I recently received my Axe2 and with the help this thread and some over at TGP, I managed to get my HD500 controlling my Axe-FX II very nicely (I think it should also work with 1st Generation Axe’s). I uploaded the following presets to Line 6 Custom Tone that are fully setup and working. They were setup to work with Axe2 preset 0 (59 Bassguy), but work well with most presets. Just download them, connect the MIDI cable and make a few of the adjustments below and you should be up and running. If you want everything to work perfectly (synced LED's, proper effect displayed on screen, etc) you need to dedicate a set list/bank on the HD to controlling the Axe and then create presets on the HD that match the first 64 preset on the Axe. I am not sure if it is possible to control more than the first 64 presets on the Axe.
HD500 Presets:
Axe-FX II MIDI – Rotary: This is an example of how to turn on the Rotary effect with the toe switch and control its speed using the pedal.
Axe-FX II MIDI – Wah: This is an example of how to turn on the Wah effect with the toe switch and control the effect using the pedal.
Axe-FX Global MIDI setings:
MIDI channel: 1
Prog change: ON
Display offset: 1
Send realtime sysex: OFF
MIDI PC offset: 0
Axe-FX Preset Level Settings:
Set an external controller in the Axe preset for the Wah or Rotary (depending on patch) to External 2 so it will respond the pedal movements.
Below is the basic info on how the MIDI is setup in the HD500 patches. You may need to change the View setting on the HD500 so you can access foot switches 5 - 8.
HD500 FS or Pedal = Axe-FX effect = MIDI CC#
FS1 = Compressor1 = CC# 43
FS2 = Drive1 = CC# 49
FS3 = Chorus1 = CC# 41
FS4 = Delay1 = CC# 47
FS5 = Phaser1 = CC# 75
FS6 = Flanger1 = CC# 56
FS7 = Tremolo or Rotary = CC# 90 or 86
FS8 = Reverb1 = CC# 83
Looper = MultiDelay1 = CC# 69 (correctly turns on the multi delay, but also turns on looper screen and functions until you tune it back off)
Tap = Tap Tempo = CC# 14
Toe Switch = Wah1 = CC# 97
Exp1 = Out1 Volume = CC# 11
Exp2 = External 2 = CC# 17
Hopefully this will help others trying to use a HD500 as a MIDI controller for an Axe-FX.
HD500 Presets:
Axe-FX II MIDI – Rotary: This is an example of how to turn on the Rotary effect with the toe switch and control its speed using the pedal.
Axe-FX II MIDI – Wah: This is an example of how to turn on the Wah effect with the toe switch and control the effect using the pedal.
Axe-FX Global MIDI setings:
MIDI channel: 1
Prog change: ON
Display offset: 1
Send realtime sysex: OFF
MIDI PC offset: 0
Axe-FX Preset Level Settings:
Set an external controller in the Axe preset for the Wah or Rotary (depending on patch) to External 2 so it will respond the pedal movements.
Below is the basic info on how the MIDI is setup in the HD500 patches. You may need to change the View setting on the HD500 so you can access foot switches 5 - 8.
HD500 FS or Pedal = Axe-FX effect = MIDI CC#
FS1 = Compressor1 = CC# 43
FS2 = Drive1 = CC# 49
FS3 = Chorus1 = CC# 41
FS4 = Delay1 = CC# 47
FS5 = Phaser1 = CC# 75
FS6 = Flanger1 = CC# 56
FS7 = Tremolo or Rotary = CC# 90 or 86
FS8 = Reverb1 = CC# 83
Looper = MultiDelay1 = CC# 69 (correctly turns on the multi delay, but also turns on looper screen and functions until you tune it back off)
Tap = Tap Tempo = CC# 14
Toe Switch = Wah1 = CC# 97
Exp1 = Out1 Volume = CC# 11
Exp2 = External 2 = CC# 17
Hopefully this will help others trying to use a HD500 as a MIDI controller for an Axe-FX.
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