Fractal FM9 - FX PROCESSOR ONLY (“POST”)

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4 SETTING UP
TIP: OPTIMIZE FOR LOW NOISE
The optional Boost/Pad function on Output 3 can be used to lower the noise floor. To nd the right
setting, adjust this to be as high as possible without clipping, as indicated by a red LED on the front
panel meters. The volume won’t change but you should hear the FM9’s noise floor drop as you
increase boost/pad. Find this option under SETUP: I/O: Audio.
FX PROCESSOR ONLY (“POST”)
Global Settings: check I/O Mono/Stereo settings; See the tip about optimizing for low noise, below.
Presets: Custom
The FM9 can be used as a processor in the loop of an amp, providing access to our industry leading effects for
those who may not be not ready to make the jump to amp modeling. (Don’t worry, we still like you!)
FM9 Input 3 is used in this setup to accommodate your amp’s line level FX send.
FM9 Output 3 is used in this setup, because of its unity gain capabilities.
You will need to create custom presets for this setup. These must have NO Amp or Cab blocks, and must contain
only those effects that sound good to you after the distortion stage of your preamp. An example is shown below:
CONNECTIONS
 Connect your guitar to your amp’s
instrument input as you normally would.
 Connect the FX Send of your amp to
FM9 Input 3 L. Adjust Input trim on the
FM9 if needed in SETUP:I/O:Input.
 For the setup shown here, set Input 3 Mode to
“LEFT ONLY” under SETUP: I/O: Audio. (It is rare
but not unheard of to use two preamps in stereo.)
 Connect FM9 Output 3 L to the FX Return of your
amp. A Humbuster™ cable is recommended.
 Set the front panel OUT 3 knob fully
clockwise for unity gain, or as desired
for appropriate volume levels.
 To extend this conguration for optional stereo,
you would typically connect Output 3 R to the FX
return of a second amplier.
PARALLEL FX LOOP?
If your amp’s FX loop is parallel, your FM9 presets must
be further customized so that no dry signal passes
through the FM9. This generally limits the effects you
can use, how they must be arranged, what their mix
setting must be, and more. If your amp is switchable, a
series loop is certainly easier to use in this setup.
FM9
AMP
SPEAKER
CABINET
INPUT
3L
FX
SEND
FX
RETURN
Model 50
OUTPUT
3L
OUTPUT
3R
Connect to FX RTN
of a second amp for
optional stereo.
INSTR
IN
IN 3 EQ CHO FLA DLY1 DLY2 REV
OUT3