Scenes

Available on which Fractal Audio products

• Axe-Fx III: yes
• Axe-Fx II: yes
• AX8: yes
• FX8: yes

About scenes

Read this: Mini Manual (PDF). And consult the Owner's Manual.

Scenes represent a single preset in 8 different variations. The routing (grid) is always the same in all scenes (remember: it's a single preset). The parameter values in all blocks also are the same (with the exception of Scene Controllers, read below). But the Bypass states ("engaged/bypassed" aka "on/off") of the effect blocks can vary per scene. Also, the X/Y state or active Channels can vary per scene. Finally, each scene can have its own output level setting. All in all, scenes are similar to an advanced switching system for a pedalboard or a 19" rack.

Switching between sounds is faster with scenes than with presets, when configured correctly. Also, spillover of delay and reverb trails is preserved better when switching between scenes than when switching presets.

There's no way to create, enable or disable scenes. They are always there. Remember, scenes are just variations of a single preset.

The indicator on the hardware display and the switch LED on compatible foot controllers show the currently active cene.

Scenes and MIDI

Scenes offer MIDI functionality, depending on the hardware.

FX8 – Scenes can switch relay states and send a MIDI Program Change and/or Control Change.

AX8 – Scenes can send a MIDI Program Change message.

Axe-Fx III – Scenes can send up to 8 MIDI Program Changes and/or Control Changes, through the Scene MIDI block.

Switching scenes can cause an audio gap when the Amp block changes

When an Amp block is switched between X/Y or changes channels when switching scenes, there will be a short gap in the sound. The gap is caused by the necessity to briefly mute and unmute the sound. See Amp block and X/Y switching.

To avoid this, switch between two Amp blocks (AX8: n/a), or use Scene Controllers to change amp settings instead of X/Y switching, or use one of Bakerman's switching tricks.

Scene names

The Axe-Fx III features customizable scenes. The names are displayed on the FC controllers and can be edited on the hardware, in Axe-Edit III or the Axe-Fx III Mini Utility.

The Axe-Fx II, AX8 and FX8 do not support scene names.

Copying and pasting scenes

To copy/paste scenes on the hardware: use Layout > Tools. This does not copy the scene's name.

"Scene copy doesn't copy the name, just the states." source

For more possibilities, use the editor.

Default scene upon preset loading

Axe-Fx III: this is a global option (Global menu). When set to “As Saved” the scene selected when recalling a preset is the scene that was active when the preset was saved. When set to a particular scene value, that scene will always be selected when a preset is recalled.

Note: this applies to switching presets on the hardware only, not to loading presets in the editor.

Axe-Fx II: the default scene is always 1. This can't be changed.

FX8 and AX8: you can specify the default scene in the Global menu, or per preset.

Switching scenes

Axe-Fx III:

• Use NAV up/down buttons on the Home screen.
• Use soft knob "A" in certain screens.
• Use a foot controller or directly connected switch.
• Use MIDI (assign CCs in Setup > MIDI/Remote).
• Use the editor.
• Use MIDI PC Mapping.

To switch scenes via SysEx, check this document.

Axe-Fx II:

• Use Quick Control knob A to select a scene within the current preset in the Recall screen.
• I/O > Mapping on the Axe-Fx II provides a Map To Scene parameter. This makes it possible to send a MIDI PC message to select a scene within a preset. After configuring the mapping, don't forget to set Mapping to Custom to activate it.
• Pedal jack: connect a momentary switch to the rear of the unit. In I/O > CTRL set Scene Increment to Pedal. In I/O > Pedal set Pedal Type to Latching.

MFC-101: the MFC-101 lets you assign switches to scenes. You can assign a switch to each scene, increment of decrement scenes, or toggle between scenes 1 and 2. To turn the bottom row of the MFC-101 into scenes switches, set Bank Size to 0.

FX8: press the assigned Scene switch, or press the assigned Single or Sticky Scene switch and press the scene number switch.

AX8: press the assigned Scene switch, or press the assigned Single or Sticky Scene switch and press the scene number switch. Or turn the "C" knob.

MIDI controller: assign a switch to the MIDI CC for Scene Select with values 0 to 7 to select scene 1 to 8 within the current preset. Values higher than 7 also select scene 8. Values higher than 63 will step through the scenes, wrapping at the limits. MIDI CCs can also be used to Increment or Decrement the current scene. If you don't specify a value, the switch will switch between scene 1 and 8. The default MIDI CC for scene selection is 34 (the Axe-Fx III lets you specify the CC). This can be changed.

Initial block Bypass states

Scenes 2 to 7 may have all effect blocks engaged initially. This is by design. Watch out for loud bursts.

Use the editor to perform bulk operations, such as setting an effect's Bypass state in all scenes in one go.

Scenes, X/Y and channels

An effect's X/Y state or Channel is set per scene. For example, Delay in scene 1 can be set to X or Channel A, while the same Delay in scene 2 is set to Y or Channel B. Note that using different types of Delay or Reverb in each state may impact spillover. Of course, you can still use two instances of effect blocks (instead or in addition to X/Y states or Channels) in your presets. This lets you bypass/engage each instance per scene (at the expense of CPU).

"Channels can be thought of as a preset for an individual block. For example, you can think of the Delay block as being a stand-alone delay pedal (or rackmount processor) with four presets. Scenes store the bypass state and channel for each block. By using scenes and channels you can use a single preset for an entire song, an entire set or even the entire show. Since the routing doesn't need to change things switch fast and smooth. When switching presets the processor has to assume the routing might have changed and therefore has to clear all the buffers, mute the audio, etc. which takes time and interrupts the audio." source

Use the editor to perform bulk operations, such as changing a block's channel in all scenes of a preset in one go.

Modifiers, controllers and Global Blocks

Modifier settings, controller settings (except for Scene Controllers) and Global Blocks are the same in every scene.

Scene Revert

You can't carry over the current engaged/bypassed state of an effect from the current scene to another one.

What you can do: instruct the device the way you want it to handle effect states when leaving and returning to a scene. By default the Axe-Fx remembers which block states are manually bypassed/engaged after having selected a scene. When you select another scene and return to the previous scene (without changing presets), the device will recall those effect block states. If you prefer always recalling a scene in its initial stored state (keeping blocks to their saved states), turn on the parameter SCENE REVERT in I/O > MIDI. Note that SCENE REVERT applies only to scene switching via MIDI or FC controllers; it doesn't kick in when switching scenes on the hardware. Furthermore, SCENE REVERT doesn't work with PC Mapping.

MFC-101: if you want to retain effects block states in a switching scenario, stick to preset switching and use "global" IA switches on your MFC-101.

Scene Controllers

Parameter values in effect blocks are the same across all scenes. However, there are Scene Controllers available which allow you to set (change) parameter values per scene. Just like regular controllers you can assign a Scene Controller to a modifiable parameter. The controller values are set per scene in Control > Scene.

Note that the values in Control > Scene always relate to the parameter it controls. For example, when attaching a scene controller to Delay Feedback, be aware that this parameter ranges from -100 to 100. Setting the controller at 0% sets feedback at -100, not at 0. source

If you use Min and Max in the modifier menu, the Scene Controller percentages will be proportional to that specified range.

Examples:

• Attach Scene Controller 1 to Reverb Mix. It might have a value of 10% in scene 1, and a 20% in scene 2. This would change the Reverb mix per scene. A popular application is to use attach a Scene Controller to Input Drive or Input Trim in the Amp block, enabling you to vary the amount of amp gain per scene.
• Make a Scene Controller change a note's pitch in the Synth or Pitch block per scene.
• Crossfade sounds through Scene Controllers.
• More tips and examples

The Axe-Fx III Owner's Manual has a tutorial on Scene Controllers.

Number of scene controllers:

• Axe-Fx II, AX8, FX8: 2
• Axe-Fx III: 4

More control with scenes

Examples:

• Combine multiple existing presets into a single preset with scenes.
• Use scenes instead of the MFC-101's Song Mode, to provide all sounds for a song in a single preset.
• Use two Amp blocks and if necessary two Cab blocks for flexibility (Axe-Fx II and III only).
• Configure different X/Y states or channels for effect blocks and set these per scene.
• Decrease Bank Size on the MFC-101 to have more IA switches on your MFC-101 available for scene switching.
• Use the Alternate Preset functionality on the MFC-101 to get access to multiple presets (with scenes) through a single preset switch.
• Create a "Lead" scene for each preset by adding a delay and drive block, and increasing the output level of the scene (IN/GTE) and saving the scene with the blocks engaged.
• Create a scene where only the Amp and Cab blocks in the routing are engaged and dedicate an IA switch to it. This switch lets you return to your basic tone at all times. Think of it as a "Panic" switch.
• When using various guitars, the use of scenes enables you to optimize the preset's output level for each guitar. Also, you can bypass/engage stuff like a PEQ in each scene etc. for even more control.

Wicked Wiki thread