October 2024: Fractal Audio's VP4 Virtual Pedalboard added to the wiki.
Reset system parameters
Contents
Reset system parameters
When things do not sound like they should or do not work as expected, and you can't find a cause, execute the Reset System Parameters menu command in the Utility menu.
This returns all parameters in the Setup menu and Tuner menu menu to their factory default values. This includes the FC controller configuration.
Resetting the system parameters does NOT change or delete presets, nor user cabs, nor Global blocks.
IMPORTANT: before resetting, write down each non-factory setting which is required to operate your rig. And export your FC configuration from the editor.
"Doing a system reset and having that "fix" things does not surprise me at all. There are a variety of parameters that affect the overall sound that could be set incorrectly either by accident or by a bug in previous firmware. A system reset gives you a clean slate and ensures that the unit sounds as intended. The only drawback is that any changes you've made to I/O and MIDI control assignments will be lost." [1]
Axe-Fx III, FM9, FM3
Use the Utility menu to reset all system parameters in the Setup menu and Tuner menu.
The Utility menu also lets you delete all presets and all user cabs. You can reload the Factory presets with Fractal-Bot.
If a problematic system parameter prevents the Axe-Fx III, FM9 or FM3 from booting, hold EDIT on startup to bypass non-default system settings and reset them. Press-and-hold both EDIT and HOME at startup to bypass and reset the system settings AND load a clean preset.
Use Fractal-Bot to load Firmware onto the device.
You can also revert to a previous firmware version using the emergency bootloader:
- Power on holding both PAGE LEFT and PAGE RIGHT buttons until the Emergency Utility page appears.
- Update using Fractal-Bot.
A system reset also resets the FC Controllers settings. Use the editor to save and restore these settings.
Axe-Fx II
Axe-Fx II Mark I/II
- Delete all presets by sending an "empty bank" SysEx file. Launch Fractal-Bot, load the file and send it. The Bot will ask to which bank it should send the file. Just select one bank and repeat it for the other ones.
- The system data area of the Axe-Fx II contains all user cabs, configuration information and Global Blocks data. Cleaning it will delete it all. This is accomplished by downloading the clean System data file (see below). Launch Fractal-Bot, load the file and send it. The Bot will display a warning. Confirm, wait and it's done. Now restart the Axe-Fx II. After powering up all parameters in I/O, Global etc. will be reset to their default values, user cabs 1-50 will be empty and global blocks data is gone. Note that this method does not clear user cab slots 51-100.
- Download a clean System data file for firmware 11 and later.
- Uploading the clean System file to the Axe-Fx does not clear user cabs 51-100. This has to be done separately. Download the file listed below. Launch Fractal-Bot, load the file and send it. The Bot will ask to which slot it should send the empty IR. Type "51" (or Current if you have selected the cab slot on the unit itself) and send it. You have to repeat it for every slot. Note that when you select an user cab slot on the Axe-Fx after sending the empty IR to it, the Axe-Fx will still display the user cab name afterwards. You have to restart the Axe-Fx II to make the names disappear.
- Download an "empty cab" SysEx file.
- Then load the factory presets again.
Axe-Fx II XL/XL+
- Use the commands in the Utility menu to clear all presets and all user cabs.
- Execute the Reset System Params command in the Utility menu to restore alle parameters in Global, I/O and Tuner to factory defaults.
- The only left-overs will the Global Blocks data.
- Then load the factory presets again.
AX8, FX8
Follow these instructions to "clean" the hardware and restore its initial state.
- Perform a reset: Utility > Reset. This will restore all parameters in Global, I/O and Tuner to factory defaults. This does not impact presets or user cabs.
- Use the Utility menu to clear all presets and user cabs. Then load the factory presets again.
FC controller
Load the default Axe-Fx settings for your FC before first use:
- On the Axe-Fx III, open the SETUP menu. (Home page, push-knob E).
- Select FC Controllers and press ENTER.
- Turn to the Reset page.
- Select the relevant entry for FC-6 or FC-12 and press ENTER to load the default settings.
MFC-101
Read this: MFC-101 MIDI foot controller.
Back up and restore system settings with Fractal-Bot
Use Fractal-Bot to backup and restore all system settings in the Setup menu and Tuner menu.
Clean Global blocks
Read this: Global blocks.
Why does the device automatically reset its system parameters
If you turn off power too quickly after having adjusted entries in the global menus, it may interrupt the autosave process. If that happens, the device will automatically reset the system parameters the next time it's powered on.
"This means a failsafe was encountered. If the setup data checksum fails, which can happen if the power is interrupted while modifying it, the unit will detect that and revert to default values." [2]