REVOLUTION NO 9 
 

OUR PREVIOUS FIRMWARE UPDATE ARTICLES OFTEN CONCENTRATED ON DEFINITE AREAS THAT HAD BEEN IMPROVED. BE IT THE AMP SIMULATIONS, THE DRIVES OR THE EFFECTS, THERE WAS ALWAYS ONE ASPECT THAT OUTSHONE ALL THE OTHERS.

THIS TIME IT’S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

INGENIOUS DETAIL IMPROVEMENTS
This time countless improvements have been made to the little details in just about every area, from effects to MIDI control, as well as in the general user-friendliness. And taken all together these small improvements have once again moved the Axe-Fx a step further in its quest to be the perfect tool for every electric guitarist. The Axe-Fx is rather like a prize-winning cognac that just keeps getting better and better as it matures. 

PRE-AMP PARADISE
Modelling of both the pre and power amp stages has been revised and now “cold-biased” pre-amp stages are accurately simulated. This means that amp sims of this type now have quite a bit more crunch. Even when playing lightly there is still an underlying crunch to be heard. A nice side-effect of this is that some of the high-gain amps now feel a little tighter. 

FINGERTIPS
Power amp compression is more evident but also more natural, especially with high master and/or sag settings. This brings with it a big increase in note clarity and the amps are now even more touch-sensitive – they really react instantly to every movement of your fingertips.

BOUTIQUE AMPS ELDORADO
The Euro models have been completely reworked and the CAA and X99 models have also been revised. Various other models (Fryette, Pexi, Boutique) have also been slightly tweaked.

EFFECTS OLYMPUS
The Reverb has been one of the Axe-Fx highlights since the word go, but that didn’t stop the perfectionist Cliff Chase from wanting to improve it even further and so he has reworked it from the ground up. A nice side-effect is that it now uses less processing power, meaning that the improvements made here are also available to Axe-Fx Standard users. The wealth of parameters makes it possible to indulge in even more elaborate fine-tuning. 

With the Vintage Reverb you can now even tweak the number of springs and their basic tonal characteristics. 

The Drive blocks have also been improved in various details. For example, the drive control now replicates the exact range of the original modelled device.

FINELY-TUNED ROTATION MODELS
The Rotary block has received a completely new algorithm. Among other benefits are separate motors for the LF and HF rotors. Just like the real thing, the LF rotor will now change speed more slowly than the HF rotor. On top of this, it is now even possible to adjust the length of the virtual HF horn! All in all the new Rotary sounds more intense and more realistic. 

THIS IS WHAT A PHASER SHOULD BE LIKE
As for the Phaser block, the Vibe mode in particular has been reworked. Several controls have been extended and a few new ones added. Vibe mode now simulates the classic Univibe sound exactly. As always though, every improvement is also a change, so existing patches will need to be auditioned and in some cases modified. 

PERFECT PITCH SHIFTER
The pitch shifter has been further improved – though it was already world-class! The ‘Smooth’ tracking mode now reacts more gradually to changes in pitch, making note-bending harmonies sound smoother. Also the range has been increased to +/- 15 scale degrees. On top of this a few small bugs that could occur under certain circumstances have been fixed.

PERFECT CONTROL
Now let’s take a look at some improvements that first become apparent when using the unit live. Lots of mods have been made on the MIDI control front. External controllers can now be given a start value that they automatically revert to when the Axe-Fx is switched on. This is especially useful when for some reason the required MIDI controller is not connected. 

INFORMATION FLOW
The Axe-Fx can now send tempo and tuner information via SysEx messages. These messages can then be read by MIDI pedals such as the upcoming Fractal Audio MFC-101. The PC editor Axe-Edit also makes use of this data. 

COOL
Up to now the auto-engage function has most commonly been used to allow the Wah block to switch on as soon as the pedal is moved and switch off again as soon as the pedal is returned to its heel down position. A new parameter now allows you to set this up completely differently. For example, you can now set the wah to switch off when it is pressed completely toe down.

USER FRIENDLY
The tap tempo function previously looked at the last two taps and calculated the tempo from them. The new version takes an average of the last group of taps (up to ten). This makes it much easier to tap an accurate tempo while playing.

COULD BE A WORLD RECORD
The time taken to switch between patches has been reduced yet again. It is now around 20 ms and can be as low as 10ms when delay spill-over is activated. This could well be a new world record for such a complex device. When you consider that a pause generally doesn’t become noticeable until it is 30-35 ms long, then the Axe-Fx is totally off the wall on this front.

YET ANOTHER MASTERSTROKE
The logarithmic tapers of some controls have been modified to more closely match actual audio taper pots. Especially the controls in the Volume block and the tone controls of the Amp block benefit from this new development. As do the users, of course, who get the ‘real’ feeling even when they are tweaking. Yet another masterstroke, this Number Nine. Thanks very much, Cliff Chase.

AMENDMENT, OR MORE THAN NINE
Meanwhile (as of 7th March) Firmware 9.03 has arrived on the scene and, as always, there have been a few changes made. There are two new amps; a simulation of the Carol-Ann OD2 boutique amp and the juicy Orange Rockerverb 50 are a welcome addition to the ranks. Some of the existing amps have undergone an overhaul, in some cases quite extensively. Fundamental changes have also been made to the output transformer: the basic character of the power amp simulation can now be fine-tuned for more or less highs and beefier or drier bass response. A new drive model simulates the very highly thought of Xotic BB Preamp. The compressor has been improved considerably and the spring reverb is now even more realistic. As always, many other little details have been improved, too many to list here and, once again all these improvements are completely free for every gratified guitarist.