1. Introducció
The IK Multimedia AXE I/O is a premium 2-in 5-out USB audio interface designed for guitarists and musicians seeking high-quality recording and advanced tone-shaping capabilities. This manual provides essential information for setting up, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting your AXE I/O interface, ensuring optimal performance and creative workflow.
Figura 1: Frontal view of the IK Multimedia AXE I/O Audio Interface.
2. Informació de seguretat
Please read and follow all safety instructions to prevent damage to the device or personal injury.
- No exposeu la unitat a la pluja, la humitat o les temperatures extremes.
- Eviteu col·locar la unitat a prop de fonts de calor o sota la llum solar directa.
- Use only the power supply specified by the manufacturer.
- No obriu la unitat casing; demaneu totes les tasques de manteniment a personal qualificat.
- Mantingueu la unitat allunyada de camps electromagnètics forts.
3. Contingut del paquet
Verifiqueu que tots els elements siguin presents a la caixa:
- IK Multimedia AXE I/O Audio Interface
- Cable USB-A a USB-C
- External Power Supply (9V DC, 1.7A)
- Registration Card / Quick Start Guide
- Software Bundle Download Instructions (AmpliTube 5 SE, TONEX SE, Ableton Live 10 Lite)
4. Maquinari acabatview
4.1 Controls del panell frontal
Figura 2: Detallada view of the AXE I/O front panel controls.
- Input 1 & 2 Gain Knobs: Adjust input level for connected instruments or microphones.
- Z-TONE Control: Continuously variable impedance control for guitar inputs, allowing fine-tuning of tone.
- Active/Passive Pickup Selector: Optimizes input impedance for active or passive guitar pickups.
- JFET/PURE Preamp Canvi: Selects between a warm JFET preamp or a transparent PURE preamp.
- Botó d'alimentació fantasma de 48 V: Activa l'alimentació phantom per a micròfons de condensador.
- Botó preestablert: Assignable knob for quick recall of software presets.
- Pantalla del sintonitzador: Integrated guitar tuner.
- Pom del monitor: Blends direct input signal with DAW playback for zero-latency monitoring.
- Headphones Output & Level Knob: Stereo headphone output with dedicated volume control.
- Control de volum mestre: Controla el nivell de sortida general dels monitors d'estudi.
- Amp Sortida: Dedicated output for re-amping through external ampaixecadors.
4.2 Connexions del panell posterior
Figura 3: Detallada view of the AXE I/O rear panel connections.
- Power Switch & DC Input: On/Off switch and connection for the external power supply.
- Entrada/sortida MIDI: 5-pin DIN connectors for MIDI devices.
- Port USB 2.0: Connects the interface to your computer.
- External Control Inputs (Switch/Pedal 1 & 2): Connect expression pedals or footswitches for real-time control.
- Line Outputs (1/L, 2/R, 3, 4): Balanced TRS outputs for connecting to studio monitors or other audio equipment.
- Mic/Line Inputs (1 & 2): Combo XLR/TRS inputs for microphones or line-level sources.
5. Configuració
5.1 Requisits del sistema
Ensure your computer meets the following minimum requirements:
- Mac: macOS 10.11 or later, Intel Core 2 Duo or later, 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended).
- PC: Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 (64-bit), Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon 64 X2 or later, 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended).
- Port USB disponible.
5.2 Instal·lació del programari
Register your product and download the necessary software and drivers from the IK Multimedia website. This includes the AXE I/O control panel, AmpliTube 5 SE, TONEX SE, and Ableton Live 10 Lite.
Figura 4: Captura de pantalla de AmpliTube 5 SE software interface.
Figure 5: Screenshot of the TONEX SE software interface.
5.3 Connexió de maquinari
- Connect the AXE I/O to your computer using the provided USB cable.
- Connect the external power supply to the DC input and plug it into a power outlet.
- Connect your guitar or bass to Input 1 or 2 on the front panel.
- Connect your studio monitors to Line Outputs 1/L and 2/R on the rear panel.
- Plug in headphones to the front panel headphone output for private monitoring.
6. Instruccions de funcionament
6.1 Enregistrament bàsic
To record your instrument or vocals:
- Ensure the AXE I/O is connected and recognized by your DAW.
- Select the appropriate input (Input 1 or 2) in your DAW.
- Adjust the input gain using the corresponding knob on the front panel until the input level is healthy but not clipping.
- Use the Monitor knob to blend your direct signal with the DAW playback for zero-latency monitoring.
6.2 Z-TONE Control and Preamp Selecció
The Z-TONE control allows you to fine-tune the impedance of your guitar input, affecting the tone and feel of your instrument. Experiment with the knob to find the sweet spot for your guitar and playing style. The Active/Passive switch optimizes the input for different pickup types, while the JFET/PURE switch offers distinct preamp voicings.
6.3 Re-Amping Functionality
El dedicat Amp Out allows you to send a previously recorded dry guitar signal from your DAW to an external amplifier or stompbox for re-amping. This provides flexibility to experiment with different amp tones after the initial recording.
6.4 MIDI and External Control
Connect MIDI keyboards, controllers, or other MIDI-compatible devices to the MIDI In/Out ports. The two external control inputs can be configured via the AXE I/O control panel to control various parameters within your DAW or software effects using expression pedals or footswitches.
Figure 6: Screenshot of the AXE I/O control software for I/O configuration and external controls.
7. Manteniment
To ensure the longevity and optimal performance of your AXE I/O:
- Netegeu la unitat amb un drap suau i sec. Eviteu productes de neteja o dissolvents abrasius.
- Mantingueu la unitat lliure de pols i deixalles.
- Guardeu la unitat en un lloc fresc i sec quan no s'utilitzi.
- Regularly check cable connections for wear and tear.
8. Solució De Problemes
| Problema | Causa possible | Solució |
|---|---|---|
| Sense sortida de so | Incorrect audio device selection in DAW; cables not connected properly; volume knobs turned down. | Verify AXE I/O is selected as input/output in DAW; check all cable connections; ensure Master and Headphone volume knobs are up. |
| Retall del senyal d'entrada | El guany d'entrada és massa alt. | Reduce the corresponding Input Gain knob until the CLIP indicator no longer lights up. |
| No phantom power for mic | 48V button not engaged. | Press the 48V button on the front panel to activate phantom power. |
| High latency | Buffer size in DAW is too high. | Reduce the buffer size in your DAW's audio settings. |
9. Especificacions
- Tecnologia de connectivitat: USB
- Nombre de canals: 2
- S màximampli Rate: 192 kHz
- Entrada d'àudio: USB
- Dispositius compatibles: Personal Computer (Mac/PC)
- Programari compatible: AmpliTube 5 SE, TONEX SE, Mac/PC drivers
- Pes de l'article: 4 lliures
10. Garantia i Suport
The IK Multimedia AXE I/O comes with a 1 any de garantia del fabricant. For technical support, product registration, or further assistance, please visit the official IK Multimedia weblloc web o consulteu la informació de contacte que es proporciona a l'embalatge del producte.
Official product videos:
AXE I/O 2-channel audio interface with guitar tone shaping
Vídeo 1: Un overview of the AXE I/O audio interface highlighting its guitar tone shaping features.
AXE I/O 2-channel audio interface with guitar tone shaping, amp output and software recording bundle
Video 2: A detailed look at the AXE I/O's features, including amp output and bundled software.