Everything you've always wanted to know about: Resetting an Amp

When set to AUTHENTIC instead of IDEAL, a soft reset will also return those parameters to their default values.
So if a “soft reset” is performed when the Tone Control Display is set to IDEAL, will the additional parameters not be reset?
 
1) If one resets an amp block. Is there a way to just reset all amp blocks in one go, or do you have to do it for every single amp type?

Covered in the OP.

A soft or hard reset only applies to the current channel of the current Amp block. To reset all channels of all Amp blocks in all presets, use the 3rd option (Manage Presets > Reset AMP Blocks).

2) Does resetting an amp type in one preset affect the settings for that amp in another current preset, or does it only change the default settings for the amp type, when it is added into a preset?

Not sure I understand.... A reset only applies to the currently selected Amp block, not to invisible Amp blocks which may be added to the grid later.

I mean, if you use authentic settings and have some three presets with a particular amp and nothing else, will those presets all sound the same as eachother after a reset?

A reset only applies to the currently selected Amp block in the current preset. So not to other presets, even if they have the same amp type selected. So you need to execute a reset in each preset (or use the 3rd option, as already described).

EXCEPTION: This is different when using "global" amp blocks in your presets (supported on Axe-Fx only), but that's another topic.
 
Thanks Yek , this is very useful ….
i don t remember the release notes of Cygnus 16.00 , if doing a soft reset was written in it ,
As i understand , If I m not wrong … when you load a preset from 15.01 without doing anything ,
You don t benefit of all the improvements of the new algorithm., so even if the preset seems to sound … right ,
The soft reset is needed when you come from any Fw under Cygnus …??
you just have to decide what type of reset you d like .
Fafa
 
As i understand , If I m not wrong … when you load a preset from 15.01 without doing anything ,
You don t benefit of all the improvements of the new algorithm
Of course you get all the benefits of the new algorithms. The firmware doesn't suddenly revert to pre-Cygnus just because you didn't reset a channel or a block. You're just not at the settings that Fractal recommends now and we reset the channel or block to get there.

The new defaults are set up to make the amp sound more authentic with Cygnus, many of which changed between Ares and Cygnus. The two different reset methods allow us to decide whether we want to maintain some of our tweaks, or force the block all the way to the new defaults.

A really good test would be to record something using the first few presets in the old-hotness Ares presets on your machine when it is running Ares, then update to Cygnus and load the same presets into a different area using the new-hotness Cygnus-tweaked factory presets, then bounce back and forth to compare and contrast how they sound. At that point you'd be in a great spot to do the same with your Ares-based presets. Use the Snapshot tool before and after resetting so you can revert to the old sound and then roll forward to the new settings as necessary.

You can ignore resetting if you like the sound, or reset some, or reset all the settings. Some of my presets needed very little work, some needed a lot. Of those that needed a lot it wasn't because I'd tweaked the deep-magic settings, but the Cab block wasn't the best choice so I adjusted it and the end result was an even better sounding preset.
 
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Of course you get all the benefits of the new algorithms. The firmware doesn't suddenly revert to pre-Cygnus just because you didn't reset a channel or a block. You're just not at the settings that Fractal recommends now and we reset the channel or block to get there.

The new defaults are set up to make the amp sound more authentic with Cygnus, many of which changed between Ares and Cygnus. The two different reset methods allow us to decide whether we want to maintain some of our tweaks, or force the block all the way to the new defaults.

A really good test would be to record something using the first few presets in the old-hotness Ares presets on your machine when it is running Ares, then update to Cygnus and load the same presets into a different area using the new-hotness Cygnus-tweaked factory presets, then bounce back and forth to compare and contrast how they sound. At that point you'd be in a great spot to do the same with your Ares-based presets. Use the Snapshot tool before and after resetting so you can revert to the old sound and then roll forward to the new settings as necessary.

You can ignore resetting if you like the sound, or reset some, or reset all the settings. Some of my presets needed very little work, some needed a lot. Of those that needed a lot it wasn't because I'd tweaked the deep-magic settings, but the Cab block wasn't the best choice so I adjusted it and the end result was an even better sounding preset.
Thanks … your answer is clear and also as a useful as the thread …..
Fafa
 
Yek, thank you for the detailed and easy to understand explanation of resetting the amp block. I've started making copies of a presets I really like, then resetting the amp block in the copy and comparing it to the original. Then I'll keep the preset I like better. It takes much longer to do this since I'm doing one preset at a time and copying some preset parameters from the original amp block preset to the copied/reset amp block preset. But at least I can choose which sounds better to my ears.
 
Yek, thank you for the detailed and easy to understand explanation of resetting the amp block. I've started making copies of a presets I really like, then resetting the amp block in the copy and comparing it to the original. Then I'll keep the preset I like better. It takes much longer to do this since I'm doing one preset at a time and copying some preset parameters from the original amp block preset to the copied/reset amp block preset. But at least I can choose which sounds better to my ears.
In my opinion that's exactly the right way to do it. Take your time, listen, poke at it, and always be aware of your ears getting tired, because they do, and once they do you don't want to keep editing, just step away for several hours or overnight, then pick up where you left off.

I tend to backtrack a bit when I start up, just to double-check that my previous decisions actually sound good still.
 
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.
Hello Yek, thanks very much for all of this info. I read everything and believe I understand it, however I have a question which I don’t see covered here: If I execute any type of reset on one of my presets after a firmware update, are those new values automatically saved by resetting, or do I still have to hit “save” after the reset to overwrite my pre firmware values?

I hope I still would have to hit save, because that would allow me to audition the changes without having to lose my previous settings.
 
Hello Yek, thanks very much for all of this info. I read everything and believe I understand it, however I have a question which I don’t see covered here: If I execute any type of reset on one of my presets after a firmware update, are those new values automatically saved by resetting, or do I still have to hit “save” after the reset to overwrite my pre firmware values?

I hope I still would have to hit save, because that would allow me to audition the changes without having to lose my previous settings.
Resetting via Manage Presets saves (as Yek mentions).

The other methods do not.

You will need to save your changes.
 
I'd say a good tactic for testing the amp block before and after a reset is to use the Snapshot tool. Take a snapshot, do whichever reset is desired, then take another snapshot.

Bounce back and forth between the two snapshots to hear the difference. Change to different screens to see what changes. Take another snapshot every time you tweak something so you can revert all the way back to pre-reset to the latest change, or any in-between states.

Save the preset when you're happy. Save the preset to another slot when you're happy and you're paranoid.
Thanks
Resetting via Manage Presets saves (as Yek mentions).

The other methods do not.

You will need to save your changes.
Missed the part about having to save on the soft/amp type reset, thanks!
 
Of course you get all the benefits of the new algorithms. The firmware doesn't suddenly revert to pre-Cygnus just because you didn't reset a channel or a block. You're just not at the settings that Fractal recommends now and we reset the channel or block to get there.

The new defaults are set up to make the amp sound more authentic with Cygnus, many of which changed between Ares and Cygnus. The two different reset methods allow us to decide whether we want to maintain some of our tweaks, or force the block all the way to the new defaults.

A really good test would be to record something using the first few presets in the old-hotness Ares presets on your machine when it is running Ares, then update to Cygnus and load the same presets into a different area using the new-hotness Cygnus-tweaked factory presets, then bounce back and forth to compare and contrast how they sound. At that point you'd be in a great spot to do the same with your Ares-based presets. Use the Snapshot tool before and after resetting so you can revert to the old sound and then roll forward to the new settings as necessary.

You can ignore resetting if you like the sound, or reset some, or reset all the settings. Some of my presets needed very little work, some needed a lot. Of those that needed a lot it wasn't because I'd tweaked the deep-magic settings, but the Cab block wasn't the best choice so I adjusted it and the end result was an even better sounding preset.
What happens if we upgrade to the new Cygnus firmware, then we upload the new Cygnus presets and then we upload our saved user presets built in Ares, do we still need to soft reset our user presets to get all the benefits from Cygnus?
 
What happens if we upgrade to the new Cygnus firmware, then we upload the new Cygnus presets and then we upload our saved user presets built in Ares, do we still need to soft reset our user presets to get all the benefits from Cygnus?
The Cygnus-based presets will be fine.

The Ares-based presets will probably need to be touched up. Whether you choose to do a soft/hard reset or tweak however you want or leave them alone is up to you.

Cygnus brought improvements in the Amp modeling algorithm, which lead to many tweaks to settings to get the amps sounding better based on the new algorithms. The settings for what you consider good sound in Ares are likely to be different in Cygnus. I'd suggest starting at the original post in this thread for the full information.
 
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Okay, so I finally bit the bullet and reset the amp block on my one of my main presets. I had my reference preset and my reset amp block preset, so I was able to 'recreate' the tones by duplicating the parameter settings. But this left me a little confused, since I more or less set everything tight back to where it was and it more or less sounds the same (possible better? but I'm not sure; I need to A/B them with more scrutiny).

After reading this post several times, I'm still a little unclear. @yek - you mention several times in the OP about both "hidden and visible" parameters. Are these hidden parameters in addition to the under-the-hood algorithm changes? What's the difference between "hidden" parameters that require an amp block reset and overall algorithm changes, which are also "hidden," yet, apparently, are not affected by resetting the amp block (or don't need to be reset)?

You also write:
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.
I don't understand this, but let me try: You're saying that if, for instance, my Negative Feedback parameter value is set at 100% before I do an amp block reset (likely the default value since I've never touched it), and then I do an amp block reset and it remains at 100%, that both of these values, although numerically identical, may not represent the same actual parameter setting due to whatever happens when I reset the amp block?

So, if I'm tracking; in short, resetting the amp block is not about returning the parameters' visible settings to some ideal, but, rather, realigning the parameters' visible, numeric value with their correct value within the algorithm, as well as setting the numerically visible default to the parameters' algorithmic default.

If double clicking the parameter to reset it to its default value doesn't actually reset it to its default value, wouldn't this be a bug/flaw in the editor? I just have to wonder if there's not a better, less confusing way for this process to happen unobtrusively and/or automatically...

In any case, as always; thank you for your hard work and dedication to this company, its products, and its community. I hope my post comes across as someone trying to learn and understand, not someone who's being obstinate and argumentative - I really do want to understand this better.
 
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