vaultnaemsae
Inspired
There are several threads here about failed attempts to use SPDIF to connect the VG-99/Axe-Fx II. Obviously, the different/locked sample rates proved to be an issue.
I’ve posted about this issue on several forums throughout the process of trying to find an answer and I think this now is the definitive solution. Thanks to all who helped. I’ve adjusted the content from other posts to reflect a final solution relevant to Axe-Fx II users...and I think this would also work for the III. If anybody wants to send me a III, I’d be more than happy to test it for you doesn’t hurt to dream...
After a lot of time addressing this problem I finally got a digital connection working (even at a 64 sample buffer setting) without pops n crackles -- and on 2 different computers. It's more or less reliable now. It’s also a very flexible guitar performance/recording rig.
I’m a macOS user (can’t speak on if this will work on Windows for now...maybe ASIO4ALL can help???) so the solution was to create an aggregate device in Audio MIDI Setup with the Axe-Fx II as the clock source and to activate ‘Drift Control’ for any other 44.1/48kHz devices.
On the USB hub connected to my computer (and following the order in the aggregate device):
1. Roland VG-99 (44.1kHz) Drift correction "ON"
2. Boss GP-10 (44.1kHz) Drift correction "ON"
3. Axe-Fx II XL+ (48kHz) Set as Clock Source — no Drift Correction (N.B. the Axe-Fx is set to USB Input mode)
4. iConnectAUDIO4+ Port 2 (48kHz) Drift correction "ON" (Port 1 is for the other device - iOS)
5. ATR2100-USB Mic (48kHz) Drift correction "ON"
My guitar runs into a Roland US-20 13-pin splitter box which allows [A / B / A+B] for using the the Roland VG-99 / Boss GP-10 in parallel. Setting up the aggregate this way should enable reamping on devices 1, 2 and 3. If reamping wasn't a concern, I would’ve just used analog connections. but I wanted to be able to access all functions fairly simply and quickly. I adjusted the buffers of the Roland/Boss devices to minimum individually in their respective driver interfaces under the macOS System Preferences. Also be careful with the USB Out levels — Axe-Fx is very sensitive to USB In levels and it’s easy to clip.
In Live 10 I can now route anything anywhere using ‘External Audio Effect’ devices (Axe-Fx) that are fed by the VG-99 or the GP-10. The conflicting sample rates seem to not be causing any problem at all at this time — thanks to macOS realtime sample rate conversion...but I wonder, what’s going to go wrong next?!?!?
Bear in mind that I use the Axe’s FX Loop function on a ‘broken grid’ in my patches to enable monitoring of the signal post DAW effects - this may or may not be relevant to other users. There are several software situations which can make this fail but I’ve gone into that elsewhere.
So, the end result is that this is now a viable way (with the assistance of a computer) to use your Roland/Boss V-guitar device to feed your Axe-Fx II digitally, record, reamp and make use of various DAW functions in real time. I hope somebody will find this information helpful.
I’ve posted about this issue on several forums throughout the process of trying to find an answer and I think this now is the definitive solution. Thanks to all who helped. I’ve adjusted the content from other posts to reflect a final solution relevant to Axe-Fx II users...and I think this would also work for the III. If anybody wants to send me a III, I’d be more than happy to test it for you doesn’t hurt to dream...
After a lot of time addressing this problem I finally got a digital connection working (even at a 64 sample buffer setting) without pops n crackles -- and on 2 different computers. It's more or less reliable now. It’s also a very flexible guitar performance/recording rig.
I’m a macOS user (can’t speak on if this will work on Windows for now...maybe ASIO4ALL can help???) so the solution was to create an aggregate device in Audio MIDI Setup with the Axe-Fx II as the clock source and to activate ‘Drift Control’ for any other 44.1/48kHz devices.
On the USB hub connected to my computer (and following the order in the aggregate device):
1. Roland VG-99 (44.1kHz) Drift correction "ON"
2. Boss GP-10 (44.1kHz) Drift correction "ON"
3. Axe-Fx II XL+ (48kHz) Set as Clock Source — no Drift Correction (N.B. the Axe-Fx is set to USB Input mode)
4. iConnectAUDIO4+ Port 2 (48kHz) Drift correction "ON" (Port 1 is for the other device - iOS)
5. ATR2100-USB Mic (48kHz) Drift correction "ON"
My guitar runs into a Roland US-20 13-pin splitter box which allows [A / B / A+B] for using the the Roland VG-99 / Boss GP-10 in parallel. Setting up the aggregate this way should enable reamping on devices 1, 2 and 3. If reamping wasn't a concern, I would’ve just used analog connections. but I wanted to be able to access all functions fairly simply and quickly. I adjusted the buffers of the Roland/Boss devices to minimum individually in their respective driver interfaces under the macOS System Preferences. Also be careful with the USB Out levels — Axe-Fx is very sensitive to USB In levels and it’s easy to clip.
In Live 10 I can now route anything anywhere using ‘External Audio Effect’ devices (Axe-Fx) that are fed by the VG-99 or the GP-10. The conflicting sample rates seem to not be causing any problem at all at this time — thanks to macOS realtime sample rate conversion...but I wonder, what’s going to go wrong next?!?!?
Bear in mind that I use the Axe’s FX Loop function on a ‘broken grid’ in my patches to enable monitoring of the signal post DAW effects - this may or may not be relevant to other users. There are several software situations which can make this fail but I’ve gone into that elsewhere.
So, the end result is that this is now a viable way (with the assistance of a computer) to use your Roland/Boss V-guitar device to feed your Axe-Fx II digitally, record, reamp and make use of various DAW functions in real time. I hope somebody will find this information helpful.