Modeler News
Firmware updates, gear announcements, industry trends, and the practical bits that change how a modeler player actually works.
FM9 Firmware 12.00 Hits Public Beta — Catches Up To Axe-Fx III 32.04
Fractal pushed FM9 firmware 12.00 to public beta on May 4 and followed with Beta 3 about ten days later. The headline is parity with Axe-Fx III 32.04 — the reworked power amp model and the catalog re-analysis are now on the FM9. New DRIVE block additions include a 'Swedish Metal' layout and an Oversampling control. DynaCabs jumps to 1.09.
Axe-Fx III Firmware 32.04 Reworks Power Amp Modeling — FM9 In Private Beta, FM3 To Follow
Fractal pushed Axe-Fx III firmware 32.04 on Friday April 24. The headline change is improved power amp modeling and a fresh round of amp model updates based on new analysis methods. There is also a real bug fix in the Chorus block that was costing depth on Auto-Depth presets, and a Multiplexer USB routing fix. FM9 is already in private beta. FM3 is next.
Neural DSP Announces CorOS 4.1.0, Darkglass Ultimate, and a US Price Increase on May 7
CorOS 4.1.0 is the biggest PCOM update Neural DSP has shipped — five Archetype X plugins coming to the Quad Cortex at once. Darkglass Ultimate ships imminently as a free update for existing Darkglass Ultra users. And the Quad Cortex MAP in the US goes from $1,699 to $1,799 on May 7 due to new tariffs.
Fractal AM4 Is Finally In Stock — And V2.00 Firmware Makes It Worth the Wait
Fractal's most accessible modeler just got a major firmware update on the same week it finally hit open stock. V2.00 brings the AM4 fully in line with Axe-Fx III firmware 32.02, adds a new HM-2-based drive model, and improves the gate block in ways that matter for tight, low-tuned playing.
Kemper OS 14.0 Leaves Beta — Profiling 2.0 Is Now Live for All MK2 and Player Owners
After a six-week public beta, Kemper's OS 14.0 reached stable release on March 31. Profiling 2.0's 100,000-point frequency analysis is now in the hands of anyone who paid for a MK2 or Player — including the Player's long-awaited ability to create profiles, not just play them.
TONEX 1.11.0 Adds Full Preset Sharing to ToneNET — Free for Everyone
IK Multimedia's latest TONEX update goes beyond individual Tone Models with community preset sharing, direct hardware transfers, and a redesigned signal chain UI. The update is free for all users, including the free TONEX CS tier.
Helix Stadium Firmware 1.10 Drops With 8 New Amp Models and Proxy Cloning Improvements
Line 6 delivers the first major update to Helix Stadium's Agoura engine with eight new amp models, improved Proxy cloning accuracy, and a redesigned cab engine that makes dual-cab routing easier than ever.
Kemper OS 14.0 Public Beta Brings Profiling 2.0 With 100K+ Frequency Analysis
Kemper's biggest software update in years overhauls the profiling engine with dramatically higher resolution analysis. Early testers say the difference is audible, especially on high-gain amps with complex EQ curves.