Output block

Available on which products

• Axe-Fx III: 4 blocks
• FM9: 3 blocks
• FM3: 2 blocks
• Axe-Fx II: not a block
• AX8: not a block
• FX8: no

Channels or X/Y

• Axe-Fx III and FM9 and FM3: 4 channels
• Axe-Fx II: no
• AX8: no

About the Output block

The Output block is the spot where the signal exits the grid and leaves the unit through the corresponding output port.

Each Output block contains a mixer to mix the signal from the grid rows. The output level of each of the Scenes can be set.

On the Axe-Fx III, FM9 and FM3, an Output block can also operate as Effects Send in an effects loop. See below.

Each Output block has 4 channels, and contains a mixer with Level and Balance controls for each grid row, plus master Output Level, Balance and Bypass controls.

Output 1 — Transmits signal to the physical Output 1 jacks and to USB Inputs 1+2 on a connected computer.

Output 2 — Transmits signal to the physical Output 2 jacks and to USB Inputs 3+4 on a connected computer.

Output 3 — Transmits signal to the physical Output 3 jacks.

Output 4 — Transmits signal to the physical Output 4 jacks.

The Output 1 block signal may also be transmitted:

• through the digital outputs, if SPDIF/AES Out Source is set to Output 1
• through Output 2, if Output 2 Copy Output 1 is turned on and there's no Output 2 block on the grid.

The Output 2 block signal may also be transmitted through the digital outputs if SPDIF/AES Out Source is set to Output 2.

The Output blocks can be muted. The signal is muted at the corresponding output AND on the grid.

Read this:

• Connections and levels
• I/O menu
• Input block

Output block position on the grid

Axe-Fx II and AX8— The Output block has a fixed position at the end of the grid.

Axe-Fx III, FM9, FM3 — The Output blocks can be positioned freely on the grid.

(Axe-Fx III product information) "Routing flexibility is enhanced by unconstrained placement of input and output blocks anywhere in the routing grid. Want to insert different outboard devices at different parts of the signal path? No problem. Simultaneously process discrete stereo output for acoustic and electric guitars? Easy. Send stereo to front-of-house, plus a true “Wet-Dry-Wet” on stage while recording a DI for re-amping later? No problem! Each output pair also has its own dedicated front panel LEVEL knob for convenient control."

Set and view levels

The Axe-Fx III, FM9 and FM3 provide block meters, which indicate the Input and Output signal levels per block.

The Output block level is stored per scene.

The Output block meters come BEFORE the Level controls (pre-fader) on the front panel, and are therefore uneffected by the Level controls. The meters indicate the internal signal level relative to full-scale (dBFS). When you hit the red line in the meters, you're still 12dB away from clipping. [1]

The Vol Inc and Vol Dec commands (footswitches and MIDI) provide a convenient way to adjust preset levels on the fly (without manual editing). They let you adjust the output level per scene in steps of 1 dB while playing. Read this: Vol Inc and Vol Dec.

Read this: Preset levels.

Effects loop

On the Axe-Fx III, FM9 and FM3, an Output block and Inout block can also operate as Effects Send/Return loop.

The signal is sent to an external device through an Output block (Effects Send) and then re-enters the grid through the Input block (Effects Return). This is similar to the FX Loop block on the Axe-Fx II and AX8. The blocks do not have to be connected to each other.

Regarding the Output 3 block (and Output 4 on the Axe-Fx):

• If you don't connect Output to Input, muting the Input block will mute the signal path from this loop.
• If you connect them, bypassing the Input block will not mute the signal. Signal is passed without going through the loop.
• If you connect them, with Input engaged, it will output the signal from the effect loop.

On the Axe-Fx III, FM9 and FM3, an Input block can operate as Effects Return in an effects loop. The signal is sent to an external device through an Output block (Effects Send) and then re-enters the grid through the Input block (Effects Return). This is similar to the FX Loop block on the Axe-Fx II and AX8. The Input and Output blocks don't have to be connected to each other.

Scenarios:

• If Output is not connected to Input, and Input is bypassed: the signal from the loop is muted.
• If Output is connected to Input, and Input is bypassed: the signal is passed without going through the loop.
• If Output is connected to Input, and Input is engaged: the signal from the effect loop is passed.

When using the Input block as the On/Off switch for the loop, it makes sure that no noise will enter the grid if the loop is off. However, this will also cut off tails from effects such as delay when turning off the loop.

Overriding Copy Output in I/O menu

If the preset contains an Output block (Axe-Fx III, FM9, FM3) or FXL block (AX8, Axe-Fx II), it overrides the Copy Output setting in the I/O menu.

Global blocks

Output blocks don't support Global blocks.