Axe-Fx III Firmware 33.01 Adds NAM A2 and TONE3000
2 hours ago
3 min read
The Axe-Fx III has gained NAM A2 playback through the free firmware 33 update, with TONE3000 access provided through Axe-Edit III on a connected computer. Firmware 33.01 is the current version as of November 2, while Axe-Edit III 1.15.03 handles browsing and installation from a connected computer. The update also brings important storage changes for original Mark I units.
Table of contents
What does Axe-Fx III firmware 33.01 add?
Axe-Fx III firmware 33.01 adds a dedicated NAM Player block for NAM Architecture 2 captures of amplifiers, pedals, compressors, DI boxes and preamps. It plays existing captures rather than training new ones inside the rack, and older A1 files are not supported. Fractal and TONE3000 are developing a separate capture tool for Axe-Edit, but neither company has given it a release date.
NAM Player offers Full and Lite modes, with Full using about six times the CPU of Lite. A preset can run two Amp blocks, two Full NAM blocks, or one Amp block with two NAM blocks. In that mixed setup, the second NAM block uses Lite mode on non-Turbo hardware, while Turbo units can keep both in Full mode. Each block has four channels, allowing up to eight assigned captures across two blocks.
TONE3000 browsing happens inside Axe-Edit III
The TONE3000 browser runs in Axe-Edit III on a Mac or Windows computer, not on the rack unit's front panel. It needs Axe-Fx III firmware 33.0 or newer and Axe-Edit III 1.15.03 or newer. From Tools > TONE3000, you can sign in, search by sound or gear type and install a capture directly to a hardware slot.
The browser also includes popular captures, creator pages, previous downloads and favorites. New uploads appear through the TONE3000 API, so you do not need to update a separate library. Manual imports still work through NAM Manager when you have a compatible A2 .nam file.
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Mark I owners must back up User Cab Bank 2
Original Mark I owners must back up User Cab Bank 2 before installing firmware 33. The update permanently converts that bank into storage for as many as 128 NAM captures and erases any IRs already there. Mark II units have separate memory for up to 256 NAM captures, so their second user cab bank remains available.
Firmware 33 also requires DynaCab data v1.10, which should be installed after the firmware. The wider update adds Cygnus X-4 amp modeling, revised Drive and Pitch processing, 13 DynaCabs and new Ladder Filter types. It also improves several effects, lowers overall CPU use and corrects bugs that may change the level of presets using the Gate block.
Price and Availability
Firmware 33.01 is available now as a free update for the original Axe-Fx III and Axe-Fx III Mark II. Fractal recommends updating Axe-Edit first, backing up presets and user cabs with Fractal-Bot, and then installing the firmware and DynaCab v1.10 data.
The current Axe-Fx III Mark II Turbo costs US$2,499.99 from Fractal Audio, which says units usually ship within one business day. No current Thomann listing was found, so the hardware remains a direct or distributor purchase. Full hardware details are available on the official Axe-Fx III product page.
See Where NAM A2 Is Going Next
Fractal is not the only major modeler maker adding NAM A2. Read what Fender has confirmed for the Tone Master Pro and what remains unknown.
More information
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Axe-Fx III create NAM captures by itself?
No. Firmware 33 plays compatible NAM A2 captures but does not train them inside the hardware. A capture utility for Axe-Edit is being developed, while the Axe-Fx III can already work as the audio interface for TONE3000's cloud capture process.
Will User Cab Bank 2 survive the firmware 33 update?
No, not on an original Mark I Axe-Fx III. The update erases that bank and converts it to NAM storage, so back up its IRs first. Mark II hardware keeps User Cab Bank 2 because it has separate NAM memory.
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