Drive
The drive block replicates the effect of classic “stomp boxes”. They range from sublime to intense. Use caution when putting a drive before a high-gain amp as excessive noise and squealing may occur. Drives work best before low and medium gain amps.
Parameters
- TYPE - Selects the type of drive effect. The fuzz types are based on a hard-clipping distortion and give a raspy sound. The overdrive (OD) types are based on a cold-cathode tube model and give a warm, mellow overdrive tone. The boost types don’t distort much unless the drive is set quite high and are primarily tone-shaping and overdrive devices. The distortion types (dist) are based on a variety of tube and solid-state models and give classic distortion tones. The following types are available:
- Rat Dist - Based on a high-gain, raspy fuzz good for searing lead work.
- Pi Fuzz - A more mellow but fuzzy distortion sound
- Tube OD - A fairly neutral distortion sound with just a bit of low-frequency roll-off.
- Super OD - Another Japanese distortion, this model is similar to the T808 model but with more highs and a slightly different tone control circuit.
- Treb Boost - A bright, trebly sound good for overdriving medium gain amps. Particularly effective on darker amps like Class A. This type has a LOT of treble boost and can easily cause pickup squeal when used with a high-gain amp type.
- Mid Boost - A custom mid-boost overdrive.
- T808 OD - A screaming distortion sound good for overdriving low gain amps. Based on the legendary Japanese pedal used by many famous artists.
- Fat Rat - A thick, medium gain distortion sound with a low-midrange emphasis.
- T808 Mod - Based on a “modified” Tube Dist type. This type captures the most popular mods done to the famed Japanese distortion pedal. Sounds great as a clean boost in front of a low gain amp with the drive turned down and the level turned up.
- Octv Dist - An octave distortion effect. This produces an octave above the note you are playing. For best results use your neck pickup and constrain your playing to the 12th fret and above.
- Plus Dist - Controls can be set to produce low-volume, controllable distortion or increased to achieve a warm, tube overdrive sound. Set to maximum, its pronounced fuzztone combines with long sustain.
- Hard Fuzz - Hard-clipping 60’s-style fuzz.
- FET Boost - Clean boost, great for a more musical level shift than a raw volume increase.
- Tape Dist - Simulates distorion as would be encountered when overdriving a studio reel-to-reel tape recorder.
- Full OD - Modeled after the modern day classic light OD. Great for a clean boost.
- Blues OD - Simulates the British pedal. A light OD w/ a break up reminiscent of early non-master volume pedals.
- Shred Dist - Simulates the British pedal w/ tons of gain and a huge mid-scoop. The original has a "contour" control which allows you to vary the width of the scoop. The model models the scoop with the contour control set halfway.
- DRIVE - Sets the input drive level.
- TONE - Controls the tone of the effect.
- LEVEL - Sets the output level of the block
- BYP MODE - Selects the bypass mode of the block.
List of drive simulations
This is a list of what the drive pedals are believed to be: Here's a list of all Drive models in the Axe-Fx. You can also find a list on the Fractal Audio website.
| Axe-Fx drive type | Description |
|---|---|
| Rat Dist | ProCo Rat |
| Pi Fuzz | Electro-Harmonix Big Muff Pi |
| Tube Drive | Chandler Tube Driver, neutral distortion with mild low roll-off |
| Super OD | Boss SD-1 |
| Treb Boost | Dallas Rangemaster |
| Mid Boost | Custom drive with steep mid boost |
| T808 OD | Ibanez Tubescreamer TS-9 |
| Fat Rat | Custom. Similar to Rat, thicker distortion with a low-mid boost |
| T808 Mod | Based on popular TS-9 mods |
| Octv Dist | Tycobrahae Octavia |
| Plus Dist | MXR Plus Dist (MXR Distortion +) |
| Hard Fuzz | Hard-clipping 60’s-style fuzz |
| FET Boost | A clean boost with tone controls. Like the Keeley Katana or ZVex Super Hard-On |
| Tape Dist | Studio reel-to-reel tape distortion |
| Full OD | Fulltone FullDrive 2 |
| Blues OD | Marshall BluesBreaker |
| Shred Dist | Marshall ShredMaster |
| M-Zone Dist | Boss Metal Zone |
| BB Pre (firmware 9.01) | Xotic BB preamp |
| Face Fuzz (firmware 10.x) | Dallas Arbiter Fuzz Face. Used by Jimi Hendrix |
| Master Fuzz (firmware 10.x) | Maestro FZ-1 Fuzztone. Used in I can't get no satisfaction by the Rolling Stones |
