To reset or not to reset an amp...
That's an (ongoing) question, especially after new firmware has been released.
In this article I try to explain why a reset of the amp model is something desirable or even necessary, how to do it, and what's important to know.
About the AMP block
Amplifier models (aka “amp types”) are available through the AMP block. Here you select the type that you want. An amp model presents itself in the AMP block through its typical name, and its specific settings.
Some of these specific settings are displayed in the AMP block. Some of them are hidden from the user. They are (probably) part of a table which gets interpreted by the firmware upon loading an amp model, together with the appropriate amp modeling algorithm. All parameters are discussed in the
owner’s manual and in the
wiki.
Disclaimer: the description above is a very simplified version of what's happening in the AMP block.
Why would you want to reset an amp?
Resetting an amp means that settings in the AMP block are returned to their correct default values for the currently selected amp model.
Why would you want to reset an amp?
A) Because
YOU changed things:
You can adjust settings in the AMP block. Not only basic stuff like volume, gain and tone, but also many parameters that go much deeper. You can extensively tweak the sound and feel of the amp model to your liking. This is a unique feature of Fractal Audio’s amp modelers.
If you tweak the more advanced settings, you deviate from the default parameter values specific to that amp model. By resetting an amp you make sure that the correct default settings for that amp model (hidden and visible) are put back in place.
B) Because
FRACTAL AUDIO changed things:
Fractal Audio continually improves its technology through firmware updates. These firmware updates include improvements to the underlying algorithms and to specific amp model settings, based on those algorithms. This poses a challenge for handling existing presets.
Changes to the
core amp modeling algorithms are always applied, so the sound may change. There’s no way around this, meaning that there’s no support for older versions of core algorithms. If you want to stick to older algorithms, do not update the firmware.
Specific AMP block settings, whether visible or hidden, are sometimes updated to new default values automatically when updating firmware that includes amp modeling improvements. And sometimes they are not (not automatically), because some users want to keep existing values. The firmware comes with release notes that inform you about this. In general, there’s NO NEED to reset an amp after updating firmware, unless the release notes say so.
Resetting an amp makes sure that the correct default settings for that amp model (hidden and visible) are put back in place. For example, to get a clean start, or to compare settings and sound.
Disclaimer: the description above is a very simplified version of what's happening in the AMP block.
What happens when you reset an amp?
To accomodate users, Fractal Audio provides several methods to reset the amp, each with a different outcome.
The reset methods for the AMP block are:
- soft reset
- hard reset
- reset in the editor’s Manage Presets tool
These methods are explained below.
SOFT reset (re-select)
A “soft reset” means that you select another amp type in the AMP block and then re-select the previous amp type again. Or just select the current amp type again in the editor. This is referred to as a "soft reset".
When doing this, the amp model will be loaded again with most of its parameters returned to their default specific settings. It applies to the current amp channel only. The preset needs to be saved afterwards.
Whether the basic gain and tone controls are left untouched, OR also return to default when performing a soft reset, depends on the value of TONE CONTROL DISPLAY in the SETUP > GLOBAL menu:
- when set to AUTHENTIC: a soft reset will also return Drive and Bass / Middle/ Treble and Level to their default values
- when set to IDEAL: a soft reset will leave the existing Drive and Bass / Middle/ Treble and Level settings alone
The list below describes what happens when performing a soft reset, page by page (last checked in February 2021):
- Authentic / Ideal page — everything default, except: Bass/Mid/Treble (unless TONE CONTROL DISPLAY is set to AUTHENTIC), Input Drive (idem), Overdrive (idem), Level (idem), Input Select, Mute, Balance
- Preamp — everything default, except: Boost Type and Boost Level
- Power Amp — everything default
- Power Supply — everything default, except: Tremolo Frequency
- Speaker — everything default
- Speaker Drive — everything default, except: Speaker Compression, Speaker Time Const, Output Mode
- Input EQ — everything default, except: Input Type and Q
- Output EQ — everything default, except: EQ On/Off
- Dynamics — everything default, except: Master Bias Excursion, Out Comp Type.
A soft reset guarantees that your AMP block settings are in line with the latest modeling defaults, while preserving your basic gain and tone settings (depending on the TONE CONTROL DISPLAY setting).
HARD reset
If you want each and every parameter of the amp model to be returned to its default value, without exceptions, you need to fully reset the model, on the hardware or in the editor. This is referred to as a "hard reset" or "full reset". It applies to the current amp channel only. The preset needs to be saved afterwards. A hard reset lets you start 100% fresh, a good way building a new preset.
On the hardware, select the AMP block, press EDIT, press RESET (soft knob A). This resets the current channel only.
In the software editor:
- select the AMP block, select the Block menu at the top of the editor and select Reset Channel, or
- right-click the AMP block (the context menu appears), click Edit and select Reset Channel, or
- select the AMP block, and press CTRL-I (Windows) or Command-I (Mac).
Note: removing and adding an AMP block on the grid is NOT the same as a hard reset.
Reset in the editor’s Manage Preset tool
This method has been made available in the latest version of the editors.
In Manage Presets, select one (or more!) presets, and use the context menu (right-click) to select "Reset AMP block".
This will reset ALL channels of the AMP block in the selected preset(s), while maintaining the settings on the Authentic page of the AMP block, and automatically saves the preset(s) too.
So why this option if a soft reset kinda accomplishes the same thing? Well, this method makes batch processing possible: resetting all channels of all AMP blocks in a bunch of presets through a single command.
However, be aware that this method will reset the following AMP block settings:
- graphic EQ
- speaker impedance curve
- Input Select
- Bypass mode.
Is “Refresh After New FW” the same as a reset?
The software editors provide a menu option "Refresh After New FW". This is NOT a reset command! It syncs the software with the hardware.
The Refresh command is executed by the editor by itself after updating updating the device with officially released firmware.
When testing BETA versions of firmware, the Refresh command may need to be executed manually to force the editor to sync with the hardware.
Can you reset a single parameter to its intended default value?
No. A reset always resets the entire channel of the block.
You may think that double-clicking a control in the software editor resets it to its default value but that’s not the case: that value is just a generic default value, not necessarily the correct value for the specific parameter and amp type.
So what's the best approach after a firmware update including amp modeling?
Do nothing, unless the release notes with the firmware tell you to do something.
If you are not sure, or if you want to make sure your AMP blocks settings (hidden and visible) are in line with the latest modeling defaults: perform a soft-reset of the AMP block.
Want to start from scratch (for example when building a new preset): perform a hard reset of the AMP block.
Veterans: do as you like.