Output block

Available on which products

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

Channels or X/Y

• Axe-Fx III and FM9 and FM3: 4 channels
• Axe-Fx II, 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.

There's an Output block for each physical mono or stereo output. 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. The output level can be set per scene.

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 1 block provides the 20dBu output gain of the Axe-Fx, FM3 and FM9 devices, even with the Level parameter at 0. This can be monitored by connecting the Input 1 block directly to the Output 1 block and looking at the meter in the Output block.

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

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

Read these for more information:

• I/O connectivity and levels
• I/O menu

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.

FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES

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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.

About Copying Output 1 to Output 2

There was a question about whether the mode settings out Output 1 (STEREO, SUM L+R, COPY L>R) had an impact on the signal at Output 2 when Output 2 is set to copy Output 1. Is the copy done before these mode settings or after?

An experiment was run here and it was determined that the copying is done after the mode setting of Output 1 is applied.

That is, the mode of Output 1 impacts the signal at Output 2 when Output 2 is set to copy Output 1.

Scene levels

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

FRACTAL AUDIO QUOTES

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[2] The meters in the block are pre-fader (Level knobs on front of unit). The LEDs are post-fader. Simple as that.

Effects loop

On the Axe-Fx III, FM9 and FM3, an Output block and Input block can operate as Effects Send/Return loop. Read this: I/O connectivity and levels

Overriding Copy Output in the I/O menu

If the preset contains an Output block (Axe-Fx III, FM9, FM3), or an 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.