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Difference between revisions of "Controllers and modifiers"

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''The information on this page supplements the official manuals.''
 
''The information on this page supplements the official manuals.''
__TOC__
 
  
 
[[image:modifier menu.png|link=|300px]]  
 
[[image:modifier menu.png|link=|300px]]  
 
+
__TOC__
 
=Controllers/modifiers: supported by which Fractal Audio products?=
 
=Controllers/modifiers: supported by which Fractal Audio products?=
 
* Axe-Fx II: yes.
 
* Axe-Fx II: yes.
Line 20: Line 19:
  
 
=What are Scene Controllers?=
 
=What are Scene Controllers?=
[[Scenes]]
+
Read this: [[Scenes]].
  
 
=See which controllers are being used=
 
=See which controllers are being used=
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=Controllers/modifiers and Global Blocks=
 
=Controllers/modifiers and Global Blocks=
Modifier parameters and controller assignments are not part of Global Blocks in the Axe-Fx II. Use [[Recall Effect]] to copy controller and modifier settings between presets, or use Axe-Edit.
+
Modifier parameters and controller assignments are not part of Global Blocks in the Axe-Fx II. Use [[Effects_editing_and_routing#Recall_Effect:_copy_and_paste_effect_settings|Recall Effect]] to copy controller and modifier settings between presets, or use Axe-Edit.
  
 
=Controllers/modifiers and X/Y-switching=
 
=Controllers/modifiers and X/Y-switching=
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If you move a pedal which is assigned to a controller, it'll send MIDI data and CPU usage will increase slightly.
 
If you move a pedal which is assigned to a controller, it'll send MIDI data and CPU usage will increase slightly.
  
=Auto-Engage=
+
=Auto-Engage a controller=
 
The Auto-Engage parameter makes it possible to engage a bypassed effect block automatically upon receiving data. Example: moving a expression pedal turns on the Wah block, like a optical Wah pedal.
 
The Auto-Engage parameter makes it possible to engage a bypassed effect block automatically upon receiving data. Example: moving a expression pedal turns on the Wah block, like a optical Wah pedal.
  
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Auto-engaging an effect will not be visible in the software editor for technical reasons. In other words, the block won't be un-bypassed, visually. To see the actual state of the block, refresh the editor.
 
Auto-engaging an effect will not be visible in the software editor for technical reasons. In other words, the block won't be un-bypassed, visually. To see the actual state of the block, refresh the editor.
 +
 +
Auto-engage in the Axe-Fx II can sometimes cause an audible hickup when it enables an effect (such as Whammy). There's an alternative, using the effect's Mix modifier settings:
 +
* Auto-engage = off, Min = 100, Max = 0, Start = 60, Mid = 0, End = 49,8, Slope = 100, Scale = 10, Offset = -100.
 +
 +
These settings pass the unmodified signal at heel-down position, and switch to 100% processed sound when moving the pedal, while retaining the expression pedal's regular functionality.
 +
 +
Note that this only works with effects where the heel-down position sounds like the unmodified direct tone, and which have a Mix parameter. This rules out Wah for example.
  
 
=PC RST (Program Change Reset)=
 
=PC RST (Program Change Reset)=
This parameter determines whether a modified parameter will be reset to its stored value upon receiving a Program Change message, or if stays at its current value.
+
This parameter determines whether a modified parameter will be reset to its stored value when the preset is recalled, or if stays at its current value.
 +
 
 +
Example: you have an expression pedal assigned to a Level parameter. You set the pedal half-way and then switch presets. The PC RST setting determines whether the new preset recognizes the pedal's position and sets Level accordingly, or sets Level at the stored value, regardless of the pedal's position. If it's ON, the stored value will be used, until the pedal is moved.
  
 
Fractal Audio:<BR>
 
Fractal Audio:<BR>
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# Many MIDI controllers have "noisy" expression pedals where the value tends to bounce around a little. This prevents the stored value from being lost."
 
# Many MIDI controllers have "noisy" expression pedals where the value tends to bounce around a little. This prevents the stored value from being lost."
  
=Internal controllers (ADSR, Envelope, LFO, Pitch, Sequencer)=
+
=Internal controllers: ADSR, Envelope, LFO, Pitch, Sequencer=
 
The 5 internal controllers (ADSR, Envelope, LFO, Pitch, Sequencer) generate control data themselves.
 
The 5 internal controllers (ADSR, Envelope, LFO, Pitch, Sequencer) generate control data themselves.
  
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[[image:lfo.png|link=]]  
 
[[image:lfo.png|link=]]  
  
=Setting the initial state of a controller=
+
=Sett the initial state of a controller=
 
Setting the initial state of an external controller is important in this scenario: you are using a controller (a pedal) to control the overall volume. To make sure that Volume is at 100% when the pedal is NOT connected, set the controller's initial state to 100% (I/O > MIDI > Init Ctrl Val).
 
Setting the initial state of an external controller is important in this scenario: you are using a controller (a pedal) to control the overall volume. To make sure that Volume is at 100% when the pedal is NOT connected, set the controller's initial state to 100% (I/O > MIDI > Init Ctrl Val).
  
 
The AX8 and FX8 detect when a pedal is not connected and set the controller's initial state at 100% automatically. The Init Ctrl value will be bypassed. Cliff: "Pedals are always running. If nothing is plugged in there is a pull-up resistor that pulls the pedal value to 100%." [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/fx8-discussion/102412-expression-pedals-not-seen-power-up.html#post1226998 source]
 
The AX8 and FX8 detect when a pedal is not connected and set the controller's initial state at 100% automatically. The Init Ctrl value will be bypassed. Cliff: "Pedals are always running. If nothing is plugged in there is a pull-up resistor that pulls the pedal value to 100%." [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/fx8-discussion/102412-expression-pedals-not-seen-power-up.html#post1226998 source]
  
=Attaching an external controller to Bypass Mode=
+
=Attach an external controller to Bypass Mode=
 
You can attach a controller to an effect's Bypass Mode parameter. This will not change the bypass mode but it'll act as an On/Off switch instead. This means that you can no longer edit the preset to engage or bypass that effect manually. The On/Off state is determined by the external controller, exclusively.
 
You can attach a controller to an effect's Bypass Mode parameter. This will not change the bypass mode but it'll act as an On/Off switch instead. This means that you can no longer edit the preset to engage or bypass that effect manually. The On/Off state is determined by the external controller, exclusively.
  
=Adjusting a modifier curve=
+
=Adjust a modifier curve=
 
* SCALE: applies “gain” to the modifier curve allowing the user to create steeper or shallower curves (vertical). Use this to optimize your pedal to act like, i.e., a Whammy.
 
* SCALE: applies “gain” to the modifier curve allowing the user to create steeper or shallower curves (vertical). Use this to optimize your pedal to act like, i.e., a Whammy.
 
* OFFSET: allows shifting the curve up or down the Y-axis.
 
* OFFSET: allows shifting the curve up or down the Y-axis.
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* Simulate a Log taper in a modifier menu: set "Mid" in the modifier menu to 20%. Adjust Slope to avoid the dead zone.  
 
* Simulate a Log taper in a modifier menu: set "Mid" in the modifier menu to 20%. Adjust Slope to avoid the dead zone.  
  
=Using controllers and modifiers in a DAW=
+
=Use controllers and modifiers in a DAW=
 
[http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-ii-discussion/77009-how-controlling-modifiers-axe-fx-ii-cubase-daw.html Read this.]
 
[http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-ii-discussion/77009-how-controlling-modifiers-axe-fx-ii-cubase-daw.html Read this.]
  

Revision as of 11:52, 29 May 2017

The information on this page supplements the official manuals.

Modifier menu.png

Controllers/modifiers: supported by which Fractal Audio products?

  • Axe-Fx II: yes.
  • FX8: yes.
  • AX8: yes.
  • MFC-101: yes (as a control device).

What are controllers and modifiers?

A controller generates control data. For example: an expression pedal, or an "on/off" switch. These are considered external controllers, because the data is generated from outside the main device. This also applies to a MIDI floor controller, when connected to the Fractal Audio device, software etc. External controllers can be connected using a pedal jack input(s), or USB or MIDI IN, or a floor controller. In I/O > CTRL you tell the device which external controller(s) you are using.

Internal controllers generate control data within the device: ADSR, Envelope, LFO, Pitch and Sequencer. Use the Control menu to adjust their settings. Note that the settings always apply to the current preset only.

And there are modifiers. A modifier, aka the modifier menu, sits between the controller and the parameters within an effect block controlled by the internal or external controller. So: the controller sends or generates control data, which are modified within the modifier menu, and then change parameters in effect blocks.

Here's an example: Wah. Go into Edit mode and you’ll see a block under the FREQ parameter. This means that the frequency parameter can be controlled by a controller. If it is being controlled by an internal or external controller, the block will be filled. Go to FREQ and press Enter. You’re now in the Modifier menu. Under Source you can select the internal or external controller you wish to attach, or select “None” to detach a controller. Start, End, Slope, Damping etc. are all modifier parameters. If you’d choose an internal controller like Envelope, you need to go to the global Control menu to configure its settings.

What are Scene Controllers?

Read this: Scenes.

See which controllers are being used

To see if and which controllers are used in a preset, go to Control > Mods. You can do the same in the software editor. Press Enter after selecting a controller in the Mods page to open its Modifier menu (except for "CONTROL" modifiers). Exit or Control will return from a modifier menu to the Mods menu.

MIDI CCs used for external controllers

External controllers 1-12 correspond with MIDI CCs 16 - 27.

External controllers 1 and 2 on the FX8 are assigned to Pedal 1 resp. Pedal 2 by default.

External controllers 1 - 4 on the AX8 are assigned to Pedal 1 - 4 by default.

Controllers/modifiers and Global Blocks

Modifier parameters and controller assignments are not part of Global Blocks in the Axe-Fx II. Use Recall Effect to copy controller and modifier settings between presets, or use Axe-Edit.

Controllers/modifiers and X/Y-switching

If a controller is assigned to a parameter, it always applies to both X and Y. It's not possible to have different modifier settings for X and Y, the architecture doesn't allow for this. source

Controllers/modifiers and CPU load

Assigning a controller to a parameter will increase CPU usage slightly.

If you move a pedal which is assigned to a controller, it'll send MIDI data and CPU usage will increase slightly.

Auto-Engage a controller

The Auto-Engage parameter makes it possible to engage a bypassed effect block automatically upon receiving data. Example: moving a expression pedal turns on the Wah block, like a optical Wah pedal.

You can make Auto-Engage rely on a change of position or speed.

Firmware release notes:
"Added speed (SPD) vs. position (POS) options to Modifier Auto-Engage parameters. The SPD options engage the effect when the controller changes more than 5% in any 20 ms interval (as before). The POS options engage the effect when the controller value is 5% greater than or less than the Off Value (depending upon whether the Off Value is less than or greater than 50% respectively). For example, setting the Auto-Engage to SLOW SPD will bypass the effect when the controller value is less than, say, 5% (default). To engage the effect the controller (foot pedal) must be moved more than 5% in a 20 ms interval. This requires that the pedal be moved somewhat rapidly and prevents the effect from engaging erroneously if the pedal droops. Setting the Auto-Engage to SPD POS will bypass the effect in the same manner but the effect will engage when the controller exceeds 10% (5% + 5%) regardless of the rate of change."

To turn an expression pedal into a virtual "toe switch": set Off Val to around 90% and Auto-Engage to Medium or Slow.

Alternative to Auto Engage. Bakerman added this: "Damping on the mix modifier can help with that. Around 200 ms would probably be a good starting point. It will still go to 100% mix very quickly, then once it's on you can spend a half-second or so at 0-5% while mix remains at 100%." source

Auto-engaging an effect will not be visible in the software editor for technical reasons. In other words, the block won't be un-bypassed, visually. To see the actual state of the block, refresh the editor.

Auto-engage in the Axe-Fx II can sometimes cause an audible hickup when it enables an effect (such as Whammy). There's an alternative, using the effect's Mix modifier settings:

  • Auto-engage = off, Min = 100, Max = 0, Start = 60, Mid = 0, End = 49,8, Slope = 100, Scale = 10, Offset = -100.

These settings pass the unmodified signal at heel-down position, and switch to 100% processed sound when moving the pedal, while retaining the expression pedal's regular functionality.

Note that this only works with effects where the heel-down position sounds like the unmodified direct tone, and which have a Mix parameter. This rules out Wah for example.

PC RST (Program Change Reset)

This parameter determines whether a modified parameter will be reset to its stored value when the preset is recalled, or if stays at its current value.

Example: you have an expression pedal assigned to a Level parameter. You set the pedal half-way and then switch presets. The PC RST setting determines whether the new preset recognizes the pedal's position and sets Level accordingly, or sets Level at the stored value, regardless of the pedal's position. If it's ON, the stored value will be used, until the pedal is moved.

Fractal Audio:
"The new value must be 5% different than the previous value, otherwise whatever value the pedal is at, will immediately override the "PC RST" value. The idea is that the parameter is set to a value when you recall the patch. You then have to move your pedal a bit (5%) to regain control of the parameter. This is done for two reasons:

  1. Many MIDI controllers send the state of their expression pedals along with the PC message. If the behavior weren't as described, the stored parameter value wouldn't stick.
  2. Many MIDI controllers have "noisy" expression pedals where the value tends to bounce around a little. This prevents the stored value from being lost."

Internal controllers: ADSR, Envelope, LFO, Pitch, Sequencer

The 5 internal controllers (ADSR, Envelope, LFO, Pitch, Sequencer) generate control data themselves.

  • LFO (2x): generates control signals in the form of a variety of familiar wave shapes or random signals. Each LFO outputs two signals, “A” and “B”.
  • Sequencer: generates control patterns by looping through 2–32 “stages.”
  • ADSR (2x): “envelope generators” with ATTACK, DECAY, SUSTAIN and RELEASE parameters (thus “ADSR”).
  • Envelope Follower: converts input levels to control signals, responding variably to your playing dynamics. In comparison, the ADSR envelope generator always creates the same control signal, but only triggers when you play hard enough. Use Envelope for example to create an Auto Wah: attach Envelpe to the Control parameter in the Wah block. Hit the note hard for much effect, hit it soft for less effect.
  • Pitch detector: analyzes the pitch of your playing and outputs a low value for low notes and a high value for high notes. The built-in Tuner depends on it.

Important: Envelope and Pitch only detect signals at the front input (Axe-Fx II and AX8) and Input 1 left rear (Axe-Fx II). The FX8 lets you adjust this for POST-only setups (Global menu).

Tutorial video by Simeon.

Lfo.png

Sett the initial state of a controller

Setting the initial state of an external controller is important in this scenario: you are using a controller (a pedal) to control the overall volume. To make sure that Volume is at 100% when the pedal is NOT connected, set the controller's initial state to 100% (I/O > MIDI > Init Ctrl Val).

The AX8 and FX8 detect when a pedal is not connected and set the controller's initial state at 100% automatically. The Init Ctrl value will be bypassed. Cliff: "Pedals are always running. If nothing is plugged in there is a pull-up resistor that pulls the pedal value to 100%." source

Attach an external controller to Bypass Mode

You can attach a controller to an effect's Bypass Mode parameter. This will not change the bypass mode but it'll act as an On/Off switch instead. This means that you can no longer edit the preset to engage or bypass that effect manually. The On/Off state is determined by the external controller, exclusively.

Adjust a modifier curve

  • SCALE: applies “gain” to the modifier curve allowing the user to create steeper or shallower curves (vertical). Use this to optimize your pedal to act like, i.e., a Whammy.
  • OFFSET: allows shifting the curve up or down the Y-axis.
  • SLOPE: introduces an "S"-shaped curve.

Here are some useful settings:

  • Simulate a Whammy, reaching an octave at toe-down, with extra "play" at the top: Pitch CONTROL; SCALE 1.089; OFFSET 10.0.
  • Make the Auto-Engage "bump" disppear (true bypass at heel-down): Pitch MIX; Start 40; Mid 100; End 55; Slope 0; Scale 10; Offset 100.
  • Make a modifier go straight from MIN to MAX at toe-down: START 0; MID 0; MAX 60; SLOPE 0; SCALE 10; OFFSET -100.
  • Simulate a Log taper in a modifier menu: set "Mid" in the modifier menu to 20%. Adjust Slope to avoid the dead zone.

Use controllers and modifiers in a DAW

Read this.

Unable to type Min/Max modifier values in the editor

The software editors do not allow typing values in the Min/Max fields in a modifier menu, for technical reasons.