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FX8 (legacy)

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FX8 owner's manual

FX8 forum

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FX8-Edit software editor

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FX8 pictures (top and rear)

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FX8 specifications

  • Dimensions and weight:
    • 16.4" x 10.3" x 3.1" / 415mm x 232mm x 79mm.
    • 11.5 lbs/ 5.2 kg.
  • Footswitches:
    • Fractal Audio's proprietary Solid State Switches, no mechanical contacts.
  • Display:
    • 160x80 LCD.
  • USB:
    • USB 2.0 Type B.
  • Sample rate:
    • 48 kHz.
  • Impedance:
    • 1 Megohm.
  • Power:
    • The FX8 has an universal power supply.

FX8 product information

  • "The FX8 is a new multi-effects pedalboard designed to deliver Fractal’s signature quality without compromise in an effects-only floor unit. FX8 runs up to eight simultaneous effects using the state-of-the-art algorithms made famous in the Axe-Fx II line of processors. It features a rugged steel chassis with aircraft aluminum end-panels, convenient top handle, eleven quiet, durable solid state footswitches with no mechanical contacts to fail, 27 LEDs in three colors, five knobs beneath a bright display, Humbuster™ outputs to eliminate hum due to ground loops (when used with Humbuster™ cables), dual TRS relays for amp switching, two switch/expression pedal jacks, USB, MIDI and more. The unit is designed for unity gain and offers true bypass. Above all, it features an extremely high quality signal path to deliver ultra-low noise and pristine sound quality. In other words, “no tone suck!”
  • "Onboard preset memories let you create 128 totally different pedalboards. Every effect in every preset can be run in series or parallel. Using the optional “four cable” setup, you can place each effect “PRE” (between guitar and amp, where pedals go) or “POST” (in the amp’s send/return loop, where rack effects are typically placed)."
  • "Use Stompbox Mode on the FX8 for traditional effect “tap dance” switching, or leverage the eight SCENES in each preset to engage pre-defined effect groups from a single switch. Many effects also offer “XY” switching, which gives them two completely different sound settings: imagine dialing in a single drive pedal with both “Overdrive” and “Fuzz” channels, or a reverb with foot-selectable “spring” and “hall” sounds."
  • "The fantastically flexible modifier system enables easy real-time sound changes. You can plug two expression pedals (like the forthcoming Fractal EV-1!) into the onboard jacks to control Wah, Whammy, Volume, or virtually anything else, and utilize MIDI or onboard controllers for automated dynamic effects. A precision tuner, two global equalizers and a dedicated, global 4-minute stereo Looper are also built-in."
  • "FX8-EDIT, a full-featured software editor, is also included free. In the tradition of all Fractal Audio Systems products, the FX8 is fully compatible with Fractal-Bot for preset sharing, easy backup and restore, plus firmware updates as new features are added."
  • List of features:
    • FX8 is an advanced multi-effects processor, perfect for guitar, bass, and other instruments.
    • “Built Like a Tank” with a powder-coated steel chassis and aircraft aluminum end panels.
    • Eleven quiet, durable solid state footswitches with no mechanical contacts to fail. 27 LEDs!
    • Two onboard TRS RELAYS to control your amp’s channel or effect switching.
    • Two onboard PEDAL jacks to connect footswitches or expression pedals.
    • FX8 can control or respond to other MIDI gear in your rig with MIDI IN and OUT/THRU ports.
    • Easy-to-use with a 160×80px display, 6 buttons, 5 knobs, and minimal menu diving.
    • 128 PRESETS allow you to create 128 completely different pedalboards.
    • Up to eight simultaneous effects per preset, with state-of-the-art “Fractal-quality” algorithms.
    • Each effect can be configured as desired: Pre/Post, Series/Parallel.
    • “Stompbox Mode” provides traditional ON/OFF switching, plus XY switching (with press & hold).
    • “XY” gives many effects two completely different sets of settings for maximum sonic flexibility.
    • Eight SCENES/preset allow you to load effect ON/OFF and X/Y “combos” (plus relays and MIDI.)
    • “Modifiers” allow real-time control of many parameters via MIDI, pedals, or controllers.
    • Designed for UNITY GAIN (both PRE and POST) and featuring TRUE BYPASS.
    • High quality converters deliver ultra-low noise and pristine audio. No tone suck!
    • Humbuster™ outputs help defeat ground hum (when used with Humbuster™ Cables).
    • Built-in global IN and OUT VOLUME (pedal-assignable) & dual global 10-band Graphic EQ.
    • Every preset includes a built-in dedicated global 4-MINUTE LOOPER (8m in mono)
    • USB for connection to a Mac or PC for easy editing, backup/restore, and firmware updates.
    • FX8-Edit, a free editor/librarian, gives user-friendly access to all sound settings.
    • And more! Upgradeable firmware means the FX8 will get updates and new features.

Fractal Audio FX8 quotes

  • "This product is aimed at the person who doesn't want to use modeling. It is specifically designed for use with an amp. The I/O architecture was designed to integrate with tube amps. source
  • "Just effects. Specifically designed for 4CM with dedicated pre- and post- paths. Up to 8 simultaneous effects. Any number assignable pre/post. Any combination of series or parallel routing. Two expression pedal inputs, four relay outputs. USB for remote editing with free FX8-Edit software. Silent Switch technology from the MFC Mark III. True Bypass. Etc., etc. Don't drop it on your foot." source
  • "Amp channel switching? Yes." source
  • "Anything new that's not in the Axe-Fx II? True bypass and relay outputs. Longer Looper time. Other than that it's most of the fx from the Axe-Fx II in a floor package." source And: It doesn't have the vocoder or quad chorus. It has two instances of many effects (the ones where you'd want more than one). source
  • "Note that each relay jack is TRS so there are two relays per jack so you get four relay outputs." source
  • "You don't have to use TRS. With a mono cable obviously you'll only get one relay output." source
  • "Internal, universal power supply." source
  • "Will it respond to Program Change and CC commands? Yes, and it supports SCENES too." source
  • "The FX-8 is not a substitute for the MFC. It cannot function as a dedicated MIDI controller for the Axe-Fx. It will send basic MIDI commands but it is not intended to be a MIDI controller." source
  • "It can't do the two-way comms that the Axe-Fx II uses. It can operate as a BASIC midi controller but it's not nearly as capable as an MFC. If all you need is PC, CC and expression then, yes, it can do that." source
  • "I believe that the number one feature of this product is "No Tone Suck". The noise floor is amazingly low, you can't tell when the unit is engaged versus bypassed. The analog signal path design is pristine. We used these new Analog Devices premium op-amps which cost about 10x what other manufacturers typically use and the results are worth it." source
  • "No fan." source
  • "You can select whether True Bypass bypasses both the pre (before amp) and post (amp's loop) paths or just the pre path. Honestly though the noise floor is so low that you'd be hard pressed to tell whether it was true bypass or DSP bypass. The signal still goes through a buffer but bypasses the converters. I guess technically it should be called "Buffered True Bypass". The buffer has an extremely low self-noise." source
  • "The FX8 has 128 different presets (patch); each preset has 8 scenes:
    • Preset - up to 8 unique effects, configured in any desired Pre/Post configuration (4/4, 2/6, etc.)
    • Scene - each scene saves the following effect states: On/Off, X/Y (when available).
  • Spillover can be configured for both Preset transitions and Scene transitions.
  • Each footswitch controls the On/Off and X/Y state of the corresponding effect. More transitions can be controlled through the use of Presets and Scenes.
  • The Looper settings are stored with each Preset, but the audio is not.
  • The FX8 groups the effects in the Pre (before the amp) Loop and Post (Effects Loop) Loop. There is a Pre/Post setting that is saved with each preset. Simply changing your Pre/Post setting to 8/0 will put all of your effects in the Pre loop." source
  • "The footswitches are not freely assigned. In "Stompbox" mode, they toggle the effect on/off, in Scene change they select the appropriate scene, and in preset/bank change, they select the appropriate preset." source
  • "There are two Scene Controllers that can be attached to modifiers. You can use one of the scene controllers to change the value of your Reverb hold from off to on, and back." source
  • "There are 12 external controllers." source
  • "Like the Axe-FX, there is a CPU meter, and you do have to be aware of your utilization." source
  • "Bypassing the front end does work like other products and will reduce the added noise since it bypasses the converters and associated electronics. However the FX-8 is so quiet that any added noise is virtually imperceptible. The self-noise of the FX-8 is less than the self-noise of a typical electric guitar so the guitar itself becomes the dominant noise source. This was a challenging design point and I spent a lot of time figuring out how to make an A/D system that could meet that requirement. So, while you can bypass the front end (if you want to be a purist), it's not really necessary as the unit is so quiet anyways." source
  • "Where effects are common to both units, you can export them from the Axe-FX, and import them into the FX8." source
  • "Each scene can be programmed to send a Program Change on scene change. Additionally, there are two MIDI blocks (with X/Y) that can be programmed to send Program Change and/or Command Change." source
  • "There is a Relay Block for relay 1, and a separate block for relay two. When the block is in the Disabled state, the relay is "OFF" or open. When the block is in the Enabled state, the relay is in the programmed state: Tip to Sleeve, Ring to Sleeve, or Both. The block has X/Y, so the "On" state can have two different connections. Additionally, each scene change can drive either relay to one of the following states: OFF, Tip to Sleeve, Ring to Sleeve, or Both. Note: using a RELAY block disables scene changes." source
  • "Scene changes can set relay states and send MIDI program changes without using effect blocks." source
  • "You have 8 scenes per preset. Scenes do not necessarily change any effect unless you want. Additionally, you can use the relay block with X/Y settings allowing for two separate "On" states for the given relay. X/Y can be changed on any block using scenes or "stomp box" mode. If your amp requires a single relay output to transition to all three "On" states (Tip to Sleeve, Ring to Sleeve, and Both) then you will need to use scenes. Otherwise, either option will work for you, and it will be a matter of preference." source
  • "No Amp or Cabinet simulation. Just effects (up to 8 at a time)." source
  • "There are two methods for triggering the relay outputs: (2) Tie them to scene changes (2) Use a relay block in the grid - ties the block to a particular footswitch. Because they both rely on software to drive the relay(s), some CPU utilization is required (albeit a very small amount). However, if you do not wish to use scenes to drive the relay(s), then you have to tie the change to a foot switch. This consumes real estate in the grid as it also consumes a footswitch to drive the relay." source
  • "The FX8 has 3 main modes: Stompbox mode, Scene Mode, and Preset Mode. The default is Stompbox; stepping on the footswitch will toggle bypass (on/off) on the associated effect, and press and hold of the footswitch will toggle X/Y if the associated effect supports X/Y. SCENE mode is activated by pressing the SCENE/PRESET footswitch and then pressing the footswitch associated with the desired SCENE ( 1 - 8 ). PRESET mode is activated by press and holding the SCENE/PRESET footswitch, and then pressing the footswitch associated with the desired PRESET. When in PRESET mode there are 16 Banks (A - P) each containing 8 presets. Two Notes:
    1. SCENE mode and PRESET mode have global STICKY parameters that can be set. When these parameters are set to ON, selecting SCENE or PRESET mode will stay activated until specifically deactivated by the user.
    2. The PRESS and HOLD time can be adjusted between (0.25 seconds - 2.0 seconds)." source
  • "The default mode is "STOMPBOX" mode. Which allows you do enable/bypass effects on the fly. You are only in SCENE mode when you step on the SCENE/PRESET footswitch. Once the SCENE changes, you fall back into STOMPBOX mode immediately. (Unless you have turned STICKY SCENE "on")." source
  • "There are 8 scenes per preset, corresponding to the 8 effect footswitches. When in STICKY SCENES are turned on, stepping on the SCENE/PRESET footswitch puts you in SCENE mode. Once in SCENE mode, each of the numbered footswitches will change to the active scene. Once you wish to return to STOMPBOX mode, step on the SCENE/PRESET footswitch again." source
  • "USB is for configuration and MIDI only." source
  • "The FX8 uses the standard USB MIDI drivers. No additional drivers are required." source
  • "No driver is required. FX8 is fully class compliant." source
  • "The Pedal inputs are not configured to handle two switches." source
  • "The FX-8 was specifically designed to be a "Pro" unit. No BS, no whacky effects. What you get is straightforward, extremely high-quality effects and circuit design. The money is in the circuitry. It's very difficult to design something that is sonically transparent. To do so requires expensive parts. The I/O in/out of the converters is all balanced design which most consumer products don't use. This almost doubles the number of components needed (and hence the cost) but results in lower noise and distortion. The converters themselves are Cirrus Logic's "flagship" converters (= $$$$$). Our philosophy with the FX-8 and upcoming AX-8 is no-frills, just absolute best sound quality in a convenient floor unit." source
  • "Are the outputs buffered for long cable runs? Yes." source
  • "Both the AX-8 and FX-8 are made in the USA." source
  • "The AX-8 is not "way more powerful" than the FX-8. The AX-8 has one additional DSP that is DEDICATED to amp modeling. If you don't use the amp modeling the AX-8 has the same power as the FX-8. The AX-8 will not work as well as the FX-8 in 4CM. It is not designed for that. It will do 4CM, as will most digital processors but the FX-8 is the only processor of which I'm aware that is truly optimized for 4CM. That optimization requires a lot of expensive circuitry. The op-amps used are very expensive and there's dozens of them just to support the 4CM stuff. Add to that relays for true bypass, metal film capacitors, etc., etc., and you end up with an expensive design. The FX-8 and AX-8 are built on the same code base. There is a single folder that is used to build the common elements for both products. Enhancements to one automatically enhance the other. All this work we've been doing for the AX-8 will improve the FX-8. The AX-8 will be much more popular than the FX-8. That should be obvious. Most people want the amp modeling. If you don't care about the amp modeling then the FX-8 is the better product and the whole reason for having two different products."
  • "The AX-8 and FX-8 use the same converters (CS4272-CZZ) and op-amps. The circuit design in the FX-8 is necessarily much more complex to support true-bypass switching (without pops and clicks) and to optimize the outputs for use in 4CM." source

FX8 videos

FX8 bags and road cases

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