Fractal Audio MFC-101 MARK III User manual

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OWNER’S MANUAL
Copyright © 2010 All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced in any form without the permission of Fractal Audio Systems

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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.

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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
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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............................................................................. 9
3.1 Axe-Fx Mode............................................................................................9
3.2 Axe-Fx MIDI Channel..............................................................................10
3.3 Display Offset.........................................................................................10
3.4 Operating Modes ...................................................................................11
3.5 Starting Up.............................................................................................12
4PRESETS & PRESET MODE ............................................................ 13
4.1 Bank Size................................................................................................13
4.2 Bank Style ..............................................................................................14
4.3 Presets and Program Changes ................................................................14
4.4 Other Preset Capabilities........................................................................15
4.5 Global Preset .........................................................................................15
5INSTANT ACCESS SWITCHES......................................................... 16

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5.1 Axe-Fx IA Switches .................................................................................16
5.1.1 List of Available Axe-Fx Functions........................................................................................................17
5.1.2 “General Use” IA Switches in Axe-Fx mode .........................................................................................17
5.1.3 Important Axe-Fx Control Settings ......................................................................................................17
5.1.4 Axe-Fx Tap Tempo ...............................................................................................................................18
5.1.5 Axe-Fx Tuner ........................................................................................................................................18
5.2 Instant Access Switches for General Use ................................................18
5.2.1 IA Switch Control Change Messages....................................................................................................19
5.2.2 Other IA Switch Capabilities ................................................................................................................20
5.2.3 Preset IA Switch States ........................................................................................................................20
5.2.4 The Save Edits Footswitch ...................................................................................................................21
5.3 IA Switch Types ......................................................................................21
5.4 Switch Links ...........................................................................................22
5.5 Reveal ....................................................................................................22
6INTERNAL CCs .............................................................................. 23
6.1 Internal CC MIDI commands...................................................................23
6.2 Preset Internal CC States ........................................................................24
7EXPRESSION PEDALS.................................................................... 25
7.1 Connecting and Calibrating ....................................................................25
7.2 Expression Pedal MIDI Functions............................................................25
7.3 Expression Pedal Range..........................................................................26
8EXTERNAL SWITCHES ................................................................... 27
8.1 Setting Switch Hardware Types ..............................................................27
8.2 External Switch MIDI Functions..............................................................28
8.3 External Switch Custom On and Off Values ............................................29
9SONGS & SETS ............................................................................. 30
9.1 Entering Song or Set Mode.....................................................................30
9.2 Adding Presets to a Song........................................................................31
9.3 Adding Songs to a Set.............................................................................31

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10 COPY FUNCTIONS...................................................................... 33
11 NAMES...................................................................................... 34
12 COMPLETE MENU REFERENCE ................................................... 35
12.1 The Preset Menu .................................................................................36
12.1.0 Select Preset ........................................................................................................................................36
12.1.1 Preset Name ........................................................................................................................................36
12.1.2 Preset Program Changes......................................................................................................................37
12.1.3 Preset Instant Access Switch States.....................................................................................................37
12.1.4 Preset Internal Control Change States.................................................................................................38
12.1.5 Preset Custom MIDI Message..............................................................................................................38
12.1.6 Preset External Switch Settings ...........................................................................................................39
12.1.7 Preset External Switch On/Off Values .................................................................................................39
12.1.8 Preset Expression Pedal Settings .........................................................................................................40
12.1.9 Preset Expression Pedal Min/Max Values ...........................................................................................40
12.2 The Song/Set Menu.............................................................................41
12.2.0 Song Edit ..............................................................................................................................................41
12.2.1 Song Name...........................................................................................................................................41
12.2.2 Set Edit.................................................................................................................................................42
12.2.3 Set Name..............................................................................................................................................42
12.3 The Copy Menu ...................................................................................43
12.3.0 Copy Preset..........................................................................................................................................43
12.3.1 Copy Bank ............................................................................................................................................43
12.3.2 Copy Song ............................................................................................................................................44
12.3.3 Copy Set ...............................................................................................................................................44
12.3.4 Copy Instant Access Switch Setting .....................................................................................................45
12.3.5 Copy Internal Control Change Setting .................................................................................................45
12.4 The MIDI Menu ...................................................................................46
12.4.0 Axe-Fx MIDI Channel............................................................................................................................46
12.4.1 Axe-Fx Default Bank.............................................................................................................................46
12.4.2 Axe-Fx Preset Transmit Map................................................................................................................46
12.4.3 MFC-101 MIDI Receive Channel ..........................................................................................................47
12.4.4 MFC-101 Receive Program Change......................................................................................................47
12.4.5 MFC-101 Program Change Map...........................................................................................................47
12.4.6 IA Switch Axe-Fx Functions ..................................................................................................................48

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12.4.7 IA Switch Control Change (CC#) Settings .............................................................................................49
12.4.8 IA Switch Control Change ON/OFF Values...........................................................................................49
12.4.9 IA Switch Program Change Settings.....................................................................................................50
12.4.10 IA Switch Custom MIDI Messages....................................................................................................51
12.4.11 Internal Control Change Settings.....................................................................................................52
12.4.12 Internal Control Change ON/OFF Values .........................................................................................52
12.4.13 Global External Switch Settings .......................................................................................................53
12.4.14 Global External Switch On/Off Values .............................................................................................53
12.4.15 Global Expression Pedal Settings .....................................................................................................54
12.4.16 Global Expression Pedal Min/Max Values .......................................................................................54
12.5 The Setup Menu ..................................................................................55
12.5.0 Axe-Fx Mode........................................................................................................................................55
12.5.1 Operating Mode...................................................................................................................................55
12.5.2 Axe-Fx Display Offset ...........................................................................................................................55
12.5.3 MFC-101 Display Offset .......................................................................................................................56
12.5.4 MIDI Channel Display Offsets ..............................................................................................................56
12.5.5 MIDI Channel Names ...........................................................................................................................56
12.5.6 Bank Size ..............................................................................................................................................57
12.5.7 Bank Style ............................................................................................................................................57
12.5.8 IA Switch Types ....................................................................................................................................58
12.5.9 IA Switch Names ..................................................................................................................................58
12.5.10 IA Switch Link Settings .....................................................................................................................59
12.5.11 Send IA Switch Link OFF Messages ..................................................................................................60
12.5.12 Internal CC Names ...........................................................................................................................60
12.5.13 External Switch Hardware Type.......................................................................................................61
12.5.14 Expression Pedal Calibration............................................................................................................61
12.5.15 Global Preset....................................................................................................................................62
12.5.16 Save Edits Switch .............................................................................................................................62
12.5.17 SysEx Data Dump/Load....................................................................................................................63
12.5.18 Delete and Reset Factory Settings ...................................................................................................64
12.5.19 Display Contrast...............................................................................................................................65
12.5.20 Firmware Information......................................................................................................................65
13 SYSTEM FUNCTIONS.................................................................. 66
13.1 Firmware Upgrade...............................................................................66
13.2 Factory Default Settings Reset.............................................................66

CONTENTS Fractal Audio Systems MFC-101 Manual
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14 APPENDIX.................................................................................. 67
14.1 Comparison Table: Axe-Fx Mode ON vs. OFF .......................................67
14.2 Firmware Update Error Codes .............................................................68
14.3 Axe-Fx Default Bank Presets Table ......................................................69
14.4 Midi Implementation Chart .................................................................70
14.5 Factory Default Settings ......................................................................71
14.6 Specifications ......................................................................................73
14.7 Custom MIDI Message Primer .............................................................74
14.7.1 Program Change ..................................................................................................................................74
14.7.2 8.2 Control Change ..............................................................................................................................75
14.7.3 8.3 System Exclusive ............................................................................................................................75
14.7.4 8.4 Custom MIDI Message Example ....................................................................................................75
14.8 Warranty.............................................................................................76
15 Index......................................................................................... 77
TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1-1: The Default Layout of the MFC-101 ............................................................................................................1
Figure 1-2: The MFC-101 Top Panel...............................................................................................................................2
Figure 1-3: Layout of an MFC-101 Footswitch...............................................................................................................3
Figure 1-4: MFC-101 Back Panel Diagram .....................................................................................................................4
Figure 1-5: TRS Cable, AKA “Balanced” or “Stereo” Cable End .....................................................................................4
Figure 1-6: Software Map ..............................................................................................................................................5
Figure 1-7: Navigating Edit mode ..................................................................................................................................6
Figure 2-1: Connecting the MFC-101 to an Axe-Fx Standard or Ultra with Phantom Power .....................................7
Figure 2-2: Connecting the MFC-101 to an Axe-Fx without Phantom Power .............................................................7
Figure 2-3: Connecting the MFC-101 to a 3rd Party MIDI module or processor (Axe-Fx Mode OFF) ...........................8
Figure 2-4: Connecting the MFC-101 to an Axe-Fx and Additional MIDI device(s)........................................................8
Figure 4-1: The 4 Available Bank Sizes/Footswitch Layouts ........................................................................................13
Figure 5-1: Default IA Switch Assignments in Axe-Fx Mode........................................................................................16
Figure 5-2, Default Control Change Assignments for General Use IA Switches. .........................................................18
Figure 8-1: External Switch Appearance on Insert Cable Plugs ...................................................................................27