Scenes

Available on which products

• Axe-Fx III, FM9, FM3: yes
• Axe-Fx II, AX8, FX8: yes

About scenes

Read about scenes in the official manuals.

The difference between presets, scenes and channels:

• Presets are like your traditional pedalboard.
• A Scene is like your traditional pedalboard at a particular moment, with effects on or off, and set to specific sounds.
• Channels are sets of settings on an effect pedal. There are four channels in most blocks, so four different sets of settings.

Scenes represent a single preset in 8 different states/variations. The routing (grid) is always the same across all scenes of a preset. There's no way to create, enable or disable scene, they are always there. But:

1. The engaged/bypassed Bypass state (AKA on/off) of each effect block can vary per scene.
2. The selected Channel of each block can vary per scene.
3. Each scene can have its own output level setting in the Output block.
4. A limited number of Scene controllers allow parameter values to change between scenes.
5. A scene can send MIDI commands through the Scene MIDI block.
6. Control Switches can be set per scene.
7. Scenes have individual titles.

All in all, scenes are similar to an advanced switching system for a traditional pedalboard or 19" rack.

Spillover of delay and reverb trails is preserved better when switching between scenes than when switching presets.

The hardware display and the switch LED on compatible foot controllers show the currently active scene.

Warning: Scenes 2 - 7 may have all effect blocks engaged initially. This is by design. Watch out for loud bursts.

Scenes and channels

An effect's channel is set per scene. For example, Delay in scene 1 can be set to channel A, while the same Delay in scene 2 is set to channel B. Note that using different types of Delay or Reverb in each state may impact spillover. Of course, you can still use two instances of effect blocks (instead or in addition to channels) in your presets. This lets you bypass/engage each instance per scene at the expense of CPU.

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[1] Channels can be thought of as a preset for an individual block. For example, you can think of the Delay block as being a stand-alone delay pedal (or rackmount processor) with four presets. Scenes store the bypass state and channel for each block. By using scenes and channels you can use a single preset for an entire song, an entire set or even the entire show. Since the routing doesn't need to change things switch fast and smooth. When switching presets the processor has to assume the routing might have changed and therefore has to clear all the buffers, mute the audio, etc. which takes time and interrupts the audio.

Zoomed display mode

The FM3 and FM9 provide a zoomed display mode, where all 8 scenes are displayed in a large font for easy viewing.

Turn the B knob on the Home screen to switch between display modes.

In zoomed mode, use the cursor keys to switch between scenes. Use the Value Wheel and press Enter to switch presets. The zoomed display mode is not available on the Axe-Fx III, currently.

Managing scenes

Copy, paste, swap

Scenes can NOT be copied and pasted between different presets. They can only be copied and pasted within the same preset.

To copy-and-paste a scene or swap scenes on the Axe-Fx III, FM9 and FM3 hardware, use Layout > Tools. Note that this does NOT copy the scene's name, which must be done separately in the Store menu.

When using the editor to copy and paste scenes, the scene name is also included as well, as the Scene controllers values.

The Scene Manager in the editor makes configuring scenes easy.

Default scene

Some devices let you specify which scene should be loaded upon loading a preset. This applies to switching presets on the hardware only, not to loading presets in the editor.

Axe-Fx III, FM9, FM3

This is an option in the Global Settings menu. When set to As Saved (default), the scene selected when recalling a preset is the scene that was active when the preset was saved. When set to a particular scene value, that scene will always be selected when a preset is recalled.

Axe-Fx II 

Default scene is always 1. This can't be changed.

FX8, AX8 

You can specify the default behavior in the Global Settings menu, or per preset.

Scene names

Scenes on the Axe-Fx III, FM9 and FM3 can have individual names. The names are displayed on the hardware GUI, FC controllers and compatible controllers, and can be edited on the hardware and in the editor. The names can be edited on the hardware in the Store menu. Copy-and-paste is available.

The Axe-Fx II, AX8 and FX8 do not support customizable scene names.

Modifiers and controllers

Modifier settings and controller settings are the same in every scene.

Scene levels

You can adjust the output level of each scene in the Output block and adjust and save it with the the Vol Inc and Vol Dec commands.

For more information see:

• Output block
• Preset levels

Switching scenes

Axe-Fx III:

• Use NAV up/down buttons on the Home screen.
• Use soft knob A in certain screens.
• Use an FC controller, another type of foot controller or a directly connected switch.
• Use MIDI (assign CCs in the MIDI/Remote menu).
• Use the editor.
• Use MIDI PC Mapping.

To switch scenes via SysEx, read this.

The Axe-Fx III lets you map MIDI commands to scene switching.

FM3 and FM9:

• Use NAV up/down buttons on the Home screen.
• Use soft knob A in certain screens.
• Use an onboard switch.
• Use an FC controller.
• Use MIDI.
• Use the editor.
• Use MIDI PC Mapping.

The FM3 and FM9 let you map MIDI commands to scene switching.

When Zoomed to the large display mode for the FM3 and FM9, use the cursor keys to switch between scenes and use the Value Wheel then press Enter to switch presets.

Axe-Fx II:

• Use Quick Control knob A to select a scene within the current preset in the Recall screen.
• I/O > Mapping on the Axe-Fx II provides a Map To Scene parameter. This makes it possible to send a MIDI PC message to select a scene within a preset. After configuring the mapping, don't forget to set Mapping to Custom to activate it.
• Pedal jack: connect a momentary switch to the rear of the unit. In I/O > CTRL set Scene Increment to Pedal. In I/O > Pedal set Pedal Type to Latching.

MFC-101:

• The MFC-101 lets you assign switches to scenes. You can assign a switch to each scene, increment of decrement scenes, or toggle between scenes 1 and 2. To turn the bottom row of the MFC-101 into scenes switches, set Bank Size to 0.

AX8 and FX8:

• Press the assigned Scene switch.
• Press the assigned Single or Sticky Scene switch and press the scene number switch.
• On the AX8 Turn the C knob.

MIDI controller:

• Assign a switch to the MIDI CC for Scene Select with values 0 to 7 to select scene 1 to 8 within the current preset. Values higher than 7 also select scene 8. Values higher than 63 will step through the scenes, wrapping at the limits. MIDI CCs can also be used to Increment or Decrement the current scene. If you don't specify a value, the switch will switch between scene 1 and 8. The default MIDI CC for scene selection is 34 (the Axe-Fx III lets you specify the CC). This can be changed..

Edited LED

A parameter in the Global Settings menu determines if switching scenes will light the Edited light on the hardware and in the editor.

If this is enabled, AND the system setting Prompt On Edited Preset Change is also enabled, switching between presets using the FC controller is limited because the hardware will ask for confirmation first each time.

Audio gaps

As of firmware 23 for the Axe-Fx III (and corresponding FM3 and FM9 firmware), switching scenes is gapless, depending on the global parameter Gapless Changes and possibly other adjustments.

For more information, read:

• Switching between amps
• Presets: audio gaps
• Channels: audio gaps

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[2] There are caveats:

1. If presets are using a lot of CPU then the gapless switching may not work as there is not enough CPU available.
2. If presets are "stale" (saved under an older revision) then gapless switching may not work until the presets are saved. This is because the preset is being updated during the switchover.
3. If you switch presets rapidly you may get a gap because a lot of stuff goes on in the background after switching presets to get ready for the next preset change. If you switch before these background tasks are completed then you'll get a gap. It can take a few seconds for the tasks to complete.

Scene Revert

The current engaged or bypassed bypass states and channels of effect blocks are not carried over from the current scene to another one dynamically, unless Scene Ignore is being used (see below). The state and channel are pre-programmed per scene.

There's an exception for the situation where you return to a previously recalled scene. By default, the device remembers which block states were changed by the player in a scene. When you switch to another scene and then return to the previous scene without changing presets, the device will recall the state of the effect blocks as they were when switching away from that scene.

However, if you prefer to always recall a scene in its initial stored state (recalling blocks in their saved states), turn on the parameter Scene Revert in the MIDI/Remote menu.

Be aware that Scene Revert applies only to scene switching via MIDI or an FC controller. It has no effect when switching scenes on the hardware itself or in the editor.

Scene Revert doesn't work when PC Mapping is enabled in the MIDI/Remote menu.

Scene Ignore

The Scene Ignore parameter makes sure that the current block channel of an effect block is carried over to the next scene.

Firmware 19.05 for the Axe-Fx III and corresponding FM3 and FM9 firmware:

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Added “Scene Ignore” to most blocks. When set to ON, Scene Ignore instructs the block to ignore scene changes. Scene Ignore is a per-channel parameter. This allows turning Scene Ignore to OFF on one or more channels which will then allow a scene change to set the block to a desired state if the block is on that channel.

Here's an example of using this parameter which allows an amp type to remain unaffected when switching scenes:

• Scene 1 is saved with Amp set to channel A
• Scene 2 is saved with Amp set to channel B
• Scene 3 is saved with Amp set to channel C
• Scene 4 is saved with Amp set to channel D

When Amp Channel A is set to Scene Ignore = ON, switching from scene 1 to scene 2, 3 or 4 will keep the Amp set to channel A.

The Scene Ignore process ends when switching the Amp to another channel. So when using Scene Ignore with amp channels, you'll probably reserve a foot switch for switching amp channels.

Tip: The Scene Ignore parameter can be added to a Performance Page.

See Switching between guitars for more information.

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[3] Axe-Fx III firmware 19.05 introduced Scene Ignore. This feature is designed to allow more flexible switching based on the operation of certain multi-component analog rigs. With Scene Ignore enabled, a block operates outside of the usual automatic control by scenes. A block with Scene Ignore ON can still be bypassed/engaged or change channels when you use a footswitch, or any other means of "manual" control—just like a fully independent pedal or amp could be.

Scene Ignore is a per-channel setting found in many blocks. The fact that it is "per-channel" allows a “best of both worlds” approach. Some channels can be set to respond to scene changes while others ignore them. If this idea seems tricky, think of it as a radio control receiver. Once you select any channel where Scene Ignore is on, the radio is switched off and the block is no longer “listening” to scenes. No scene can then take control of the block, regardless of other settings—but YOU can, using a footswitch, etc.

Example: Channels A, B, and C of a drive block have Scene Ignore turned OFF. They work in the classic manner, and you can program your scenes to control bypass/engage and change channel. Meanwhile, channel D has Scene Ignore ON. If any scene selects Channel D (or if you switch to D using a footswitch or any other means) the block will stop responding to further scene commands. The “radio” is off. In this state, the block can still be switched manually using FC footswitches, MIDI, etc.—just like a fully independent pedal or amp could be. If you manually switch the block back to A,B, or C where Scene Ignore is OFF, it will again begin to “listen” to scene instructions.

If you want a mixed scenario with Scene Ignore sometimes ON and sometimes OFF, you’ll need a footswitch or some other way to change the channel of your block back to a channel that does not ignore scenes. Extending the example above, this might be an FC footswitch. TAP is set to Bypass the Drive, and HOLD is set to Toggle it between Channels A and D. Toggle to A for scene control. Toggle to D for manual control. Tap on or off at will.

TIP: If you always want full scene Independence, a good safeguard is to turn Scene Ignore to ON in every channel. Similarly, if you want a block to be controlled only by scenes, make sure that Scene Ignore is OFF for every one of that block's channels. If not, one of them may be selected by a scene and cause that block to stop responding to subsequent scene changes.

Find the Scene Ignore option in the Edit menu for most blocks.

Send MIDI

Depending on the hardware, switching scenes can also initiate MIDI communication.

Read Scene MIDI block for more information.

FC: automatically display scenes after switching presets

You can configure an FC controller, the FM3 and FM9 to automatically display scenes after switching presets. In the PRESETS layout, add a layout link from the foot switch for that scene to the SCENES layout. When you select the preset, the modeler will automatically switch to display the scenes. Repeat as necessary for other preset switches.

Scene controllers

Number of scene controllers:

• Axe-Fx III, FM9, FM3: 4
• Axe-Fx II, AX8, FX8: 2

Parameter values in effect blocks are the same across all scenes. However, there's a limited number of Scene controllers which allow parameter values to be set per scene. Just like regular internal and external controllers, you can assign a Scene controller to a modifiable parameter. The values are set per scene in the Controllers > Scene Controllers menu.

Note: The values in Controllers > Scene always relate to the parameter it controls. For example, when attaching a scene controller to Delay Feedback, be aware that this parameter ranges from -100 to 100. This means that setting the controller at 0% sets feedback at -100, not at 0.

If you use Min and Max in the modifier menu, the Scene Controller percentages will be proportional to that specified range.

Some examples for using Scene Controllers are:

• Attach Scene Controller 1 to Reverb Mix. It might have a value of 10% in scene 1, and 20% in scene 2. This would change the Reverb mix per scene.
• Attach a Scene Controller to Gain or Input Trim in the Amp block, allowing you to vary the amount of amp gain per scene.
• Make a Scene Controller change the pitch of a note in the Synth or Pitch block per scene.
• Crossfade sounds.

The Owner's Manual has a tutorial on Scene controllers.

For preset examples, search the Factory presets page for scene controller.

More control with scenes

• Combine multiple existing presets into a single preset with scenes.
• Use scenes instead of the MFC-101's Song Mode, to provide all sounds for a song in a single preset.
• Use two Amp blocks and if necessary two Cab blocks for flexibility.
• Configure different channels for effect blocks and set these per scene.
• Decrease Bank Size on the MFC-101 to have more IA switches on your MFC-101 available for scene switching.
• Use the Alternate Preset functionality on the MFC-101 to get access to multiple presets (with scenes) through a single preset switch.
• Create a Lead scene for each preset by adding a delay and drive block, and increasing the output level of the scene (IN/GTE) and saving the scene with the blocks engaged.
• Create a scene where only the Amp and Cab blocks in the routing are engaged and dedicate an IA switch to it. This switch lets you return to your basic tone at all times. Think of it as a Panic switch.
• When using various guitars, the use of scenes enables you to optimize the preset's output level for each guitar. Also, you can bypass/engage stuff like a PEQ in each scene etc. for even more control.

See Wicked Wiki: Preset/Scene Investigation for more information.