Midi intro
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.
- To upgrade firmware (operating system).
- To have ability to backup and restore Axe-FX presets.
- To edit Axe-FX presets via computer software editor.
- To select presets via MIDI footswitch.
- To control various individual functions via a MIDI controller.
- 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.