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 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.
The brute force method:
1). Prior to updating to the newest firmware effecting the amp block.
Copy your favorite preset’s amp block to an empty block within your preset
and save the preset.
2). Upgrade to the newest firmware. Soft reset the amp block.
3). Go through every amp block menu item comparing the saved block original with the current changed firmware updated amp block.
4). Reset your parameters that you had dialed in with the previous firmware from the saved amp block. If it sounds good or better your done. If it sounds worse, you probably need to craft a new preset from scratch.
note this method only works for a preset with one exsisting amp block.
Thanks Yek for all your hard work, good tutorial.
On my FM3 it came to my attention that reseting the amp block still sounded off,
so thought I'll reset the drive block , guess what all clicked into place !
any thoughts or am I going mad
G
Thanks, I will give your method a tryInstead, I'd recommend looking at the Snapshot tool. It lets you do this same sort of comparison, switching back and forth, without needing to copy the amp block, because the FM3 can only have one amp block.
Upgrading the firmware doesn't change the preset's captured settings. It does change the way those settings are interpreted by the modeling algorithm which is why we hear the difference between two firmware levels if they affect a particular block.
This is how I do it on the FX3 and the FM3:
The Snapshot tool will now have two entries, the original amp settings and the settings after the soft reset.
- Upgrade the firmware.
- Switch to the preset I want to tweak.
- Click the down arrow below the Snapshot tool and "Clear Snapshot List" if it's enabled.
- Click the Snapshot tool to save the current settings to the preset.
- Click the Amp block.
- Do a soft reset.
- Click the Snapshot tool again to save the reset settings.
I select the first Snapshot entry to return to the original settings, and select the first of the Amp block panels, then select the second Snapshot entry to see if anything changed. I bounce back and forth and rotate through the various panels and note what changed, then return to the first setting I want to change, tweak it until I'm happy, then immediately click the Snapshot tool to remember the change. I slowly work through the tweaks, one by one, saving each setting when I like it, and I can step, from the original, through the reset, through my tweaks, and, when done, save the preset.
Yes, the drive and other blocks that were modified can generate different sound after a firmware change, but the Snapshot tool can help there too by working methodically through the blocks. I save the preset when I'm done with a particular block, but taking another snapshot and noting which it was when switching blocks, accomplishes much the same thing.Snapshots are great except for one thing:
Yes, worthwhile to check the Drive block. Also, because there was a bug with Low Cut in the drives in previous FM3 firmware.
Snapshots are great except for one thing:
Effects such the Amps consist -in short- of algorithms and adjustable parameters.
Algorithms are the "programs" that create an effect. They are are hidden and protected. Changes to algorithms are always translated in friendly explanations, like "improved amp modeling".
Some of the functions of these algorithms can be tweaked through adjustable parameters. Some of them are accessible to users (hardware GUI / editor). And some are hidden, so that only FAS can adjust these. Resetting a block or a channel does not only reset the user-accessible parameters of a block, but also the hidden ones (under the hood). A reset is always the best way to start from scratch. As a matter of fact, I have the habit of always resetting a block immediately after adding it to the grid (not that it is necessary, most of the times).