United States · Est. 2006
Fractal Audio
The reference processor for the most demanding guitarists. The Axe-Fx combines highest-fidelity amp modelling with professional effects in a single rack processor.
About the brand
Fractal Audio Systems was founded in 2006 by Cliff Chase in Scottsdale, Arizona. Cliff Chase, a software engineer with a passion for guitar, developed the Axe-Fx with the ambition of creating the most accurate amplifier modelling possible. The Axe-Fx II, launched in 2011, is generally considered the moment when digital modelling achieved tonal parity with real amplifiers in professional environments.
The Axe-Fx became the preferred tool of demanding guitarists like Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Guthrie Govan, Tom Morello and a long list of top-level artists who needed studio tone on stage consistently and without the maintenance problems of valves.
The current line includes the Axe-Fx III (high-end rack processor), the FM9 Turbo and FM3 (compact pedalboard formats). Fractal also manufactures the FC-12 and FC-6, MIDI controllers designed specifically for the Axe-Fx. The Fractal user community is extraordinarily active in developing and sharing presets.
Key facts
- Founded in 2006 by engineer Cliff Chase in Arizona
- Axe-Fx II (2011): first digital modelling widely accepted as a professional alternative
- Used by Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Guthrie Govan and Tom Morello
- FM9 and FM3: pedalboard format with high-end technology
Iconic models
Axe-FX II
The amplifier modelling processor that set the industry standard for tonal quality in rack format, adopted by countless headline artists.
Axe-FX III
The third generation of Fractal Audio's flagship processor, with greater processing power and higher-resolution amplifier models that make it the absolute reference in modelling.
FM9
A floor processor with the Axe-FX III engine in a nine-switch pedalboard format, bringing rack quality in a stage-optimised solution.
FM3
Fractal Audio's most compact floor processor, with three switches and the Axe-FX III engine, designed for musicians who prioritise portability without sacrificing quality.