Axe-Fx III Firmware 31.02 Release

[KFF]

Anyone else run into a issue with the USB audio in stopping after 5 to 10 min's?

Axe-FX III, FM9 Turbo, FM3 owner here. Happy, happy, happy... however...

Within a few short months on this wonderful journey: USB was never going to work for me. I wish there was a mode to KILL any soundcard options. Just give me basic Edit(s) communication.

Recently received an AM4... more true Fractal love. Alas... hello USB, my old friend.

I'm busy, but have been drilling down here and there, as time permits. Literally... bottom line so far (referencing AM4)...



Windows is a trip... I guess. But USB 2.0 HS Device Qualifier Descriptors are a thing.

Not even remotely trying to point a finger... or pull a trigger.

Secretly... I LOVE rabbit holes...I guess...

 

[Zedhed]

Not sure if it will help, but version 1.18 was released - might want to try that.

https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/usb-firmware-v-1-18-release.217678/

New units shipping out in the near future will have a different part inside. This part is responsible for starting up the device. Support for the part was added in this release. If your unit has the old part, then the new code is irrelevant.

I want to reiterate that you do not currently need to install this update.

 

[ApocalypticKatana]

If you mean USB audio in block (input 7+8 comp to ax3) specifically then no problems here

My signal path, I use voicemeter to send…windows audio>voicemeter>ax3 usb in block

I watched episodes/movies with audio going through the ax3’s usb input block no problem on 31.02

For reference I attached a USB guide for the ax3

 

[Andrew Male]

Been trying out 31.02 on the axe. Anyone else run into a issue with the USB audio in stopping after 5 to 10 min's? The only way I have been able to get it going again is to reboot the Axe. I first noticed it when recording using Studio One with Axe as the interface. The output seems to work fine as I still get signal to studio one after the input stops working. With studio one and all other USB devices removed it does the same thing when playing a .mp3 as a test (stops after 5 to 10 mins). Just to be clear, this is the USB audio coming from the PC into the AxeFX.

• Windows 10
• AxeFX - FW-31.02
• AxeEdit- 1.14.25
• AxeFXUSB - 1.17
• Device Driver: 5.74.0.20373

Try a new USB cable. I had similar issues and it was the cable.

 

[unix-guy]

Within a few short months on this wonderful journey: USB was never going to work for me.

What does this even mean?

 

[KFF]

What does this even mean?

I use multiple units simultaneously in my studio. Just skipping USB altogether is the play on my main machine... S/PDIF to interfaces simplifies things for me.

I connect my Fractals to a separate computer through USB for Editors. Ever evolving, but this workflow seems best for now.

 

[KFF]

What does this even mean?

Say... have you run units to Edit through MIDI? Is it wayyyy slower, or manageable?

edit: Is that even possible... or is that just for FW updates?

 

[mr_fender]

It's possible but transfers over Din cables are very slow. Backups and updates take significantly longer to transfer.

 

[KFF]

It's possible but transfers over Din cables are very slow. Backups and updates take significantly longer to transfer.

Thank you. I'll check it out in the new year.

 

[Jdn]

Been trying out 31.02 on the axe. Anyone else run into a issue with the USB audio in stopping after 5 to 10 min's? The only way I have been able to get it going again is to reboot the Axe. I first noticed it when recording using Studio One with Axe as the interface. The output seems to work fine as I still get signal to studio one after the input stops working. With studio one and all other USB devices removed it does the same thing when playing a .mp3 as a test (stops after 5 to 10 mins). Just to be clear, this is the USB audio coming from the PC into the AxeFX.

• Windows 10
• AxeFX - FW-31.02
• AxeEdit- 1.14.25
• AxeFXUSB - 1.17
• Device Driver: 5.74.0.20373

Same here. Iphone into AxeFX3 via USB. Rebooting fixed it.
J

 

[stereotactic]

What you're hearing is IMD. There's more of it now and it's intentional because that's what amps do. If you don't like it roll back to an earlier firmware.

I recommend anyone complaining about it to compare the models to the actual tube amps.

Would it be possible to add an IMD parameter to any of the models that would allow a reduction of IMD to some degree? This would be useful for those of us who use high gain sounds but would like a little more clarity for chords.

My favorite Axe 3 chordal results are a combination of tracking individual strings for each voice of a chord, mixed under a track of the chord played normally. Without the whole original chord track, the individual string tracks together sound a bit too much like a polyphonic analog synth. Which means a certain level of IMD will likely always be desirable.

Regardless of all that, the Axe 3 is still way more clear and articulated than the results I was getting with my 2 amps and preamp mixed together in my old fridge rack. Thank you for all the great hard work making such a fantastic piece of gear. It has changed my life for the better in many ways, creatively and physically.

 

[App12]

What you're hearing is IMD. There's more of it now and it's intentional because that's what amps do. If you don't like it roll back to an earlier firmware.

I recommend anyone complaining about it to compare the models to the actual tube amps.

This is a very good suggestion. As no one has access to the amps, could Fractal post high quality audio of the amps and then we could do exactly as you have suggested? Right now I mainly use a ToneX for amps as even with the v2 change I can always load up the v1 version if I prefer without being to to rollback the firmware and lose other potential benefits like effects etc. that they have added.

 

[Budda]

This is a very good suggestion. As no one has access to the amps, could Fractal post high quality audio of the amps and then we could do exactly as you have suggested? Right now I mainly use a ToneX for amps as even with the v2 change I can always load up the v1 version if I prefer without being to to rollback the firmware and lose other potential benefits like effects etc. that they have added.

One thing i dont need the fas team doing is hauling every amp out of storage to make clips.

 

[lscottk]

This is a very good suggestion. As no one has access to the amps, could Fractal post high quality audio of the amps and then we could do exactly as you have suggested? Right now I mainly use a ToneX for amps as even with the v2 change I can always load up the v1 version if I prefer without being to to rollback the firmware and lose other potential benefits like effects etc. that they have added.

Are you asking Fractal to make 300 clips of all the amp models every time there is a firmware upgrade? IMHO, this request is unreasonable and is all about splitting hairs. As has been said many times on this forum, there are tonal variations, sometimes significant differences, between individual amps of the same make/model due to parts variances.

If you make a backup of your system settings and your presets then you can make your own comparisons to decide if new firmware is right for you. If you don't like what the new firmware sounds like then you can roll back to what you do like. Doesn't that make more sense than asking someone at Fractal to spend hours carting around amps, setting up mics and then recording clips?

Cliff has stated that his goal is maximum accuracy of the modeling. I've been using Fractal products since 2011. Cliff has more than shown me that he knows what he's doing and that he has an excellent ear for picking up and replicating tonal nuance. The amazing roster of artists using Fractal products indicates to me that they feel the same.

It's impossible to please everyone. Accuracy is accuracy. isn't it awesome that we have such a great artistic pallet to work with?

 

[App12]

Cliff said compare real amps to what Fractal provides but we don't have the amps so it is kinda impossible to do as two amps can sound different. But was just reading the https://www.fractalaudio.com/am4/ page: "Accurate Amp Modeling" and "familiar amp controls behave like the originals". If what we have is accurate to the amps and behaves like them, then it is done! But how can it be accurate but at the same time have these cumulative sound changes? I would like to know what the amp they have sounds likes. I would hope that they pull them out of storage for each update to make sure that they can compare what they are releasing to what they sound like so don't think that would be the challenge. Things like different guitars, playing style etc. would be more of a complicating factor.

 

[Zedhed]

I would like to know what the amp they have sounds likes.

Then you would have to go to where they have it setup and listen to it there, because it's sure not going to sound the same on the many differing listening devices that everybody has.

 

[SpecRacer]

Things like different guitars, playing style etc. would be more of a complicating factor.

I like the idea, but I think it's even more complicated than you're imagining. I think you'd need to establish a reference mic, reference mic placement and reference speaker for each amp, and those would have to be available for every model in the Fractal ecosystem so comparisons are as "apples to apples" as possible.

 

[App12]

Are you asking Fractal to make 300 clips of all the amp models every time there is a firmware upgrade? IMHO, this request is unreasonable and is all about splitting hairs. As has been said many times on this forum, there are tonal variations, sometimes significant differences, between individual amps of the same make/model due to parts variances.

If you make a backup of your system settings and your presets then you can make your own comparisons to decide if new firmware is right for you. If you don't like what the new firmware sounds like then you can roll back to what you do like. Doesn't that make more sense than asking someone at Fractal to spend hours carting around amps, setting up mics and then recording clips?

Cliff has stated that his goal is maximum accuracy of the modeling. I've been using Fractal products since 2011. Cliff has more than shown me that he knows what he's doing and that he has an excellent ear for picking up and replicating tonal nuance. The amazing roster of artists using Fractal products indicates to me that they feel the same.

It's impossible to please everyone. Accuracy is accuracy. isn't it awesome that we have such a great artistic pallet to work with?I agree. Accuracy is accuracy. Maybe the modeling from the am4 which is "accurate amp modeling" and "behaves like the originals" is trickling down to AFIII and that would explain the differences? And now that they have it, it will not change. To your point, I have not updated the firmware but it does mean that you don't get the new effects (if you need them) and if you do, you do have to potentially rework a lot of your presets so I would personally disagree that it "make sense".

I agree. Accuracy is accuracy. Maybe the modeling from the am4 which is "accurate amp modeling" and "behaves like the originals" is trickling down to AFIII and that would explain the differences? And now that they have it, it will not change. To your point, I have not updated the firmware but it does mean that you don't get the new effects (if you need them) and if you do, you do have to potentially rework a lot of your presets so I would personally disagree that it "make sense".

 

[App12]

Then you would have to go to where they have it setup and listen to it there, because it's sure not going to sound the same on the many differing listening devices that everybody has.

Hey, if they offered it to me I'd go!

 

[Brewce]

I would hope that they pull them out of storage for each update.

The amp is the amp. What makes you think a fw update changes the actual amp?
Or do you mean: to compare with the new firmware? That is what kinda happens when needed and was done recently. Cliff called it "remastering."