Axe-Fx III/FM9/FM3 - FRFR vs. Power Amp & Cab - Which Setup Is BEST?

Fractal owners - what is your preference - FRFR? Power Amp & Cab? And what does "FRFR" mean anyway? Check out this video for a little insight!

[justisjustis]

describing and defining the typical terms used in these scenarios is massively helpful, and usually not done. Thank you!

[giosundance]

This video came at the right time because I was ready to buy a power amp for my 2x12 cabinet

[PhilWilliams]

Thank you for responding to my comment and publishing this video Doug. Much appreciate your excellent level of detail and found your comments very informative. Keep them coming. Thanks again.

[tdz]

Great video. Thank you! Lifelong analog guy here. I switched to fractal fm3 few years ago. What I love most is the palette of sounds and the simple setup. I go direct to pa and have a small headrush for my onstage monitor and for others in the band to hear. I do miss the pushing of air but I’ve learned to move on from it. My hearing is more important to me now since it’s been affected by years of playing. I just picked up an Axe3 and in process of finalizing my rack. Heading into IEM territory for the first time so I can further protect my hearing and have more flexibility with monitoring. If eliminating the headrush is very noticeable to me I will put it back in the rig. Growing up with amps and pedals, I wondered if going the route of axefx would be hard. It hasn’t. It’s differmt but the tones are limitless and they sound amazing.

[clemdog]

The point of the FRFR that separates it from a standard power amp and cab. The FULL RANGE capability of the FRFR is capable of simulating the physiology of ANY cab. So not just speakers are modeled, but the cabs too. So you can switch from a 4x12 (model) closed to a single 12 open and your flat response gear will sound like you physically switched cabs.

[MaxRadin]

Hi - as a newbie if I wanted to hook up an FM3 to my guitar amp for now (setting the amp as clean and as neutral as possible until I get an FRFR) what cable do I need? An XLR to guitar amp input jack from out 1 on the FM3? many thanks! Enjoying your videos

[scottpeters]

I use both sometimes….send an output to my power amp/cab, then send a stereo out to two FRFR’s for FX….wet dry wet…best of both worlds….That’s what is so awesome about the Fractal units, they will fit into your existing rig any way you can imagine it…..

[gabovalin]

Hello, Good Night, I have a Problem. I buy a Fractal Axe III, but i dont know to connect it to combo amp, and connect Interface UA Volt.

[robfernandez]

I’m the contrarian on the cab and amp modeling paradigm. I keep them both on for 1) FOH 2) backline tube amp 3) in ear sends and 4) DAW recording! Without those on I can’t bear the hissy scratchy grating output. Plus I roll off highs in the cab block down to 5500 hertz and use a parametric block to roll off highs and notch 6000, 4000, and dip 400. Got to tell you I’m in tone heaven, AND amp in the room.

[Jmc]

Q about doing output 1 to foh and output 2 to power amp and cab. How do you put output 2 before the cab if the preset has all the effects after the cab block?

[lanceglander]

Thanks so much! this is what I've been looking for!

[richo]

what I love about my Powercab 212+ with my FM9 is to use it on FRFR mode but go the "poweramp+speaker" route when I want to

[bobdorothy]

Do I want my power amp modeling switch on or off when using Laney frfr speakers?

[ookookook]

I'm using the HS8s at home with the Axe 3. I'm guessing a pair of K10.2s sounds great too and work for gigs?

[dominiquez]

Hi Doug! I plug in my Fm9 to a tube amp and it sounds horrible....NOTHING like the youtube videos. Very frsutrated with Fractal recommendations not working (Cabinets disabled globably and sending signal to the loop of the amp). Please help! Do this thing only works with FRFR speakers? Why fractal doesn't have a big red banner before you put it in your cart!??? I don't understand how Neal Schon says "he connects live to an EVH amp and cabinet" and the house as well...WTF???

[tomfaunce]

My current setup is pedal board > Quilter amp > Speaker Cab. Do you think I could just replace the pedal board with an FM9 and run it into my Amp and Cab?

[SharlsRS]

Why not to try modeler (pre and power amp on, IRS off) ---> powered mixer ---> Guitar Speaker Cab ? I want to try it and see what results can I get. It surely will have less versatility because of the colour of the speakers, but I hope it would be more flexible than the modeler directly to the return of an amp.

[shredding]

Someone please tell me how to turn up the volume on USB. I use it as my in and my audio interface as my out to the monitors. The volume isn’t real low, but not near as loud as you would be with running directly into the interface.

[cletusrobinson]

Soooo… would suggest running electric bass through a pair of K12s or? I have a TM16, btw.

[kylecravens]

I use my FM3 with an in ear system at church so I've never had to use it in another context other than recording. If I were out live, wouldn't I be safe to just show up at a gig somewhere and use the club/house stage monitors for my reference? I guess the only problem scenario would be playing somewhere there isn't a fixed/equipped stage (where it's essentially a 'pop up' type gig). I agree, for recording, we've had amazing results just going direct with it.