Fractal FM9 - Intro to the Layout Grid

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1 INTRODUCTION
At the heart of the FM9 is the Layout Grid, an array of rows and columns used to construct presets. In the
world of traditional gear, our rig options are restricted by budget, space, weight, and the limits of the equipment
itself. Building a rig means making hard choices. With the FM9 however, these limits are replaced by a vast and
expansive “inventory” of virtual amps, cabs, effects, and more. Every single preset gives you the flexibility to
design a unique rig composed of whichever components you choose.
So, in more detail: to create a preset, you will select virtual pieces of gear called blocks from the inventory. Each
block represents a different component like a wah pedal, amp, or reverb unit. You place these on to the Layout
grid and connect them together using virtual cables. You can split, merge, or create parallel paths as needed.
Passive shunts, like cables, carry signal through empty grid spaces. Special input and output blocks connect to
the various jacks and USB signals of the FM9. Here is an illustrated overview of this concept:
INTRO TO THE LAYOUT GRID
Let’s review what’s shown above. Signal flow begins at the Input 1 block on the left (blue). It is connected by a
cable to the Wah block, which in turn connects to a shunt. The shunt has no effect on the sound and is shown
only to introduce the idea of how it can be used to carry signal from one block to another. The shunt is connected
to an Amp block (we might set its type to “Plexi 100W High”), which in turn feeds a Cab (one of the many “4×12”
options, perhaps). This is connected to a Reverb and then to an Output block (green). In this limited example,
many grid spaces are empty, and only some of the columns are shown. In reality, the size of a preset is limited
only by the size of the grid, block inventory, and total processing power (“CPU”). The FM9 can create presets large
enough to cover a song, a set, or even an entire show.
The Layout “ZOOM” feature shows the whole grid at once. Look for the ZOOM button on Layout menu pages.
CABLE