Are you shure your clocking is ok? Which unit is your master clock?
I ask because what you describe look like something I've experienced with a unit not clocked properly.
The way it look is that your 8 channel preamp strip is your master clock and the VS-700r is slaved to it via ADAT (digital 2 selected somewhere in the I/O editor clock selector). If that's the case, then your Axe fx (Nice! Want one!!) is not synced to anything and sound like s**t.
So if all the above is the case, you must send a clock signal to the Axe fx. Look like the only way is via spdif, so you can connect a spdif cable (a special RCA cable with a 75ohm load I think...) from the vs700r spdif out to the Axe spdif in. Then set the Axe to be slaved to the spdif clock signal.
If you do this, it will have to be all spdif I/O, from and to the Axe fx. But there's no sound difference between AES and spdif, unless you need more than 10 foot long then that's what AES is designed for.
If you need clearer explanations just ask, or sorry if something above don't apply to you!
post edited by Dyonight - 2012/05/01 00:28:37