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).
- 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
Connect
Fractal-Bot uses the same kind of connection as the editor does. Read this: Editors
Launch from within the editor
The embedded version of Fractal-Bot is located in 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)
- 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 presets. Read this: Editors
Speed up transfers
Switch to an empty preset before launching Fractal-Bot may speed up data 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
