IK Multimedia Axe I/O review

(Image credit: IK Multimedia)

For most guitarists, choosing an I/O interface for a digital recording setup can be a daunting proposition. Hundreds of options are available, from pro audio-quality devices to the built-in I/O included as a feature of many guitar effects processors. The problem is that many of these items provide either too much or too little when it comes to delivering the features and capabilities many guitarists need. IK Multimedia recognized this dilemma, and they developed the Axe I/O to provide guitarists with an interface that provides them with exactly what they need to record guitar tracks with optimum sound quality and performance.

FEATURES The IK Multimedia Axe I/O is a two-input/five-output 24-bit/192kHz digital audio interface and controller that provides a good selection of standard I/O device features, including two ¼-inch guitar inputs, two combo ¼-inch/XLR mic/line inputs with phantom power, four ¼-inch line outputs, MIDI Out and In jacks, a USB 2.0 jack and a ¼-inch headphone output. But, more importantly for guitarists, it also provides numerous guitar-centric features one won’t find on other I/O units. Instrument input 1 also includes an adjustable control for IK’s Z Tone impedance adapting circuit, a switch for active or passive pickups and another switch that selects either the transparent preamp or a Class A JFET input buffer. These features allow guitarists to adjust how the instrument interacts with modeling software such as the included AmpliTube 4 Deluxe package and T-RackS effect plug-ins.

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