Axe-Fx II Owner's Manual
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Owner’s Manual Legal Notices Fractal Audio Systems Axe-Fx II Owner’s Manual. Contents Copyright © 2011 -2012. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the permission of Fractal Audio Systems. Fractal Audio Systems, Axe-Fx, Axe-Fx II, G2 Modeling Technology (“G2”), Virtual Vacuum Tube (“VVT”) are trademarks of Fractal Audio Systems. Manufacturer names and product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated with or affiliated with Fractal Audio Systems. The names are used only to illustrate sonic and performance characteristics. Important Safety Instructions WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this appliance to rain or moisture. CAUTION: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not remove screws. There are no user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified service personnel. 1. Obey all warnings on the Axe-Fx II and in this User Guide. 2. Keep away from sources of heat such as heat ducts, registers or appliances which produce heat. 3. Connect only to a proper AC outlet of 100–240V, 47–63 Hz. 4. Keep the power cord in good condition. Do not kink, bend, or pinch. If the cord becomes damaged, discard and replace it. 5. If not using your Axe-Fx II for extended periods of time, disconnect from AC mains. 6. Protect the unit from rain and excessive moisture. 7. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only. 8. Do not operate the unit and obtain service if: a. Liquids or excessive moisture enter the unit. b. The unit operates incorrectly or performance is inconsistent or erratic. c. The unit has been dropped and/or the enclosure damaged. 9. Prolonged exposure to high volume levels can cause hearing damage and/or loss. The use of hearing protection in high volume situations is recommended. Doc v4.01 Doc v4.01 i Doc v4.01 Certificate of Conformity Fractal Audio Systems, USA, hereby declares on its own responsibility that the following product: Axe-Fx II Digital Guitar Preamplifier and Effects Processor - that is covered by this certificate and marked with CE label conforms to following standards: EN60065 Safety requirement for mains operated electronic and related apparatus for household and (IEC 60065) similar use. EN 55103-1 Product family standard for audio, video, audio-visual, and entertainment lighting control apparatus for professional use. Part 1: Emission. EN 55103-2 Product family standard for audio, video, audio-visual, and entertainment lighting control apparatus for professional use. Part 2: Immunity. with reference to regulations in following directives: 73/23/EEC, 89/336/EEC. Issued in May 2011 Clifford Chase, President Fractal Audio Systems EMC / EMI This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B Digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in residential installations. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. There is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver. Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help. About the Author Matt Picone is a music technology product specialist, sound designer, creative director, and musician with over 25 years of experience spanning guitars, amps, effects, synthesizers, software, and beyond. He also works as a consultant to many greats including Dweezil Zappa, Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Dream Theater, the Edge, Peter Frampton, Neal Schon, King’s X, Scott Appleton (Def Leppard/Rush/etc.) and more. This work is based extensively on the original Axe-Fx manual by Fractal Audio founder and Axe-Fx creator Cliff Chase. Many thanks to our team of awesome beta-testers, preset creators, copy-editors and proofreaders. You may report manual corrections or suggestions in our forum at http://forum.fractalaudio.com ii Doc v4.01 Foreword Thank you for purchasing an Axe-Fx II, one of the most powerful musical instrument processors ever produced. Please take the time to read through this manual to become acquainted with the Axe-Fx II. Thinking back to a date when the first Axe-Fx units rolled off the line back in 2006, it would have been a challenge to predict the scale of what was to follow… that the product would be such a worldwide success that we would have a hard time keeping it in stock; that musicians would rally around the unit, from online “Axe-evangelists” to the world’s most celebrated pro players; that we’d soon be writing the foreword to a manual for the sequel: the Axe-Fx II. Nevertheless, the Axe-Fx II is here. Advances in technology and knowledge, along with the shared insights of our community, have allowed us to design and produce a next-generation product that represents a giant step forward. If you owned a Standard or an Ultra, we think you’ll be very impressed with all the updates, additions and improvements. If you’re new to the Axe-Fx family, this is an incredible place to start. It has been said that the Axe-Fx “restored digital to its rightful place as the superior solution to musical effects processing.” Every aspect of the Axe-Fx II has been designed to deliver the latest word in this commentary. It has twice the power of the Axe-Fx Ultra (while even the older “Standard” still has more horsepower under the hood than the closest competitor). For the player, this means better sound, smarter features, and improved performance. We think that a time traveler from that date back in 2006 would be quite impressed with how things turned out. We are, and we hope you will be too. And now, on to the show… —Fractal Audio Systems, May 2011 Doc v4.01 iii Doc v4.01 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents Foreword .......................................................................................... iii Table of Contents .............................................................................. iv What’s New ........................................................................................ 1 1 Introduction .................................................................................. 4 1.1 What is the Axe FX II? .............................................................................. 4 1.2 The Inventory/Grid Concept ..................................................................... 6 1.3 Connectivity and More ............................................................................. 7 1.3.1 My Head Hertz… .................................................................................................................................... 7 2 Overview ....................................................................................... 8 2.1 The Front Panel ........................................................................................ 8 2.2 The Rear Panel ....................................................................................... 10 2.3 Computer Integration ............................................................................ 12 2.3.1 Minimum Requirements ...................................................................................................................... 12 2.3.2 Software Installation ............................................................................................................................ 12 2.3.3 Capabilities ........................................................................................................................................... 13 3 Connections ................................................................................. 15 3.1 Setting Levels ......................................................................................... 15 3.2 The PEDAL Jack ...................................................................................... 16 3.3 System Parameters ................................................................................ 16 3.4 Connection Diagrams ............................................................................. 17 3.4.1 Axe-Fx II into Self-Powered Full-Range Speakers ................................................................................. 18 3.4.2 Axe-Fx II into Studio Monitors ............................................................................................................. 18 3.4.3 Axe-Fx II with Power Amp and Guitar Speakers .................................................................................. 19 3.4.4 Axe-Fx II Effects Loop ........................................................................................................................... 20 3.4.5 Axe-Fx II Digital Audio Interconnection ............................................................................................... 20 3.4.6 Axe-Fx II Four Cable Method (“4CM”) ................................................................................................. 21 3.4.7 Direct to FOH plus Real