Firmware history

Axe-Fx Firmware Release Notes

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1.28

Production release.

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1.31

Added "Crystal" pitch shifter mode. This mode allows longer splice times and other features such as reverse sampling and multiple feedback options. This mode is particularly suited to special effects. Also, an input gain control was added to allow swell effects, etc. Because of this any old presets that use the pitch block should be checked as the input gain will probably be set to less than 1. Adjust the gain if necessary and save the preset.

Enhanced capabilities of mixer block. The mixer block now provides pan controls and a stereo/mono switch. By using the mono mode and the pan controls, one can fade between two amps, for example, using the pan controls.

Added "Auto Delay Unbypass" feature. This feature, accessed from the Tempo menu, allows the user to automatically unbypass the delay and multitap delay blocks automatically whenever new tempo is received. The intended use is to recall a preset with the delay in a bypassed state. When a tempo is tapped in the delay block will go to the active state. For best results be sure to set the bypass mode of the delay block to "Mute In" to avoid glitching as the time is changed.

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1.32

NOTE: Many new features and parameters have been added for this revision. As such any presets saved under previous revisions may require some adjustments to be compatible with the new revision. Most importantly, the new Modifier parameters will need to be set for any presets that use Modifiers on their effect parameters. Only install this version when you have the time to go through your presets and adjust them accordingly. Also be aware that the bypass controller assignments may need to be updated. Although some tweaking is required to use this new revision we believe the extra functionality and new effects are worth the effort.

The two Quadtap blocks have been combined into one MultiDelay block with five sub-algorithms. See the manual for details. Any presets saved under earlier revisions that use Quadtap2 will lose that block under the new revision.

Related to the elimination of Quadtap2 the bypass controller assignments are shifted slightly. After upgrading to Rev 1.32 please check your bypass controller assignments under the I/O -> CTRL menu.

The Tremolo/Panner block has been upgraded to a true surround panner. See the manual for more details.

The Filter blocks now feature a right channel offset control. This allows setting different frequencies for the left and right channel but controlling both via a single modifier. Any presets saved under early revisions that use the Filter blocks should be checked for proper operation as the offset control will likely be set to 0.1. Set this to 1.0 to set the right frequency the same as the left. Be sure to save the preset after updating.

The Pitch block now has a Master Pitch control to allow controlling the pitch in real-time. The Master Pitch scales both pitches by the amount of the control. Any presets saved under previous revisions should be checked for proper operation as the Master Pitch control will likely be set to 0%. Set to 100% for normal operation. Be sure to save the preset after updating.

The Chorus and Flanger blocks now contain Phase Reversal switches for the right effect signal. When set to ON this increases the stereo image.

Added Sensitivity control to Envelope Follower. This control sets the threshold of the Envelope Follower. See manual for details.

The Modifier transforms now have Scale and Offset controls to allow easier and more flexible mapping to effect parameters. IMPORTANT: Any presets saved under previous revisions using modifiers will need to be updated since the Scale and Offset controls will likely be set to undesired values. For operation identical to the previous revisions simply set the Scale to 100% and Offset to 50%.

MIDI Clock synchronization is now supported. The Axe-Fx will lock on to a MIDI clock source and adjust its tempo to match.

All MIDI data is now buffered allowing for MIDI messages to be received during preset change. Previously any messages received during the preset change "blanking interval" were lost. The input buffer resolves this issue.

An issue with routing effects in the bottom row has been resolved.

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2.00

New preset storage protocol introduced. This protocol allows many more parameters per preset thereby allowing for future expansion, new effects, new parameters etc. New firmware is backward compatible with presets saved with previous revisions.

Bug Fixes:

Reduced output level of panner by 6 dB to compensate for signal addition.

Fixed the depth of LFO2 only going to 0.5 at full depth.

New Features, Improvements, etc.:

Improved power amp simulation. Better negative feedback algorithm. This improves power amp phase response and feel. Frequency response is virtually unchanged but sounds better due to harmonic phase alignment. Touch response is improved and amp responds more to player "digging in" to the strings.

Added DEEP switch to power amp sim. When active this modifies negative feedback increasing low-frequency response.

The global LFO's themselves are now controllable. This allows attaching a controller to a controller. So now one can vary the LFO rate, for example, via an expression pedal or ADSR etc. Added monitor to envelope follower display. Added output gain control to follower to help compensate for long attack times.

Added "vibe" mode to phaser. Rotating order control fully CW engages this mode. The spacing of the poles is fixed in this mode and follows the old Univibe. The freq. span control has no function in this mode.

Added Dual Delay and Reverse types to delay block. The Dual type allows control over local and cross feedbacks as well as level and pan controls. Reorganized delay block GUI to be more intuitive.

Added Feedback Send and Return blocks.

Added second instance of Multi-Delay!!!

Improved fixed pitch shifting algorithms. Short splice times are now greatly improved. This affects both the pitch and multi-delay blocks.

Improved intelligent pitch-shifter algorithm ("note track" on or intelligent type), especially for shifts more than an octave.

Improved Plex-Shift decay time calculation so that actual decay time is closer to entered value. Added detune capability to Plex-Shift to allow fine pitch shifting.

Improved Plex-Detune algorithm. Also, delay time now compensates for splice time.

Added detune capability to intelligent shifter and crystals shifter.

Added Master Time to Multi-Delay block. Band-delay type now has LFO control of delay times.

Reduced CPU utilization for compressor when using soft-knee type.

Various optimizations have reduced overall CPU utilization slightly.

Added tuner offsets per string for custom temperaments.

Made the Sysex ID of the unit configurable. This allows setting the ID that the unit will respond to. NOTE: Upon firmware update this value will probably be zero. To insure compatability with any old Sysex data and the factory bank data you MUST set this value to 125.

Added full MIDI remote programming functionality. All aspects of the unit can now be remotely programmed using MIDI SysEx commands. Unit reports status back with SysEx messages.

Added preset backup/recall to/from FLASH capability. This allows saving first 64 presets to FLASH and recalling them in an emergency (someone monkeys with unit, dead battery, etc.).

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2.01 - 2.02 Internal Releases

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2.03

Bug Fixes:

Fixed mixer block mono/stereo mode select text not displayed.

Fixed Tremolo LFO type not sticking.

Features / Changes:

Reduced CPU utilization for null blocks.

Increased output gain of Spec. OD 2 model by 6 dB.

Improved Blackface model.

Added ducker to Delays. This is easier and works better than attaching the envelope follower to the mix or level controls. A "reverse" downward expander is used to reduce the wet signal level as a function of input level.

Added Boss SD-1 Distortion model.

Removed effect type blinking on effect recall function to aid readability.

Changed Chorus and Flanger "autodepth" from off|on to off|low|high. High gives twice the pitch shift as before. Low same as "on" was previously.

Added "Depth Range" paramter to delay blocks. Low same as before, high gives deeper pitch shift.

Rat and PI Fuzz models now have more input gain.

Added volume increment and decrement continuous controllers. Upon receipt of a CC message, volume is either incremented or decremented 1dB and preset is then immediately saved. This can be used to fine tune volumes between patches during performance.

Added makeup gain, detector type and contour controls to Compressor. Makeup gain switch compensates for threshold and ratio and keeps output level constant. Detector type switch selects between RMS (normal) and Peak modes. Contour control allows reducing amount of low-frequency content into detector thereby reducing pumping and squashing on certain types of source material.

Tuner display has added flat/sharp arrow indicators to aid in tuning from a distance.

Changed Phaser to automatically select "EXP" LFO type when selecting "vibe" mode.

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2.04 Internal Release

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2.05

Fixed Layout display not updating for MIDI remote place (for PC editor). Fixed Control block not set properly for MIDI set (for PC editor).

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2.06

Added MIDI firmware version query function. Fixed reverb crash when hicut freq less than locut.

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2.07

Added autoengage feature to wah.

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2.08

Added four new modes to Whammy. Fixed some MIDI remote problems. Removed wah autoengage and added to modifier parameters so any effect can be automatically engaged.

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2.09

Fixed can’t place shunt blocks via MIDI. Added numeric readout to main level control in layout->mix page. GUI now follows MIDI functions.

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2.10

Fixed Dual Delay times not being properly updated during preset recall if tempo true. Added spring reverb algorithm.

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2.11 Fixed tuner crashing unit if activated by CC during preset change.

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3.00 Fixed ping-pong delay 100% feedback not repeating forever. Improved pitch detection routine. Changed flanger feedback to -100% to +100%. Added left feedback as master control in stereo delay. Preset protocol changed to Rev. 3.0, compresses modifiers section. Improved compressor by changing attack/release algorithm. Also decreased release time as it was a bit slow. Added side-chain selection to compressor. Added LFO target assignment to delay blocks. Improved intelligent pitch-shifter. Changed scale selection and added new scales. Added "Global" amp feature allowing 10 global amps.

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3.01 Fixed glitching in pitch detector when tuner active.

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3.02 Fixed pitch detector crashing if large amounts of noise on input.

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3.03 Fixed compressor sidechain signal also in compressor input. Fixed Presence Freq. parameter missing from Advanced Amp param list. Removed large font To save data space. Replaced with double-size regular font.

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3.04 Fixed pitch detector semaphore problem.

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3.05 Fixed delay crashing if previous preset used reverse delay and current preset used something other than reverse and then changing to reverse.

Production release of Ultra firmware!!!!!!!!!!

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3.06 Fixed wrong labels on output mixer page for PAN3,4.

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3.07 Changed tap tempo to ignore taps very close together. This allows using the tap tempo feature with those MIDI controllers that send two messages per button press.

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3.08 Improved preset recall time. Fixed delay block modifier indicators not scrolling with list. Added output mixer to fx loop. Fixed dumping single preset via MIDI corrupts config table. Fixed dumping presets during high CPU use corrupts sent data.

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3.09 Fixed CC mapping for Ultra. Fixed sidechain select for gate (Ultra). Projects rebuilt using new (ver. 4.5) compiler.

• Note: FX Loop send page main mix bar now labeled Pan1. This is a typo that will be corrected in the next release.

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3.10 Fixed incorrect label on Main and FX loop output slider.

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3.11 Fixed Ringmod modifier icons.

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3.12 Improved preamp modeling. Tweaked several preamp models.

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3.13 Fixed Tempo knob in Pan/Tremolo.

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3.14 Fixed Ringmod modifier icons (again).

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3.15 Fixed PlexShift fuzzy if shift amount between 15 and 20.

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3.16 Fixed intelligent shifter not starting if shift exadtly zero. _____

3.17 Increased gain of Spec OD2 and Recto New amp models. Increased gain of most drive models. Added “Boost Switch” to amp block. Pressing Enter with Drive selected toggles 12 dB input boost. Bright Switch moved to Treble control.

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3.18 Returned stage 3 triode bias points to pre-3.12 values. Fixed Ultra global scales starting at “C” instead of “A”.