A Geek Goes Flying

An amp and a microphone One of the most frustrating parts about being a self-taught n00b when it comes to amp modeling (whether it be in a $100 NUX box or a bit of Fractal kit) is trying to decipher the different fake names the modelers have for the different pieces of kit, especially if you’re not already steeped in guitar tech. Like, the Jazz Clean NUX amp is (I understand) modeled after the Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus . The Class A30, the  VOX AC30 , “a legendary British tube amp known for its jangly cleans, warm overdrive, and chimey tone that’s been a staple in rock, pop, and indie music.” Etc. Sometimes, there’s no hint. Using Fractal’s DynaCabs , for instance, you get a choice of four microphones for the Cab Impulse Response (IR) block. They’re helpfully</sarcasm> identified as Dynamic 1, Dynamic 2,  Condenser, and Ribbon.  If you read the Wiki , those map to the Shure SM57 and SM7B , the Soyuz 023 , and the Royer 121 – but that knowledge seems to be tribal ...

Okay, so, I tried it out, connecting Out 1 (or 2) to the FX Return input on my Marshall G50RCD 50 watt solid state (“transistor”) combo amp. I’m new enough to all of this that I’m learning things / making observations that are probably “duh, old hat” to most folks, but it’s novel to me. I’m patched in with a standard instrument cable, 1/4" TS to 1/4" TS . Fractal sells a Humbuster™ cable , $20 for 15' (plus $22 to ship, plus tax...), that is probably a better solution, there’s a noticeable (although not overwhelming, at least in this application) hum even with the short cable run and both the FM3 and the amp connected to the same mains power outlet. Do I spend $44 on a cable to use this non-ideal amp, or do I put that money towards a proper FRFR setup (and the XLR cable I’ll need to feed it)? Probably the latter. Meanwhile... Running through the FX Return input, the pre-amp controls for the amp have no effect. Gain, Bass, Middle, Treble, do nothing. There is no “volume” ...

Okay, I probably should have known this before taking the plunge ... I’ve been using NUX stuff as an audio interface basically (USB connected to a computer, with a TRRS headset connected, and the whole package used as the audio source for Google Meet etc. for online lessons ). At the office, I have the NUX patched into a Pignose, played at very low volume levels. At home, I really have only used the NUX with headphones; for light jamming / practice I’ve mostly been using a wireless Mighty Air . I have an amp at home, a 50W Marshall combo ( G50R CD ) I got from an apparent hoarder (that’s a whole story). I suppose I can  (at least temporarily) use that via the effects return (see below). But what I really should have is an FRFR (full range flat response) speaker setup. At the price point I’d like to stay, that’s probably something like a Headrush FRFR108 ($200 or so used) or FRFR112 ($300+ used) (the latter especially if I’m going to use it for bass at all), the Positive Grid...

This took me way longer to figure out than I expected, and all the AI tools got it wrong (maybe because firmware and Edit software versions differ?). Anyway. I picked up a used FM3 (oriignal, not Mk II Turbo) for a very good price. Immediately updated the firmware (from 8.00 to 12.00 ) with the latest version of FM3-Edit . (Tip: It will take a few moments between opening the app and Tools → Fractal Bot... being accessible (not greyed out). Just wait.) Loaded the FM3 Factory Presets . Reset System Parameters and Clear[ed] All Presets from Home → E:Setup → Utilities. But still a previous owner’s name appeared at the top of the display (FM3 Kip) and as the device name in FM3-Edit. FM3-Edit showing the Device Name Mildly annoying. To edit this, in FM3-Edit, click on Setup (upper right corner) and in the pane that opens at the bottom of the window, make sure Global is set, Config is the pane selected, and then over on the right side of that pane you can edit the Device Name (here r...