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Difference between revisions of "Channels"

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(Created page with "''The information on this page supplements the official manuals.'' __TOC__ link=|150px =Channels: supported by which Fractal Audio products= * '''Axe-Fx III''':...")
 
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=Effect blocks with channel support=
 
=Effect blocks with channel support=
  
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[[image:Iii-effect-types-table-364x1024.gif]]
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[[image:Iii-effect-types-table-364x1024.gif|300px]]
  
 
=How to switch between channels=
 
=How to switch between channels=
 +
* Select a channel using the hardware GUI.
 +
* Use the editor to select a channel.
 +
* The preferred channel can vary per scene. This is one of the advantages of using scenes.
 +
* Use the foot controller to select a channel.
 +
* Assign a MIDI CC to a block's channel, and add CC value 0-4 to select a specific channel.
  
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'''Axe-Fx II:'''
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=Visual indication=
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Use the dedicated X/Y buttons on the front panel.
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@
  
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'''FX8 and AX8:'''
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=Channels and CPU usage=
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* Hold a switch (1-8) to alternate between X and Y. If the LED is amber lit, Y is active.
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CPU usage is calculated using the current channel of a block. When switching channels, CPU usage can change.
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* Assign one of the three F-switches to "Single X/Y" or "Sticky X/Y", then press the switch which has been assigned to the effect.
 
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* Switch a block between X and Y on the grid, using a shortcut key:
 
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** AX8: SHIFT + 2x EDIT on LAYOUT page, or 2x EDIT in a block's editing mode.
 
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** FX8: 2x EDIT on CFG screen.
 
  
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'''Scenes:'''
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=Gap when switching between channels=
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The X/Y state of an effect can vary per scene. This is one of the advantages of using scenes.
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The gap is fixed at 35 ms which is very short.
  
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'''Editors:'''
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=Copy and paste channel settings=
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Press the "X" key on the keyboard to switch a block between X and Y in the software editor. The X/Y-states of the blocks are displayed in the software editor, without needing to select the block first.
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Channel settings can be copied and pasted using the hardware GUI. The editor offers more possibilities.
  
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'''MFC-101 and other MIDI controllers:'''
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=What happens when resetting a block=
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There's a dedicated "X/Y switching" MIDI CC for most blocks (not all) that offer X/Y switching. They are listed in the manuals. Assign the CC to a switch to alternate between X and Y.
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Resetting an effect block resets the channel parameters to their default values. This applies to the current channel. To reset the entire block, switch to the other channels and repeat the process (or use the software editor to reset the entire block).
  
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You can configure X/Y effect blocks to engage the effect in either X or Y mode. Example: ([http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-ii/38230-ia-x-y-control-how-turn-switch-xy.html source])
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=Controllers/modifiers and channels=
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# IA Switch 1, ON message: DELAY 1 ON, DELAY 1 X (CC#47:127, CC#106: 127)
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When a controller is assigned to a parameter, it always applies to all channels. It's not possible to have different modifier settings per channel.
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# IA Switch 1, OFF message: DELAY 1 OFF, DELAY 1 X (CC#47:0, CC#106: 127)
 
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# IA Switch 2, OFF message: DELAY 1 ON, DELAY 1 Y (CC#47:127, CC#106: 0)
 
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# IA Switch 2, OFF message: DELAY 1 OFF, DELAY 1 Y (CC#47:0, CC#106: 0)
 
  
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Or use a MIDI controller's "group" or "linked switches" feature.
+
=Recall Effect and channels=
 +
Recall Effect (copy block settings from another preset) always imports all channels. Use the software editor to copy settings from a specific channel.
  
−
On the MFC-101 X is green, Y is red. If you prefer the default state to be green, use Y as the default state.
+
=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.
  
−
Not all effect blocks that support X/Y have a specific MIDI CC available for that task. The FX8 lets you assign CCs to those, the Axe-Fx II does not. There's a way around this. Use a MIDI Monitor to view the MIDI sysex command that switches the block between X/Y. Then program a switch on the controller using that data.
+
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.
−
 
 
−
=Visual indication of X/Y=
 
−
The visual X/Y state of effects blocks is shown in the software editors.
 
−
 
 
−
On the AX8 the current X/Y state of the selected block is shown at the bottom of the Layout page.
 
−
 
 
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On the Axe-Fx II and FX8 the current X/Y state of the selected block is shown in an effect block's EDIT menu (not on the Layout page).
 
−
 
 
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=X/Y and CPU usage=
 
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CPU usage is calculated using the current state of a block (X or Y). When switching an effect between X and Y, the preset's CPU usage may change.
 
−
 
 
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=Switching the Amp block between X/Y causes a short audio gap=
 
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Switching an Amp block between X and Y will cause a brief gap in the audio.
 
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This is especially important with the AX8, because it has a single amp block.
 
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=Copy and paste X/Y settings=
 
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X settings can be copied to Y, and vice versa, on the front panel of the Axe-Fx II: press X or Y twice quickly. There's no equivalent shortcut on the AX8 and FX8 hardware.
 
−
 
 
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The software editor can be used to copy and paste an entire block or just the X or Y settings within the preset or to another preset.
 
−
 
 
−
=Swap X/Y settings=
 
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Swapping the X and Y settings of a block requires use of the software editor.
 
−
 
 
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=What happens to X/Y when resetting a block=
 
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Resetting an effect block on the hardware resets the parameters to their default values. This only applies to the current state: X or Y.
 
−
 
 
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To reset the entire block, switch to the other state and repeat the process (or use the software editor to reset the entire block).
 
−
 
 
−
=Controllers/modifiers and X/Y=
 
−
When a controller is assigned to a parameter, it always applies to X and Y. It's not possible to have different modifier settings for X and Y, the architecture doesn't allow this. [http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-ii-discussion/97591-separate-controllers-x-y-states.html#post1172114 source]
 
−
 
 
−
=Recall Effect and X/Y=
 
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Using Recall Effect (copy block settings from another preset) always imports X and Y settings. Use the software editor to copy only X or only Y settings.
 
−
 
 
−
=Using X/Y to compare sounds and settings=
 
−
X/Y switching offers an easy way to compare sounds when tweaking. Example:
 
−
# Go to an AMP block, state "X".
 
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# Double-click "Y" on the front panel to copy the "X" settings into "Y".
 
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# Select X or Y and adjust settings.
 
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# Now alternate between X and Y to see and hear the differences.
 
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You can also do this in the software editor.
 
−
 
 
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This also offers an easy method to quickly see non-default settings, by resetting one side to default settings.
 
−
 
 
−
An alternative approach to comparing sounds on the Axe-Fx II: 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.
 
  
 
[[category:Axe-Fx]]
 
[[category:Axe-Fx]]
 
[[category:Effect]]
 
[[category:Effect]]

Revision as of 14:30, 30 January 2018

The information on this page supplements the official manuals.

150px

Channels: supported by which Fractal Audio products

  • Axe-Fx III: yes.
  • Axe-Fx II: see X/Y switching.
  • MFC-101: see X/Y switching.
  • AX8: see X/Y switching.
  • FX8: see X/Y switching.

What are channels

Every effect block in the Axe-Fx III can be switched between channels. Channels represent sets of settings. For example, channels let you switch between four different types of Phaser in a single preset and using a single Phaser block, by pressing a footswitch or by switching scenes.

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

"The idea behind X/Y is that people often have multiple distortion/chorus/delay/etc. pedals on their board but they rarely have more than one on at a time. So rather than creating more instances of effects, which sucks up CPU, have each instance capable of more than one sound."

Channels do not run simulataneously. And sounds do not crossfade when switching channels, so if you want crossfading, use Scene Controllers.

Effect blocks with channel support

Iii-effect-types-table-364x1024.gif

How to switch between channels

  • Select a channel using the hardware GUI.
  • Use the editor to select a channel.
  • The preferred channel can vary per scene. This is one of the advantages of using scenes.
  • Use the foot controller to select a channel.
  • Assign a MIDI CC to a block's channel, and add CC value 0-4 to select a specific channel.

Visual indication

@

Channels and CPU usage

CPU usage is calculated using the current channel of a block. When switching channels, CPU usage can change.

Gap when switching between channels

The gap is fixed at 35 ms which is very short.

Copy and paste channel settings

Channel settings can be copied and pasted using the hardware GUI. The editor offers more possibilities.

What happens when resetting a block

Resetting an effect block resets the channel parameters to their default values. This applies to the current channel. To reset the entire block, switch to the other channels and repeat the process (or use the software editor to reset the entire block).

Controllers/modifiers and channels

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

Recall Effect and channels

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

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.

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