Fractal Audio MFC-101 MARK III User manual

OWNER’S MANUAL
MARK II
Firmware Version 2.15

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Legal Notices
Fractal Audio Systems MFC-101 Mark II Owner’s Manual. Contents Copyright © 2010 -2012. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the permission of Fractal Audio Systems.
Fractal Audio Systems, Axe-Fx, Axe-Fx II, MFC-101 are trademarks of Fractal Audio Systems. Manufacturer names
and product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners, which
are in no way associated with or affiliated with Fractal Audio Systems. 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 MFC-101 and in this User Guide.
2. Keep away from sources of heat such as heat ducts, registers or appliances which
produce heat.
3. Connect only to a proper AC outlet of 100–240V, 47–63 Hz.
4. Keep the AC adapter in good condition. Do not kink, bend or pinch. If the AC adapter
becomes damaged, discard and replace it.
5. If not using your MFC101 for extended periods of time disconnect from AC mains.
6. Protect the unit from rain and excessive moisture.
7. Refer servicing to qualified personnel only.
8. Do not operate the unit and obtain service if:
a. Liquids or excessive moisture enter the unit
b. The unit operates incorrectly or performance is inconsistent or erratic
c. The unit has been dropped and/or the enclosure damaged
9. 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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Certificate of Conformity
Fractal Audio Systems, USA, hereby declares on its own responsibility that the following product
MFC101 –MIDI Foot Controller
that is covered by this certificate and marked with CE label conforms to following standards:
EN60065
(IEC 60065)
Safety requirement for mains operated electronic and related apparatus for household and similar
use.
EN 55103-1
Product family standard for audio, video, audio-visual and entertainment lighting control apparatus
for professional use. Part 1: Emission.
EN 55103-2
Product family standard for audio, video, audio-visual and entertainment lighting control apparatus
for professional use. Part 2: Immunity.
with reference to regulations in following directives: 73/23/EEC, 89/336/EEC.
Issued in August 2010
Clifford Chase, President
Fractal Audio Systems
EMC / EMI
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B Digital device, pursuant 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 harmful 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 reception, 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 connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
About the Author
Matt Picone is a music technology product specialist, sound designer, creative director, and musician with over 25 years of
experience spanning guitars, amps, effects, synthesizers, software, and beyond. He has worked with many greats including
Dweezil Zappa, Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Dream Theater, the Edge, Peter Frampton, Neal Schon, King’s X, Scott Appleton (Def
Leppard/Rush/etc.) and more.
Many thanks to our team of awesome beta-testers, preset creators, copy-editors and proofreaders.
You may report manual corrections or suggestions in our forum at http://forum.fractalaudio.com

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Foreword
Thank you for your purchase of the Fractal Audio Systems MFC-101.
Musical instrument foot control dates back to the 1200s, when organ pedals
doubled the number of limbs which could be used by a single person during a
performance. Centuries later, electric instruments were equipped with various
types of foot control devices designed to similarly enhance their capabilities. At
the touch of a switch or pedal, performers could spin, switch, or shape sound in
new and exciting ways. Advances in electronics added new dimensions, and MIDI
tremendously expanded creative remote control with complex commands and
fine degrees of expression.
Just as the Axe-Fx represents a leap forward in music technology, so too does the
MFC-101 embody foot controller evolution. It has the best features of yesterday
and today, plus powerful leading-edge capabilities designed to make it even more
versatile and easy-to-use. In addition, the upgradable firmware and onboard
expansion port ensure that the Fractal Audio Systems tradition of adding
enhancements and value may be continued with the MFC-101.
Whether you pair it with the Axe-Fx or another MIDI product, we hope you enjoy
using the MFC-101 as much as we have enjoyed creating it. We worked hard to
design a product we hope you will think is the ultimate MIDI Foot Controller, and
we’re very much looking forward to seeing it become a favorite on the world
stage.
—Fractal Audio Systems, August 2010

CONTENTS Fractal Audio Systems MFC-101 Manual
Table of Contents
Foreword ..........................................................................................iii
Table of Contents..............................................................................iv
1OVERVIEW ....................................................................................1
1.1 Main Features..........................................................................................1
1.2 Hardware Overview .................................................................................2
1.2.1 Footswitch Primary Functions ...............................................................................................................2
1.2.2 Footswitch Secondary Functions ...........................................................................................................3
1.2.3 Rear Panel Features ...............................................................................................................................4
1.3 Software Map ..........................................................................................5
1.4 Navigating in Edit Mode...........................................................................6
1.5 Saving Changes ........................................................................................6
2GETTING CONNECTED....................................................................7
3BASIC SETTINGS...........................................................................10
3.1 Axe-Fx Mode..........................................................................................10
3.1.1 Enabling/Disabling Axe-Fx Mode .........................................................................................................10
3.2 Selecting a Port ......................................................................................11
3.3 Axe-Fx MIDI Channel..............................................................................11
3.4 Display Offset.........................................................................................11
3.5 Performance Modes...............................................................................13
3.6 Starting Up.............................................................................................14
4PRESETS & PRESET MODE ............................................................15
4.1 Bank Size................................................................................................15
4.2 Bank Style ..............................................................................................16
4.3 Presets and Program Changes ................................................................16
4.4 Other Preset Capabilities........................................................................16

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4.5 Alternate Presets ...................................................................................17
4.5.1 Global Preset........................................................................................................................................18
5INSTANT ACCESS SWITCHES.........................................................19
5.1 Axe-Fx IA Switches .................................................................................19
5.1.1 List of Available Axe-Fx Functions........................................................................................................20
5.1.2 Axe-Fx IA Switch On/Off States............................................................................................................21
5.1.3 “General Use” IA Switches in Axe-Fx mode .........................................................................................21
5.1.4 Axe-Fx I/O:CONTROL Settings..............................................................................................................21
5.1.5 Axe-Fx Tap Tempo ...............................................................................................................................21
5.1.6 Axe-Fx Tuner ........................................................................................................................................21
5.2 General Use IA Switches.........................................................................22
5.2.1 General Use IA Switch Control Change Messages ...............................................................................22
5.2.2 Other General Use IA Switch Capabilities ............................................................................................23
5.2.3 General Use IA Switch Saved States ....................................................................................................23
5.2.4 Global General Use Instant Access Switches .......................................................................................24
5.2.5 “Manual-Only” General Use Instant Access Switches .........................................................................25
5.2.6 The Save Edits Footswitch ...................................................................................................................26
5.3 IA Switch Types ......................................................................................26
5.4 Switch Links ...........................................................................................27
5.5 Reveal....................................................................................................27
6INTERNAL CCs..............................................................................28
6.1 Internal CC MIDI commands...................................................................28
6.2 Preset Internal CC States........................................................................29
7EXPRESSION PEDALS....................................................................30
7.1 Connecting and Calibrating ....................................................................30
7.2 Expression Pedal MIDI Functions............................................................30
7.3 Expression Pedal Range..........................................................................31
8EXTERNAL SWITCHES...................................................................32
8.1 Setting Switch Hardware Types..............................................................32
8.2 External Switch MIDI Functions..............................................................33

CONTENTS Fractal Audio Systems MFC-101 Manual
8.3 External Switch Custom On and Off Values ............................................34
9SONGS & SETS .............................................................................35
9.1 Entering Song or Set Mode.....................................................................35
9.2 Adding Presets to a Song........................................................................36
9.3 Adding Songs to a Set.............................................................................37
10 COPY FUNCTIONS......................................................................38
11 NAMES .....................................................................................39
12 COMPLETE MENU REFERENCE ...................................................40
12.1 The Preset Menu .................................................................................41
12.1.0 Select Preset ........................................................................................................................................41
12.1.1 Preset Name ........................................................................................................................................41
12.1.2 Preset Program Changes......................................................................................................................42
12.1.3 Alternate Preset...................................................................................................................................42
12.1.4 Preset Instant Access Switch States.....................................................................................................43
12.1.5 Preset Internal Control Change States.................................................................................................43
12.1.6 Preset Custom MIDI Message..............................................................................................................44
12.1.7 Preset External Switch Settings ...........................................................................................................45
12.1.8 Preset External Switch On/Off Values .................................................................................................45
12.1.9 Preset Expression Pedal Settings .........................................................................................................46
12.1.10 Preset Expression Pedal Min/Max Values........................................................................................46
12.2 The Song/Set Menu.............................................................................47
12.2.0 Song Edit ..............................................................................................................................................47
12.2.1 Song Name...........................................................................................................................................47
12.2.2 Set Edit.................................................................................................................................................48
12.2.3 Set Name..............................................................................................................................................48
12.3 The Copy Menu ...................................................................................49
12.3.0 Copy Preset..........................................................................................................................................49
12.3.1 Copy Bank ............................................................................................................................................49
12.3.2 Copy Song ............................................................................................................................................50
12.3.3 Copy Set ...............................................................................................................................................50
12.3.4 Copy Instant Access Switch Setting .....................................................................................................50
12.3.5 Copy Internal Control Change Setting .................................................................................................50

Fractal Audio Systems MFC-101 Manual CONTENTS
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12.4 The MIDI Menu ...................................................................................51
12.4.0 MFC-101 Port.......................................................................................................................................51
12.4.1 Axe-Fx MIDI Channel............................................................................................................................51
12.4.2 Axe-Fx TotalSync ..................................................................................................................................51
12.4.3 Axe-Fx Preset Transmit Map................................................................................................................52
12.4.4 MFC-101 MIDI Receive Channel ..........................................................................................................52
12.4.5 MFC-101 Receive Program Change......................................................................................................52
12.4.6 MFC-101 Program Change Map...........................................................................................................52
12.4.7 IA Switch Axe-Fx Functions ..................................................................................................................53
12.4.8 IA Switch Control Change (CC#) Settings .............................................................................................53
12.4.9 IA Switch Control Change ON/OFF Values ...........................................................................................54
12.4.10 IA Switch Program Change Settings .................................................................................................54
12.4.11 IA Switch Custom MIDI Messages....................................................................................................55
12.4.12 Internal Control Change Settings .....................................................................................................56
12.4.13 Internal Control Change ON/OFF Values .........................................................................................56
12.4.14 Global External Switch Settings .......................................................................................................57
12.4.15 Global External Switch On/Off Values .............................................................................................57
12.4.16 Global Expression Pedal Settings .....................................................................................................58
12.4.17 Global Expression Pedal Min/Max Values .......................................................................................58
12.5 The Setup Menu ..................................................................................59
12.5.0 Axe-Fx Mode ........................................................................................................................................59
12.5.1 Performance Mode..............................................................................................................................59
12.5.2 Axe-Fx Display Offset ...........................................................................................................................59
12.5.3 MFC-101 Display Offset .......................................................................................................................60
12.5.4 MIDI Channel Display Offsets ..............................................................................................................60
12.5.5 MIDI Channel Names ...........................................................................................................................60
12.5.6 Bank Size ..............................................................................................................................................61
12.5.7 Bank Style ............................................................................................................................................61
12.5.8 Bank/Song Limit ...................................................................................................................................62
12.5.9 Bank/Song Wrap ..................................................................................................................................62
12.5.10 IA Switch Types ................................................................................................................................63
12.5.11 Global IA Switch Setup.....................................................................................................................63
12.5.12 IA Switch Send w/ Preset .................................................................................................................63
12.5.13 IA Switch Names ..............................................................................................................................64
12.5.14 IA Switch Link Settings .....................................................................................................................64
12.5.15 Send IA Switch Link OFF Messages ..................................................................................................65

CONTENTS Fractal Audio Systems MFC-101 Manual
12.5.16 Internal CC Names ...........................................................................................................................65
12.5.17 External Switch Hardware Type .......................................................................................................65
12.5.18 Expression Pedal Calibration............................................................................................................66
12.5.19 Global Preset....................................................................................................................................66
12.5.20 Hold Axe-Fx Tempo for Tuner ..........................................................................................................67
12.5.21 Axe-Fx Instant Access Switch LED Off State .....................................................................................67
12.5.22 Save Edits Switch .............................................................................................................................67
12.5.23 Edit Menu Short/Long......................................................................................................................67
12.5.24 Looper Control .................................................................................................................................68
12.5.25 SysEx Data Dump/Load ....................................................................................................................68
12.5.26 Delete and Reset Factory Settings ...................................................................................................69
12.5.27 Display Contrast ...............................................................................................................................70
12.5.28 Firmware Information......................................................................................................................70
13 SYSTEM FUNCTIONS..................................................................71
13.1 Firmware Upgrade...............................................................................71
13.2 Factory Default Settings Reset.............................................................71
14 APPENDIX .................................................................................72
14.1 Comparison Table: Axe-Fx Mode ON vs. OFF .......................................72
14.2 Firmware Update Error Codes .............................................................73
14.3 Axe-Fx Presets Bank & Program Change Table.....................................74
14.4 Custom MIDI Message Primer .............................................................75
14.4.1 Program Change ..................................................................................................................................75
14.4.2 Control Change ....................................................................................................................................76
14.4.3 System Exclusive ..................................................................................................................................76
14.4.4 Custom MIDI Message Example ..........................................................................................................76
14.5 Axe-Fx II Looper Control Mode ............................................................77
15 Specifications............................................................................78
15.1 Factory Default Settings ......................................................................79
15.2 Midi Implementation Chart .................................................................81
16 Index ........................................................................................82
17 Warranty ..................................................................................83