MIDI

MIDI Introduction

MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a very powerful protocol that allows musical instruments as well as computers to communicate with each other.
This MIDI section of Axe-FX Wiki is intended to cover those features and uses as they apply to the Axe-FX Standard and Ultra by Fractal Audio.

MIDI would be primarily used for 6 purposes regarding the Axe-FX.

1. To upgrade firmware (operating system).
2. To have ability to backup and restore Axe-FX presets.
3. To edit Axe-FX presets via computer software editor.
4. To select presets via MIDI footswitch.
5. To control various individual functions via a MIDI controller.
6. To transfer settings and presets from one Axe to another.

Basic Principles: MIDI is laid out in banks. A bank is 128 presets (or patches) which would be numbered either 0 to 127 or 1 to 128.

The Axe-FX utilizes 3 Banks (labeled A/B/C) of 128 preset slots each for a total of 384 configured as follows (non-offset mode):

• Bank A ~ 000 to 127
• Bank B ~ 128 to 255
• Bank C ~ 256 to 383

Pre v5.00 Firmware ~ Banks A/B were supplied with duplicate, editable factory presets.
Post v5.00 Firmware ~ Banks A/B were unique presets for a total of 256 editable factory presets while Bank C had 128 empty preset slots for custom user creations.
Post v5.22 Firmware ~ 128 New Bank C presets introduced for a total of 384 Factory Supplied Presets. These reflect Ultra configurations with Standards most often quickly following suit.

Getting Started

Getting Started: The Axe-FX has 3 MIDI connections. In/Out/Thru. In/Out of the device are obvious. The Thru is a duplicate of the In signal allowing a 'daisy chain' of devices to be formed. MIDI cables are also necessary to get started with any MIDI purpose. Standard MIDI cables are 5-Pin DIN as shown above as the Out and Thru sockets. Notice the In socket is a 7-Pin DIN. It will accept either a 5 or 7 Pin Cable. Above the MIDI sockets on the Axe is a connector called Phantom Power In. You can plug your MIDI device power adapter into this plug and utilize Pins 6/7 of your MIDI cable to power your MIDI device. That way you have one clean cable run for both power and MIDI to your footswitch (for example).

Tip - Since you will be going from the Out of one device to the In of the other and the In of that device to the Out of the other it is easy to get lost in your connections. Try using 2 colors of MIDI cables (ex: red and black) and designate a 'go-to' device and a 'go-to' cable. Now by using 'Blackout' as a key word and the Axe as the key device the reference is black cable to Axe MIDI out.

2 colors and a keyword easily keep 4 connections straight.

MIDI Hardware

MIDI Interface - We need a MIDI interface to allow us to communicate with our computer and software.

MIDI Footswitch - This will usually be a 12 button footswitch. It will have 10 presets, a Bank Up and a Bank Down button. Primary purpose is for preset selection.

MIDI Controller - This is a powerful variable controller which uses Continuous Controller messages. Many times this type of device will have a volume or wah pedal (or both). It will also have various switch buttons which can be used as the MIDI footswitch above or to turn off/on individual effects such as chorus, reverb, flange, echo, etc. It is by far the more complex of the setups.

MIDI Editors

• Axe-FX Editor
• BOME's SendSX
• MidiOx
• Guitar Logic

CC numbers for the AxeFX Ultra

These are the default cc numbers, they can be changed.

CC#	Description
10	Input Volume
11	Out1 Volume
12	Out2 Volume
13	Bypass
14	Tap Tempo
15	Tuner
16	- (Pedal 1 is set to External 1)
17	- (Pedal 2 is set to External 2)
18	External 3
19	External 4
20	External 5
21	External 6
22	External 7
23	External 8
24	Looper1 Rec
25	Looper1 Play
26	Looper1 Once
27	Looper1 Dub
28	Looper1 Rev
29	Looper2 Rec
30	Looper2 Play
31	Looper2 Once
32	Looper2 Dub
33	Looper2 Rev
34	Global Bypass (all bypassed effects will toggle or change according to their bypass setting)
35	Volume Inc
36	Volume Dec
37	Amp1 Byp
38	Amp2 Byp
39	Cabinet1
40	Cabinet2
41	Chorus1
42	Chorus2
43	Compressor1
44	Compressor2
45	Crossover1
46	Crossover2
47	Delay1
48	Delay2
49	Drive1
50	Drive2
51	Enhancer1
52	Filter1
53	Filter2
54	Filter3
55	Filter4
56	Flanger1
57	Flanger2
58	Formant
59	FX Loop
60	Gate1
61	Gate2
62	Graphic EQ1
63	Graphic EQ2
64	Graphic EQ3
65	Graphic EQ4
66	Megatap
67	Multicomp1
68	Multicomp2
69	Multidly1
70	Multidly2
71	ParamEq1
72	ParamEq2
73	ParamEq3
74	ParamEq4
75	Phaser1
76	Phaser2
77	Pitch1
78	Pitch2
79	QChorus1
80	QChorus2
81	Resonator1
82	Resonator2
83	Reverb1
84	Reverb2
85	RingMod
86	Rotary1
87	Rotary2
88	Synth1
89	Synth2
90	Tremolo1
91	Tremolo2
92	Vocoder
93	Volume
94	Volume
95	Volume
96	Volume
97	Wah1 Byp
98	Wah2 Byp

MIDI Links

• MIDI Tips
• Firmware Install Notes
• How to Download/Upload Patches
• MIDI Basics:Part 1
• MIDI Basics:Part 2
• MIDI Basics:Part 3
• MIDI Basics:Part 4
• MIDI Manufacturers Association
• MIDI 101 by TweakHeadz Lab