Fractal-Bot

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:

• Owners Manuals
• Discussion forum
• Wicked Wiki thread

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).
• Fractal-Bot is available as a standalone application, and as an embedded tool in 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.

1. Hold CTRL (Windows) or COMMAND (Mac), and:
2. Click "Select Device" to reveal and select the hidden “Utility” menu option
3. Select the output port
4. 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