Editors

About the software editors

The software editors for Fractal Audio's processors are available for Windows and Mac.

• download the latest versions
• download older versions from the unofficial archive

Getting Started Guide for Axe-Edit (outdated)

Product information about Axe-Edit III:

"Axe-Edit III is a full-featured Mac/PC editor for the Axe-Fx III. You can view, edit, and manage presets, and much more. You will immediately discover the advantage of working on a large computer screen with a full keyboard and mouse/touchpad. Axe-Edit III makes it even easier to create and dial in even the most complex setups. You can view, edit, copy, paste, save, swap or even drag-and-drop not just presets, but scenes, blocks, channels, user cabs, and more. Speed your workflow with preset Templates, or use the Block Library stored on your computer to access your favorite sounds in one click. Unlock your full creative potential with Axe-Edit III, available for free."

"We rewrote everything using a client-server approach. You can have any number of clients attached, even multiple editors, and they all update automatically when something changes (even if changed from the front panel). The foot controllers are essentially clients as well." source

The above applies to FM3-Edit as well.

If you get an error message regarding MSVCP140.DLL, download and install the MS Visual C++ Redistributable Update.

Editing on a tablet or smartphone

Fractal Audio's software editors require a Windows or Mac computer and a USB connection.

If you want to edit and control the processor with a tablet or smartphone, you need alternative solutions. Some suggestions:

• Extend the computer screen to a separate tablet (wired or wireless) using tools built in the OS, or a software utility such as Duet Display (Mac/iOS), or a combined hardware+software solution such as Luna Display. This lets you move the editor screen to the tablet and use its touchscreen for editing.

• Run FracPad, forum member AlGrenadine's mobile app for Fractal Audio's processors. It runs on Android and iOS devices and provides almost all features of the official editors, and more.

• Use wireless MIDI connections with Macs and Windows PCs, with the computer acting as the interface between the app on the tablet or phone and the Fractal Audio device

Connecting

USB or MIDI

FX8 and AX8 — The editor communicates with the hardware via USB, without requiring a 3rd-party MIDI Interface or driver. Editing via MIDI is not supported.

Axe-Fx II — The editor communicates with the hardware via USB or MIDI. USB requires installing an USB host driver first. USB Adapter Mode must be disabled to prevent slowing down Axe-Edit.

Axe-Fx III — The editor communicates with the hardware via USB.

FM3 — The editor communicates with the hardware via USB.

The above applies to Fractal-Bot too.

Note: when using a USB-C to USB adapter on a newer Apple computer, plug the USB-C adapter into a the port on the Mac first, allow it several seconds to “wake up” and then connect a USB cable and the unit into the adapter.

Don't run an editor and Fractal-Bot simultaneously

Running Fractal-Bot and a software editor at the same time can cause conflicts. Try to avoid this.

Google Chrome

"There is a known issue with Chrome seizing MIDI ports (both physical and virtual MIDI-over-USB ports) as part of some misguided MIDI over the internet idea. Since the AX-8 is USB 1.1 it only allows one connection so if Chrome grabs it then AX-8 Edit won't be able to use it. Unfortunately Google seems uninterested in fixing it." source

"Chrome definitely can hijack the MIDI over USB port on the AX8. When that happens, it's not enough to just close the browser, you have to ensure that it is not running in the background. Fractal Audio has tested and confirmed this." source

Apple Logic

If you're experiencing issues running the Axe-Fx III, Axe-Edit III and Apple Logic, read this for a solution.

Time-outs and disconnecting

• Try another or shorter USB cable. Don't skip this, it's the MOST COMMON CAUSE of issues.
• Do not use a cable extender or USB hub (a USB port on a keyboard can also be a hub).
• Try another USB port on your computer.

Axe-Edit Time-out Troubleshooting

Syncing

Syncing hardware, software editor and foot controller

Axe-Fx II, AX8, FX8 – It's recommended to not use the MFC-101 with the Axe-Fx II, nor the onboard switches on the AX8 and FX8, while using the editor. The editors rely on intensive two-­way communication which can cause audio gaps or stutters while using a connected foot controller. The PAUSE COMMUNICATIONS feature, also available through an icon in the upper left corner or in the Settings menu, puts the editor on hold so you can test performance without glitches.

Also, engaging and bypassing effects on the MFC-101 does not update Axe-Edit. To make the editor recognize such changes, its polling mechanism must be engaged. This is accomplished by attaching the Bypass parameter of any block in the preset to a controller. The block doesn't have to be connected to anything on the grid, so use a low CPU block.

Axe-Fx III and FM3 – see earlier comments.

Operating the hardware (device or foot switches) while the editor is connected can cause audio hiccups, because the editor continuously polls the hardware which can interfere with the audio. For best results, put the editor in Pause mode when operating the hardware.

No offline editing

The editor works in tandem with the hardware unit in a client-server type relationship. The editor requires the unit to be connected for all operations. Offline editing is not supported and will NOT be added to future versions. The client-server relationship brings a host of benefits to the editor. Most importantly, it can never corrupt a preset as only the hardware itself ever owns the data. This means you can program sounds with the confidence that what you see is what you'll hear is what you'll save.

Editor updates

The editors for current products are updated often. Updates are released when the firmware of the hardware products is updated, or to add new features to the editor.

The editor relies on data which it downloads from the hardware. The editor will recognize when the firmware on the hardware has been updated and will then refresh its so-called "effect block definitions". The editor can also be instructed to this.

Refreshing the definitions may not suffice if the firmware contains new features which require a change to the editor itself. In those cases, a new version of the editor itelf must be installed. Such an update usually is released within days after an upgrade of the hardware's firmware. The editor will notice you of new releases automatically (except with releases of beta firmware).

Preferences

The Settings > Preferences menu lets you configure the editor and set your personal preferences.

For example, there's a checkbox to enable/disable reading all presets and cabs at startup.

Warnings in Manage Preset / Manage Cabs

The warnings that appear when launching or exiting Manage Presets or Cabs can be turned off.

Amp block controls: authentic or ideal

Just like on the hardware, the editor lets you choose between "Authentic" and "Ideal" controls when displaying the Amp block.

Authentic — only the controls which are present on the modeled amp are displayed on the main page

Ideal — all tone controls are displayed

Importing cabs

When importing external IRs (.syx or .wav), you can choose between Minimum Phase Transform and Auto-Trim, and create UltraRes or non-UltraRes cabs.

Refresh rate

This option adjusts the rate at which the preset information and block parameters refreshes.

Keyboard shortcuts

Presets

• P: open the Preset Picker
• Command/Control + M: open the Preset Manager
• Command/Control + PgUp / PgDn: preset up/down
• Command/Control + S: save preset
• Shift + Command/Control + S: save preset to new preset number
• Shift + Command/Control + F12: revert preset
• Shift + Command/Control + Backspace: clear preset
• F5: refresh preset
• Shift + Control (Alt) + Command/Control + I: import preset
• Shift + Control (Alt) + Command/Control + X: export preset
• Shift + Control (Alt) + Command/Control + S: save snapshot

Scenes

• Command/Control + 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8: select a scene

Blocks

• Alt or F1: show Block Info
• Q: show Quick Build panel
• Command/Control + U: insert a shunt
• Spacebar: bypass or engage the selected block, or toggle X/Y (old editors)
• Shift + Spacebar: bypass block in all scenes
• Shift + Command/Control + Spacebar: engage block in all scenes
• Command/Control + D: disconnect all cables from selected block
• Backspace: delete block
• Enter: open the Edit field of the selected control
• +: display the menu associated with the ‘+’ button on the selected dropdown control
• G: toggle the “Global” button for the selected control
• Cursor up/down: value up/down
• Command/Control + B: save block to Block Library

Channels

• A/B/C/D/E/F: select channel (E and F apply to the MUX block only)
• X: next channel
• Command/Control + I: reset channel

Tuner

• Command/Control + T

Devices

• Command/Control + K: show devices
• F8: pause communications

Preferences

• Command/Control + P

Undo, Redo

• Command/Control + Z: undo
• Command/Control + Y: redo
• Command/Control + X/C/V: cut, copy, paste

Manage Presets, Manage Cabs

• Command/Control + M: Preset Manager
• Shift + Command/Control + M: Cab Manager
• F3: set the focus to the search bar

Grid Navigation Mode

• Shift + Command/Control + G

Window size

• Shift + Command/Control + W: full screen
• Shift + W: normal size

In the Cab block, the mouse wheel can be used to scroll through the available cabs (Axe-Edit III and FM3-Edit).

List of keyboard shortcuts in the Getting Started Guide

Note that when using a DAW, some of these shortcuts may unintendedly change a setting in the DAW when the editor window doesn't have the focus.

Axe-Edit III and FM3-Edit: to enter text into the edit box for any knob (whether the knob has a visible edit box or not), simply click the label of the knob so that control becomes focused and hit ENTER. For fast keyboard editing: Use the TAB key to move the focus around, hit ENTER to open the edit box, type in the value.

Using the editor

Noteworthy stuff

Regarding Axe-Edit for the Axe-Fx II, AX8-Edit and FX8-Edit:

• You cannot type Min/Max values in a modifier menu because of technical reasons.
• Looper, Tap Tempo and Tuner require the corresponding CCs to be set to their default values on the hardware.
• Axe-Edit is not compatible with MIDI Mapping on the Axe-Fx II.
• It is normal for the hardware display to change screens automatically while the editor is being used. To avoid confusion, it is strongly recommended that you avoid using the top/front controls of the device while the editor is running, or press the editor's Pause command.
• To make the Tuner work on the MFC-101, verify that SEND REALTIME SYSEX is enabled on the hardware.

To name the device

The editor lets you name your device.

To configure Performance Pages

The editor is required to configure the Performance Pages on the Axe-Fx III and FM3. More information

To launch Fractal-Bot

Fractal-Bot can be launched from within Axe-Edit III and FM3-Edit.

To access Axe-Change

Axe-Change can be accessed from within the editor.

To manage Presets

Read this: Presets

The editor's Preset Manager lets you import and export presets, rename them and copy/paste/move/swap them. It uses a Browser pane at the left of the window. To show or hide the Browser pane click on the Browser menu at the top-left of the manager and choose "Show / Hide". Or use the key sequence CTRL+B (Windows) or CMD+B (Mac).

The editors for the Axe-Edit III and FM3 support loading presets created on either device.

Speed up transfers by switching to a low CPU preset before operations such as bulk exporting!

The Preset Manager doesn't refresh preset names each time upon launch, to speed up operations. To force the Preset Manager to refresh, press the Refresh icon in its title bar.

A preset can be saved as a template, which can be used as a starting point for creating presets.

To export presets

You can export the currently loaded preset through the Preset menu.

Or you can use the Manage Presets tool to export a single or multiple IRs. This will add the preset slot number to the filename(s).

To level Presets

The editor for the Axe-Fx III and FM3 provides a fly-out panel for leveling presets.

Press Control-L (Windows) or Command-L (Mac).

To manage Scenes

Use the scene buttons to switch scenes. Use the Scenes menu to manage scenes.

Axe-Edit III and FM3-Edit also provide the Scene Manager, which simplifies managing blocks across all scenes.

Read this: Scenes

To edit parameters

Important: double-clicking a control in the editor is not the same as a soft or hard reset of the channel or block. It resets the control to a generic value, which is not parameter-specific. Ideally double-clicking should reset it to the correct value, but this is a limitation of the architecture at this time. source

To manage Cabs

Read this: Cab block

The editor's Cab Manager lets you import and export cabs, rename them and copy/paste/move/swap them. It uses a Browser pane at the left of the window. To show or hide the Browser pane click on the Browser menu at the top-left of the manager and choose "Show / Hide". Or use the key sequence CTRL+B (Windows) or CMD+B (Mac).

The Cab Manager in Axe-Edit III and FM3-Edit can directly import IRs in .wav format.

To manage internal controllers

Read this: Modifiers, Controllers and Control Switches

Note that the Controllers block has channels too.

You can save and load internal controller settings, such as Envelope, into a separate Controllers block. Click the Controllers button and use the Block menu.

When sharing a regular effect block with specific internal controller settings, distribute both the regular block and the Controllers block.

To adjust hardware settings

The Setup button allows adjusting some of the global hardware parameters, including Global EQ, USB, AES and SPDIF levels, audio parameters.

To configure FC-6 and FC-12 controllers

The buttons "FC Controllers" and "Per-Preset FC" allow you to configure the FC-6 and FC-12 foot controllers from within the editor.

The "10" button (next to FC Controllers button) masks off the characters in the Preset and Scene name fields that do not fit in the FC scribble strips.

To access Axe-Change

The editors offer fast access to Axe-Change, Fractal Audio's site for sharing presets, cabs and effect blocks.

To Quick-Build a preset

Use the Quick-Build feature to create a preset, using an graphic inventory of all effect blocks.

To edit a preset title

When editing the preset title field, make sure to press Enter to make the editor aware of the title. Then press Save to store.

To clear, initialize, refresh or revert a preset

Clear – removes all blocks and clears the preset name
Initialize – resets each block in the preset to its default values and sets the preset name to INIT
Revert – instructs the editor to load the preset's stored settings from the hardware
Refresh – makes sure that the preset in the editor is in sync with the hardware

Read this: Presets

To change a parameter value in small steps

Hold Command (Mac) or Ctrl (Windows) while changing a value with the mouse.

To delete a cable between blocks

Double-click the cable.

To edit a modifier and attaching/detaching controllers

Right-click a modifiable control.

To reset a block

A reset can either apply to the current channel only (menu bar: Block > Reset Channel) or to the entire block (right-click block > Edit > Reset Block).

To swap blocks

Drag a block onto another block.

To engage or bypass a block across all scenes

Use the command in the Blocks > All Scenes menu.

To move rows and columns

The columns and rows in the editor have small handles, which you can drag to move the entire column or row.

To use Global blocks

Use the widget in the bottom left corner of the editor to manage Global blocks, on hardware that supports this feature.

Read this: Global Blocks

To use the Block Library

The Block Library lets you save and recall effects blocks. The block definitions are saved on your hard drive, giving you a near limitless amount of block combinations that you can store and pull from as you build your patches. You can share block definitions with other users. Blocks can be shared between Axe-Fx II, AX8 and FX8 devices. At the time of writing they can’t be shared between Axe-Fx III and FM3.

FracTool can convert block files between devices.

Saving a block definition saves everything about that block: the X/Y or Channel settings of the block as well as all scene states. The controllers assigned to the block are also saved but not the configuration of the specific controllers attached to the block. Note: X/Y and Channel support varies per Fractal Audio product.

Block files (.blk) should never be edited by hand. They contain checksum information that the editor uses to ensure they are valid block files and hand-editing the files will destroy their validity.

There are multiple ways to load a saved block definition into a patch:

• Right click on an empty spot in the grid and select Library -> Recall.
• Add a block to the grid and then use the block library area to select one of the saved block definitions from your library for that block type.
• Drag a block file from a Finder (Mac) of Explorer (Windows) window into the editor.

You can find the Block Library in the Block menu, the Grid context menu (right-click) and the Block Library control when any amp, cab, or effect block is selected on the grid.

The editor saves blocks to folders under /Fractal Audio/(editor) /blocks/. Files anywhere in this directory will be read into the library based on their type. The directory structure is ignored. You use a single folder to store block files from different devices. Don't worry if there are no subfolders under the /Blocks folder on your computer. It will be automatically created by the editor after dropping a BLK file in the /Blocks folder and restarting the editor, or after saving a block in the editor. If there's no Blocks folder either, saving a block in will create it.

Blocks files are saved to disk with a name and a date-stamp (similar to snapshots). The name of the file is not the name of the block as it appears in the editor. Changing the file name will not change the block library name. The block library name is internally stored and can only be changed through the editor. Blocks must be given a unique name per effect-type. For instance, one cannot create two Amp block entries with the name “Killer Tone”. Block names may be reused across effect types, however. An AMP and a CAB block could each be named “Great Tone”. Upon reading the blocks from disk, if a block currently being read has a name that is in use in the library for the given effect-type, then that block being read will have its name appended with a number. The original file will remain unchanged. For instance, if two Amp blocks have name “Great Tone”, then the first read library entry will be “Great Tone” and the second read library entry will be “Great Tone(1)”, and so on. This enables you to share library block files without having to worry about naming.

Deleting a library block entry from the Block Library widget will also delete the file from disk. If the Block Library control doesn't let you delete a block, delete the file itself from Fracrtal Audio/Axe-Edit/Blocks.

"Save Preset As Blocks": this command lets you store a preset as individual blocks. You use these blocks on other Fractal Audio devices through their editors.

To work with X/Y settings

Copy — right-click X or Y and select the corresponding command

Swap — right-click X or Y and select the corresponding command

Quick-toggle — the X and Y sets are a perfect way to do quick A/B comparisons on changes. Copy X to Y in the editor, start tweaking on the Y side of the block (or vice versa), press X for a quick comparison.

To work with Channels

Use the menu at the bottom left of Axe-Edit III and FM3-Edit to switch a selected block between its channels.

Use the menu above it to copy channel settings to another channel.

Use the command in Block > All Scenes to change a block to the same channel in all scenes.

Read this: Channels

Grid Navigation Mode

Grid Navigation lets you perform grid operations without loading and displaying the contents of the blocks, which speeds up everything. It doesn’t let you edit the effects themselves.

To activate this mode, press:

• Shift+Ctrl+G (Windows)
• Shift+Cmd+G (OS X)

Block Info button

Press the Block Info button to view the block instance and active channel of each block on the grid.

To make Snapshots

The Snapshot button, inscribed with a small camera icon on it, allows you to quickly save a snapshot of the current state of the preset. This is a handy "quick save" button that you can employ while working on a preset to save the state of the preset mid-edit, so you can return to it later or call it up for comparison.

Snap shots are saved to a standard location and the files are labeled with the name of the preset, followed by the date and time of the snapshot, so that every preset save is a unique file and ordered in time.