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WICKED WIKI 19
“Defaulting the AMP block”
A recurring question on the forum is how and when the AMP block parameters are or should be defaulted.
Especially when new firmware has been released. This post aims to explain what happens and what to do.
1 — Loading a new amp type (= re-select = soft reset)
When an amp type is selected within the AMP block (on hardware or in the editor), that amp type is loaded with its default parameters. Meaning: the default parameters applying to that specific amp type.
But not all! The current basic gain and tone settings are left untouched. These are:
This method of defaulting is referred to as "re-select" or "soft reset".
So if you set Bass to 3.00 (default is 5.00), and you switch to another amp type, Bass will still be set at 3.00. Most other parameter values will be (re)set to default settings. The list below shows which parameters are affected, following the order of the tab pages of the AMP block on the hardware.
2 — Resetting the entire AMP block
If you want every parameter in the AMP block to return to its default value for the selected amp type, you need to reset the block, on the hardware or in the editor. This loads the default parameters for that specific amp type, including the basic tone and gain controls.
This is referred to as a "(hard) reset".
So how do you "hard reset" the AMP block?
Over time firmware versions have provided more methods. Including entries in the Global menu and AMP block that enabled us to different modeling versions, and an option in the Utility menu to apply default values to AMP blocks.
The software editors also let you reset an individual parameter. But be aware that the editor does not poll the hardware for the specific value for the current amp type, so the chosen default value may not be the correct one.
4 — What to do when new firmware is released
When new firmware brings changes to the amp modeling, these are often implemented under the hood. It is NOT required to default amp parameters to make use of an improved algorithm. So as an user you don't need to do anything, unless the firmware release notes instruct otherwise.
Sometimes the firmware can't (or won't force) enforce fixes or improvements and leaves it to the user to implement them. In those cases the release notes will tell you to "re-select" the amp type in existing presets.
5 — How to save and re-apply your current settings
So you have dialed in a perfect-sounding amp by tweaking advanced parameters. And now comes a new firmware update that you can't let pass by, but you don't want to lose "your" tone.
Your current presets with their amp settings are connected to your current firmware version. They may change when upgrading to later firmware, when the firmware includes changes to the amp modeling.
6 — When you're using a power amp and guitar cab
Some default amp settings are not optimal for users of power amps and guitar cabinets. You may want to change these after a soft or hard reset of the AMP block.
“Defaulting the AMP block”
A recurring question on the forum is how and when the AMP block parameters are or should be defaulted.
Especially when new firmware has been released. This post aims to explain what happens and what to do.
1 — Loading a new amp type (= re-select = soft reset)
When an amp type is selected within the AMP block (on hardware or in the editor), that amp type is loaded with its default parameters. Meaning: the default parameters applying to that specific amp type.
But not all! The current basic gain and tone settings are left untouched. These are:
- Drive
- Overdrive
- Bass
- Mid
- Treble
- Output Level
This method of defaulting is referred to as "re-select" or "soft reset".
So if you set Bass to 3.00 (default is 5.00), and you switch to another amp type, Bass will still be set at 3.00. Most other parameter values will be (re)set to default settings. The list below shows which parameters are affected, following the order of the tab pages of the AMP block on the hardware.
- PRE: Input Trim, Cut/Fat/Brt switches, Bright knob
- PWR: everything except: Output Level
- SPKR: everything
- EQ: all sliders and EQ Type
- PWR DYN: everything except: Comp Type and Speaker Comp (Quantum 9)
- PRE DYN: everything except: Output Level
- DYNEQ: everything except: Char Type, Char Q
- ADV: everything except: Input Select and Speaker Time Constant (Quantum 9)
- TREM/MIX: Trem Depth
2 — Resetting the entire AMP block
If you want every parameter in the AMP block to return to its default value for the selected amp type, you need to reset the block, on the hardware or in the editor. This loads the default parameters for that specific amp type, including the basic tone and gain controls.
This is referred to as a "(hard) reset".
So how do you "hard reset" the AMP block?
- Axe-Fx II hardware: press LAYOUT, select the AMP block, press EDIT, then double-click the BYPASS button (not: FX.BYPAS).
- AX8 hardware: select the AMP block on the layout screen, press EDIT, then press SHIFT followed by double-clicking EDIT button.
- Software editor: select the AMP block and then select either Reset Block or Reset Current Effect Type from the menu (or press CTRL-I or COMMAND-I).
Note: The Reset Block and Reset Current Effect Type commands do exactly the same, when its comes to the AMP block.
Over time firmware versions have provided more methods. Including entries in the Global menu and AMP block that enabled us to different modeling versions, and an option in the Utility menu to apply default values to AMP blocks.
The software editors also let you reset an individual parameter. But be aware that the editor does not poll the hardware for the specific value for the current amp type, so the chosen default value may not be the correct one.
4 — What to do when new firmware is released
When new firmware brings changes to the amp modeling, these are often implemented under the hood. It is NOT required to default amp parameters to make use of an improved algorithm. So as an user you don't need to do anything, unless the firmware release notes instruct otherwise.
Sometimes the firmware can't (or won't force) enforce fixes or improvements and leaves it to the user to implement them. In those cases the release notes will tell you to "re-select" the amp type in existing presets.
5 — How to save and re-apply your current settings
So you have dialed in a perfect-sounding amp by tweaking advanced parameters. And now comes a new firmware update that you can't let pass by, but you don't want to lose "your" tone.
Your current presets with their amp settings are connected to your current firmware version. They may change when upgrading to later firmware, when the firmware includes changes to the amp modeling.
- Fractal-Bot lets you save and load entire banks of presets, and firmware.
- The editor lets you export (save on disk) a single preset, and load a single preset (including ones from a bank).
- You can use Recall Effect to load the values of an AMP block from one preset into another.
- On the Axe-Fx II, you can save AMP block settings to different instances of a global block.
6 — When you're using a power amp and guitar cab
Some default amp settings are not optimal for users of power amps and guitar cabinets. You may want to change these after a soft or hard reset of the AMP block.
- Spkr Drv: users of traditional guitar cabinets need to set this at 0.
- Low Freq: this is a pre-set frequency at which the virtual amp resonates with the cab model. When using a real cabinet, you'll want to replace this with the real resonant frequency.
- Speaker Comp (Quantum 9): default value is 3, but if you use a tube preamp or a traditional speaker cab, you’ll want this set to 0.
- Amp modeling
- AMP block
- List of Wicked Wiki threads
- Chris also wrote an article about this topic
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