Hi !
Following this thread, here's a presentation on how I solved the recurring problem of not being able to connect the Axe-FX to a computer and a footcontroller
without having to change the cabling.
It's a passive connection box with two 4PDT switches.
One switch is assigned to the controller, the other to the Axe-FX
Each switch has two positions : Send and Link.
Both switches on Link : Axe-FX <-> Controller
Controller switch on Send : Controller <-> Computer
Axe-FX switch on Send : Axe-FX <-> Computer
Both switches on Send : BIG NO NO !!
Of course, when I say "computer", in mean the computer's midi interface. In my case, a Fireface 400.
In each case, the bidirectionnal link is preserved.
The phantom power to the controller is preserved at all times.
First, here's the wiring diagram (sorry for the large picture... I wanted to keep it readable):
As you'll see, there's no ground connection on the Midi In from the computer. I had one in the beginning, and that created a ground loop (can you spell H.U.M. ?).
I cut my Rocktron 7-pin midi cable into sections :
A long one for the connection between the rack and the controller. At one end, I kept the midi plug. At the other end, I soldered a 7-pin XLR male plug.
The other end of the original cable is attached to the connection box, with the midi plug plugged into the Axe-FX
I also cut a few pieces of cable for the internal wiring of the box.
Here are some picture...
First, the front and back plates, ordered (with the top, bottom and sides) at Schaeffer AG (Germany). The casing is the most expensive part of this unit : 98€.
It doesn't HAVE to be this luxirious, but I wanted it to look good...
Attached to the plates are : Two 4PDT switches (9.94€ ea. at Farnell), one 7-pin female XLR socket, two 5-pin midi sockets.
The wiring looks like this (the ground wire between midi out and midi in has been removed since):
The wires in the midi cable are so thin, the only practical way to strip their ends was... with my teeth.
That's how the finished box looks, on top of my rack :
And once installed in the rack :
As you see, I also built a cabling interface, at the bottom of the rack. Left to right : Firewire (to Fireface), Out1 L/R (from Fireface, connected to my monitors),
Out2 L/R (from Fireface), 7-pin Controller, Midi In/Out from the second midi channel of the Fireface, for my keyboard.
In case you're wondering, the cable connected directly to the Fireface is my microphone.
With the routing capabilities of the Fireface, I can send it to input 2 of the Axe-FX for the vocal processing.
I hope this can help someone build a similar unit.
Cheers,
David
Following this thread, here's a presentation on how I solved the recurring problem of not being able to connect the Axe-FX to a computer and a footcontroller
without having to change the cabling.
It's a passive connection box with two 4PDT switches.
One switch is assigned to the controller, the other to the Axe-FX
Each switch has two positions : Send and Link.
Both switches on Link : Axe-FX <-> Controller
Controller switch on Send : Controller <-> Computer
Axe-FX switch on Send : Axe-FX <-> Computer
Both switches on Send : BIG NO NO !!
Of course, when I say "computer", in mean the computer's midi interface. In my case, a Fireface 400.
In each case, the bidirectionnal link is preserved.
The phantom power to the controller is preserved at all times.
First, here's the wiring diagram (sorry for the large picture... I wanted to keep it readable):
As you'll see, there's no ground connection on the Midi In from the computer. I had one in the beginning, and that created a ground loop (can you spell H.U.M. ?).
I cut my Rocktron 7-pin midi cable into sections :
A long one for the connection between the rack and the controller. At one end, I kept the midi plug. At the other end, I soldered a 7-pin XLR male plug.
The other end of the original cable is attached to the connection box, with the midi plug plugged into the Axe-FX
I also cut a few pieces of cable for the internal wiring of the box.
Here are some picture...
First, the front and back plates, ordered (with the top, bottom and sides) at Schaeffer AG (Germany). The casing is the most expensive part of this unit : 98€.
It doesn't HAVE to be this luxirious, but I wanted it to look good...
Attached to the plates are : Two 4PDT switches (9.94€ ea. at Farnell), one 7-pin female XLR socket, two 5-pin midi sockets.
The wiring looks like this (the ground wire between midi out and midi in has been removed since):
The wires in the midi cable are so thin, the only practical way to strip their ends was... with my teeth.
That's how the finished box looks, on top of my rack :
And once installed in the rack :
As you see, I also built a cabling interface, at the bottom of the rack. Left to right : Firewire (to Fireface), Out1 L/R (from Fireface, connected to my monitors),
Out2 L/R (from Fireface), 7-pin Controller, Midi In/Out from the second midi channel of the Fireface, for my keyboard.
In case you're wondering, the cable connected directly to the Fireface is my microphone.
With the routing capabilities of the Fireface, I can send it to input 2 of the Axe-FX for the vocal processing.
I hope this can help someone build a similar unit.
Cheers,
David
