Fractal Audio FX8 - Advanced Level Parameters

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15 : ADDITIONAL TOPICS
ADVANCED LEVEL PARAMETERS
Setting levels on the FX8 is easy, but to get the most from your unit you need to know what the various
settings do and how they work. If you encounter clipping or want to ensure that you’re getting the best
signal-to-noise ratio, you should understand the various ways to set levels, pads, and headroom:
IF YOU ARE CLIPPING THE PRE CHAIN...
IN PRE PAD (Setup : I/O : LEVELS) – This should be set as low as possible to keep the noise oor low, but if
you clip IN 1, you’ll need to increase the pad. If the input still clips with a 12dB pad, you’ll need to lower the
level of your guitar or other upstream eects/device(s).
LEVEL of your PRE eects – If the LEVEL is too hot on one or more PRE eect blocks, OUT 1 will clip. Don’t
forget that the Noise Gate also has a LEVEL control.
OUTPUT LEVEL PRE (OUT page of the preset main menu... page over from “Stompbox Mode”) – Each Scene
of every preset has its own master volume setting for OUT 1 (PRE). Adjust this to normalize scenes, but
watch out for clipping at out 1 and be aware that this also aects unity gain.
OUTPUT 1 PRE HEADROOM (Setup: I/O: Levels) – This increases headroom on the output converter. Use
this control only if you can’t address clipping by adjusting the settings above. The default is 6dB. Try 12 dB
before using 18 dB as a last resort, since higher settings also increase the noise oor.
OUT 1 GLOBAL EQ (Setup: Global: Out 1) – The Global EQ has the potential to boost signals to the point of
clipping. Conversely this can also be a “quick x” until you can adjust blocks/ or scenes as described above.
No other controls or settings on the FX8 address IN1/OUT1 clipping.
IF YOU ARE CLIPPING THE POST CHAIN...
SEND LEVEL of your amp’s FX loop – Some amps have a knob or switch to vary send levels. Be sure to select
the loudest channel on your amp when checking to see if this solves a possible problem of clipping at IN 2.
LEVEL of your POST eects – If the LEVEL is too hot on one or more POST eect blocks, OUT 2 will clip.
OUTPUT LEVEL POST (OUT page of the preset main menu... page over from “Stompbox Mode”) – Each Scene
of every preset has its own master volume setting for OUT 2 (POST). Adjust this to normalize scenes, but
watch out for clipping at Out 2 and be aware that this also aects unity gain.
POST LEVEL (Setup: I/O: Levels) – SETUP: I/O: POST LEVEL can be set to +4dbu or -10dbV. This setting
aects BOTH IN2 (POST) and OUT 2 (POST). +4dbu is “professional” standard. This setting gives you greater
headroom, which is why this control is mentioned at all in a discussion about clipping. The increased
voltage is also better for long cable runs between the FX8 and other equipment. -10dbV is the “home”
standard but may also be used for music equipment. If your connected amplier operates at -10dbV, choose
this setting.
OUT 3 GLOBAL EQ (Setup: Global: Out 3) – The Global EQ has the potential to boost signals to the point of
clipping. Conversely this can also be a “quick x” until you can adjust blocks/ or scenes as described above.
No other controls or settings on the FX8 address IN1/OUT1 clipping.