October 2024: Fractal Audio's VP4 Virtual Pedalboard added to the wiki.
Reset system parameters
The information on this page supplements the official manuals.
About resetting hardware
Sometimes something under the hood can go wrong, resulting in bad tone or unexpected behavior. In that case, try Utility > Reset System Params. This will restore all parameters in Global, I/O and Tuner to their factory defaults.
Resetting the system parameters does not impact presets or user cabs, or Global Blocks data.
Fractal Audio:
"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." source
Reset the Axe-Fx II
Axe-Fx II Mark I or II:
- Remove all presets: download the "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 clean system data file for firmware 11 and later
- Uploading the clean system file 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 the "empty cab" sysex file
Axe-Fx II XL and 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 block data. If you really need to get rid of that too, contact Fractal Audio Support.
Reset the AX8
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.
To bring the AX8 entirely back to factory defaults, use the Utility menu to clear all presets and user cabs, then import the factory presets again.
Reset the FX8
Perform a reset: Utility > Reset. This will restore all parameters in Global, I/O and Tuner to factory defaults.
This does not impact presets.
To bring the FX8 back to factory defaults, you can also use the Utility menu to clear all presets, and then import the factory presets again.