HD 500 as MIDI controller for AxeFx

[9fingers]

This was mentioned before but as some time has elapsed I'll bring it back. Anyone use the HD 500 to control an AxeFx? (I own the Axe but not the HD 500 at this point). What I personally would need to control on the AxeFx is changing patches, volume pedal, & turning on/off a few effects within each patch.
I'm itching to use my Axe live & every few months I get a message from Fractal that the MFC 101 will be available to me in a few more months. I would rather spend $$ on a controller that would be an "on-hand, decent backup" for the Axe (at least while I wait what could be a significant time longer for the MFC).
Anyone try this?

[Eric Thomas]

See this thread for my comments on this topic:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=808425

IIRC, there has been one firmware update for the HD500 since I wrote those comments? I don't know if that update addressed the problem I had assigning a second CC number to the toe switch

[9fingers]

Thanks Eric! I remembered that there had been something on this.
Anyone else try this lately?

[Ben R]

It all depends on what you will need your floor controller to accomplish. You've already told us some of that. And, I am not sure whether or not the HD will let you turn certain IA's on and off in the Axe FX (turn effects within each patch on/off). That never worked with the Boss GT-8 for me. The switches weren't latching. You had to hold it down and as soon as you lifted your foot off, it reverted back the where it was before. Anyway, if you've already got access to an HD, try it out. Otherwise, you should consider a few things. Personally, I feel that while buying an HD500 would be good because it gives you a serviceable backup in case your Axe FX has a problem one night, I don't think there would be many benefits, otherwise. A Pod HD, Boss GT-whatever, or any other floor-based modeller will not give you anywhere near the options or control that something like an MFC-101 would over your Axe FX. For a while, I used a Boss GT-8 to control my Axe FX while waiting to get an MFC-101. It was incredibly limited. Basically, all that I was able to do was change bank numbers, change patches, and use the 1 expression pedal to control something. I eventually borrowed a Behringer FCB-1010 (with the Uno Chip installed) from a friend for a bit. It was a dramatic improvement. Once I got my MFC-101, it got even better for me. If all I needed to do was switch patch numbers and have 1 expression pedal to control some thngs, I probably could have lived with the GT-8 for a bit longer. But, I wanted to control more stuff and have more options. Plus, I wanted my patch names to show up on the display, I wanted a floor tuner display, etc. I say, forget about the Fractal discount waiting list for the MFC-101. Do what I (and countless others) did... Keep trying to actually purchase the unit on their web-site. One day, you'll get through and have the option to just buy it without that $100 discount. It's well worth not having to wait any longer. I was on that waiting list for over 2 years. I have never regretted forfeiting the $100 coupon in favor of getting one quicker.

.

[Guitargord]

I'm currently using my HD500 strictly as a controller for my Axe FX Ultra. I'm only using it to change patches at the moment but as far as I can tell I can also switch individual effects on and off. I'm a real midi novice but I found it very easy to program. The big drawback is that I have to rely on my ears and memory to tell me exactly where I am because the HD500 lights won't correspond to the effects on the Axe, only to the corresponding patch on the HD. Still, I'm liking it because I can have multiple Axe patches within a single Pod HD patch.

[Black Squirrel]

I have done it, The only issue is For the CC (effects on and off) you have to set it up Patch by Patch. the parch switching bank up and down worked automatic. I found the midi-mate much easier to set up and a much cheaper.