Fractal Audio AX8 Owner's Manual page 95

: Q Q: One or more of my presets produces no sound.
: A A: This might be any one (or several) of a number of things:
Is your rig working correctly? Most of the time, the problem is a faulty or disconnected cable!
Have you double-checked to ensure that you have a complete path from the input to the output?
Is there a MODIFIER assigned to a volume or level control while the pedal or external switch is not
present? See "Modifiers" on p. 63
Initial Value for an external controller from 0% to 100%.
See "External Controller Initial Values" on p. 70
Does the preset require a USER CAB which is not loaded? Try changing the CAB block to a Factory cab.
: Q Can I use a computer or external MIDI controller to operate the AX8?
: A Yes. The AX8 has a rich MIDI spec which allows it to be remote
controlled. See "MIDI Implementation" on p. 94
: Q What is "FRFR"?
: A FRFR stands for "full-range, flat response. " This acronym is used to describe a "neutral"
speaker or speaker system that is designed to reproduce the entire audible spectrum of 20
Hz – 20kHz without emphasis or de-emphasis. Examples of FRFR systems would include
studio monitors and properly designed PA systems or components. Many manufacturers
are also now offering FRFR systems designed specifically for direct guitar applications.
: Q Why all the technical terminology? Can't every control just go from 1 to 10?
: A Only the precise terminology of audio engineering allows the very diverse communities of
casual and professional players, producers, engineers, and others, to get the most from the
AX8. If you'd like to brush up on Hertz, PicoFarads, milliseconds, etc., you can easily find a
good glossary of pro audio terms online, or refer to the appendix of the Axe-Fx II manual.
: Q Why would I place a certain effect BEFORE or AFTER the Amp and Cab?
: A Sonically speaking, the main reason to care about effect placement is that a
given effect will sound different when placed before or after distortion.
How does this difference sound? If you've ever switched the sequence of traditional DRIVE
and WAH pedals, you've heard an excellent example. In the case of wah before overdrive, the
resonant filter of the wah "excites" the overdrive in a cool way while still retaining a natural overall
tone. When the wah follows distortion, you might hear a more dramatic filtered sweep—with
heavy distortion it can get almost synth-like—which might be considered less "classic. " It's not
surprising then that Wah would traditionally be a run as a "pre" effect between guitar and amp.
The amp's distortion follows the wah effect. Many other effects fall in this same category.
A different example is found in overdrive with reverb and delay. In the natural world, reverb
and echo occur because of open spaces around your guitar amp – like a club or concert hall.
These effects would therefore NOT be heard before a distorted amp, but after it. Recording
studios often add these kinds of effects at the console—after the mic has picked up the
distorted sound from the guitar amp. If you wanted to simulate this natural sounding reverb
or delay these effects would likely be run "post. " This is not to say that delay or reverb before
distortion is a "no-no. " Many "legendary" tones came from echo units in front of an amp—but
this effect is very different from "post" delay—not only tonally, but also in terms of dynamics.
The good news is that the AX8 allows you to experiment easily and find what combinations
of pre- and post-effects work best for you. Creativity begins where conformity ends.
for more about how to correct this. You may also need to change the
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