loyalty. Fractal is the flavor of the day (albeit for good reason).

Line 6 has never made a product I was happy with for anything other than practice. I have tried everything they have ever made as I`m friends with the area rep. Very convenient and a great product for the market they`re targeting. Hell, I even got my son a Line 6 amp.

Eventide has been making the best pitch manipulators on the planet for three decades (again, my opinion). They were the Fractal Audio of the early 90`s. The Eventide reverb is ridiculous (in a good way). Their delay is as good as other good units out there, but not the best there is. But does it need to be?

Fractal makes good stuff. I did have a terrible experience with one at the audition for the biggest gig I`ve ever played (I ended up borrowing a delay pedal and just plugging into the house Orange amp and got the gig). Because of that experience, I`m not really interested in purchasing their products for myself.

Got to play through a Kemper for the first time chilling at the Aristedes booth at NAMM this year. Again, great product, but not something I would purchase for myself. My problem with modelers is that they are designed to get you someone else`s tone. With 45 different baselines available, how does anyone ever expect to develop their own sound anymore?

Sorry guys, I`ve used this thread as my own personal soapbox LOL.

Can't disagree with a lot of what you said. Just to clarify though, and you may already know this, the FX8 is not a modeller. It is effects only and that is why I wanted one. I don't want or need modellers.

If you have a chance have a listen to one it really is a good piece of kit.

Fatjac wrote:Can't disagree with a lot of what you said. Just to clarify though, and you may already know this, the FX8 is not a modeller. It is effects only and that is why I wanted one. I don't want or need modellers.

If you have a chance have a listen to one it really is a good piece of kit.

I have no doubt of it`s potential quality. And the fact that it`s effects only, and the way it allows use of pretty much anything in any order reminds me of my favorite effects device of all time, the Digitech 2101.

I`m an eventide guy. I love the H9, and there`s really nothing you couldn`t do with two of them and still come in at well under what the FX8 costs (my second biggest issue with Fractal is the outrageous cost). And it`s not that I don`t have my complaints. The looper in the H9 is a nightmare and a waste of storage space with the way it`s configured. If they opened it up so that we could set a loop then switch to another preset to play over the loop with it would be remarkable, but without that feature it`s worthless to me.

I`ll be at NAMM again in january and I`ll for sure give the FX8 a solid test drive. Who knows, I may be sporting a TriAmp and an FX8 this time next year :-D

Ordered my FX8 yesterday so will report back once I receive it and get to grips with it. I'm not 100% convinced that it will necessarily be better than what I have, but having everything I need plus lots more routing and pedal options in one unit without all the power bricks and patch cables is a big draw for me.

Having never owned any Fractal gear before my main concern is how user friendly it is and how quickly good sounds can be achieved. Everything I've read suggests that the FX8 can do all that I could wish for, but if it's going to take hours of fiddling to get there then it's going back. I have 30 days sale or return and a gig in 5 weeks time, so I'll either be taking to the stage with the FX8 or my current board.

Watch this space....

Pete demo's the FX8.  I expected this since he used to use the FX for a while: