Always consult the official Owners Manuals first!
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Difference between revisions of "Fractal-Bot"

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Read this: [[Firmware]]
 
Read this: [[Firmware]]
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n some case Fractal-Bot needs to operate in a special mode. Press CTRL (Windows) or Command (Mac), and click the dropdown menu to reveal and select the hidden “Utility” option. Then select the output port.
  
 
=Hardware-specific features=
 
=Hardware-specific features=

Revision as of 20:56, 18 April 2019

Fractal-Bot.png

What is Fractal-Bot

Fractal-Bot is a simple and free utility, created by Fractal Audio, that lets you easily transfer data to and from your Fractal Audio device. It's not an editor.

You can use Fractal-Bot to:

  • upgrade the firmware of the processor or foot controller
  • send and retrieve single presets or preset banks
  • send and retrieve single cabs or cab banks
  • send and retrieve system data
  • create and restore backups of all system data
  • fix a "bricked" device

Download the latest version of Fractal-Bot (Windows, OS X)

Read the manual

Visit the discussion forum

Connecting Fractal-Bot

Axe-Fx III — USB. When using a Windows computer, you need to install Fractal Audio's USB driver first. The Axe-Fx III doesn't require a driver for Mac computers

Axe-Fx II — USB or MIDI. You need to install Fractal Audio's USB drivers first. You can use the Axe-Fx II as a MIDI interface

FX8 — USB. No driver required

AX8 — USB. No driver required

MFC-101 — MIDI. Use a MIDI interface or use the Axe-Fx II's USB Adapter Mode

FC controllers — FASLINK II connection between FC controller and Axe-Fx III

Using Fractal-Bot to update firmware

Read this: Firmware

n some case Fractal-Bot needs to operate in a special mode. Press CTRL (Windows) or Command (Mac), and click the dropdown menu to reveal and select the hidden “Utility” option. Then select the output port.

Hardware-specific features

Axe-Fx III

Save and restore presets and user cabs, and to create a backup of system data, including Global blocks and FC Controllers configuration.

Axe-Fx II

Save and restore presets and user cabs, and to create a backup of system data, including Global blocks.

If you use Global Blocks in your presets, DO NOT FORGET to always backup the System data area as well. A backup of your presets alone does not contain the global block data.

Axe-Fx II Mk I or Mk II – You can also backup banks of presets and system data to onboard memory. You can restore a single preset from onboard memory or the onboard factory presets using “Fetch” in the Utility menu

XL and XL+ – Saving presets to onboard memory is not possible, but a backup of system data can be stored in onboard memory

"The XL does not have a backup to FLASH function because the presets are all in FLASH. If the battery dies you don't lose your presets so there is no need to back them up. The system data IS battery-backed and the backup function saves system data to FLASH." source

User cabs:

Axe-Fx II Mk I and Mk II – User cabs 0-49 are included in a system backup. Cabs 50 and up are saved in a different area of memory and are not saved or restored when doing a system dump/restore, use Fractal-Bot to save these separately

Axe-Fx II XL and XL+ – User cabs are not included in a system backup. Use Fractal-Bot to back these up

Want to speed up the backup process? Scroll to an empty preset slot before performing the backup.

Wicked Wiki thread

AX8

Save and restore presets and user cabs.

FX8

Save and restore presets.

FC controllers

Save the FC configuration data by saving the system data of Axe-Fx III.

MFC-101

Save and restore the MFC-101 configuration. This requires the use of a USB-to-MIDI-interface. The Axe-Fx II in USB Adapter Mode can be used as an interface, MIDI cables and a power supply are still required. Follow the instructions in Fractal-Bot.

The Axe-Fx III does not support USB Adapter Mode.

Troubleshooting

Don't run Fractal-Bot and a software editor at the same time

Don't run Fractal-Bot and a software editor at the same time because this may cause conflicts.

Browse button doesn't work

If the Browse button doesn't work, exit Fractal-Bot, delete the file "Fractal-Bot.settings" and restart.

Communication issues

  • Try another USB cable
  • Do not use cable extenders or USB hubs
  • Try another USB port on the computer
  • Check for corrupt IRs or presets. Even empty slots may be corrupt (clear them using the software editor)
  • Adjust the MIDI Buffer Delay