AMP MODELER + MULTI FX

OWNER’S
MANUAL

Manual Version 6.0.1

Inside Front Cover
 Declaration of Conformity
Manufacturer’s Name: Fractal Audio Systems, LLC
Manufacturer’s Address: 4 Wilder Drive, Plaistow, NH 03865 USA
Declares that the product:
Product name: AX-8 Product option: None
Conforms to the following Product Specifications:
Safety: EN60065:2014
EMC: EN55013:2013
EN55020:2007+A11:2011
EN55024:2010
EN61000-3-2:2014
EN61000-3-3:2013
Supplementary Information:
The product herewith complies with the requirements of
the Low Voltage Directive 2006/95/EC
and the EMC Directive 2004/108/EC.

Clifford Chase
President / CEO
November 16, 2015

EMC/EMI
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B Digital device, pur-
suant to part 15 of the FCC rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in residential installations. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harm-
ful interference to radio communications. There is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television recep-
tion, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
 Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
 Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is con-
nected.
 Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

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Legal Notices
Fractal Audio Systems AX8 Owner’s Manual. Contents Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of
Fractal Audio Systems.

Fractal Audio, AX8, Humbuster, UltraRes, G3 Modeling Technology (“G3”), Multipoint Iterative Matching
and Impedance Correction (“MIMIC”), Virtual Vacuum Tube (“VVT”), Quantum Amp Modeling, are trade-
marks of Fractal Audio Systems. Manufacturer names and product names mentioned herein are trade-
marks or registered trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated with or af-
filiated with Fractal Audio. The names are used only to illustrate sonic and performance characteristics.

Important Safety Instructions

WARNING: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not expose this
appliance to rain or moisture.
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of fire or electric shock, do not remove screws.
There are no user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to qualified service
personnel.

1. Obey all warnings on the AX8 chassis and in this User Guide.
2. Keep away from sources of heat such as ducts, registers or appliances that produce heat.
3. Connect only to a standard grounded AC outlet of 100–240V, 47–63 Hz.
4. Keep the power cord in good condition. Do not kink, bend, or pinch.
5. If the cord becomes damaged, discard and replace it.
6. If not using your AX8 for extended periods of time, disconnect from AC power.
7. Protect the unit from rain and excessive moisture.
8. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.
9. Stop operation of the unit and obtain service if:
- Liquids or excessive moisture enter the unit.
- The unit operates incorrectly or performance is inconsistent or erratic.
- The unit has been dropped and/or the enclosure damaged.
10. Prolonged exposure to high volume levels can cause hearing damage and/or loss. The
use of hearing protection in high volume situations is recommended.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
1 INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6 SCENES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Welcome to the AX8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Quick Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Selecting Scenes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
If you own an Axe-Fx.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Setting Up Scenes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
If you own an FX8.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Scene Revert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Quick Connect Guide. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Default Scene. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Checking and Setting Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 BLOCKS GUIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Humbuster Cables. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Amp Block. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
The Footswitches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Cab Block. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Changing Presets and Scenes. . . . . . . . . . . . 6 The Looper Block. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
The Footswitch Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 The FX Loop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
The Grid Concept. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 The Noise Gate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
AX8-Edit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 The Output Mixer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Fractal-Bot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Mix Page Common Parameters . . . . . . . . . 66
2 HARDWARE OVERVIEW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 8 MODIFIERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
The Top Panel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
The Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Creating a Modifier. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
3 SETUP GUIDE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Modifier Example: Wah Pedal. . . . . . . . . . . 68
Full-Range/Direct Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Modifier Sources Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Setup: Power Amp & Guitar Speakers. . . . 16 Modifier Tips And Tricks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Setup: Direct + Real Amp & Cabs. . . . . . . . 17 Advanced Modifier Parameters . . . . . . . . . 70
Setup: FX Processor Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Internal Controllers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Checking and Setting Levels. . . . . . . . . . . . 19 External Controllers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Connecting Pedals & Switches. . . . . . . . . . 20 Control Switches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Connecting a Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 9 TEMPO. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
4 FUNCTION SWITCHES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Preset Tempo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
F-Switches Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Auto Delay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Customizing F-Switches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 The Metronome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Sample F-Switch Layouts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 10 THE TUNER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
5 CREATING PRESETS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Advanced Tuner Functions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
What Is a Preset? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 11 SETUP MENUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
The Layout Grid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 The Global Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Working with Blocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 The I/O Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Shunts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 The Utility Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Connector Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 12 ADDITIONAL TOPICS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Moving Blocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Global Volume Pedal Setup. . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Block Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Spillover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Example Preset Grids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Up- vs. Down-Stroke Fx Switching. . . . . . 91
Editing Effect Blocks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Frequently Asked Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Saving Changes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Transferring Blocks Between Products. . . 95
Setting Up Footswitches 1-8. . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Main Menu Soft Knobs Guide. . . . . . . . . . . 96
Global and Momentary Switches. . . . . . . . 36 Hidden Edit Button Functions. . . . . . . . . . . 96
Control Switches. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 13 SPECIFICATIONS & DEFAULTS. . . . . . . 97
X/Y Switching. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 MIDI Implementation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Preset CPU Limits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Factory Default MIDI CC Settings. . . . . . . . 99
Preset and Scene Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 MIDI Program Change Numbers . . . . . . . 100
WARRANTY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
EULA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

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THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING THE AX8
Thank you for choosing the AX8, an all-in-one guitar processor designed for the stage and studio, and
featuring Fractal Audio Systems’ legendary amp modeling and effects processing.
Since the original Axe-Fx turned the modeling world upside-down, users have clamored for an all-in-one
version. The AX8 brings the vaunted tone of the Axe-Fx II to a conveniently light and small “floor unit” without
sacrificing the all-important sound quality required for professional performance or recording situations.
The AX8 was purpose-designed for the rigors of the road and features a sturdy steel chassis with aircraft
aluminum side panels. An integrated power supply eliminates the clumsy and failure-prone “wall warts”
commonly used in other products. Our exclusive, proprietary “Silent Switching Technology” uses no
mechanical contacts to fail in the heat of battle. As with all Fractal Audio products only the best components
are used in the critical signal path, featuring audiophile-grade converters and linear components.
If you are an experienced Axe-Fx user you will be right at home with the AX8. We’ve packed all of our
revolutionary technologies into this little box: Quantum amp modeling, UltraRes™ speaker cabinet sims,
Humbuster™ I/O, and more, along with our renowned effects and usability features.
As with all our products, updates and a world-class software editor are free. The convenient (and also free)
“Fractal-Bot” utility is also compatible with the AX8 for updates and backing up all your custom settings.
Most importantly, the AX8 continues our tradition of not cutting corners. Our unique company structure and
“direct-to-musician” sales model means we can offer higher quality at a lower price. We don’t answer to share-
holders and corporate bean-counters, so we don’t cut corners on the quality of the components going into
our products. This, along with our obsession with being the best leads to stellar reliability, performance and,
most importantly, the legendary Fractal Audio sound.
So grab your guitar and get ready for a journey into incredible tone with the AX8!

Fractal Audio Systems

November 2015

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 1 Introduction

1 INTRODUCTION
WELCOME TO THE AX8
The AX8 is an advanced amp modeler and multi-effects pedalboard processor, perfect for guitar, bass,
and other instruments. The unit is “built like a tank” with a steel chassis and aircraft aluminum end panels,
featuring eleven quiet, durable, solid-state footswitches with no mechanical contacts to fail, 27 LEDs in
three colors, a brilliant LCD display, six buttons including SHIFT for extra functions, five soft knobs, and eight
dedicated LED-indicator knobs for essential amp functions. It has an instrument input, XLR, Humbuster
and S/PDIF main outputs, a stereo effects loop (which also doubles as a auxiliary input/output for special
applications) and four jacks for external switches or expression pedals.
Like every Fractal Audio Systems product, the AX8 puts sound quality first. It uses high quality D/A and A/D
converters for a pristine signal path and ultra-low noise levels. The on-board dual processors run the same
high-quality effect algorithms made famous in the Axe-Fx II.
We hope you find the unit easy to use and this manual easy to read. The most important sections are
those which introduce the basics of how the unit works. If nothing else, be sure to review this section, plus
“Hardware Overview” and “Setup Guide” on p. 15.

QUICK OVERVIEW
ƒƒ The AX8 contains 512 different presets ƒƒ There are over 16 different useful
arranged in 64 numbered banks. “Footswitch Blocks” such as “Scene 1/2
ƒƒ Each preset is like an entire rig, with its Toggle” or “Looper Control Mode”.
own amp, speaker cab, and effects. ƒƒ Footswitches can also be designated as
ƒƒ The AX8 features over 222 “Quantum” “GLOBAL”, which gives them the same
amp models utilizing the same assignment across ALL presets in the AX8.
technology as our flagship Axe-Fx II. ƒƒ 3 assignable Function Footswitches offer over
ƒƒ Ultra-Res™ Speaker Cab simulation provides a dozen options so you can create the perfect
a level of accuracy that only Fractal Audio layout of “modes” for your musical performances.
Systems can offer. AX8 is also compatible ƒƒ On-board jacks for four external footswitches
with our entire library of Cab-Packs. or expression pedals make it easy to
ƒƒ Presets are extremely flexible with the remote-control sound functions.
familiar “Layout Grid” from the Axe-Fx II. ƒƒ MIDI and USB also provide powerful
ƒƒ Most blocks offer X/Y switching for twice as options for control, editing, and more.
many sounds from the same number of blocks. ƒƒ AX8-Edit, a free software editor, makes
ƒƒ Each preset contains eight scenes. Think it possible to edit presets, effects, and
of a Scene as a preset within a preset. more when connected to a Mac or PC.
Scenes eliminate “tap dancing” by turning ƒƒ And much more! Please take the time to
multiple effects on or off with a single familiarize yourself with this manual.
tap, switching X/Y states, and more. ƒƒ Should you need any assistance with the AX8,
ƒƒ Every preset can have its own custom please visit http://www.fractalaudio.com
footswitch 1-8 assignments.

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1 Introduction

IF YOU OWN AN AXE-FX...

The AX8 is a dream come true for many Axe-Fx owners. Whether it is your backup rig or your new main
unit, we hope you will be pleased with what many are already calling the “Axe-Fx Junior on the Floor.” This
convenient grab-and-go unit contains the very best features of the Axe-Fx II, including the latest Quantum
Amp models, Ultra-Res™ Cabs, loads of effects, the 4x12 grid, and more.
Here are some quick tips that you as an Axe-Fx owner may find helpful as you get to know the AX8.

1. ALL of the amps are here! ALL of the factory cabs are here! All of your existing Axe-Fx II Cab-Packs and
user cab files are 100% compatible. All of the effects are basically the same as their counterparts in the
Axe-Fx, but the inventory is different. Review “Block Inventory” on p. 31
2. The AX8 has an impressive amount of CPU power—but not as much as the flagship Axe-Fx II. In
comparison to the Axe-Fx, it also disables blocks automatically if CPU usage gets too high.
See “Preset CPU Limits” on p. 39 to learn more.
3. Instead of a RECALL screen, the AX8 boots to the Footswitch Page—the first page of its main menu.
Think of this like the MFC-101 (our MIDI foot controller): as you edit it, the Footswitch Page doesn’t ever
change what you hear, just what the footswitches do.
Review “Setting Up Footswitches 1-8” on p. 35 and “Function Switches” on p. 23
4. Instead of a LAYOUT button, the Grid is accessed as the second page of the main menu.
Press PAGE> from the Footswitch Page to access it. Press EXIT to return to the Footswitch Page.
5. Instead of four NAV buttons, you will primarily use the E/NAV knob to get around menu pages.
One noteworthy exception is that when you want to assign a modifier to a knob, you will need to select
it using the NAV left and right buttons accessed as SHIFT + ENTER and SHIFT + EXIT.
6. There is no main “VALUE” knob; instead you’ll use A,B,C,D, and E knobs as indicated in the display.
DON’T FORGET about the eight dedicated LED-ring amp controls!
7. Instead of dedicated X and Y buttons, you’ll typically press and hold a footswitch to toggle X/Y for an
effect, or if no footswitch is assigned, select or edit the effect and double-tap EDIT.
8. When used to create an Auxiliary Output, the FX Loop Block must be placed in parallel rather than
series. (Unlike the Axe-Fx, the AX8 does not detect when a plug has been inserted into INPUT 2.)
9. In comparison to the MFC-101, BYPASS/ENGAGE footswitches execute on the switch up-stroke instead
of the down-stroke. Learn more, (including how to change this if you wish) in
“Up- vs. Down-Stroke Fx Switching” on p. 91.
10. AX8-Edit is so similar to Axe-Edit that using it overcomes the above front panel differences with ease.
11. The Axe-Fx II and AX8 cannot share presets, but you CAN transfer individual block settings from one
product to another using our editor software applications, Axe-Edit and AX8-Edit.
See ”Transferring Blocks Between Products” on p. 95.
12. The AX8 has FOUR jacks for external switches or pedals, not one or two.
13. All of the 1/4” outputs use Humbuster™ Technology, compatible with all existing Humbuster cables.
14. Fractal-Bot is fully supported. Use it for firmware updates, backup/restore operations, and more.

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 1 Introduction

IF YOU OWN AN FX8...

The AX8 looks very similar to the FX8, but there are some important differences. The FX8 is intended for use
with a tube amp, while the AX8 is primarily intended for going “direct.” Later you’ll learn how it can also be
used with real amps and guitar speakers, but at first you’ll surely want to connect the unit to some studio
monitors, full-range guitar speakers, or a high-quality PA system.
Here are some quick tips that you as an FX8 owner may find helpful as you get to know the AX8.

1. Instead of STOMPBOX MODE, the AX8 boots to the Footswitch Page—the first page of its main
menu. The Footswitch page is very different from Stompbox Mode in that it only changes footswitch
assignments. It does NOT determine which effects are in the preset, or what order they are in. Think
of the Footswitch Page almost like a separate foot controller. The three right F-Switches are also fully
programmable, allowing you to decide what you want each one to do by choosing from a menu.
Review “Setting Up Footswitches 1-8” on p. 35 and “Function Switches” on p. 23
2. Again, the Footswitch Page has no effect on what you hear. Instead, effect blocks are placed and must
be connected using the Layout Grid on the second page of the main menu. To display the grid,
press PAGE> from the Footswitch Page. Press EXIT to return to the footswitch screen.
Review “The Layout Grid” on p. 27
3. The AX8 uses a flexible architecture that does NOT designate separate “Pre” and “Post” chains.
It is still possible to use a four-cable method hookup, but this needs to be set up manually in each
preset using the FX Loop block (p. 61) to insert your preamp.
4. In addition to using Press-and-Hold footswitches to toggle X/Y, you can also select or edit an effect and
double-tap EDIT. (This is good to know because some blocks may not have footswitches assigned.)
5. Unlike the FX8, the AX8 is NOT specifically designed for unity gain, but when you’re using it “direct” this
really should not be a concern.
6. The effects of the AX8 are mostly the same as those in the current FX8 firmware, but there are a few
changes. Review “Block Inventory” on p. 31
7. There are no RELAYS. Instead, the AX8 has four jacks for external switches or pedals.
8. The AX8 Looper is not “global,” meaning it needs to be inserted as a block on the grid for every preset
where you want to use the Looper. Review “The Looper Block” on p. 58
9. Once you understand the Grid, AX8-Edit is remarkably similar to FX8-Edit.
10. The FX8 and AX8 cannot share presets, but you CAN transfer individual block settings from one product
to another using our editor software applications, FX8-Edit and AX8-Edit.
See ”Transferring Blocks Between Products” on p. 95.
11. All of the 1/4” outputs use Humbuster™ Technology. All existing Humbuster™ cables are compatible.
12. Fractal-Bot is fully supported. Use it for firmware updates, backup/restore operations, and more.

3
1 Introduction

QUICK CONNECT GUIDE

The best and most flexible way to enjoy your AX8 is through a full range system. In comparison to
traditional guitar speakers, the extended range of such a system is able to reproduce the very broad
spectrum of frequencies produced by all of the different amp models, speaker sims, and effects. Think
of it this way: a 1x12” open-back guitar speaker is never going to sound like a 4x12 stack, but full range
monitors or PA speakers are designed to reproduce the sound of anything you throw at them—right
down to an entire band.
If you do NOT plan on “going direct” with a full range system, please see “Setup Guide” on p. 15 for
instructions about how to use the AX8 in other configurations (but do also make a point of looking into
the many options available for full range guitar systems).

q Begin with all level knobs turned down.

Connect your guitar to IN1 [INSTRUMENT].
The AX8 is also perfect for bass
and other instruments.

w Connect OUT 1 [MAIN] to a mixer,

studio monitors, audio interface, PA system,
full-range speakers, amp inputs, etc.
• For a mono rig, use the LEFT output only.
• Use XLR Outs to feed balanced Inputs.
You can find high quality XLR and other
cables at http://btpa.com/fractal-audio
• Use the 1/4" Outs when connecting
to unbalanced Inputs.
• Use Humbuster™ cables with
1/4” outs to reduce hum from
ground loops. (See next page.)

e Turn up the OUT 1 [MAIN] LEVEL knob

and adjust the level on your monitors as desired.
Out 2 is not used in this setup.

Find additional setup diagrams in Section 3: Setup Guide, on p. 15.

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 1 Introduction

CHECKING AND SETTING LEVELS

Setting proper levels is critical. Two meters (one mono and one stereo) plus two
front panel LEDs inform you about levels on the AX8. Setting levels is easy.

INPUT 1 [INSTRUMENT] LEVELS

The AX8 comes ready-to-use for the typical guitar with passive pickups. Connect a
guitar to INPUT 1. Choose your loudest pickup setting and set all the guitar controls
to “wide open.” Play loud, open chords to push the levels as you watch the IN 1
[INSTRUMENT] meter LEDs. It’s OK to tickle the red LED once in a while, but if you
push too hard, the input will clip and you’ll need to pad the input as follows:
 Press SETUP followed by footswitch 2 for the “I/O” menu. It should open to the “LEVELS“ page.
 Turn E/NAV to select INSTRUMENT INPUT PAD. Turn the “A” knob to Increase this setting beyond
6dB, 12dB or 18dB. Be aware that as you increase this PAD setting you also increase the noise floor,
so set it as low as possible. Conversely, if you can set this to 0dB for a guitar with quiet output,
you’ll get even better signal-to-noise performance.

OUT 1 LEVELS
OUT 1 [MAIN] XLR and 1/4" Humbuster™ jacks are ready to be connected to professional line-level
+4dBu inputs. If you are connecting to consumer-grade equipment operating at -10 dbV, please set
the nominal output level as follows:
 Press SETUP; Press footswitch 2 for the I/O menu; Turn to the LEVELS page.
 Turn E/NAV to select MAIN OUT NOMINAL LEVEL and change this setting to “-10 dBV”.

FRONT PANEL “CLIP” LEDS

If the MAIN OUT CLIP or FX SEND CLIP LEDs light, see “Checking and Setting Levels” on p. 19
for more information about the various controls and settings used to solve clipping problems.

HUMBUSTER CABLES
Standard 1/4” guitar cables are fine for all audio connections to and from the AX8, but there is a better
option for connecting its outputs to your amp, modeler or other device. Humbuster™ technology on all
AX8 outputs can significantly reduce unwanted noise due to the common problem of a ground loop. For
this to work, you need to use a special Humbuster™ cable you can buy or make yourself.
A Humbuster™ cable has one TRS end (like a balanced cable) and one TS end (like a guitar cable). The TRS
end connects to the AX8. The TS end connects to your amp.
Humbuster™ cables are available from http:/www.fractalaudio.com/cables or you can make your own by
following the diagram below. Be sure to use high-quality connectors and shielded cable.

5
1 Introduction

THE FOOTSWITCHES
Once you have set up your AX8 with speakers/amps/monitors, you can begin to audition the factory preset
sounds. The AX8 has eleven footswitches divided into two groups: “F-Switches” and numbered footswitches.
Their default functions—detailed here—are perfect for how most players will use the AX8.

THE F-SWITCHES
Tap for Preset Select Mode
F2 and F3 work as Bank Up/Down.
Select a preset with footswitches 1–8.
Press and hold F1 to enter “Sticky”
Preset Mode which remains active until
you tap F1 again to exit.
Learn about Presets in Section 5.

Tap for Scene Select Mode then

FOOTSWITCHES 1-8 Select a Scene with footswitches 1–8.
Press and hold F2 to enter “Sticky”
Scene Mode which remains active until
you tap F2 again to exit.
Learn about Scenes in Section 6

Footswitches 1–8 perform the functions shown on

the eight boxes in the Footswitch Page of the green Tap to set the Tempo. Some effects
display. In other modes, these same footswitches are use times or rates controlled by Tempo.
used for functions like selecting Presets and Scenes, Learn more in Section 9
or operating the Looper.
Press and hold F3 to display the Tuner.
Learn about the Tuner in Section 10

CHANGING PRESETS AND SCENES

The AX8 contains 512 presets arranged in 64 banks. Think of a preset as a complete rig with its own amp,
speaker cab, plus any effects placed anywhere in the signal chain. Each preset also includes a Noise Gate, a
simple output mixer, and more. You can learn more about presets in Section 5: Creating Presets, on p.
27, but for now let’s learn to change the current preset so you can audition sounds on the AX8.
A Scene is a set of stored values within a preset that can be used to change multiple sound settings at once.
Scenes turn effects on or off, set levels, and more. Learn more in Section 6: Scenes, on p. 41.

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 1 Introduction

TO CHANGE THE PRESET OR SCENE USING THE KNOBS...

From the main Footswitch Page, you can fast-scroll through presets or scenes:
The “B” knob fast-scrolls through PRESETS.
The “C” knob fast-scrolls through SCENES. (Say it to remember it: “C... Scenes.”)
When a new preset loads, its name is shown in LARGE TYPE for 2 seconds. You can increase or decrease this
time using the option, “Display Large Preset” in the SETTINGS page of the GLOBAL menu (see p. p. 79)

The LARGE TYPE preset name display.

TO CHANGE PRESETS USING THE FOOTSWITCHES...

 Tap the F1 Switch to enter Preset Select Mode.
If you press and hold F1 the AX8 enters “Sticky” Preset Mode until you tap F1 again to exit.
 Press F2 for BANK UP or F3 for BANK DOWN. The Display will show a menu of the eight presets
contained in the current bank.
 Select from switches 1–8 to load a preset within the bank shown, or press F1 to cancel.

The PRESET SELECT menu for BANK 06.

TO CHANGE SCENES USING THE FOOTSWITCHES...

 Tap the F2 Switch to enter Scene Select Mode.
If you press and hold F2 the AX8 enters “Sticky” Scene Mode until you tap F2 again to exit.
 Select from switches 1–8 to load a Scene in the current preset, or press F2 to cancel.

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1 Introduction

THE FOOTSWITCH PAGE

When you power on the AX8, it defaults to the Footswitch Page of the main menu (as indicated by “FS” in the
menu tab). The current functions of footswitches 1-8 are displayed here. The diagram below provides a basic
understanding of what you’re seeing on the Footswitch Page.

The upper left area shows the The upper right shows the
current BANK, PRESET and SCENE. pages of the main menu.

The NAME of the

current preset

The SELECTED switch

is shown in inverse.

A DOTTED outline A SOLID outline A GRAYED footswitch indicates An EMPTY space

indicates that this indicates that this an effect not found in the indicates a footswitch
switch is OFF. switch is ON. current preset. with nothing assigned.

A >BLINKING< footswitch indicates an effect disabled for CPU reasons. See p. 39 for more on this.

FOOTSWITCH 1–8 ASSIGNMENT QUICKSTART GUIDE

Footswitches 1–8 can be assigned to any effect in the current preset. To change a footswitch in a preset:

 Select the footswitch you want to change. (Stomp it or turn the E/NAV knob to select it in the display.)
 Turn the A knob to cycle through the list of blocks.
 When you find what you’re looking for, press ENTER to confirm, or press EXIT to cancel.
 Save your changes by pressing STORE, ENTER, ENTER.

You will also notice various “Footswitch Blocks” in the list of blocks. These perform a variety of functions like
selecting presets in the current bank, changing scenes in the current preset, displaying the Looper, and more.
Learn more about this in “Setting Up Footswitches 1-8” on p. 35

IMPORTANT! Footswitch assignments do not change which effects are (or are NOT) in your preset.
If you think of the AX8 as a separate guitar processor and foot controller, this would be the foot
controller portion. The Layout Grid (see next page) determines which effects are in the signal path.

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 1 Introduction

THE GRID CONCEPT

Behind the scenes of every AX8 preset is the Layout grid. Learn it. Love it. Live it. Here’s the concept.
In the world of traditional gear, most of us have very limited options, and building a rig requires making
hard choices and commitments. With the AX8, these limitations are removed and you have a vast, ever-
growing “inventory” of virtual amps, cabs, effects, and more. Virtual gear is selected from the inventory and
placed as “blocks” into the slots of a 12×4 “layout grid.” As you might expect, blocks must be wired up using
cable-like “connectors”—again, virtual ones in this case—and you can create splits or merges as needed.
Passive “shunts” are be used to carry signal through otherwise empty spaces on the grid.
The following illustration shows various pieces of gear from an inventory, all interconnected on the grid.
Signal flow begins at the INPUT on the left. Signal is routed through a SHUNT to feed a Wah block. The
shunt has no effect on the sound and is shown only to introduce the concept of its use. The Wah block is
connected to an Amp block (we might set its type to “Plexi 100W High”), which in turn feeds a Cab—one
of the many “4x12” options, perhaps. This is connected to a reverb (“REV”) and then to the OUTPUT. Many
grid spaces are empty. The size of a preset is limited only by the grid structure, block inventory, and total
processing power or “CPU”. The AX8 has enough CPU power to create countless incredible virtual rigs.

GRID AND BLOCK EDITS QUICKSTART GUIDE

You’ll learn all about the grid in Section 5: Creating Presets, on p. 27, but here’s a quick primer:
 From the main Footswitch page, press PAGE RIGHT to show the grid (“Layout” tab).
 Turn the D or E knobs to navigate the grid.
 Turn the A knob to cycle through blocks at the current grid location.
 Press ENTER to insert or change the effect. Press EDIT to access its parameters.
 Use all five knobs to edit on-screen parameters. Use E/NAV to navigate menu pages.
 To save changes, press STORE, ENTER, ENTER.
 Press EXIT to switch from the Layout Grid to the Footswitch Page.
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1 Introduction

AX8-EDIT
If you are comfortable with audio software or plug-ins, you will probably enjoy using AX8-Edit to
program and manage the AX8. While every function of the AX8 can be operated from the front
panel of the unit, AX8 Edit brings an entirely new level of convenience and performance, including
some power user features that aren’t possible on the unit itself (like Block Library and Scene Swap).
AX8-Edit also provides great tools for managing presets and banks, installing Cab Packs, and more.
You can download this free editor for Mac or Windows at http://www.fractalaudio.com
Open banks and presets Edit names with Use scene features Save presets to
from the AX8 in your computer like COPY/PASTE the AX8 or to
just a few clicks. keyboard. and SWAP. your computer.

Easily edit the grid.

Drag & drop swap,
Copy/Paste,
and more...

Dedicated area
for block MIX
and LEVEL
parameters.
Block Library
View and edit dozens of
stores and recalls
parameters on a single screen.
effect settings.

FRACTAL-BOT
Fractal-Bot is an ultra-light (and free!) program that’s used
to update your AX8 when we release new firmware. It also
includes tools to back up or restore your presets and other
custom settings, and though not as powerful as AX8-Edit
(above) it can be used to install presets or cabs that you’ve
downloaded.

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 2 Hardware Overview

2 HARDWARE OVERVIEW

THE TOP PANEL

 The AX8 is housed in a powder-coated steel chassis with an aircraft aluminum bezel and end-caps.
 The 160 × 80 pixel LCD is where all menu screens are displayed.
 METER and STATUS LEDs communicate important information:
ƒƒ IN 1 [INSTR] and IN 2 [FX RTN] meters show input levels. Signal can “tickle the red” before clipping.
ƒƒ EDITED – This LED is lit when the current preset has been altered but not stored.
ƒƒ MIDI IN – This LED is lit while MIDI messages are being received at the MIDI IN port.
ƒƒ MAIN OUT CLIP – This LED is lit when signal overloads OUT 1 (MAIN) and causes clipping.
ƒƒ FX SEND CLIP – This LED is lit when signal overloads OUT 2 (FX SEND) and causes clipping.

 Eight AMP CONTROL KNOBS adjust DRIVE, BASS, MID, TREBLE, PRESENCE, DEPTH, MASTER and LEVEL
for the current preset. LED rings show values as they change, updating automatically when you select a
new amp TYPE, change presets, or toggle between X and Y (see “X/Y Switching” on p. 38).

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2 Hardware Overview

 Six Buttons provide access to the various functions and menus of the AX8.
ƒƒ STORE – Stores the current preset to memory so it can be recalled in the future.
ƒƒ EDIT – Opens the Edit Menu for the currently selected effect block.
ƒƒ PAGE4 – Steps to the right through menu pages, shown as “tabs.”
ƒƒ ENTER – Executes commands, commits changes, accesses sub-menus, and more.
ƒƒ EXIT – Works as cancel, escape, and more.
ƒƒ SHIFT – The SHIFT key gives every button a second function. Press and hold for SHIFT LOCK.
ƒƒ SETUP (Shift+Store) – opens the SETUP menus (which you select from using footswitches).
ƒƒ FX BYP (Shift+Edit) – bypasses the selected effect without using a footswitch.
ƒƒ 3PAGE (Shift+Page>) – steps to the left through menu pages, shown as “tabs.”
ƒƒ 3NAV (Shift+Enter) – moves the on-screen cursor or focus to the left.
ƒƒ NAV4 (Shift+Exit) – moves the on-screen cursor or focus to the right.

 A,B,C,D, and E SOFT KNOBS (aka “Multifunction Endless Rotary Encoders” for you slide-rule types...)
These perform different functions depending on which screen is shown in the display. Most screens
show five (or fewer) knobs for easy 1:1 operation. Knob E is also used for NAV, which navigates on-
screen menus.

 The HANDLE also serves as a GUARD to protect the knobs of the AX8 from being kicked and broken.
 There are eight main FOOTSWITCHES corresponding to the eight
effect slots. Each has three LEDs.

a. FOOTSWITCH – Step on it! Footswitches are used to select presets and

scenes, toggle effects, as “Control Switches,” and more. The AX8 utilizes our
fast, quiet Solid State Switches (SSS™) with no mechanical contacts to fail.
b. BYPASS LED – The green LED above the footswitch shows whether the
effect assigned to this footswitch is ON or OFF.
c. Y LED – Many effects on the AX8 offer X/Y switching for two different
sound settings from a single block. By default you press and hold the
footswitch to toggle the X/Y state of the corresponding effect, though
certain settings change the way you toggle X/Y. The amber LED indicates
that an effect has been switched to its Y setting.
d. SCENE LED – Eight red LEDs labeled S1, S2, etc. indicate which Scene is loaded within the current
preset. (See Section 6 for more on Scenes.)

 Two OUTPUT LEVEL CONTROL KNOBS adjust the levels at the MAIN OUT (12) and FX SEND (13) jacks.
a The three FUNCTION FOOTSWITCHES, also known as “F-Switches” are used to change modes and
access various features of the AX8. Each of them has a primary function activated when you tap the
footswitch, and a secondary function activated when you Press and hold it.
Learn more in Section 4 Function Switches.

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 2 Hardware Overview

THE REAR PANEL

 IN 1 [INSTRUMENT] – (Mono, unbalanced 1/4" Jack)

Connect your guitar, bass, or any instrument-level source here using a regular guitar cable.
You can also connect the output of other guitar pedals or effects.

 OUT 1 [MAIN] L+R – (Two XLR-M and Two 1/4" Humbuster™ Jacks)
The main output of the AX8 appears at these jacks. Use the XLR jacks to connect to a mixer, studio
monitors, PA, or other device with balanced inputs. Use the ground lift switch if necessary to reduce
hum from ground loops. Use the 1/4" unbalanced Humbuster™ jacks to connect to unbalanced inputs
such as those on power amps. Both the XLR and the 1/4" jacks always output exactly the same signal
and may be used simultaneously. The OUT 1 MAIN level knob (9) controls both at the same time.

 OUT 2 [FX SEND] L+R – (Two 1/4" Humbuster™ Jacks)

Connect to the input(s) of outboard equipment when using the FX Loop block (p. 61). This
block can also be used to turn OUT 2 into a utility output so you can send signal with and without
cabinet simulation at the same time. See “Setup: Power Amp & Guitar Speakers” on p. 16 for more
information on this type of setup.

If the FX Block is not used, a special system parameter called OUT 2 (FX SEND) ECHO can be used to
specify the source for OUT 2. Applications include recording raw, dry, direct guitar for re-amping or
using the OUT 1 and OUT 2 level knobs for independent front-of-house and onstage monitor levels.
See OUT 2 FX SEND ECHO under “I/O: Audio Page” on p. 84.

g IN 2 [FX RTN] L+R – (Two Balanced 1/4" Tip-Ring-Sleeve Jacks)

These jacks feed the FX Loop block (p. 61), wherever it is placed in your presets. Aside from the
obvious use of inserting outboard equipment, the FX Loop block can also be used to turn IN 2 into
a utility input to feed a given preset a second input signal such as that from the piezo output of a
dual-output guitar.

Humbuster™ Technology on all OUT 1 [MAIN] and OUT 2 [FX SEND] 1/4" jacks can
significantly reduce hum from ground loops when used with special Humbuster Cables
available at http://shop.fractalaudio.com. See also “Humbuster Cables” on p. 5.

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