Which Fractal should you buy?
Three current-generation Fractal devices and the previous one. Scenes and channels work the same on all of them; the grid, the amp count and the footswitches do not.
Axe-Fx III
The deepest of the four, and the one to choose for a studio or a rack rig. Remember the footboard is extra.
Open the Axe-Fx III guide →FM9
The Axe-Fx III's grid and limits with nine switches under your feet. For most players this is the one, and it needs no controller.
Open the FM9 guide →FM3
The compact option, and a genuine trade: one amp pair and a smaller grid. Channels are how you get variety out of it.
Open the FM3 guide →Axe-Fx II
Still gigged widely and still capable, with a Tone Match block the newer devices lack. Buy used with open eyes: Ares, X/Y, and no path to Cygnus.
Open the Axe-Fx II guide →Only the lines that actually differ are here. Everything these devices share — the model library, the way presets are built, the cab block rule — is the same on all of them and is covered in each guide.
| Axe-Fx III | FM9 | FM3 | Axe-Fx II | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generation | ||||
| Amp modellingPresets do not move between the generations, and most current advice online describes Cygnus devices.Axe-Fx III Owner's Manual · Fractal Audio: Axe-Fx II product and support pages | Cygnus | Cygnus | Cygnus | Ares — the previous line, with no upgrade path |
| Per-block variantsAxe-Fx III Owner's Manual · Fractal Audio: Axe-Fx II product and support pages | Four channels, A to D | Four channels, A to D | Four channels, A to D | Two — X and Y |
| How much fits | ||||
| Layout GridAxe-Fx III Owner's Manual · FM3 Owner's Manual | 14 × 6 | 14 × 6 | 12 × 4 | Not stated by Fractal |
| Amp and cab pairs per presetThe clearest single line between the FM3 and its siblings. Two pairs is what makes wet/dry/wet and two-amp rigs practical.FM3 Owner's Manual | Two | Two | One | One pair |
| Scenes per presetThe same everywhere. Scenes are not a reason to choose between them.Axe-Fx III Owner's Manual · Fractal Audio: Axe-Fx II product and support pages | Eight | Eight | Eight | Eight |
| What you stand on | ||||
| FootswitchesBoth racks need a controller before they are gigging rigs. Budget for it.Axe-Fx III Owner's Manual · FM9 Owner's Manual · FM3 Owner's Manual · Fractal Audio: Axe-Fx II product and support pages | None — an FC-6 or FC-12, sold separately | Nine, with nine layouts | Three, with switchable layouts | None — an MFC-101, sold separately |
| Instrument and line inputsAxe-Fx III Owner's Manual · FM9 Owner's Manual · FM3 Owner's Manual · Fractal Audio: Axe-Fx II product and support pages | One instrument, three stereo line | One instrument, two stereo line | One instrument, one stereo line doubling as an FX return | One instrument (front or rear), one stereo line |
| Analog outputsAxe-Fx III Owner's Manual · FM9 Owner's Manual · FM3 Owner's Manual | Three stereo | Three stereo | Two stereo — XLR, and quarter-inch | Two stereo |
Amp modelling
Presets do not move between the generations, and most current advice online describes Cygnus devices.
- Axe-Fx III
- Cygnus
- FM9
- Cygnus
- FM3
- Cygnus
- Axe-Fx II
- Ares — the previous line, with no upgrade path
Per-block variants
- Axe-Fx III
- Four channels, A to D
- FM9
- Four channels, A to D
- FM3
- Four channels, A to D
- Axe-Fx II
- Two — X and Y
Layout Grid
- Axe-Fx III
- 14 × 6
- FM9
- 14 × 6
- FM3
- 12 × 4
- Axe-Fx II
- Not stated by Fractal
Amp and cab pairs per preset
The clearest single line between the FM3 and its siblings. Two pairs is what makes wet/dry/wet and two-amp rigs practical.
- Axe-Fx III
- Two
- FM9
- Two
- FM3
- One
- Axe-Fx II
- One pair
Scenes per preset
The same everywhere. Scenes are not a reason to choose between them.
- Axe-Fx III
- Eight
- FM9
- Eight
- FM3
- Eight
- Axe-Fx II
- Eight
Footswitches
Both racks need a controller before they are gigging rigs. Budget for it.
- Axe-Fx III
- None — an FC-6 or FC-12, sold separately
- FM9
- Nine, with nine layouts
- FM3
- Three, with switchable layouts
- Axe-Fx II
- None — an MFC-101, sold separately
Instrument and line inputs
- Axe-Fx III
- One instrument, three stereo line
- FM9
- One instrument, two stereo line
- FM3
- One instrument, one stereo line doubling as an FX return
- Axe-Fx II
- One instrument (front or rear), one stereo line
Analog outputs
- Axe-Fx III
- Three stereo
- FM9
- Three stereo
- FM3
- Two stereo — XLR, and quarter-inch
- Axe-Fx II
- Two stereo