Midi intro

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Revision as of 14:58, 5 August 2008 by Mwd (talk | contribs) (New Bank Configs)
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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.