What works on your Fractal unit
Every current Fractal unit loads MultiTracks Impulse Responses and runs MultiTracks presets built for that unit. As of October 2026, the Axe-Fx III is the only Fractal unit that plays NAM captures, through its new NAM block (public beta firmware 33.00). Fractal has not announced NAM for the FM9, FM3, or other units yet.
Unit | MultiTracks NAM captures (A2) | MultiTracks Impulse Responses | MultiTracks presets | Editor |
Axe-Fx III (Mark I, Mark II, Turbo) | Yes, firmware 33.00 or later | Yes, up to UltraRes | Yes (.syx) | Axe-Edit III |
FM9 / FM9 Turbo | Not yet; no announcement from Fractal | Yes, up to 1K (Normal Res) | Yes (.syx) | FM9-Edit |
FM3 / FM3 Mark II Turbo | Not yet; no announcement from Fractal | Yes, up to 1K (Normal Res) | Yes (.syx) | FM3-Edit |
AM4, VP4 | Not yet; no announcement from Fractal | Check per unit | Built per unit | AM4-Edit, VP4-Edit |
Presets are unit-specific. An Axe-Fx III preset will not load on an FM9 or FM3, so buy the version built for your unit.
Know your unit
All current Fractal units share the same amp-modeling and effects engine, so a sound built on one translates closely to another. The differences that matter for MultiTracks products are processing power, IR resolution, and NAM support.
Axe-Fx III (Mark I, Mark II, Turbo). Fractal's flagship rack unit and the only one with NAM support today. Firmware 33.00 adds a NAM block that runs alongside the amp blocks: up to two NAM blocks per preset at full A2 quality, or one Amp block plus NAM blocks in combination (with an Amp block and two NAM blocks, one NAM runs Full A2 and the other A2 Lite). Each NAM block has four channels, so one block can hold four captures for scene switching. Mark I owners: on the original Axe-Fx III, NAM storage replaces User Cab Bank 2. Back up that bank before you update.
FM9 and FM9 Turbo. The floor unit with two amp blocks and footswitches built in. Loads IRs up to 1K resolution. No NAM block at this time.
FM3 and FM3 Mark II Turbo. The compact floor unit: one amp block, three footswitches, fixed input impedance, IRs up to 1K. No NAM block at this time.
AM4 and VP4. The amp-modeler pedal and the effects pedal. MultiTracks products for these units are built per unit; check the product page for compatibility.
Before you start
On Fractal units, the editor app is also the updater. Every editor has Fractal-Bot built in (under the Tools menu), and Fractal-Bot sends firmware, presets, IRs, and NAM captures to the unit.
Download the editor for your unit from the Fractal downloads page: Axe-Edit III, FM9-Edit, FM3-Edit, AM4-Edit, or VP4-Edit.
On Windows, install the Fractal USB driver for your unit (Mac needs no driver).
Connect the unit by USB and open the editor. Update the editor first, then use its built-in Fractal-Bot to install the latest firmware.
Axe-Fx III owners who want NAM: install firmware 33.00 or later with Axe-Edit III 1.15 or later. Mark I owners must back up User Cab Bank 2 with Fractal-Bot before updating, because NAM storage replaces it.
Unzip your MultiTracks download. It contains preset files (.syx) for your unit, IR files (.wav or .syx), NAM files (.nam) where the pack includes them, and a readme listing each preset, IR, and capture.
Downloads, manuals, and editor software
Fractal keeps firmware, editors, USB drivers, manuals, and factory presets on one downloads page per unit. Start at fractalaudio.com and choose your unit's Downloads page.
Unit | Editor (free) | How firmware updates | Manual |
Axe-Fx III | Axe-Edit III for macOS and Windows | Fractal-Bot inside Axe-Edit III, over USB | Axe-Fx III Owner's Manual and the Fractal Audio Blocks Guide on the Axe-Fx III Downloads page |
FM9 | FM9-Edit | Fractal-Bot inside FM9-Edit | FM9 Owner's Manual on the FM9 Downloads page |
FM3 | FM3-Edit | Fractal-Bot inside FM3-Edit | FM3 Owner's Manual on the FM3 Downloads page |
AM4 / VP4 | AM4-Edit / VP4-Edit | Fractal-Bot inside each editor | Owner's manual on each unit's Downloads page |
Also useful: the Fractal Audio forum, where Fractal staff post firmware and editor releases, and the community-run Fractal Audio Wiki, which documents every block in depth.
Update the editor before the firmware. A new firmware often needs a new editor; Axe-Fx III firmware 33.00, for example, requires Axe-Edit III 1.15 or later for the NAM block.
NAM on Fractal: what it is and where it stands
NAM (Neural Amp Modeler) is an open capture format. A capture is a snapshot of one real amp or pedal at one setting, and the same .nam file plays on any NAM-ready hardware or software. NAM A2 is the current generation of the format, and each A2 file contains both a Full version and a lighter version for less powerful hardware.
Axe-Fx III: NAM is here. In October 2026, Fractal released Axe-Fx III firmware 33.00 as a public beta with a new NAM block. What it means for you:
A2 only. The Axe-Fx III plays NAM A2 files. Older A1 files will not import; Axe-Edit warns you if you try.
Runs beside the amp models, not instead of them. NAM blocks share the amp-processing core, so a preset can hold up to two blocks in any mix of Amp and NAM. Two NAM blocks both run Full A2. With one Amp block and two NAM blocks, one NAM runs Full and the other A2 Lite.
Four captures per block. Each NAM block has channels, so one block can switch between four MultiTracks captures by scene.
Little CPU cost. NAM processing runs on the amp core, so adding a NAM block leaves room for your effects.
Calibrated levels. When a .nam file includes level metadata, the NAM block uses it to set input and output calibration automatically.
FM9, FM3, AM4, and other units: not announced. At the time of writing, Fractal has not committed to NAM for any unit besides the Axe-Fx III. Fractal has said publicly that its next-generation products will support NAM, and that it is too soon to say whether the FM9, FM3, or AM4 can run it. If you own one of these units, use MultiTracks presets and IRs today, and check this page for updates.
What you get in a MultiTracks NAM pack: several A2 captures of the same amp at different gain settings, so one pack covers clean through lead; Amp + Cab captures, Amp-only (DI) captures, or both, labeled in the readme; matching MultiTracks IRs for the DI captures; and Axe-Fx III presets that load the captures into a NAM block with scenes ready to go. The same .nam files also play on every other NAM-ready device and plug-in you own.
Loading NAM captures on Axe-Fx III
Install firmware 33.00 or later and Axe-Edit III 1.15 or later (see Before you start). Mark I owners: back up User Cab Bank 2 first.
Connect the Axe-Fx III by USB and open Axe-Edit III.
Open Tools → Fractal-Bot and go to the Send panel. Choose the NAM option, select a NAM location, and send the MultiTracks .nam files. You can also send a whole MultiTracks NAM bank file in one step.
Alternatively, open Manage NAM from the Manage utilities to see what is stored and where.
In a preset, add a NAM block to the grid, open it, and choose the MultiTracks capture. Use the block's channels to load up to four captures for different scenes.
If the readme marks a capture as Amp-only (DI), add a Cab block after the NAM block and load the MultiTracks IR. Amp + Cab captures need no Cab block; removing it frees up processing.
Save the preset.
If you load a MultiTracks Axe-Fx III preset that uses NAM, send its .nam files first. The preset expects them in the NAM locations listed in the readme.
Loading Impulse Responses and presets
Load IRs first, then presets. A MultiTracks preset points at a specific user cab slot, so the IR has to be in that slot before the preset will sound right.
Impulse Responses (all units)
Open your unit's editor and go to Tools → Fractal-Bot → Send, or open Manage Cabs.
Send each MultiTracks IR to the user cab slot listed in the readme. Fractal-Bot accepts .wav and .syx IR files and converts .wav files on the way in.
In a preset, select the Cab block, choose User Cab, and pick the MultiTracks IR from its slot.
Save the preset.
FM9 and FM3 play IRs at up to 1K (Normal Res); the Axe-Fx III plays them at full UltraRes. The same MultiTracks .wav file works on all of them; the unit uses the resolution it supports.
Presets (all units)
Load the pack's IRs (and NAM captures on Axe-Fx III) into the slots the readme lists.
In Fractal-Bot → Send, choose the MultiTracks .syx preset file and the preset number to send it to. Sending overwrites whatever is in that location.
Recall the preset and check that each Cab block shows the MultiTracks IR, not an empty slot or a different IR.
Save, and set up scenes on your footswitches using the scene names in the readme.
Buy the preset version for your unit. Axe-Fx III, FM9, FM3, and AM4 presets are not interchangeable.
Making it sound like the demo
Fractal units give you more input and output options than any other platform in this series. Set these once and every MultiTracks preset will land close to the demo.
Input impedance. Set the Input block's impedance to 1M (or Auto, if the readme says so) so your pickups load the input like a real amp. The FM3's input impedance is fixed and needs no adjustment.
Input level. Leave the Input block's level at 0 dB with your guitar volume at full while auditioning. NAM blocks with calibration metadata set their own input and output levels; do not fight them with large trims.
Output routing. Send Output 1 at line level to front-of-house or your interface. If you also feed a guitar amp or cab, use a separate output and bypass the Cab block for that output only.
One cab, once. MultiTracks presets use one Cab block per amp or DI capture. Never add a Cab block after an Amp + Cab NAM capture.
Global EQ flat. Keep the output Global EQ flat while auditioning; use it later to fit the room.
Then adjust in this order: amp or NAM gain for feel, the Cab block's low and high cut for the room (roughly 80 to 100 Hz and 8 to 10 kHz for a direct worship mix), and the preset's output level so it matches your other presets. Treat these settings as the starting point for demo-accurate tone. Your guitar, pedals, and speakers all change the result, so finish by ear.
Troubleshooting and FAQ
Axe-Edit will not import my .nam file. It is an A1 file. The Axe-Fx III plays A2 only. All MultiTracks NAM captures are A2.
I do not see the NAM block. Your Axe-Fx III is on firmware older than 33.00, or your Axe-Edit III is older than 1.15. Update the editor, then the firmware.
Can my FM9 or FM3 load MultiTracks NAM captures? Not yet. Fractal has not announced NAM for these units. Use MultiTracks FM9 or FM3 presets and IRs today, and keep your NAM purchases: the same files play on any NAM-ready device you own now or later.
I updated my Mark I Axe-Fx III and some IRs are gone. On Mark I units, NAM storage replaces User Cab Bank 2. Restore those IRs from your backup into Bank 1 slots, or re-send MultiTracks IRs from your download.
The preset sounds thin and fizzy. The Cab block is empty or bypassed after an amp or DI capture. Load the MultiTracks IR named in the readme into the slot the preset expects.
It sounds muffled. You have a Cab block after an Amp + Cab NAM capture, or the cab is on while you feed a guitar amp. Remove the extra Cab block, or bypass it on the output that feeds the amp.
The preset will not load on my unit. You are sending a preset built for a different unit. Axe-Fx III, FM9, FM3, and AM4 presets are not interchangeable.
Can I run two amps and a NAM capture in one Axe-Fx III preset? No. A preset holds two blocks from the Amp and NAM types combined: two Amps, two NAMs, or one of each. Use NAM channels to switch between up to four captures in a single block.
What to look at next
Axe-Fx III owners: MultiTracks NAM capture packs with Axe-Fx III presets, plus the IRs for any DI captures.
FM9, FM3, and AM4 owners: MultiTracks presets built for your unit on Fractal's amp models, with the IRs they were designed around.
Every Fractal owner: MultiTracks Impulse Responses for electric and acoustic, loaded into user cab slots and reusable across every preset.
Related guides: NAM captures, Cab Impulse Responses, and Acoustic Instrument IRs.