devices · Axe-Fx III · learn · 03 of 08 · 8 min
scenes and channels
the one thing
A scene is a snapshot of the whole preset. A channel is a variation inside one block, four per block. They are different axes. Use both.
two different things
A scene stores which blocks are bypassed and which channel each block is on. Eight per preset, always present, and you cannot add or delete them. A channel is a preset within a block—up to four per block, A to D, each with fully independent settings.
So one Drive block can hold a clean boost on A, a screamer on B, a distortion on C and a fuzz on D. A scene decides which is live. Helix has snapshots, which correspond to scenes, and nothing at all corresponding to channels.
why it matters
Nothing loads when a scene changes, so the switch is seamless and delay and reverb tails carry through. A preset change reloads the whole grid and cannot do that.
The rule is the same as on any modeler: one preset per song, one scene per section. Fractal add a second axis underneath it, so one preset covers far more ground before you need another.
scenes and channels