Fractal AXE-FX II Quick Reference Manual - page 6
LOW CUT FREQ – Reduces the amount of low frequency (10-1000Hz) before the
preamp input. Use this is to tighten up a tubby bass end. Somewhere between
10-150Hz is generally where it will sound best for standard guitar tones. Also
see CUT (Basic page).
HIGH CUT FREQ – Reduces the amount of high frequency (2k-20kHz) after the
preamp output. Lower the value to make your top end sound smooth and silky,
raise it to make it brilliant and defined.
BRIGHT – High treble control shelving filter between the preamp and power
amp. It may be used to darken or brighten the output of the preamp. It
accurately replicates the “Presence” control found in the Mesa Triaxis preamp
when set to negative values. (In the Triaxis, it is actually a high frequency cut
shelving filter.) Note: this is not to be confused with the BRIGHT switch which
engages/disengages a capacitor across the drive pot.
DEFINITION – A basic “tilt EQ” located at the amp input. It changes the
fundamental character of the amp from vintage to modern or vice-versa.
Positive values increase the amount of upper overtone saturation, negative
values reinforce lower harmonics.
CHARACTER TYPE – Selects between a shelving behavior or a peaking behavior.
CHARACTER Q – Controls the bandwidth of the response when the peaking
behavior is chosen.
CHARACTER FREQ/AMT – These two parameters control powerful “inverse
homomorphic filters”. When playing softly this dynamic filter has little effect
on the sound. As the amount of distortion increases, the influence of the
filter increases. The Character Freq control sets the center frequency of the
filter while the Character Amt control sets how pronounced the effect is. For
example, to darken the tone when playing harder, one might set the frequency
to 10 kHz and the amount to -5. Setting the amount to +5 will make the tone
brighter when playing hard.
Amp Block
TONESTACK TYPE
ACTIVE – Gives each tone control ±12 dB boost/cut making them more
sensitive; they also will not interact with each other.
DEFAULT – Matches the tone stack with the selected amp type.
[AMP] – Replaces the default tone stack with one from another amp.
TONE FREQ – Sets the center frequency of the tone controls. This control works
whether you are using PASSIVE, ACTIVE, or substitute tone stacks.
TONE LOCATION
PRE – Places the tone stack at the input to the preamp.
POST – Places it between the preamp and power amp.
MID – Places it between the last two triode stages.
END – Places it after the power amp (which is impossible with a real amp).
The farther upstream you position the stack, the thinner the sound.
MID will sound chunkiest, with END being rather dark.
AMP VOICING – Voices the amp to a variety of tonal styles. Choose “Neutral” for
the raw amp sound or one of the other voicings for a quick “mix-ready” tone.
Affects POWER AMP LOW/HI CUT values and applies some parametric EQ.
BRIGHT CAP – Sets the value of the capacitor which determines the sonic effect
of the BRIGHT switch. Increase to make the preamp brighter and vice-versa.
MV CAP – Sets the value of the bright cap across the Master Volume pot.
Setting it to 1.0 pF disables it.
The tone stack is one of the main things that gives an amp its particular
voice, as it shapes the frequency response pretty drastically.
For a flat tone stack, set the TONESTACK TYPE to NEUTRAL with B/M/T at
noon. This allows the flexibility of being able to boost or cut bass and treble.
The Character parameters now control a powerful dynamic equalizer that
can be used to achieve tones and feel impossible with a real amplifier.
Negative values of the Character Amount along with a peaking behavior
result in midrange scoop where the scoop increases as you play harder.
Positive values result in a midrange boost as you play harder. Experiment
with the frequency, Q and amount to achieve interesting dynamic response.
Cliff’s “Secret Formula”:
Character Frequency: 3000 to 5000 Hz, adjust to taste.
Character: -0.5 to -1.0, adjust to taste.
TOP ROW
BOTTOM ROW