2 FM9-Edits open at the same time?

moremetalinmetal

moremetalinmetal

Member
Hello folks,
Is there any info on how to open 2 FM9-edits on a Mac at the same time? We use multiple FMs in the band and switching from one to another using just 1 instance of FM9-edit is real pain in the.......

Cheers,
Seb
 
Yes, there is a way to control one or more of the same Fractal Audio devices units using one computer.

The instructions below are for Axe-Edit and the Axe-Fx III, but they apply to all our devices. Simply replace the name of the device and the name of the editor in the instructions.

--------

You will need to run one Axe-Edit for each Axe-Fx III device. In other words, you will need two running Axe-Edit applications for two Axe-Fx III devices. By default only one Axe-Edit application can be run. However, there is a hidden flag that needs to be turned on in the "Axe-Edit III.settings" file to run multiple instances.

On Windows "Axe-Edit III.settings" can be found in the hidden directory:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Fractal Audio\Axe-Edit III

On Mac "Axe-Edit III.settings" can be found in:
<user>/Library/Application Support/Fractal Audio/Axe-Edit III

With Axe-Edit closed, open the file "Axe-Edit III.settings" in a text editor and look for the entry:
       <VALUE name="ALLOW_MORE_THAN_ONE" val="0"/>
change the value to a "1" like so:
<VALUE name="ALLOW_MORE_THAN_ONE" val="1"/>

Save and close "Axe-Edit III.settings".

Now this next part is a little trickier.
  • Connect both Axe-Fx III units to the same computer and power them on. Wait until both units show the HOME screen.
  • Start up Axe-Edit. You should see the "Available Devices" dialog box which lists both running Axe-Fx III devices.
  • Choose one of the entries, remember the PORT name that you selected, and cick "Connect".
  • Start up a second instance of Axe-Edit.
    • On MacOS you will need to open a Terminal window and type the following command to start the second instance:
      • open -n /Applications/Axe-Edit III.app
    • On Windows, simply double click the Axe-Edit icon to start the next instance.
  • The "Available Devices" dialog box should display on this newly running Axe-Edit.
  • Select the other Axe-Fx III device, ie, the device whose PORT name you did not select in step 3.
  • Both Axe-Edit applications should now be talking to separate Axe-Fx III units.
To make things a little easier, in Axe-Edit's "Setup" screen you can assign each Axe-Fx device it's own name ("Device A" and "Device B" for instance) which will be displayed on both the Axe-Fx's Home screen in the uppper-left and in the "Available Devices" dialog so that you don't have to remember PORT names.

Be aware that there is only one "Axe-Edit III.settings" file. If you make Axe-Edit Preferences changes, which ever Axe-Edit closes last is the one that writes the file. This includes the PORT name for the last connected Axe-Fx.

The next time you open Axe-Edit it may not auto-connect to the single running Axe-Fx. Simple open Axe-Edit's Preferences dialog and select the "Use Default Ports" button. This resets the PORT name in "Axe-Edit III.settings" to the default.
 
Michael Pickens said:
Yes, there is a way to control one or more of the same Fractal Audio devices units using one computer.

The instructions below are for Axe-Edit and the Axe-Fx III, but they apply to all our devices. Simply replace the name of the device and the name of the editor in the instructions.

--------

You will need to run one Axe-Edit for each Axe-Fx III device. In other words, you will need two running Axe-Edit applications for two Axe-Fx III devices. By default only one Axe-Edit application can be run. However, there is a hidden flag that needs to be turned on in the "Axe-Edit III.settings" file to run multiple instances.

On Windows "Axe-Edit III.settings" can be found in the hidden directory:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Fractal Audio\Axe-Edit III

On Mac "Axe-Edit III.settings" can be found in:
<user>/Library/Application Support/Fractal Audio/Axe-Edit III

With Axe-Edit closed, open the file "Axe-Edit III.settings" in a text editor and look for the entry:
       <VALUE name="ALLOW_MORE_THAN_ONE" val="0"/>
change the value to a "1" like so:
<VALUE name="ALLOW_MORE_THAN_ONE" val="1"/>

Save and close "Axe-Edit III.settings".

Now this next part is a little trickier.
  • Connect both Axe-Fx III units to the same computer and power them on. Wait until both units show the HOME screen.
  • Start up Axe-Edit. You should see the "Available Devices" dialog box which lists both running Axe-Fx III devices.
  • Choose one of the entries, remember the PORT name that you selected, and cick "Connect".
  • Start up a second instance of Axe-Edit.
    • On MacOS you will need to open a Terminal window and type the following command to start the second instance:
      • open -n /Applications/Axe-Edit III.app
    • On Windows, simply double click the Axe-Edit icon to start the next instance.
  • The "Available Devices" dialog box should display on this newly running Axe-Edit.
  • Select the other Axe-Fx III device, ie, the device whose PORT name you did not select in step 3.
  • Both Axe-Edit applications should now be talking to separate Axe-Fx III units.
To make things a little easier, in Axe-Edit's "Setup" screen you can assign each Axe-Fx device it's own name ("Device A" and "Device B" for instance) which will be displayed on both the Axe-Fx's Home screen in the uppper-left and in the "Available Devices" dialog so that you don't have to remember PORT names.

Be aware that there is only one "Axe-Edit III.settings" file. If you make Axe-Edit Preferences changes, which ever Axe-Edit closes last is the one that writes the file. This includes the PORT name for the last connected Axe-Fx.

The next time you open Axe-Edit it may not auto-connect to the single running Axe-Fx. Simple open Axe-Edit's Preferences dialog and select the "Use Default Ports" button. This resets the PORT name in "Axe-Edit III.settings" to the default.
Click to expand...
Many thanks! It works! tested on Mac. for both FM9-exit and AXE FX-edit. 🤘🏻🤘🏻🤘🏻
 
@Michael Pickens ,
A separate note - why is such functionality not available natively? I imagine that could work like this:
During app startup the app could scan and check if more than one fractal device is connected to 1 computer at the same time and if so, it could just ask whether the user wants to open 1 instance of the app or 2 separate ones (or more depending on the number of devices you have), one per particular device. As an extra feature it would be fantastic to have option to align Bothe devices' windows side by side automatically. Does it make sense? I think it does...

I have a few 'bright ideas' for new software features hahaha by the way - is there any official FAS "Wish box" available? I'd put some stuff in it for sure :))))
 
Last edited:
moremetalinmetal said:
is there any official FAS "Wish box" available?
Click to expand...
Create a post in the forum for a particular product and tag the post with "Wish". Use a title that succinctly explains the wish so others can tell what it's about. In the body of your post explain what you want and why.

It's good to research the particular topic by searching for similar words and see if others have already requested it and if Fractal has said it's not doable at this time; When searching the Advanced tab is useful. Also, some requests are good but we have reasonable workarounds to achieve similar or the same results so try those too.
 
Last edited:
OK, thanks. WIll add something useful stuff, to streamline the workflow, specially if you have multiple Fractal devices and want to manage the at the same time to get some consistency. Cheers.
 
Michael Pickens said:
Yes, there is a way to control one or more of the same Fractal Audio devices units using one computer.

The instructions below are for Axe-Edit and the Axe-Fx III, but they apply to all our devices. Simply replace the name of the device and the name of the editor in the instructions.

--------

You will need to run one Axe-Edit for each Axe-Fx III device. In other words, you will need two running Axe-Edit applications for two Axe-Fx III devices. By default only one Axe-Edit application can be run. However, there is a hidden flag that needs to be turned on in the "Axe-Edit III.settings" file to run multiple instances.

On Windows "Axe-Edit III.settings" can be found in the hidden directory:
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Roaming\Fractal Audio\Axe-Edit III

On Mac "Axe-Edit III.settings" can be found in:
<user>/Library/Application Support/Fractal Audio/Axe-Edit III

With Axe-Edit closed, open the file "Axe-Edit III.settings" in a text editor and look for the entry:
       <VALUE name="ALLOW_MORE_THAN_ONE" val="0"/>
change the value to a "1" like so:
<VALUE name="ALLOW_MORE_THAN_ONE" val="1"/>

Save and close "Axe-Edit III.settings".

Now this next part is a little trickier.
  • Connect both Axe-Fx III units to the same computer and power them on. Wait until both units show the HOME screen.
  • Start up Axe-Edit. You should see the "Available Devices" dialog box which lists both running Axe-Fx III devices.
  • Choose one of the entries, remember the PORT name that you selected, and cick "Connect".
  • Start up a second instance of Axe-Edit.
    • On MacOS you will need to open a Terminal window and type the following command to start the second instance:
      • open -n /Applications/Axe-Edit III.app
    • On Windows, simply double click the Axe-Edit icon to start the next instance.
  • The "Available Devices" dialog box should display on this newly running Axe-Edit.
  • Select the other Axe-Fx III device, ie, the device whose PORT name you did not select in step 3.
  • Both Axe-Edit applications should now be talking to separate Axe-Fx III units.
To make things a little easier, in Axe-Edit's "Setup" screen you can assign each Axe-Fx device it's own name ("Device A" and "Device B" for instance) which will be displayed on both the Axe-Fx's Home screen in the uppper-left and in the "Available Devices" dialog so that you don't have to remember PORT names.

Be aware that there is only one "Axe-Edit III.settings" file. If you make Axe-Edit Preferences changes, which ever Axe-Edit closes last is the one that writes the file. This includes the PORT name for the last connected Axe-Fx.

The next time you open Axe-Edit it may not auto-connect to the single running Axe-Fx. Simple open Axe-Edit's Preferences dialog and select the "Use Default Ports" button. This resets the PORT name in "Axe-Edit III.settings" to the default.
Click to expand...
Hi, @Michael Pickens
One more thing, if you don't mind. Is there an option on MacOS to start concrete device with terminal command or any other shortcut instead of changing a device after XX-edit has been started? you know, two FM9 are connected permanently to one computer and it would be great to be able to open FM9-edit for particular device just with one click :). Is it too much to ask?

e.g.
  • open -n /Applications/FM9-Edit.app does not open FM9-edit for unused device, but just general 2nd instance with an error - need to select the device manually.

BR,
Seb
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom