Midi Commands by Scene

S

spanny

Member
Hey all!

I'm new to the Fractal world and recently picked up an Axe FX III to use live with my band. I've been able to build a preset, utilizing the scenes functionality for the different sounds needed, controlled by the FC12 (super convenient).

One thing I'm looking to do which I haven't figured out yet is being able to turn on/off an effect block in my bassist's Helix via midi. I'm currently doing this using my midi board with an instant access switch, sending a specific CC # to the Helix. What I'd like to do is when I hit 1 specific scene on the Axe FX, it will send a CC message to the Helix via midi to turn on that effect block and when I go to any other scene, it will disengage that Helix effect block. Does anyone have any knowledge on how I could do that with the Axe FX?

Thanks!
 
spanny said:
Hey all!

I'm new to the Fractal world and recently picked up an Axe FX III to use live with my band. I've been able to build a preset, utilizing the scenes functionality for the different sounds needed, controlled by the FC12 (super convenient).

One thing I'm looking to do which I haven't figured out yet is being able to turn on/off an effect block in my bassist's Helix via midi. I'm currently doing this using my midi board with an instant access switch, sending a specific CC # to the Helix. What I'd like to do is when I hit 1 specific scene on the Axe FX, it will send a CC message to the Helix via midi to turn on that effect block and when I go to any other scene, it will disengage that Helix effect block. Does anyone have any knowledge on how I could do that with the Axe FX?

Thanks!
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I am pretty confident that is 100% doable. When I still used a tube head and my FM3 for FXs only, I used the midi block to control the head via CCs. I do not see why you could do the same thing you are describing. Should be pretty simple - given you already know the CC# you need to send. I do not have access to the file right now or I'd send you the preset.
 
tobafett said:
I am pretty confident that is 100% doable. When I still used a tube head and my FM3 for FXs only, I used the midi block to control the head via CCs. I do not see why you could do the same thing you are describing. Should be pretty simple - given you already know the CC# you need to send. I do not have access to the file right now or I'd send you the preset.
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Good to know, thank you! I haven't been able to figure it out as of yet, so if you do have an example you'd be able to send over at some point, that would be greatly appreciated!
 
This is a theoretical question, but if a 'B' unit is intended to be ready to take over in the rare event of a failure of the 'A' unit, and the 'B' unit is (as per the video) programmed to 'duplicate' the commands to the 'A' unit...

... what happens if the 'A' unit does indeed fail completely?

As the MIDI commands are being genereated by the Axe Fx 'A' unit and not the FC12 / another MIDI footcontroller, surely if 'A' unit fails, then that pass-thru control of 'B' unit fails too, rendering such a fall-over as pointless except for the exact patch, scene and effects swiching combination currently in use at that exact moment?
 
Gadget said:
This is a theoretical question, but if a 'B' unit is intended to be ready to take over in the rare event of a failure of the 'A' unit, and the 'B' unit is (as per the video) programmed to 'duplicate' the commands to the 'A' unit...

... what happens if the 'A' unit does indeed fail completely?

As the MIDI commands are being genereated by the Axe Fx 'A' unit and not the FC12 / another MIDI footcontroller, surely if 'A' unit fails, then that pass-thru control of 'B' unit fails too, rendering such a fall-over as pointless except for the exact patch, scene and effects swiching combination currently in use at that exact moment?
Click to expand...

It's not pointless, as the very point is to have B on "the exact patch, scene, and effects switching combination currently in use at that exact moment," as you say. You've brought up two entirely different scenarios in your question (F12 & another MIDI footcontroller), but in the exceedingly rare event of a catastrophic failure of the A unit, the solution in both cases would be the same: either a tech or you would manually move the MIDI or FASLINK connector to the B unit directly and proceed with the show.

The specific video you're referring to was intended to demonstrate how to control a backup FAS unit using only FAS gear. And as a say in the video, I have quite literally never had an A unit go down and had to switch to the backup. Fractal products are just that reliable.

BUT, the rigs I am sitting in front of in the video do in fact employ several thousand dollars worth of gear to ensure entirely independent MIDI, audio, and power for each the A and the B unit (and auto-switching capabilities in the event of a failure, to boot)!

This setup is far from practical, however, for the majority of tours/players from both a cost and practicality standpoint.

So, you would be right to ask, why not just get a cheap MIDI THRU box and split MIDI commands out to both Axe-Fx III's independently?

The frank answer is, I've pulled dozens of failed MIDI THRU boxes from various companies out of rigs after they've gone bad and wreaked havoc on a rehearsal / show. I've never had to pull a bad Fractal unit.

The result is that many players from tours large and small elect simply to daisy chain the MIDI from the main to backup unit. If something ever happened to A, B is in the correct spot and can easily be switched to. No extra gear, just two Axe-Fx IIIs in a rack (see Maroon 5, Def Leppard, Journey, etc.).

TL/DR: It's my experience that Fractal units are far more reliable on their own than when paired with cheap, failure-prone gear meant to operate them independently. Unless you can/want to afford a much more rugged & expensive third-party MIDI solution (iConnectivity Mio, etc.) most players will elect to simply daisy-chain Fractal units, and I agree with this method for most scenarios.
 
Good morning,

Sorry for the delay, you probably do not need the patch anymore, but here it is. I originally made this on an FM3, but I am currently looking at it on my AFIII. Scenes 1 - 4 have midi commands to switch channels on an amplifier. Once you know what command you need to send, it is pretty easy. Good luck!
 

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