October 2024: Fractal Audio's VP4 Virtual Pedalboard has been added to the wiki.
FracPad and FracTool
Contents
FracPad III
About FracPad
Forum member and programmer AlGrenadine provides a handy editing app for Fractal Audio's processors: FracPad III. It provides all the tools to adjust your sound, edit and manage presets, blocks etc, on a tablet, smartphone or computer.
It allows naming scenes, attaching modifiers to any parameter, displaying real world amp/drive panels, searching parameters by name, displaying a tuner based on the Axe-Fx III's tuner UI, selecting knob skins, importing presets which were made for other products, turning the metronome on/off, and many, many other things.
A connection to the device is required.
FracPad III is commercial software, available for Android (6.0+) and iOS. You can try a demo version ("Lite") first.
For Windows and OS X, there's a free version.
Downloads:
- Full and "lite" versions for Android, and free version for Windows and Mac
- Commercial version for iOS
- Free "Lite" version for iOS
More information:
Connect FracPad III
Android (wired, wireless)
Wired – This requires a compatible USB adapter, called "USB OTG". This works with the AX8, FX8 and Axe-Fx II/III models.
Wireless – Bluetooth. For bluetooth editing, use a Yamaha UD-BT01 on AX8/FX8 or a Yamaha MD-BT01 for AxeFx II/XL/XL+/III and FM3.
Axe-Fx II and iOS (wired, 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 USB-to-MIDI interface like Roland's UM-One in conjunction with the "USB camera adapter" for Apple devices.
Wireless – Bluetooth. The Yamaha MD-BT01 interface is recommended. It connects to the MIDI IN and OUT ports on the Axe-Fx II.
AX8 or FX8 and iOS (wired, wireless)
Wired – Requires a USB connection, because the AX8 and FX8 do not support editing through MIDI. Use the "USB camera adapter" for Apple devices.
Wireless – Bluetooth. Try Yamaha's UD-BT01 interface and verify that it runs firmware 1.04 or later (run the Yamaha UD/MD utility, available in the US / Canadian app store).
Axe-Fx III and iOS (wired, wireless)
Wired – Requires a USB connection. Use the "USB camera adapter" for Apple devices.
Wireless – Bluetooth. Try Yamaha's MD-BT01 interface and verify that it runs firmware 1.04 or later (run the Yamaha UD/MD utility, available in the US / Canadian app store).
Axe-Fx II, AX8 or FX8 and iOS (wireless)
A Bluetooth connection requires Bluetooth LE (Low Energy), so make sure that the iOS device handles Bluetooth 4.0+. This requires at least an iPad 3 or iPhone 4s. [1]
FM3 iOS (wired, wireless)
Wired – Requires a MIDI-to-USB interface, because the USB port on the FM3 doesn't operate as USB host. Use a USB-to-MIDI interface like Roland's UM-One in conjunction with the "USB camera adapter" for Apple devices.
Wireless – Bluetooth. The Yamaha MD-BT01 interface is recommended. It connects to the MIDI IN and OUT ports on the FM3.
Establishing a wireless connection with the hardware using Yamaha's UD-BT01 or MD-BT01 adapter
FM9
Wired – Requires a USB connection. Use the "USB camera adapter" for Apple devices.
Wireless – Bluetooth. Try Yamaha's MD-BT01 interface and verify that it runs firmware 1.04 or later (run the Yamaha UD/MD utility, available in the US / Canadian app store).
FracTool
About FracTool
Forum member and programmer AlGrenadine provides a handy utility for Fractal Audio's processors: FracTool.
FracTool manages presets and cabs and does a lot more. It complements Fractal Audio's own editors. It works with and without a connection to the processor.
FracPad III is donationware. Don't forget to make a donation if FracTool helps you accomplishing things.
FracTool is constantly being improved. It will automatically update.
For a list of its current features, check the download thread above. Below is a shortlist of features.
Axe-Fx II and AX8
Conversion of presets between FAS devices
- Opens Axe-Fx II XL and XL+ presets on Axe-Fx II and Mark II devices, and performs offline conversion
- Opens Axe-Fx II presets on AX8 and FX8 devices, and vice versa, and performs offline conversion
- Converts Tone Match data, exports to WAV
- Converts Preset/Cab bundles
- Converts Block files
- Strips Global Block data
Auditioning and viewing
- Shows the list of cabs being used by presets
- Lists the presets in which a specific cab is being used
- Shows the layout of a preset, online and offline
- Shows a block parameters, online and offline
- Exports blocks from a preset
- Auditions single or multiple presets, cabs, and banks
- Creates banks from presets, converts banks into presets
- Renames presets and cabs
- Auto-auditions presets and cabs by using a timer
Amp models
- Compares amp models without changing parameters
- Resets specific parameters
Batch Setter
- Set, increase, or decrease a parameter in multiple presets
Other
- Exports grid and parameters values to PDF, CSV, XML or HTML
- Supports Axe-Change
- Auto-updates itself
- Supports ZIP-files
Check the forum thread for an actual list of features
Axe-Fx III
Same support as for the Axe-Fx II and more.
FracTool can convert FM3/Axe-Fx II/XL/XL+ presets and AX8 and FX8 presets, to make them load in the Axe-Fx III. Backwards conversion is not supported.
FM3
Same support as for the Axe-Fx III.
FracTool can convert Axe-Fx III/II/XL/XL+ presets and AX8 and FX8 presets, to make them load in the FM3. Backwards conversion is not supported.
FM9
To be announced.
FX8
FracTool supports the FX8. There are limitations because of differences in the architecture of the FX8:
- Parallel paths are not processed when converting to Axe-Fx and AX8
- Only the first 8 blocks of Axe-Fx and AX8 presets are processed when converting to FX8
