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| | ==Axe-Fx Features== | | ==Axe-Fx Features== |
| − | ===What amps does the Axe-Fx simulate?===
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| − | See the [[List of amp simulations]]
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| − | ===What mics does the Axe-Fx simulate?=== | + | ===What is Axe-Edit=== |
| − | See the [[Description of Mic Models]]
| + | Axe-Edit is a free software product created by Fractal Audio Systems for programming the Axe-FX (Ultra or Standard) connected to a PC or Mac via MIDI. Currently, Axe-Edit is in BETA, which means that it is a work in progress which has been deemed suitable for sharing with the public for testing, review, and |
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| − | ===What drive pedals does the Axe-Fx simulate?===
| + | ===Where do I find the current version of Axe-Edit=== |
| − | See the [[Description of drive models]]
| + | The current version of Axe-Edit can be found at the Fractal Audio Systems web site: |
| − | | + | http://www.fractalaudio.com/products-axe-edit.html |
| − | ===What effects does the Axe-Fx offer?===
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| − | See the [[Feature comparison]]
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| − | | |
| − | ===How does the Spillover work on the Axe-Fx?===
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| − | See [[Spillover]]
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| − | | |
| − | ===What poweramp is used for the Brit pre Model?===
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| − | The preamp part is a JMP-1. The power amp is from the JCM800.
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| − | | |
| − | ===What are the frequencies and Q of the Global EQ?===
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| − | See the [[Global parameters]]
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| − | | |
| − | ===What is the Boost parameter on the Amp block and what exactly does it do?===
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| − | The amp boost is just a 12 dB boost right at the start of the amp block. It's the exactly the same as using the filter block set to null with the level set to +12db.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Can I control the amp block parameters like the boost switch, Eq, or drive parameter w/ MIDI CCs?===
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| − | | |
| − | Yes, you can control the drive parameter in the effects block. No, you can not control the boost switch or EQ settings.
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| − | The solution for the boost switch is to use the filter block and set the type to NULL. The filter block has a gain range of -20 to +20dB expressely so that you can use it as a gain control into the amp block. The boost switch adds +12db of gain, set the filter level to +12db to match.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Does the master volume in the amp block effect the tone?===
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| − | Yes, in fact for clean tones the Drive control should be set fairly low and the Master set very high. On a real "Blackface", for instance, the Master is essentially maxed since that amp has no master volume. A Blackface typically achieves full power at around 10-11 o'clock on the volume (Drive). It's also insanely loud. Beyond that the everything starts to saturate and clip.
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| − | | |
| − | If you set the Master low and the drive high, for clean tones, the low end will tend to get muddy. Good cleans are obtained with little, if any, preamp distortion and a nice amount of power amp distortion. Power amp distortion has a much different character and tends to be glassy and bouncy. Preamp distortion is rougher and more compressed.
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| − | | |
| − | For more detailed information see the [[Amp_simulator]]
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| − | | |
| − | ===Where should the master volume be set to emulate amps w/o a master volume?=== | |
| − | The master volume is such that near maximum (4:00 or so) is equivalent if the modeled amp had no master volume. As always use your ears to fine-tune.
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| − | | |
| − | ===When controlling the db levels of a block with an expression pedal, what is the formula for determing what percentage relates to what db level?===
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| − | The range of level in most effects blocks is 63.5db(-50db+13.5db).
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| − | | |
| − | 78.7% should be 0db (50/63.5)
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| − | | |
| − | -20db should = 47.2%(30/63.5)
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| − | | |
| − | 1db= about 1.57%
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| − | | |
| − | ===How do I get a pedal switch boost effect from the Axe-Fx?===
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| − | {{:Boost}}
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| − | | |
| − | ===How can I get more than 4 taps from the Quadtap multidelay?===
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| − | Put 2 Quadtap multidelays in parallel.
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| − | | |
| − | ===How do I set the high and low cut in the multidelay?===
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| − | {{:Setting high and low cut in the multidelay}}
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| − | | |
| − | ===How do I get rid of zipper noise from my expression pedal?===
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| − | {{:Eliminating zipper noise}}
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| − | | |
| − | ===What does the warmth parameter do in the amp block?===
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| − | Warmth models the "leakage inductance" of the output transformer. Higher values equate to higher leakage inductance. The net effect is a warming of the sound since the highs are attenuated.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Why is the Save to Flash feature only on the Standard and not the Ultra===
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| − | The Ultra doesn't have that feature because all the extra effects use up more FLASH memory space so there isn't enough space left to save the presets in FLASH.
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| − | | |
| − | ==Axe-Fx Technical Questions==
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| − | | |
| − | ===Will the Axe-Fx work in both Europe and the United States?===
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| − | Yes - the Axe has universal power input, 100-240VAC, 50-60Hz.
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| − | ===What is the processing latency of the Axe-Fx?===
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| − | The processing latency is constant and very short. That was a design goal. It is around 600 microseconds IIRC. That's equivalent to being only 8 inches further away from the speakers. | |
| − | One thing many manufacturers do is use fairly large block sizes to keep function overhead from wasting clock cycles. The block size in the Axe-Fx is small which wastes some clock cycles but keeps latency down.
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| − | | |
| − | The total latency is around 1 ms. There is 600us processing latency plus an additonal 400us of converter latency. If you use the loop you get another 400 us due to another codec in the chain.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Does the Axe FX have an issue with phantom power being turned on at the mixing board?===
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| − | No. There's blocking capacitors on the outputs. The outputs are bypassed with high-quality film types, which is something no one does anymore for cost reasons.
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| − | | |
| − | ===What is the patch change time for the Axe-Fx?===
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| − | Preset switching time is around 20-25 ms with delay spillover off. With delay spillover on, it's around 25-30 ms.
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| − | | |
| − | ===What is the backup battery for the Axe-Fx?===
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| − | Standard CR2450 lithium battery.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Do the output knobs on the front have any influence on the level of the digital out?===
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| − | No
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| − | | |
| − | ===What is the difference in processor speed and memory between Ultra and Standard?===
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| − | 20% faster. 6x the memory.
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| − | | |
| − | ===My Axe-FX has duplicate factory preset patches in banks A and B and bank C is empty. Is this right? ===
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| − | This was true some firmware versions ago.
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| − | Currently the Standard has two banks (A & B) filled with different factory presets while the third bank (C) is empty.
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| − | Since version 2.23 the Ultra has also Bank C filled with factory presets.
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| − | You can download the factory presets here :
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| − | '''Standard''' :
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| − | http://www.fractalaudio.com/Documents/Version6_00/Bank_A.syx
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| − | http://www.fractalaudio.com/Documents/Version6_00/Bank_B.syx
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| − | | |
| − | '''Ultra''' :
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| − | http://www.fractalaudio.com/Documents/Version7_00/Ultra_BankA.syx
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| − | http://www.fractalaudio.com/Documents/Version7_00/Ultra_BankB.syx
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| − | http://www.fractalaudio.com/Documents/Version7_00/Ultra_BankC.syx
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| − | Many of the Ultra presets may also work on the Standard and vice versa. Interchanging them will not harm your Axe-Fx.
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| − | ===Which is more transparent the Front or Rear inputs?===
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| − | Neither input is more "transparent" than the other. The front input is optimized for the signal level of an electric guitar. The rear inputs are line-level and work best with line-level equipment.
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| − | The front input also has hardware processing to lower the perceived noise floor. This processing requires additional software processing. By switching the input selector to rear you defeat the software processing and distort the frequency response of anything plugged into the front greatly.
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| − | | |
| − | Usually the front input will sound best with an instrument due to the greater gain and lower perceived noise floor. But you MUST match the input selector to the actual input you are using.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Will the Mono output settings automatically disable all enhancers and change all stereo effects so that I get a mono sign with no phase issues and other unwanted results?===
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| − | No. Using the Mono '''L->R''' output selection ought to take care of most phase issues; however, the mono output settings will not change any other parameters. Stereo effects may still not transfer to mono as intended. As with everything, use your ears and test.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Can the Axe-Fx's digital I/O run at 44.1 kHz, or any values other than 48 kHz?===
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| − | | |
| − | No, it's 48 kHz only. The rationale is that software on a computer could do a better job resampling than a hardware chip.
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| − | The reason that the native sampling rate is fixed was a hardware design choice. By placing the A/D and D/A clock very close to the converters and using a fixed, dedicated clock you get much better performance since there's much less clock jitter. As soon as you start putting a clock through logic circuitry and routing it all over the place you introduce jitter and the converter performance degrades.
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| − | | |
| − | ==Firmware Questions==
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| − | ===How do you update the firmware?===
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| − | See [[Firmware install notes]]
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| − | ===Where can I get the latest firmware?===
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| − | There are several places where the latest firmware notices are updated by Fractal Audio Systems and the Axe-Fx community.
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| − | *The actual files are most often updated on Fractal Audio's web site in the [http://www.fractalaudio.com/Documents/?M=D Documents subfolder] (this link sorts by date and will show the most recent files first) and in a folder named after the current major version (i.e. "Version6_00" or "Version7_00").
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| − | *Initial notification of new firmware is usually posted to the [http://www.fractalaudio.com/forum/ Axe-Fx forums] by Fractal Audio Systems, but the community will also often post notification of the new firmware.
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| − | *This Axe-Fx Wiki is one of the first places that is updated. You can find the links on the Wiki's main sidebar or on the [[Main Page|front page]].
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| − | *Also on the Axe-Fx forums, there is a [http://www.fractalaudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=338 "Fractal Audio Systems NEWS" thread] to which you can subscribe to be notified of new firmware, products, or other major events. This is the best way to be quickly notified of new updates from Fractal if you aren't planning on following the activity of the community.
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| − | *Last, but not least, G66.eu, the European Axe-Fx distributor, has an excellent [http://www.g66.eu/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=25&Itemid=108 Downloads] page with the latest firmware, banks, and even multi-lingual versions of the manual.
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| − | | |
| − | ===What are the differences in firmware revisions?===
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| − | See [[Firmware history]]
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| − | | |
| − | The firmware versions for the Standard and the Ultra are not always in sync. Sometimes there is a newer version available for the Ultra and not the Standard, and sometimes there is a newer version available for the Standard and not the Ultra.
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| − | | |
| − | ===Do I have to update/send/download presets when I download a new firmware?===
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| − | In most cases, no!
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| − | Firmware updates and preset banks are separate files. If you update/send/download a new preset [[Bank|bank]] to the Axe-Fx you will overwrite any changes you made to the existing presets in that bank of your Axe-Fx.
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| − | However, firmware updates may change the way certain parameters behave, so manual preset updates are sometimes suggested. Always check the [[Firmware history]] for details on new parameters or updates to parameters that already exist.
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| − | Sometimes the factory presets are updated. These can be found on Fractal Audio's web site in the [http://www.fractalaudio.com/Documents/?M=D Documents subfolder] as individual bank files. Remember to save/backup your custom presets to your computer before updating/sending/downloading the new banks to your Axe-Fx.
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| − | | |
| − | ==Operational Questions==
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| − | ===How do I upload or download patches to the axe-fx===
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| − | Use the [http://axechange.net/editorbeta.aspx Axe-Fx editor] or <BR />
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| − | See [[How to download/upload patches]]
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| − | | |
| − | ===Is there anyway to fast forward through presets using the dial?===
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| − | Yes, turning the dial quickly will fast-forward thru the presets. Turning it slowly you will feel the knob click for each preset change. The key is to not spin it too fast. If you spin the knob too quickly the dial switches will bounce and reject the data. Maintain an even rotation rate and the "acceleration" will engage and it will fast-forward. There's a new algorithm available for the rotary encoder logic that improves the behavior of the dial which comes by default on newer built units. If you have the old algorithm, you can send it to Fractal Audio to install the new one. Units shipped after August 2007 all have the newer algorithm.
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| − | | |
| − | ==Fractal Audio Questions==
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| − | ===Who is Cliff Chase?===
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| − | See [http://www.musicgearsource.com/fractal.html Cliff Chase interview]
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| − | | |
| − | == Miscellaneous==
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| − | ===I hear people talking about what speakers they use and I see the term FRFR. What is FRFR?===
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| − | Quote godprobe:FRFR means "full range, flat response"
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| − | | |
| − | and that (ideally) means... 20Hz - 20kHz, ruler flat... all frequencies within the 20 to 20 range are replicated exactly as they're sent in.
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| − | that's the goal of an FRFR speaker... represent the sound going into it as accurately as possible.
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| − | this is in contrast to guitar cabinets and other speakers that "color" the sound dramatically... they may boost or cut lows, mids, or highs and may not cover the full frequency spectrum in the first place
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| | + | ===Is there a User Guide for the beta?=== |
| | + | http://www.fractalaudio.com/Documents/Axe-Edit_Beta_9_User_Guide.pdf |
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| | [[Category:FAQ]] | | [[Category:FAQ]] |
