TerraTec AXON AX 50 USB User Manual
AXON AX 50 USB
English Manual
Version 2.0 | January 2008
CE Declaration
We:
TerraTec Electronic GmbH, Herrenpfad 38, D-41334 Nettetal, Germany
hereby declare that the product:
AXON AX 50 USB,
to which this declaration refers is in compliance with the following standards or standardis-
ing documents:
1. EN 55022
2. EN 55024
The following are the stipulated operating and environmental conditions for said compli-
ance:
residential, business and commercial environments and small-company environments.
This declaration is based on:
Test report(s) of the EMC testing laboratory
The information in this document is subject to change without notice and shall not be deemed as a
warranty by the seller. No warranties, express or implied, are made with regard to the quality, suit-
ability or accuracy of this document. The manufacturer reserves the right to change the contents of
this document and/or the associated products at any time without the provision of prior notice to
specific persons or organisations. The manufacturer shall not be held liable for damages of any
kind arising from the use, or the inability to use this product or its documentation, even if the possi-
bility of such damage is known. The information in this document is subject to copyright. All rights
are reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or for any pur-
pose without the express written permission of the copyright holders. Product and brand names
contained in this document are used for identification purposes only. All registered trademarks,
product designations or brand names used in this document are the registered property of their
respective owners.
©TerraTec Electronic GmbH, 1994 - 2008. All rights reserved (01/01/2008).
2 AXON AX 50 USB v2.0 (English)
Contents
Preface ...............................................................................................................................5
Scope of delivery...............................................................................................................5
Optional accessories........................................................................................................ 5
Congratulations…............................................................................................................. 6
QuickStart guide................................................................................................................7
Connectors and controls..................................................................................................8
Front panel....................................................................................................................... 8
Rear panel ....................................................................................................................... 9
Installation in Windows XP.............................................................................................10
Driver installation........................................................................................................ 10
Editor installation........................................................................................................ 10
Installation in MAC OS X ................................................................................................10
Driver installation........................................................................................................ 10
Editor installation........................................................................................................ 11
Launching the software for the first time...................................................................... 11
Tuning............................................................................................................................ 12
The Computer Editor.......................................................................................................13
Global ............................................................................................................................14
Global Parameters ..................................................................................................... 14
Basic Channel (1-16) .................................................................................................14
Pitchbend Range (0-24) ............................................................................................. 15
Tunebase (-99 - +99) ................................................................................................. 15
Guitar Number (1-8) ................................................................................................... 15
Guitar 1-8 ................................................................................................................... 16
Instrument Type (Guitar, Bass, Violin, Cello) ............................................................. 16
Pickup (Magnetic, Piezo) ...........................................................................................16
Note Off Limit (2-30)................................................................................................... 16
Trigger Level (0-9)...................................................................................................... 16
Wheel Controller (On / Off) ........................................................................................ 17
Instrument Tuning ...................................................................................................... 17
Sensitivity (8-64) ........................................................................................................ 17
AXON Connection...................................................................................................... 17
Load all settings / Save all settings............................................................................ 18
Firmware Update........................................................................................................ 18
Presets........................................................................................................................... 19
AXON AX 50 USB v2.0 (English) 3
Preset Parameters......................................................................................................19
Preset Management ...................................................................................................19
Guitar No. (Global, 1-8) ..............................................................................................20
String mode (Common, Separate)..............................................................................20
Wheel Controller Pickup.............................................................................................20
NRPN Controller.........................................................................................................20
Finger Pick (On/Off)....................................................................................................21
Splittings (Split 1, Split 2…Split 12)............................................................................22
Layer (Layer 1…Layer 4)............................................................................................24
MIDI Output ................................................................................................................24
Controller....................................................................................................................25
Notes ..........................................................................................................................26
MIDI Tuning................................................................................................................27
CC Defaults....................................................................................................................28
Controller reset values................................................................................................28
MIDI Mapping.................................................................................................................29
Program Change commands......................................................................................29
Practical Examples..........................................................................................................30
Appendix ..........................................................................................................................33
Factory Reset................................................................................................................. 33
Pitches on the Fingerboard............................................................................................33
Pin Assignment of 13-pin Socket ...................................................................................34
MIDI Implementation Chart ............................................................................................35
Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................38
4 AXON AX 50 USB v2.0 (English)
Preface
Thank you for choosing a TerraTec AXON Technologies product for your musical en-
deavours. With the AXON AX 50 USB, you've purchased a sophisticated product repre-
senting the state of the art of studio technology – and we're convinced this innovative de-
velopment will prove extremely useful to you in the coming years and, above all, provide
you with a great deal of entertainment.
We hope that this brochure is helpful to you while using the product. It is designed to illus-
trate technical relationships based on practical examples from the studio environment.
This brochure is not only designed to help beginners with this complicated subject - ad-
vanced professionals will also find the occasional bit of useful information.
Sincerely,
Your AXON Technologies Team
Scope of delivery
Start by making sure that the contents of the package are complete.
The AXON AX 50 USB package should contain the following items:
1 AXON AX 50 USB
1 USB cable
1 power adapter 12VAC / 1.5A
1 Quick Start manual
1 AXON AX 50 USB product CD (with detailed manual)
1 WAVE XTABLE VI DVD
1 service request form
1 registration card with the serial number
Please fill out and return the registration card enclosed in the package to us at your earli-
est convenience or register online at
support and hotline services.
www.terratec.net/register.htm. This is important for
Optional accessories
The following products are available separately from TerraTec AXON Technologies:
PU 100 pickup for guitars with steel strings (available from spring 2008)
AIX 103 pickup for 4, 5 and 6-string bass guitars with steel strings
AXK 100 13-pin cable, 5m, to connect the pickup to the AXON AX 50 USB
AXON AX 50 USB v2.0 (English) 5
Congratulations…
…on your purchase of an AXON AX 50 USB, the second guitar-to-midi converter by
AXON Technologies. The AX 50 USB is based on the same technology as the AX 100
MKII, the probably most powerful device of this type, but it has additional options, such as
a USB port and four MIDI ports, which makes it ideal for state-of-the-art, computer-based
studios.
Thanks to the neural network used in the development of its algorithms, the AXON AX 50
USB is able to determine the precise pitch of a note the instant it is picked, whereas other
devices require several oscillations of the string for analysis. The early recognition of tran-
sients lets the AXON simultaneously determine pitch, amplitude, and even the location at
which the string was picked – an unparalleled ability to date. This is due to the
AXON’s unusual splitting options. For example, you can use a string split to divide the
strings of your guitar into two zones, each with its own sound properties. Or use a fret split
to divide the fingerboard of your guitar into two separate playing zones. Pick splits let you
divide the picking area of the guitar into up to three independent sound zones that you
can select instantly by changing your picking position. You can achieve impressive effects
with the pick control function, which lets you control modulation effects and others with
your picking position. Splits and effects can be combined, stored in up to 128 complex
presets and recalled as needed. Another unique feature of the AXON AX 50 USB is its
unrestricted support for both acoustic guitars and basses with hex piezo pickups. This
opens the MIDI world to bass players and classical guitarists that are looking for new, con-
temporary forms of expression.
6 AXON AX 50 USB v2.0 (English)
Safety information
Please ensure that analog devices are turned off before plugging
them in. This will protect you from any possible – albeit weak –
electrical shocks, as well as protecting your speakers and your
hearing from sudden peaks.
QuickStart guide
for those of you who can't wait:
To configure the many settings of the AXON AX 50 USB, please install the editor soft-
ware on your computer and connect the AXON AX 50 USB to your computer using the
included USB cable. A separate driver installation is not required.
If you would like to use the included WAVE XTABLE VI contact player with its 128
sounds for audio output, please install it from the included DVD.
If you are using an external MIDI instrument for audio output, connect the MIDI OUT of
the AXON to the MIDI IN of the instrument.
Connect your guitar to the AXON AX 50 USB. Your guitar must be equipped with one
of the included hexaphonic pickups such as the AXON PU 100 or 103, or a piezo pickup such as those offered by GraphTech, RMC or other vendors. Please use the 13pin AXK 100 cable. The socket at the left of the front panel labelled "INPUT" is the one
you need. Ensure that the plug clicks into place in the socket for optimal contact.
Finished! The AXON has been preconfigured at the factory to let you get started with a
minimum of hassle.
We nevertheless recommend that you take the time to set up the AXON to suit your
playing style and your instrument. It's essential if you want to fully leverage the
AXON's strengths and experience the best possible tracking.
AXON AX 50 USB v2.0 (English) 7
Connectors and controls
Front panel
1. Socket for the special 13-pin AXON AXK 100 cable (not included) to connect gui-
tars/basses with hexaphonic pickup systems (e.g. AXON PU 100 or AXON AIX
101/103).
2. 3-digit 7-segment LED display.
3. TUNER button with multiple functions:
■ TUNE MODE: A minus sign signals that the device is in TUNE mode. Press the
button briefly to activate this mode. Pressing the button again will return it to
preset mode.
■ FIRMWARE UPDATE: Press the Tuner button and hold it for around 3 seconds
while the device is initialising.
■ BRIGHTNESS: Press and hold the button while the device is in operation. The
display will first gradually dim, then gradually brighten again. Release the button at the desired level.
4. POWER ON/OFF switches the AC power of the AXON. The LED display is lit when
the power is turned on.
8 AXON AX 50 USB v2.0 (English)
Rear panel
1. 12VAC: Connect the power adapter here (12VAC/1.5A).
2. USB: Socket to connect the device to your computer.
3. MIDI IN: The AXON receives all incoming Program Change commands, as well as
controller data via this input. A MIDI footswitch to change presets can be connected
here.
4. MIDI THRU: All data arriving at MIDI IN is available in unchanged form here.
5. MIDI OUT: All MIDI data generated by your AXON AX 50 USB is available here.
6. INST. OUT: The "normal", unmodified pickup signal of your guitar can be sent through
the 13-pin cable, making it available at this socket. The pickups PU 100 and
AIX101/103 have an input for the pickup signal of your guitar. Use the included cable
to connect the pickup output of your guitar to the minijack socket.
AXON AX 50 USB v2.0 (English) 9
Installation in Windows XP
Driver installation
1. Connect the AXON AX 50 USB to a free USB port (1.1 or 2.0) on your computer and
switch the AXON on.
2. A short time later, a pop-up window will appear to indicate that a new device – the AX
50 USB – was found. The Windows installer will complete the installation automati-
cally. The device uses generic drivers already present in your system, making it un-
necessary to enter a path to a custom driver. After a few seconds, another pop-up will
inform you that the new hardware has been installed and is ready to use.
3. There, you're finished already!
Editor installation
1. Insert the included AXON CD in your drive and wait for the autorun application to
launch. If the autorun application on the CD does not launch automatically, start the
application manually by double-clicking "Autorun.exe" in the root folder of the CD.
2. Select your language and "AXON Editor" in the following menu. The setup wizard will
now appear.
3. The wizard will now display its welcome message.
4. In the following menu, select the path and destination folder.
5. Click "Finish" to complete the installation.
6. Launch the application with Start \ Programs \ TerraTec \ AXON AX 50 USB \ AX 50
USB Editor.
Installation in MAC OS X
Driver installation
1. Connect the AXON AX 50 USB to a free USB port (1.1 or 2.0) on your computer and
switch the AXON on.
2. The device uses generic drivers already present in your system, making it unneces-
sary to enter a path to a custom driver.
3. There, you're finished already!
10 AXON AX 50 USB v2.0 (English)
Editor installation
1. On the CD, the image files are located at "Editor\MAC":
■ AXON_AX_50_USB_Editor_PPC_Vx.x.x.dmg (G4/G5 OS 10.3)
■ AXON_AX_50_USB_Editor_Universal_Vx.x.x.dmg. (G4/G5/Intel OS 10.4 or hig-
her)
2. Mount the correct image for your system by double-clicking and copy the program
contained there to your programs folder.
3. The Editor can be launched at System\Programs when the installation is complete.
Launching the software for the first time
The AXON AX 50 USB is now set up and ready to use. The device has two different oper-
ating modes:
Connected to a computer via USB: this gives you access to the full range of parame-
ters and lets you configure the AXON via the editor software. You can also transfer
MIDI data to your computer directly via the USB port.
Stand-alone mode: the AXON is not configurable in this mode, but it responds to all
incoming program change commands and controller data from the MIDI IN socket and,
of course, sends all MIDI data generated to the output jack.
When switching on the AXON AX 50 USB, the following will appear on the display:
A dot will appear at the lower right.
Next, the firmware version number is displayed.
Finally, the display will switch to the currently selected preset number.
NOTE: "preset numbers" refer to the memory slots of the AXON AX 50 USB, not the
GM sound or another sound number of your sound generator (as is customary on the
displays of sound machines).
AXON AX 50 USB v2.0 (English) 11
Tuning
A properly tuned instrument is important for smooth, and above all "fast", operation. We
have integrated a tuner in the AXON for that reason. To activate it, press the TUNER but-
ton on the front panel.
The display shows the designation of the current string (at higher semitones such as F# or
G#, an additional bar will be displayed in the middle character, followed by the indication
of whether the string's pitch is too high or low. The information is shown as symbols cov-
ering four pitch ranges (1 cent = 1/100 semitone or 1 semitone = 100 cent):
from +35 to +49 cent
from +23 to +34 cent
from +11 to +22 cent
from +3 to +10 cent
the pitch is correct
from -3 to -10 cent
from -11 to -22 cent
from -23 to -34 cent
from -35 to -50 cent
12 AXON AX 50 USB v2.0 (English)
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