IK Multimedia AXE I/o

105
auGust 2019 Guitarist
review
IK MULTIMEDIA AXE I/O IK MULTIMEDIA AXE I/O
IK MULTIMEDIA
AXE I/O
PRICE: £369
ORIGIN: Italy
TYPE: USB audio/MIDI interface
FEATURES: Variable impedance
guitar input, dedicated amp output,
tuner
CONTROLS: Gain x2, Z-Tone,
Passive/Active switch, JFET/Pure
switch, Preset selector, 48V phantom
power switch, Tuner switch,
Monitor Mix, Headphones volume,
Master volume
CONNECTIONS: Standard guitar
input x2, mic/line combi input x2,
standard stereo phones output,
standard external amp output,
standard line outputs (1/L, 2/R, 3, 4),
external control jacks x2, MIDI IN,
MIDI out, USB 2.0
POWER: Supplied adaptor
DIMENSIONS: 238 (w) x 211 (d) x
53mm (h)
PROS Good basic set of audio
interface features; dedicated guitar
input and reamping output; facility
to connect external control pedals/
switches; two line outputs to send
sound to different destinations
CONS The tuner could be better
8
sums up what it does, moving from a bright
sound to something thicker, warmer and
more subdued – useful if you’d like to tone
down harsher sounds.
Reamping is easily set up through the
‘amp out’ output, which lets you feed a
DI-recorded guitar from your DAW (or
a live parallel feed from Input 1) to a real
amplifier or stompbox(es), while still being
able to monitor the session from the main
output. The Amp Out’s floating unbalanced
output topology and switchable ground
lift negates any noise or hum from ground
loops when interfacing with amps. If you
bring the reamped signal back through
guitar Input 1, the Z-Tone can also come in
pretty useful if the reamping is being done
via a vintage pedal, because its sound can
change depending on the load impedance.
Besides recording to a DAW, you can use
the AXE I/O to access amp simulations on
your computer for practice. If you’re using
AmpliTube, the front-panel Preset knob lets
you change presets without using a mouse,
and a pair of rear panel controller inputs
provide connection for expression pedals
and footswitches for real-time control
of various parameters of your virtual rig.
These can be assigned in the associated
Control Software app, which also lets you
set up other MIDI functions and gives you
extended metering and control over levels
and routing, including the Amp Out button.
You can route the Input 1 signal directly to
the Amp Out with zero latency, so you can
easily record both a clean DI signal and your
amplifier simultaneously.
Verdict
Why buy the AXE I/O over any other
audio interface? Well, as audio interfaces
go, this one has decent specifications and
all the facilities you’d need for standard
recording tasks and being able to take input
from microphones, line-level sources and
instruments. But where many simply have
a one-size-fits-all instrument input, the
dedicated Number 1 guitar input here can
make a real difference in the quality of your
guitar recording. Not just that, the Amp
Out facility makes getting signal to your
amp and back into the DAW a real doddle.
It’s a well thought out box for guitarists at
a decent price.
The Inst/Line/Mic LED ladder lets you
know which input is active. You can
keep rear-panel inputs permanently
connected – plugging a guitar cable
into the front input automatically
switches the input to instrument
GIT448.rev_ik_axe.indd 105 13/06/2019 11:28