Fractal Audio
Fractal Audio's Axe-Fx arrived when digital modelling was still widely dismissed, and it is a large part of why that argument is now over. The New Hampshire company's units — the Axe-Fx III, the FM9 and FM3 floor models — are common on professional touring rigs where the same rig has to work in every venue. Fractal appears in our archive in the modelling comparisons and in the ongoing story of what amp simulation can now do.
Fractal Audio Makes Leap to Software with ICONS: Fullerton Plugin Suite
Fractal Audio goes native! Explore the new ICONS: Fullerton plugin suite, featuring 36 legendary Fender-inspired amp models and Axe-Fx effects for your DAW.
- Amp modelling
- Multi-effects processors
- Floor controllers
- Axe-Fx III
- FM9
- FM3
- Axe-Fx Ultra
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Fractal Audio FAQ4 questions
What is Fractal Audio?
An American audio equipment manufacturer founded in 2006 by Cliff Chase, based in Plaistow, New Hampshire. It pioneered the high-end digital amplifier modelling market with the rack-mounted Axe-Fx, and remains one of the two or three names that define that end of the market.
What is the difference between the Axe-Fx III, FM9 and FM3?
Processing power and format. The Axe-Fx III is the flagship rack unit with the most DSP; the FM9 and FM3 are floorboards with integrated switching, running the same modelling with progressively less processing available for simultaneous blocks. The models themselves are shared.
Why are Fractal units expensive?
They sit deliberately at the top of the modelling market, competing on accuracy and depth of editing rather than on price or simplicity. There is no budget Fractal line — the company has never produced an entry-level product, which is a strategic choice rather than an accident.
Are Fractal units hard to use?
They have a reputation for depth. Everything is adjustable, which is the point, but the factory presets are usable out of the box and most editing happens in Fractal's computer editor rather than on the unit. The learning curve is real but it is optional.