devices · Axe-Fx III · reference · questions and answers
questions and answers
what's the difference between a scene and a channel on the Axe-Fx III?
A scene is a snapshot of the whole preset—what is bypassed and which channel each block is on. A channel is a variation inside one block, and every block has four. Scenes are the song sections. Channels are the four drives living in one Drive block.
does the Axe-Fx III come with footswitches?
No. It is driven from the front panel unless you add an FC-6 or FC-12, which connects over a single XLR cable and is a separate purchase.
how many amps can an Axe-Fx III preset have?
Two amp and cab pairs. The FM9 also allows two. The FM3 allows one.
which input should my guitar go in?
Input 1. It carries Fractal's Secret Sauce instrument front end. Inputs 2, 3 and 4 are line level and will not sound the same.
how do I get rid of hum going into my amp?
Use a Humbuster cable from a quarter-inch output—TRS at the Axe-Fx end, TS at the amp. That wiring cancels ground-loop hum and is built into every quarter-inch output.
how big is the Axe-Fx III grid?
14 columns by 6 rows, and every slot and cable is stereo—you never build separate left and right paths.
why did my sound cut out when I changed preset?
A preset change reloads the whole grid. Build song sections as scenes inside one preset instead—scenes load nothing, so they switch seamlessly and tails carry through.
how many presets does the Axe-Fx III hold?
512, or 1024 on the Mark II.
can I use the XLR and quarter-inch outputs at the same time?
Yes. Output 1's XLR and quarter-inch jacks carry the same signal simultaneously, so the desk and your amp can share one output.
what is Cygnus?
Fractal's current amp modeling generation, on the Axe-Fx III, FM9 and FM3. The Axe-Fx II runs the older Ares line and cannot be updated to it.