IK Multimedia AXE I/O User Manual
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IK Multimedia AXE I/O User Manual

2in/5out audio/midi interface
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Premium Audio Interface
with advanced guitar tone shaping
USER MANUAL

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Summary of Contents for IK Multimedia AXE I/O

  • Page 1 Premium Audio Interface with advanced guitar tone shaping USER MANUAL...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Contents Table of Contents Contents English Power adapter information AXE I/O Register your AXE I/O Front panel Rear panel 1 Installation and setup 1.1 Software installation 1.2 Setup 2 Dedicated guitar features 2.1 Direct amplifier output & Re-Amplification 2.2 JFET / PURE input (only for Instrument Input 1) 2.3 Pick-Up selector (only for Instrument Input 1)

  • Page 3: English

    Use only the specified AC adaptor and make sure the line voltage at the installation matches the input voltage specified on the AC adaptor’s body. IK Multimedia will not be responsible of any damage caused by usage of any AC adaptor other than the specified one.

  • Page 4: Register Your Axe I/O

    English Register your AXE I/O By registering, you can access technical support, activate your warranty and receive free JamPoints™ which will be added to your account. JamPoints™ allow you to obtain discounts on future IK purchases! Registering also keeps you informed of all the latest software updates and IK products.
  • Page 5 English 11. USB LED - this LED illuminates when the unit is recognised by the computer to which it is connected. 12. MIDI IN/OUT LEDs - these LEDs illuminate when MIDI data is received from/transmitted to the MIDI port. 13. PRESET - this push-encoder allows you to browse between AmpliTube’s presets. This control can also be customized to send any MIDI CC to control other functions or other software.

  • Page 6: Rear Panel

    4. MIDI IN/OUT - standard 5-pin DIN sockets for connection of external MIDI equipment. 5. USB 2.0 port - Type B connector - connect the AXE I/O to your computer with the cable supplied. 6. EXTERNAL CONTROL - use these 1/4” (6.35mm) jack to connect external controller pedals (single or dual switches, continuous expression pedals).

  • Page 7: Installation And Setup

    1. Using your usual browser, go to www.ikmultimedia.com/products/axeio and go to the Download section. 2. You can now download the “AXE I/O Drivers and Control Software” file (Mac and Windows versions available). 4. Download and install the “AXE I/O Drivers and Control Software” version (Mac or Windows) appropriate for your computer and follow all on-screen instructions.
  • Page 8 2. Connect the AXE I/O to your computer with the supplied USB cable. 3. Connect the supplied PSU to the AXE I/O and switch on the unit 4. You can connect microphones or line level signal to the back combo XLR inputs 1 and 2, or instrument signal to the front Jack 1/4”...
  • Page 9 English 5. Connect speakers, amplifiers or other line devices to the four line output jack 1/4” on the rear panel of AXE I/O. Out 1/L and 2/R are balanced output.
  • Page 10 English 6. If needed, you can connect external MIDI devices to the physical MIDI ports (Input/Output). MIDI OUT MIDI IN...

  • Page 11: Dedicated Guitar Features

    MIC RE-AMPLIFICATION Among the features that make of AXE I/O the definitive guitarist interface is the Re-Amplification feature: The “AMP OUT” is a fifth physical output, and it’s independent from main Output 1-2 and 3-4. With this output, you can feed a DI recorded guitar to external analogue stomps or a real amplifier, still being able to monitor the session from main Output (1-2).

  • Page 12: Jfet / Pure Input (Only For Instrument Input 1)

    English 2.2 JFET / PURE input (only for Instrument Input 1) Thanks to the front panel selector it is possible to select two different preamp topologies for your connected instrument: JFET preamp type and Pure preamp type. The discrete JFET (field-effect transistor) circuitry adds a tiny bit of color and harmonics to the signal, giving your instruments a bit of added warmth.

  • Page 13: Pick-Up Selector (Only For Instrument Input 1)

    To properly couple this diversity of guitar pickups in the most musically pleasing manner, AXE I/O offers a pickup selector that allows the artist to select between Active (when using an active pickup) and Passive (when using a passive pickup).

  • Page 14: Variable Impedance (Z-Tone™) Control (Only For Instrument Input 1)

    English 2.4 Variable impedance (Z-TONE™) control (only for Instrument Input 1) All passive pickups (being them single coil, humbucker, split, etc..) has a certain sound character that is also determined by the loading impedance. The Z-TONE™ front control allows you to change the input impedance on the instrument input 1 therefore allowing for a very creative way of shaping the tone of your instruments.

  • Page 15: Tuner (Only For Instrument Input 1)

    English 2.5 Tuner (only for Instrument Input 1) A built-in tuner with bright LED indicators clearly shows any tuning discrepancy. To access to the tuner just press the tuner button on the front panel. This is another feature not so common on audio interfaces and allows the artist to access seamlessly to tune their instruments on the fly without having to use external tuners or dedicated plug-ins.

  • Page 16: Preset Browsing

    English “momentary” or “sustain pedal” type foot switch that includes a 1/4 inch connector. Both normally open and normally closed switches are supported. AXE IO also support continuous expression pedals for controlling realtime parameters like Wah, Volume, FX depth etc. Any 1/4” TRS connector expression pedal will work with AXE IO.
  • Page 17 English PUSH ROTATE PUSH To go back on the previous level of the preset menu, push and hold the control: PUSH HOLD...

  • Page 18: Setup Your Daw

    DAW’s documentation (or Help files) if you are unsure where to select the ASIO/Core Audio driver. Once the AXE I/O is set as the preferred Audio Device in your DAW, all 2 inputs and 5 outputs will appear in your DAW’s Audio I/O preferences.

  • Page 19: Dynamic Microphones

    English 4.2 Dynamic microphones 48V OFF Before connecting dynamic microphones make sure phantom power is turned OFF. Check that the Phantom LED is turned off. 4.3 Ribbon microphones Before connecting a ribbon microphone, turn OFF phantom power and check the microphone’s operating instruction manual to see if it requires it.

  • Page 20: Connecting Instruments

    5 Connecting instruments INSTRUMENT Connect your guitars, basses or any other mono instruments to the instrument inputs on AXE I/O using an 1⁄4” plug unbalanced (TS or “mono”) guitar cable. Please refer to Section 2 of this manual for the complete description of features dedicated to the instrument input.

  • Page 21: Direct Monitoring

    Line outputs 3 and 4 are unbalanced. On the front panel of AXE I/O is present one 1/4” (6.35mm) jack sockets where to connect a pair of headphones whose level can be controlled with the headphones knob.

  • Page 22: Interface View

    State: This LED shows when an AXE I/O unit is connected and active. MIDI IN, OUT: these LEDs shows when there is MIDI activity on the AXE I/O physical MIDI ports. Sample Rate: Here you can set the working samplerate for the AXE IO unit, from 44.1 to 192 kHz.
  • Page 23 Depending on what else is connected to the AXE I/O and what grounding scheme is implemented in the setup the amp connection can be cleaner with GND LIFT active or not active.

  • Page 24: Controller Tab

    English 8.2 Controller tab The CONTROLLER tab gives you control over the preset knob and 2 controller inputs. Set behavior, MIDI channel, MIDI CC #, minimum and maximum values, and more, to dial in the best settings for whatever application you want to control.

  • Page 25: Specifications

    English 9 Specifications Common AD and DA Resolution: 24-bit Sampling Rate: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz Host Connection: USB Type-B receptacle. USB 2.0 (High Speed). Line Outputs 1-2 (Monitor) Configuration: Electronically balanced and floating, automatically compensates level when connection is balanced or unbalanced, tip hot.
  • Page 26 English Mic Inputs 1-2 Configuration: Class-A discrete differential microphone preamp, pin 2 hot Input impedance: 4 kOhms differential Input level, min gain: 0 dBFS is obtained with a +12 dBu signal at the XLR input Input level, max gain: 0 dBFS is obtained with a -37 dBu signal at the XLR input Frequency response: From 5 Hz to 32 kHz within 0.5 dB (96 kHz sample rate) Dynamic Range: 116 dB(A) THD+N: -106 dB(A) at -10 dBFS...

  • Page 27: Warranty

    English Warranty Please visit: www.ikmultimedia.com/warranty for the complete warranty policy. Support and more info www.ikmultimedia.com/support www.axeio.com...

  • Page 28: Regulatory

    AXE I/O, AmpliTube and SampleTank® are trademarks property of IK Multimedia Production Srl. All other product names and images, trademarks and artists names are the property of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with IK Multimedia. iPad, iPhone, iPod touch Mac and Mac logo are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

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