Channels

The information on this page supplements the official manuals.

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Channels: supported by which Fractal Audio products

• Axe-Fx III: yes.
• Axe-Fx II: no.
• MFC-101: no.
• AX8: no.
• FX8: no.

What are channels

Most effect blocks in the Axe-Fx III have up to 4 channels. Each channel provides a unique set of parameter values. Channel switching is instantaneous and pretty seamless and can be done manually (via a foot controller, for example) or automatically when changing scenes. Channels can also be switched via MIDI for applications requiring automation.

Channels provide quick, easy parameter switching without the unwanted side-effects of preset changes (due to grid reordering). For example, set the Amp block so that Channel A is a “Deluxe Verb” model, Channel B is a “Plexi”, Channel C is a “Recto” and Channel D is “FAS Modern”. Then change channels almost instantly at the touch of a button.

Channel-switching is the successor of X/Y switching, featured in the Axe-Fx II, AX8 and FX8.

Note that channels do NOT run simultaneously. Also, they do not crossfade. If you need crossfading, use the new Multiplexer block which can crossfade between input sources, or use a Scene Controller.

More explanation in the Axe-Fx III Owner's Manual.

"Channels are the cat's sphincter. Many blocks, including the amp block, have four channels. Channels switch instantly." source

"Channels save all settings for a block. A channel is like a preset within a block." source

"The Control block has four channels." source

Which effect blocks support channels

How to switch between channels

To switch between the channels of an effect block:

• Use the hardware GUI.
• Use the editor.
• Use presets.
• Use scenes.
• Use the foot controller.
• Use MIDI: assign a MIDI CC to a block's channel, and specify a value to select a specific channel:
  • 0 = A.
  • 1 = B.
  • 2 = C.
  • 3 = D.

Switching channels and audio gaps

Switching an effect between channels, via scenes to otherwise, may cause a short gap in the sound, which is as short as possible. The gap is caused by the necessity to briefly mute and unmute the sound.

"The "gap" is arbitrary and is simply the time to fade down the old amp and fade up the new amp. You HAVE to do some ramp-down and ramp-up or you'll get artifacts as the gain can be completely different. If you just instantly switch from a clean amp to a distorted amp or vice-versa you'll get a pop. That's just basic signal processing. About the shortest you can make ramp-down/ramp-up without introducing clicks and pops is 15 ms so the total time is 30 ms (plus 5ms as a safety margin)." source

Demo "Feels seamless to me (and faster than any of my channel switching amps) but everyone has different definitions." source

"Any faster than that and you risk pops or clicks if the levels and/or gains are markedly different. You can't change the laws of nature." source

CPU usage

Calculation of CPU usage is based on the current channel of effects. When switching channels, CPU usage can change.

Copy and paste channel settings

Channel settings can be copied and pasted using the hardware GUI or software editor (more possibilities).

Hardware: go to Tools and turn the Value wheel all the way to the right.

What happens to channels when resetting a block

Defaulting the parameters of an effect block resets the channel parameters to their default values. This applies to the current channel only.

To reset the entire block, switch to the other channels and repeat the process, or use the software editor to reset the entire block (all channels) in one go.

Channels and modifiers

When a controller is assigned as a source to a parameter in a modifier menu, it applies to all channels. It's not possible to have different modifier settings per channel.

Channels and Recall Effect

Recall Effect (copy block settings from another preset) always imports all channels. Use the software editor to copy settings from a specific channel.

The Axe-Fx III does not support Recall Effect.

Using channels to compare sounds and settings

Channels offer an easy way to compare sounds when tweaking, as well as an easy method to quickly see non-default settings by resetting one channel to default settings.

An alternative approach to comparing sounds: save a preset as a Snapshot in the editor. Select Revert to get the original sound back. Then drag and drop the snapshot file into the editor.