FracPad and FracTool

About FracPad

Forum member and programmer AlGrenadine provides a super handy editor for the Axe-Fx II, AX8 and FX8: FracPad. It provides all the tools to edit and manage presets, blocks etc, on a table, smartphone or computer.

FracPad is commercial software, available for Android (6.0+) and iOS.

Versions for Windows and OS X can be downloaded for free.

Forum discussion.

Connect FracPad

Android (wired)

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

No reliable wireless solution (Bluetooth) has been found yet.

Axe-Fx II and iOS (wired and wireless)

• Wired: requires a MIDI-to-USB interface, because the USB port on the Axe-Fx II doesn't operate as USB host. Use a 3rd-party iOS MIDI interface, such as iRig2 MIDI, or a general purpose USB-MIDI interface like Roland's UM-One in conjunction with the "USB camera adapter" for Apple devices.
• Wireless: through Bluetooth. The Yamaha MD-BT01 interface is recommended. It connects to the MIDI IN and OUT ports on the Axe-Fx II. Launch the app "Midimittr" (AppStore), followed by FracPad.

AX8/FX8 and iOS (wired and wireless)

• Wired: requires an USB connection, because the AX8 and FX8 do not support editing through MIDI. Use the "USB camera adapter" for Apple devices.
• Wireless: through Bluetooth. Use Yamaha's UD-BT01 interface and verify that it runs firmware 1.03 or later (run the Yamaha UD/MD utility, available in the US / Canadian app store). Launch the app "Midimittr" (AppStore) to enable the communication, followed by launching FracPad.

Bluetooth wireless connection between Axe-Fx II - AX8 - FX8 and iOS

Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) is required, so make sure that your iOS device handles Bluetooth 4.0+. This requires at least an iPad 3 or iPhone 4s (source).

Bluetooth operations are not officially supported, so use at your own risk.

Demo of wireless connection

This tutorial demonstrates how to establish a wireless connection with the hardware using Yamaha's UD-BT01 or MD-BT01 adapter.