MusicRadar Verdict
If you want to get into the Fractal amp modelling universe, the AM4 is your entry point – but we’re in no way describing it as ‘entry level’. Make no mistake, it could grace any professional stage with its superb range of sounds, rugged build and great flexibility in how you use it.
Pros
- +
Stage-ready build.
- +
Sound quality.
- +
Massive selection of amps, cabs and effects available.
- +
Straightforward operation.
- +
Clear display.
- +
Audio interface capability.
Cons
- -
Four footswitches means extra tap-dancing.
- -
Balanced jacks, rather than XLR outputs.
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What is it?
Fractal’s flagship Axe-Fx III amp and multi-effects processor may be a bit overkill for most of us, not just in its £2.5k asking price (and that’s without a foot controller) but also in the facilities it provides.
However, Fractal is, of course, aware of this and does provide more affordable stripped-down iterations of its modelling technology with the likes of the FM3, FM9 and the (effects only) VP4 Virtual Pedalboard.
The current FM3 MKII Turbo (retailing at £1,149) has been the entry point into the full Fractal amp and effects world up until now, but that’s all changed with the release of the new AM4, which makes the sounds more accessible to a larger audience.
It still has the same four-footswitch form factor and the same price point as the VP4, but where the VP4 has no amp modelling, the AM4 has a full quota of Fractal’s finest amp models alongside a choice range of effects.
Specs
- Price: $699 | £789 | €925
- Origin: USA
- Type: Amp and effects modelling floor pedal
- Features: Buffered bypass, 104 presets, tuner, tap tempo, noise gate and EQ on each preset
- Controls: Level, Select, Soft knobs (A, B, C, D), 6x buttons, Footswitches (1, 2, 3, 4)
- Connections: Standard instrument input, standard outputs L (mono) & R, Standard Send, Standard Return, Pedal 1 & 2, 1/8” headphone output, SPDIF In & Out, MIDI In & Out, USB
- Power: Supplied 9V DC adaptor, 1500 mA
- Dimensions: 252 (w) x 162 (d) x 62mm (h)
- CONTACT: Fractal Audio
Usability and sounds
The AM4 falls neatly into the ‘compact modeller’ category with a size and shape that’s both eminently portable and suitable for slotting into a pedalboard alongside your other pedals. While its main use in a live scenario is direct connection to a PA system or an FRFR speaker, there’s no reason you couldn’t use it as an effects processor with a conventional guitar amp.
Along with a good setup, the medium tall frets really suit the guitar, which feels lively in the hand from the off
What you’re getting is a unit with 104 presets onboard in 26 banks of four, each preset comprising a signal chain of four blocks – one amp and three effects is the norm, but you can have four effects blocks.
Every block has four channels, each with a different model or parameters
Now, while four blocks may seem paltry to anyone who is used to longer signal chains, it really can be enough to cover many contingencies because those blocks have an inherent flexibility. Every block has four channels, each with a different model or parameters.
This means you can have four different amps in your amp block and four types of delay, for example, or simply one delay with four different delay times in your delay block. The amp block is of particular note as it has facilities that might otherwise have used up several blocks – it doesn’t just have the amp but also contains the full associated cabinet modelling with built-in stereo room ambience, plus a footswitchable boost.
For each preset you also get four Scenes, each Scene basically a snapshot of which blocks are active and which channel is selected for the block – this means you can call up a wide variety of sounds by switching Scenes.
Everything in a preset can be quickly set up or tweaked from the unit itself – there’s no touchscreen, but using the buttons and soft knobs is intuitive. Alternatively, you can use the excellent AM4-Edit software on a connected computer.
Changing between the three primary modes of operation (Preset, Scene, Effects) is implemented by pressing footswitches 1 and 2 together and then making your selection via one of the other footswitches, each corresponding to a different mode shown above in the display. In Preset mode you can gaplessly select the four presets in a bank with the footswitches, and bank changes are implemented by a press-and-hold of footswitches 1 or 4.
Scene mode lets each footswitch call up the different scenes within a preset, while Effect mode is for turning effects blocks on and off and, in the case of the amp block, turning its boost on and off.
There’s also an Amp mode of operation that assigns each of the four channels from the amp block its own footswitch, so you have access to four independent amp-and-cab setups.
While the signal chain may not be as complex as that of the Axe-Fx III, the AM4 still has its component-level physical amp modelling and DynaCab cabinet emulation, which makes for a classy range of sounds with excellent playing response.
You get more than 240 different amp models – albeit some being different channels of the same amp – with all of the big hitters covered, as well as a wide selection of more obscure and boutique examples. As for the cabs, there are more than 45 DynaCab models, all with real-time visual mic positioning, and there’s also the option of using your own IRs.
Effects are well represented by a selection of 80-plus drive models, loads of reverbs and delays, many modulation types, and compressors and wah pedals. While there’s no dedicated pitch shifting, there is some for shimmer in the reverb block.
The AM4 comes well stocked (22 banks) with usable pre-programmed presets for use straight out of the box or as advanced starting points for your own tweaks. A lot of these are in the format Drive>Amp>Delay>Reverb, which may be all you need. You can also choose from 16 different effects blocks (a maximum of two of any type) to easily set up your own chain, and if you need to free up blocks it’s useful to know that you can have reverb and delay in a single block by choosing one of the Echo models for your reverb block.
If you want to use other effects pedals with the unit, there’s nothing to stop you placing them before or after the unit, but there is also a send and return loop with a fixed position just before the output.
This would allow you to use external pedals in the chain while taking advantage of the AM4’s balanced outputs or the headphone output for a bit of silent practice. That headphone output also comes in handy for recording, taking advantage of the AM4’s ability to function as a 4-in/4-out audio interface.
Comprehensive MIDI capability is available for those who wish to take advantage of it, and there’s also provision to connect up to two expression pedals for real-time control of effects – essential if you want to use the onboard wah options.
Verdict
Verdict: ★★★★½
MusicRadar verdict: If you want to get into the Fractal amp-modelling universe, the AM4 is your entry point – but we’re in no way describing it as ‘entry level’. Make no mistake, it could grace any professional stage with its superb range of sounds, rugged build and great flexibility in how you use it.
Hands-on videos
Guitar World
Fractal Audio Systems
Ola Englund
