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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 109
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OP
Apprentice
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 109 |
Would a FM3 do as a good Audio Interface....would it tick the boxes required?
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2,766
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Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2,766 |
If the boxes required are "guitar only" then potentially yes. There are no microphone inputs on the FM3 though.
I work here
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 10,688
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Joined: Apr 2009
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Personally I like the focusrite line and have several of them. The newest one is a Scarlett 4i4. Audio and midi inputs, outputs and really nice preamps for the mics. And 48v power for the condenser mics.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.comAdd nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both. The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,952
Expert
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Expert
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 1,952 |
No. Depending on your needs, most interfaces released since October 2019 will do the job. Cirrus Logic released a chip that can handle 8 channels audio w/ near-zero latency + 2 headphone amps + MIDI for less than $14 in quantity. Since then, similar chips from other makers have appeared. Without knowing your needs, it's impossible to make a recommendation, however. My M•Audio AIR 192|14 can be found new under $320; used for half that. 8 Analog Ins with direct Outs over USB as follows: 4 Mic pres with CombiJacks for Instrument Ins + 2 Instrument Ins + 2 Line Ins + MIDI I/O. Mic pres are hot enough to handle an SM7. 4 digital Ins from your DAW. Has 2 independent headphone amps plus USB I/O Balance control.
BIAB 2025 Audiophile Mac
24Core/60CoreGPU M2 MacStudioUltra/8TB/192GB Sequoia, M1 MBAir, 2012 MBP
Digital Performer11, LogicPro, Finale27/Dorico/Encore/SmartScorePro64/Notion6 /Overture5
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,554
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Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 3,554 |
vishnu.
re fm3.
first thing i would do is find out via the net how much latency the device has.
google 'fractal fm3 latency'.
i found several info links doing a quick scan.
also do your own latency tests.
personally i would run tests useing the fractal into a usb audio interface with known ultra low latency.
renting interfaces is cheap.
recording guitar i would look for no lag if were me.
to save me retyping loads of pages read my tips in pg tips forum re useing computers for music production, sound interfaces etc and various other topics.
hth.
om
Last edited by justanoldmuso; 07/09/25 05:10 AM.
my songs....mixed for good earbuds...(fyi..my vocs on all songs..) https://soundcloud.com/alfsongs(90 songs created useing bb/rb) (lots of tips of mine in pg tips forum.)
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Recording, Mixing, Performance and Production
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,497
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,497 |
I'll keep it simple. If you want an FM3 as a audio interface and you don't play guitar and don't want an external hardware FX box (chorus, reverb, delay, overdrive, fuzz, etc.) Do not buy it. Buy a dedicated audio interface with mic pre's.
If you already have a FM3 then if you want to use a mic you do need a mic pre. Fractal's audio interface is as good as my Focusrite - the FM3 is an excellent 4x4 audio interface. And if you already have an FM3 you already know it's probably the best piece of guitar modeler and FX kit made.
I have an Axe FX3 (8X8 audio), a FM9 (also a 8x8 audio), and two VP4'S (only 2x2 audio) and they all function flawlessly as audio interfaces.
However, truth in advertising, I almost always use my Focusrite Scarlett Gen 2 18i8 since it has a few mic pre's and I actually feed the FX3 and FM9 + VP4 into it. Easier to use a single audio interface then switching back and forth. The 18i8 is good enough for my uses - I almost never use a mic - I don't sing and have yet to record acoustic guitar even though I have many acoustics.
BTW - I'm not a Fractal shill just really like their FX and modeling. I gave up all my floor stompers except a few for sentimental reasons and all but few small amps also for sentimental reasons.
Larry
Win10Pro,i9,64GB,2TBSSD+20TBHDDs,1080TI,BIAB'24,Scarlett18i8,Montage7,Fusion 8HD,QS8,Integra7,XV5080,QSR,SC-8850,SPLAT,FL21&others,Komp.14,IK suite&others, just a guitar player-AXE FX III &FM9T, FishmanTP, MIDIGuitar2, GK2/3'sw/GI20
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