Third-party software

BandHelper

BandHelper by Arlomedia is a popular tablet/smartphone song and band-management app that supports MIDI and remote switching of presets.

Example layout:

Connect

Connect a tablet or smartphone to the other device. The required cable/hardware depends on the device.

Verify that the interface works by going into Repertoire > MIDI Devices. Make sure the devices operate on the same MIDI channel.

Axe-Fx III and FM9 

Unlike the Axe-Fx II, the USB port on the Axe-Fx III and FM9 supports a direct connection to iOS devices. Use a USB-A to USB-B cable, or a wireless MIDI adapter, or Apple Lightning-to-USB Camera Adapter, to connect the device and the iOS device. This lets iPad apps such as BandHelper communicate with the device without requiring an additional MIDI-to-USB interface (which the Axe-Fx II required). This includes MIDI commands and USB Audio.
Note: the Axe-Fx III and FM9 support only incoming MIDI-over-USB traffic, not outgoing MIDI-over-USB. This means that you can use an iPad to send Program Changes to the device, but the device won't transmit Program Changes through USB to another device.

FM3 

The FM3 does not support MIDI-over-USB and no direct connection to iOS devices. If you want to control it via MIDI, you will need to connect to its MIDI IN port.

Master or slave

Operate as master 

To make BandHelper transmit MIDI Program Changes to a Fractal Audio device or MIDI controller through songs, do the following.

First verify that the MIDI interface is installed and devices are connected. There's no need to set up a specific MIDI device in BandHelper.

Then create a MIDI preset for each song in BandHelper.

In the MIDI Program Changes field of the MIDI preset:

AX8

Enter 0 in Bank MSB.

Enter the MIDI Bank Select (cc#0) value in Bank LSB (single digit) (0,1,2,3) as per page 100 of AX8 manual.

Enter the Program Change number in the 3rd field (without preceding zero) as per page 100 of AX8 manual.

Axe-Fx II

Enter 0 in Bank MSB.

Enter the bank number in Bank LSB (single digit).

Enter the Program Change number in the 3rd field (without preceding zero)

Axe-Fx III

Enter the bank number in Bank MSB: 0, 1, 3 or 4.

Enter "1" in Bank LSB.

Enter the Program Change number in the 3rd field (without preceding zero).

Now attach the MIDI preset to the song.

You repeat the above for each song.

Edit Layouts > Details > Actions to make the application send the MIDI preset automatically when selecting a song, and/or add a MIDI icon to your layout.

Operate as slave 

To make BandHelper listen to incoming MIDI Program Changes from a Fractal Audio device or MIDI controller, do the following.

In Settings > App Control, verify that the MIDI interface is recognized (port), and select the MIDI channel to receive messages.

In Settings > Audio & MIDI, enable Assign Incoming Programs. If you don't do this, there won't appear a MIDI Program Number field in the song details.

In Settings > App Control, assign Song Number (under ALL) to: Program Change.

Edit each song, and in the field MIDI Program Number add the following:

Axe-Fx III

Enter the bank number in Bank MSB: 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Enter "0" in Bank LSB.

Enter the Program Change number (without preceding zero).

AX8

Enter 0 in Bank MSB.

Enter the MIDI Bank Select (cc#0) value in Bank LSB (single digit) (0,1,2,3) as per page 100 of AX8 manual.

Enter the Program Change number that you have configured in the scene (page 43 in AX8 manual) in the 3rd field.

Axe-Fx II

Enter the bank number in Bank MSB (one digit).

Enter 0 in Bank LSB.

Enter the Program Change number (without preceding zero).

Make sure the connected devices use the same MIDI channel. Configure BandHelper's MIDI Input Channel to match the incoming MIDI channel number (default is 1).

Note that the AX8 does not send MIDI PC changes on the USB port. You must use the MIDI Out/Thru port.

If you configure BandHelper's layout to send a PC change on song selection, and also have BandHelper's Remote Control responding to PC changes, you may get an endless loop of PC changes back and forth. To avoid this, configure BandHelper's layout setting to only send PC data to Fractal unit on song second selection instead of song selection. You will need to select song again to send the PC to Fractal. Or use a MIDI button on the layout to manually send PC change upon button press.

BandHelper and RJM Mastermind

For more information, see Syncing BandHelper with Axe-Fx and RJM Mastermind GT.

FracPad III

Forum member and programmer AlGrenadine provides a handy editing app for Fractal Audio's processors: FracPad III. It provides all the tools to adjust your sound, edit and manage presets, blocks etc, on a tablet, smartphone or computer.

FracPad III allows naming scenes, attaching modifiers to any parameter, displaying real world amp/drive panels, searching parameters by name, displaying a tuner based on the Axe-Fx III's tuner UI, selecting knob skins, importing presets which were made for other products, turning the metronome on/off, and many, many other things.

A connection to the device is required.

FracPad III is commercial software, available for Android v6.0+ and iOS. You can try the demo version FracPad Lite first.

There's a free version for Windows and OS X.

Downloads:

• Full and lite versions for Android, and free version for Windows and Mac
• Commercial version for iOS
• Free Lite version for iOS

More information is available at:

• Fractal Audio user forum: FracPad III
• FracPad on Facebook

Android version

• Wired: This requires a compatible USB adapter, called "USB OTG". This works with the AX8, FX8 and Axe-Fx II/III models.

• Wireless: Bluetooth. For Bluetooth editing use a Yamaha UD-BT01 on AX8/FX8, or a Yamaha MD-BT01 for AxeFx II/XL/XL+/III and FM3.

Axe-Fx II and iOS version

• Wired: Requires a MIDI-to-USB interface because the USB port on the Axe-Fx II doesn't operate as a USB host. Use a USB-to-MIDI interface like Roland's UM-One in conjunction with the "USB camera adapter" for Apple devices.

• Wireless: Bluetooth. The Yamaha MD-BT01 interface is recommended. It connects to the MIDI IN and OUT ports on the Axe-Fx II.

AX8 or FX8 and iOS version

• Wired: Requires a USB connection, because the AX8 and FX8 do not support editing through MIDI. Use the "USB camera adapter" for Apple devices.

• Wireless: Bluetooth. Try Yamaha's UD-BT01 interface and verify that it runs firmware 1.04 or later (run the Yamaha UD/MD utility, available in the US / Canadian app store).

Axe-Fx III and iOS version

• Wired: Requires a USB connection. Use the "USB camera adapter" for Apple devices.

• Wireless: Bluetooth. Try Yamaha's MD-BT01 interface and verify that it runs firmware 1.04 or later (run the Yamaha UD/MD utility, available in the US / Canadian app store).

Axe-Fx II, AX8 or FX8 and iOS version

A Bluetooth connection requires Bluetooth LE (Low Energy), so make sure that the iOS device handles Bluetooth 4.0+. This requires at least an iPad 3 or iPhone 4s. [1]

FM3 and iOS version

• Wired: Requires a MIDI-to-USB interface, because the USB port on the FM3 doesn't operate as a USB host. Use a USB-to-MIDI interface like Roland's UM-One in conjunction with the "USB camera adapter" for Apple devices.

• Wireless: Bluetooth. The Yamaha MD-BT01 interface is recommended. It connects to the MIDI IN and OUT ports on the FM3.

FM9 and iOS version

• Wired: Requires a USB connection. Use the "USB camera adapter" for Apple devices.

• Wireless: Bluetooth. Try Yamaha's MD-BT01 interface and verify that it runs firmware 1.04 or later (run the Yamaha UD/MD utility, available in the US/Canadian app store).

FracTool

Forum member and programmer AlGrenadine wrote a handy utility for Fractal Audio's processors called FracTool. You can use it at your own risk.

FracTool manages presets, cabs and much more. It works with and without a connection to a fasDevice.

FracTool is donationware. Don't forget to make a donation if FracTool helps you accomplish things.

• Download FracTool for Windows or OS X
• Donate

Important: Your fasDevice must be connected before launching Fractool if you want to be able to use its connected features, otherwise only preset viewing/conversion and accessing AxeChange is possible.

It's a work in progress. Check the download thread above for a list of its features, here is a shortlist:

Import a preset, cab or bank

Importing can be done by:

• calling the fractool executable from the command-line and passing the path to the .syx file as the first argument.
• dropping a .syx file on the fasDevice icon:

• clicking on the fasDevice icon, then selecting "Import preset/cab/bank/firmware file(s) to [fasDevice]":

Update the device firmware (every device except FM3)

Just as you would import a preset/cab/bank (see the previous section), drop the firmware ZIP file and the update begins with no need to unzip the archive. Follow the instructions on your fasDevice's screen, just like you would when using FractalBot to update.

DynaCab files are not supported.

Export a preset from the device to a file

Convert presets between devices

• This is done on the fly when importing a preset with previously detailed methods.
• Can be done offline, whether a fasDevice is connected or not. Just drag and drop a preset/cab/bank .syx file on the hard-drive icon:

Then selected the desired output format:

NB The available output file formats are different depending on the source file type and model. By example, gen2 presets allow conversion to gen3, not the opposite.

View a preset (without sending it to a device)

You do not need a fasDevice connected.

This allows you to see a preset's details, whether it's a gen2 or gen3 preset file. All blocks, including controllers and modifiers, for all scenes are shown.

Just drop a .syx file on the magnifying glass icon:

Now just change the scene to see block states and channels (X/Y on gen2) updated with the scene number:

Or click on a block to see its parameters:

• Tip: You can view multiple presets at the same time, to compare various preset parameters or layouts.
• NB The parameters values are interpreted using the latest firmware definitions versions, so viewing an old preset works but may display values as interpreted by the latest firmware.

Export a preset to various formats (PDF/CSV/HTML/XML/SYX)

Once in the preset viewing window (see previous section), just click the menu and select the desired action:

Tip: You can export two presets to CSV (see section below) and use a comparison tool (like Windiff on Windows) to check what has changed between two versions by example.

List used or unused cabs

This is a convenient tool to check whether some of your user cabs are not used by any preset, or which presets use a specific cab (user or not).

Select the cablist tab, then hit the refresh button. Fractool will then poll cab and preset names, then all the presets on your fasDevice.

Prefer the "check scenes cabs use" option to be checked, otherwise, different cab channels (or X/Y) on your presets may not be polled.

It could take few minutes to poll all your presets, depending on their complexity and on the number of presets your fasDevice supports, but, once finished, you'll have two options:

• See each preset, and the cab(s) it references:

• See each cab, and the preset(s) referencing it:

Compare different amps with same settings

This is a fun serendipity tool, allowing you to compare the actual preset on your fasDevice.

First, select the amp compare tab. You'll see the actual preset on your fasDevice. Only its actual amp model is displayed, and its master volume.

You can change the current preset with the plus/minus buttons, and select which amp block if the the preset has more than one amp block.

Browse AxeChange for presets and cabs

You can browse the AxeChange presets and cabs, even for presets not matching your actually connected fasDevice.

Click the AxeChange tab: it can take few minutes to browse the whole AxeChange database so be patient.

When the tool finishes updating click on a preset/cab to audition it on your current preset. Nothing is saved on your fasDevice until you hit store on the front panel.

Batch functions on presets

You can use Fractool's batch setter to do a variety of things (Be sure to backup your presets first!):

First select the Batch setter tab:

then click the "Apply" button.

Reset amp while keeping some parameters untouched

This tool can be useful when a new modeling algorithm is released and you just want the new modeling defaults to be applied on your amp block without touching some parameters.

Select the "amp resetter" tab, then check the parameters you want to keep untouched.

Be sure to backup your presets first!

Sniffing tool (gen3 only)

The gen3 SysEx protocol is complex, so Fractool includes a sniffer tool:

Of course, it's only activated if you deserve it. ;)

Other features

• Auto-updates itself
• Supports ZIP-files

Check the forum thread for an actual list of features

FracTool can convert FM3/Axe-Fx II/XL/XL+ presets and AX8 and FX8 presets, to make them load in the Axe-Fx III/FM9, however parameters and values may not transfer correctly. Backwards conversion is not supported.

FracTool supports the FX8. There are limitations because of differences in the architecture of the FX8:

• Parallel paths are not processed when converting to Axe-Fx and AX8
• Only the first 8 blocks of Axe-Fx and AX8 presets are processed when converting to FX8