IK Multimedia’s AXE I/O SOLO ($249.99), a compact audio interface, is the latest addition to its range of AXE I/O high-end guitar interfaces with advanced tone-shaping features. The company says that, with its proprietary Z-TONE impedance-adapting circuit and other guitar recording tools, it maintains the best-in-class tone from the original product while offering a more budget-friendly, mobile format.
It is a bus-powered 2-in/3-out USB audio interface that features IK’s high-end PURE microphone preamp; an instrument input with proprietary tone-shaping options; an exclusive Amp Out to incorporate real gear into a recording setup; and 24-bit, 192 kHz converters with a wide dynamic range, for pristine recordings in all musical genres.
AXE I/O SOLO can also act as a controller for use with IK’s included AmpliTube or other favorite guitar-friendly software, offering a complete, affordable solution for players.
Other features include:
- Mic preamp – AXE I/O SOLO offers IK’s high-definition, Class A PURE mic preamp, designed for transparent and clean recording. An extended, flat frequency response captures the full tonal range of voices and instruments without coloring the sound. A best-in-class dynamic range ensures ultra-quiet recordings.
- Exclusive guitar tone shaping – Proprietary tone-shaping options let users dial in the perfect settings for their instruments or coax a wider range of tones from a single instrument. First, an active and passive pickup selector adapts instantly to any instrument. The active channel bypasses unneeded gain stages, ensuring the signal is always as direct and uncolored as possible. Next, AXE I/O SOLO offers both a PURE circuit for pristine, transparent sound and a JFET circuit for adding warmth and harmonics, all within a single device.
IK’s proprietary Z-TONE impedance-adapting circuit lets users adjust the input impedance to interact with their guitar’s pickups: at the maximum impedance, sounds are tighter, sharper and more precise, and at lower impedances the sound becomes thicker and bolder, says the company. These controls give guitars even more sonic character – with just a few minutes’ experimentation, users can dial in a sound that perfectly fits the mix.
AXE I/O SOLO offers a streamlined re-amplification setup in a single box. A front panel Amp Out lets guitar and bass players incorporate real amplifiers and stomp-boxes without the need for an external conversion box. This low-noise out also eliminates ground loops, to keep even the highest-gain re-amplification as quiet as possible.
AXE I/O SOLO preserves the best-in-class dynamic range, ultra-low self noise and wide, extended frequency response of the original AXE I/O, ensuring premium sound quality for recording both instruments and vocals.
Quarter-inch balanced outputs and a headphones out provide comprehensive connections, and a “blend” knob mixes direct and processed signal for zero-latency monitoring. In addition, AXE I/O SOLO also features two dedicated inputs for controller pedals and switches, plus MIDI In/Out, offering a range of options for real-time control over amp modeling plug-ins or recording software.
For seamless, out-of-the-box recording and processing, AXE I/O SOLO comes bundled with AmpliTube 4 Deluxe, IK’s guitar and bass tone studio for Mac/PC, as well as a suite of T-RackS mixing & mastering plug-ins and Ableton Live 10 Lite recording software.
