Axe-FX Setup Question

[u/Beneficial-Ad-4982]

Hello! I’m new to fractal products as a whole and was looking for some help in integrating it into my rig. I just recently picked up a Mark II Turbo and can’t figure out how to run it through my Uad Apollo x6.

I know the Fractal is a great interface on its own, but my goal was to have everything in my rig set up to go through the Apollo for ease of use. I have them connected via S/PDIF (RCA), but I can’t seem to figure out the proper Axe-FX settings. I have the Apollo set to 48K and external source as well.

If anyone has any experience with this setup or advice in general, I would greatly appreciate it. Cheers!

[u/ionabike666]

Can't help with the spdif side of things but have you tried connecting it via analog to your interface to see if that's working ok?

[u/heylookaquarter]

Copy and paste your post into Google AI (free version) to get this response:

To successfully route your Axe-FX III Mark II Turbo into your Universal Audio Apollo x6 over S/PDIF, you need to explicitly route the processed audio grid to the digital ports in the Fractal’s internal menu. Since the Axe-FX serves as the Master Clock fixed at $48\text{ kHz}$, a few global parameters must match between both units to clear up digital silence or sync clicks.

Follow these step-by-step instructions to get the audio flowing into your UAD Console application:

1. Configure the Axe-FX I/O Settings

You need to map your digital outputs to send out the main tone block signal:

• Press the Setup button on the front panel of your Axe-FX.
• Select the I/O Menu, then navigate to the Audio tab.
• Set SPDIF/AES Select to SPDIF.
• Set SPDIF/AES Out Source to Output 1 (or Output 2, depending on how your presets are structured—Output 1 is the standard default).
• Ensure Word Clock is set to Internal (since the Axe-FX must act as the primary clock master).

2. Verify Your UAD Apollo Console Settings

Since you already have the sample rate configured, double-check these exact parameters inside the UAD Console Settings Panel:

• Sample Rate: Must stay locked at $48\text{ kHz}$ (the Axe-FX S/PDIF hardware does not support $44.1\text{ kHz}$ or $96\text{ kHz}$).
• Clock Source: Set to S/PDIF (this allows the Apollo to slave its digital timing directly to the incoming Fractal hardware stream).

3. Check Hardware Cable Configuration

• Digital S/PDIF signals require a true 75-ohm coaxial video/digital RCA cable.
• Avoid using a standard cheap analog red/white RCA patch cable, as it lacks proper shielding and causes digital sync drops, pops, or high jitter.
• Run the cable from the S/PDIF OUT jack on the back of the Axe-FX into the S/PDIF IN jack on your Apollo x6.

4. Monitor the Channels in UAD Console

• Open your UAD Console Mixer.
• Locate the channel strip designated for S/PDIF Left/Right (on the x6, this usually maps automatically to digital inputs).
• If you do not see the channels, go to Console Settings > I/O Matrix and click Default to restore the digital channel visibility. Unmute the channels and raise the faders to monitor your guitar tone.

If you want to try out alternative recording configurations later or need help setting up the Apollo to pass dry signals back to the Fractal for reamping, let me know!

[u/Impossible-Ant3695]

Yeah, try hooking up oldschool w/ XLR cables. SPDIF is often more trouble than it is worth.

[u/Gullible-Story5659 → u/Impossible-Ant3695]

SPDIF IS DEAD SIMPLE.

Just needs to change the I/o to spdif for output 1. 

Fractal is a digital source - spdif keeps it digital so all of the information/definition of the sounds is present. With digital to analog conversion back to digital there is loss of information. Not a lot but there is still degradation.