Controllers and modifiers

User contributions

About controllers and modifiers

• A controller is something that generates control data. For example: an expression pedal. And it’s considered an external controller, because the data is generated from outside the Axe-Fx II. The same goes for an external on/off switch and a MIDI floor controller, when connected to the Axe-Fx II.
• External controllers can be connected to the Axe-Fx II directly using the Pedal jack input at the rear, via MIDI IN or via a floor controller. In I/O > Ctrl you tell the Axe-Fx II which external controllers you are using.
• The Axe-Fx also has internal controllers, which output control data as well: Internal_controllers: ADSR, Envelope, LFO, Pitch, Sequencer. Push the Control button at the front to adjust settings. Adjusting settings always changes the current preset only, not all presets.
• And then there are modifiers. A modifier sits between an internal/external controller and the effect parameters which the controller controls. Still with me? The controller sends control data, which are modified by a modifier, and then change parameters in effect blocks. Actually, it’s far easier to work with than it is to explain.
• Example: Wahwah effect. Go into Edit mode and you’ll see a block under the FREQ parameter. This means that the frequency parameter can be controlled by a controller. If it is being controlled, the block will be filled. Now go to FREQ and press Enter. You’re now in the Modifier menu. Under Source you can select the internal or external controller you wish to attach, or select “None” to detach a controller. Start, End, Slope, Damping etc. are all modifier parameters. If you’d choose an internal controller like Envelope, you need to go to the Control menu (front panel button) to configure it.
• More controller and modifier-related topics

Detecting and quick-jumping to modifiers/controllers

• To check whether modifiers and controllers are used in a preset, press Control on the front panel and scroll to the MODS tab.
• When pressing Enter after selecting a modifier at the Mods page, that Modifier menu will open (except for "CONTROL" modifiers). Exit or Control will return from a modifier menu to Mods page

More information about internal controllers

• Wikipedia

Setting the initial state of an external controller

• Setting the initial state of an external controller is important in this scenario: you are using a pedal to control the overall volume. To make sure that Volume is at 100% when the pedal that controls Volume is NOT connected, set initial state to 100%.

Envelope and Pitch internal controllers: only front input and Input 1 left

• The Envelope and Pitch internal controllers only detect signals at the front input and Input 1 left (rear).

Modifier curves

• Firmware 6.02 "Added Scale and Offset parameters to Modifiers. The Scale parameter applies a “gain” to the modifier curve allowing the user to create steeper or shallower curves. The Offset parameter allows shifting the curve up or down."
• Here are some useful settings:
  • Simulating a Whammy, reaching an octave at toe-down, with extra "play" at the top: Pitch CONTROL; SCALE 1.089; OFFSET 10.0
  • Make the Auto-Engage "bump" disppear (true bypass at heel-down): Pitch MIX; Start 40; Mid 100; End 55; Slope 0; Scale 10; Offset 100
  • Make a modifier go straight from MIN to MAX at toe-down: START 0; MID 0; MAX 60; SLOPE 0; SCALE 10; OFFSET -100

Global Blocks and modifier/controller data

• Modifier parameters and controller assignments are not saved in Global Blocks. You can use use Effect Recall to copy controller and modifier settings between presets.

Using external controllers increases CPU utilization

• If you move a pedal the CPU utilization of the preset will increase slightly because of MIDI traffic management.

Controlling controllers in a DAW

• Read this

Scene Controllers

• Firmware 12 added "Scene Controllers". Just like a LFO, Envelope etc., you can assign these to a modifiable parameter. There are two of these per preset. The value of this controller can vary per preset scene, allowing you to use a single effect block in a preset and still have different tones (block parameters) in each scene, without the need to use X/Y or other workarounds. The controllers are accessed via the Control->Scene menu. Example: Scene Controller 1 might have a Scene 1 value of 10% and a Scene 2 value of 20%. This controller can be attached to Reverb Mix, for example, which would give a higher Reverb mix in the second scene compared to the first scene.
• Tips and examples:
  • http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-ii-discussion/77486-more-scene-controller-tips.html
  • http://forum.fractalaudio.com/axe-fx-ii-discussion/77487-more-scene-controller-tips.html
• Excellent tutorial videos:
  • By Chris @ Katsu Kuri
  • By Simeon
• And Chris also made a very handy chart to look up for values.