Frequently Asked Questions
Contents
- 1 Axe-Fx Features
- 1.1 What amps does the Axe-Fx simulate?
- 1.2 What mics does the Axe-Fx simulate?
- 1.3 What drive pedals does the Axe-Fx simulate?
- 1.4 What effects does the Axe-Fx offer?
- 1.5 How does the Spillover work on the Axe-Fx?
- 1.6 What poweramp is used for the Brit pre Model?
- 1.7 What are the frequencies and Q of the Global EQ?
- 1.8 Does the master volume in the amp block effect the tone?
- 1.9 Where should the master volume be set to emulate amps w/o a master volume?
- 2 Axe-Fx Technical Questions
- 2.1 Will the Axe-Fx work in both Europe and the United States?
- 2.2 What is the processing latency of the Axe-Fx?
- 2.3 What is the patch change time for the Axe-Fx?
- 2.4 What is the backup battery for the Axe-Fx?
- 2.5 Do the output knobs on the front have any influence on the level of the digital out?
- 2.6 What is the difference in processor speed and memory between Ultra and Standard?
- 2.7 My Axe-FX has duplicate factory preset patches in banks A and B and bank C is empty. Is this right?
- 3 Firmware Questions
- 4 Operational Questions
- 5 Fractal Audio Questions
Axe-Fx Features
What amps does the Axe-Fx simulate?
See the List of amp simulations
What mics does the Axe-Fx simulate?
See the Description of Mic Models
What drive pedals does the Axe-Fx simulate?
See the Description of drive models
What effects does the Axe-Fx offer?
See the Feature comparison
How does the Spillover work on the Axe-Fx?
See Spillover
What poweramp is used for the Brit pre Model?
The preamp part is a JMP-1. The power amp is from the JCM800.
What are the frequencies and Q of the Global EQ?
See the Global parameters
===Can I control the amp block parameters like the boost switch w/ MIDI CCs?
Unfortunately no. The problem is the amount of calculations done when you change the drive. So if you tried to assign a CC to it it would bog down the processor. The solution is to use the filter block and set the type to NULL. The filter block has a gain range of -20 to +20 dB expressely so that you can use it as a gain control into the amp block. The boost switch adds +12 db of gain, set the filter to that to match.
Does the master volume in the amp block effect the tone?
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.
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.
For more detailed information see the Amp_simulator
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.
Axe-Fx Technical Questions
Will the Axe-Fx work in both Europe and the United States?
Yes - the Axe has universal power input, 100-240VAC, 50-60Hz.
What is the processing latency of the Axe-Fx?
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.
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.
What is the patch change time for the Axe-Fx?
Preset switching time is around 25-30 ms with delay spillover off. With delay spillover on, it's around 15 ms.
What is the backup battery for the Axe-Fx?
Standard CR2450 lithium battery.
Do the output knobs on the front have any influence on the level of the digital out?
No
What is the difference in processor speed and memory between Ultra and Standard?
20% faster. 6x the memory.
My Axe-FX has duplicate factory preset patches in banks A and B and bank C is empty. Is this right?
Units ship with Bank A and Bank B populated. The presets in Bank B are duplicates of Bank A for convenience. Bank C is left empty.
Firmware Questions
How do you update the firmware?
Where can I get the latest firmware?
"Due to hacking attempts firmware is now available on a request basis only. If you'd like to install the newest firmware please send an email to support@fractalaudio.com with your name and we'll send you the information on how to download."
What are the differences in firmware revisions?
See Firmware history
Operational Questions
How do I upload or download patches to the axe-fx
Use the Axe-Fx editor or
See How to download/upload patches
Is there anyway to fast forward through presets using the dial?
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.
