Volume/Panner block

Available on which products

• Axe-Fx III: 4 blocks
• FM9: 4 blocks
• FM3: 2 blocks
• Axe-Fx II: 4 blocks
• AX8: 2 blocks
• FX8: 2 blocks

Channels or X/Y

• Axe-Fx III and FM9 and FM3: 4 channels
• Axe-Fx II: no
• AX8: no
• FX8: no

Use as a volume pedal

To create a volume pedal in a preset: assign an expression pedal as an External controller to the Volume parameter in the block. Make sure to calibrate the pedal.

To set up a “global” volume pedal that works across all presets, read the section in the Owner's Manual.

Use for automated volume swells

Guitar players can fade in notes and chords by using their pinky to operate the volume knob on their guitars. BOSS automated this method in their discontinued Slow Gear pedal.

Axe-Fx II, AX8, FX8:

Attach the Envelope controller to the VOLUME parameter, to INPUT GAIN in a Delay block or another effect block's LEVEL or INPUT GAIN parameter. Fine-tune the effect by adjusting the modifier settings, selecting the TAPER in the Volume block and the Envelope settings. The Envelope's ATTACK and GAIN parameters and the Volume block's TAPER parameter determine the swell rate.

Example settings: Volume block at default with Log30 taper, modifier settings at default, Envelope: Threshold -36, Attack 290, Release 1, Gain 1.75.

Or simply copy the effect and Envelope settings from a factory preset which features volume swells. Search the Factory presets page for "automatic volume swells".

Axe-Fx III, FM3, FM9:

Current firmware provides an Auto-Swell type in the Volume block. Select a taper and adjust Threshold and Attack to reach the desired result.

"Added “Auto-Swell” type to Volume block. This simulates “pinky swells” using the guitar volume knob. Threshold sets the input power to start the volume swell. When the input power drops below the threshold the swell circuit is reset and the volume drops to zero. Attack sets the rate at which the volume increases."

Also, some effect types, such as the Multitap Delay, have a dedicated Envelope controller of their own, allowing swells without the need to use the Envelope controller in the Controllers block.

(Axe-Fx III Owner's Manual) "For a basic volume “roll up” setting, try Threshold: -70.0 dB; Attack: About 400 ms. Increase Attack Time for a slower fade in."

Alternatively, use the Gate block for automatic volume swells, especially the Modern Gate type, with slow attack and fast release times.

Use as a noise gate

Read this: Gate/Expander block

Use as a routing tool

The Volume block doesn't require much CPU. This makes it a handy tool for grid routing. Set its Bypass parameter to Mute and put it at the start of a split signal to enable or disable a certain routing within a preset, depending on the bypass state of the block. You can engage or bypass the block per scene.

Use as a lead boost

Put the Volume block at the end of the signal chain and tweak its Level to turn it into a clean boost. Engage it through scenes or an assigned switch.

Parameters

Taper

The Volume block offers various audio tapers. The taper determines the curve.

"The number is the percentage at the halfway point. I.e. Log 20A means that the resistance is 20% at the halfway point in the travel. So if you put the knob at noon, the volume would be 20% of maximum (about -14 dB)." [1]

To simulate a Log taper in a modifier menu, set "Mid" in the modifier menu to the log number, i.e. 20%. Adjust Slope to avoid the dead zone.

Input Select

Like the Amp and Drive blocks, the Input Select parameter determines if the block processes only the left or right input signal, or both (stereo). It can send the processed signal to either side using the Balance parameter, or keep it stereo.