October 2024: Fractal Audio's VP4 Virtual Pedalboard has been added to the wiki.
Fractal-Bot
Contents
About Fractal-Bot
Fractal-Bot is a simple software utility for Fractal Audio devices. It's free.
Use Fractal-Bot to:
- Update the firmware of the device
- Update the USB firmware of the device
- Send and retrieve single presets or preset banks
- Send and retrieve a single IR or cab banks
- Backup and restore system data, including Global blocks
- Backup and restore the configuration of FC controllers
Download the latest (standalone) version of Fractal-Bot for Windows or OS X)
More information:
Read this first
- Always create backups of your presets etc. on a regular basis! Fractal-Bot makes it fast and easy.
- To connect Fractal-Bot to your computer, you may need to install a driver for your operating system. read this: USB.
- Use the correct USB port (USB-B type).
- Fractal-Bot can be launched at as standalone application, of as an embedded tool from within the editors.
- In case of issues, verify that you're running the latest version of Fractal-Bot.
- In case of connection issues, try another USB cable first.
- To prevent communications issues, don't run Fractal-Bot and the editor at the same time.
- If Fractal-Bot hangs during transfers, check for corrupted presets or cabs.
- When using Global blocks in your presets, make sure to back up the system data too.
- After restoring system data to your device, shut down your device and boot it again.
- The "Auto-Update Firmware" feature in Fractal-Bot doesn't signal beta versions of firmware.
- Fractal-Bot doesn't save your editor's Library. The contents are already stored on your computer.
- If you've restored presets to your device with Fractal-Bot, and they don't seem to appear on your device, make sure that the device is running current firmware.
- When using an Axe-Fx II, disable USB Adapter Mode.
- If something goes wrong when installing new firmware, and your device won't boot, read this: Emergency boot recovery.
Working with Fractal-Bot
Connecting
Fractal-Bot uses the same kind of connection as the editor does. Read this: Editors
Launching from the editor
The embedded version of Fractal-Bot is located the editors' Tools menu. It is the same as the standalone version.
Auto-update
Fractal-Bot checks for updates itself and will notify you if an update is available.
Update firmware
Read this: Firmware
Install factory presets
Read this: Factory presets
Hidden Utility mode
In some cases, Fractal-Bot needs to operate in a special mode.
- Hold CTRL (Windows) or COMMAND (Mac), and:
- Click "Select Device" to reveal and select the hidden “Utility” menu option
- Select the output port
- A MIDI Buffer Delay will appear, set this to 300 ms.
Tips, tricks and troubleshooting
Snapshots
Saving Snapshots in the editor is another way to quickly create backups of a preset. Read this: Editors.
Speed up transfers
Switch to an empty preset before launching Fractal-Bot can speed up transfers.
Don't run Fractal-Bot and the editor at the same time
Don't run the standalone version of Fractal-Bot and a software editor at the same time.
If the Browse button doesn't work
If the Browse button doesn't work, exit Fractal-Bot, delete the file "Fractal-Bot.settings" and restart.
Emergency Boot Recovery
In the event of issues during or after upgrading firmware, try this: Emergency boot recovery
