Premium audio interface with advanced guitar tone shaping

AXE I/O is a professional 2 in/5 out audio interface – and controller - designed specifically with the needs of the recording guitarist in mind, providing best-in-class sound quality and powerful features aimed squarely at making your recordings faster, easier and better than ever.

AXE I/O offers an exclusive triple-topology, fully discrete input circuit, with both PURE and JFET input stages, to go from transparent to tube-like with just a single switch.

Its patent-pending Z-Tone™ impedance-adapting circuit interacts with your guitar's pick-ups to give you a massive range of tonal flexibility, you’ve never heard before.

Plus AXE I/O includes a dedicated Amp Out, so you can process your recording with real guitar amps and stomps without the need for external accessories (and without having to unplug your existing connections!). This low-noise out also eliminates ground loops, to keep even the highest-gain re-amplification as quiet as possible.

And AXE I/O seamlessly integrates with the included AmpliTube 4 Deluxe to select presets and control values via the front input knob, and lets you connect pedals and switches to get the most from your virtual rig without ever taking your hands off your axe.

We even included an onboard tuner so you can be ready to record in an instant whenever inspiration strikes.

Every element of AXE I/O has been created with no-compromise quality and real-world usefulness.

It’s the interface we wish we’d had all along.

A truly high-end audio interface for everybody
117 dB dynamic range, 3 Hz – 32 kHz frequency response – these aren’t the specs you typically find on instrument inputs. But they’re essential to capturing the most accurate details of your performance, for coaxing the best performance from your instrument, and for keeping your sound pure and transparent.

AXE I/O provides 2 Hi-Z front ¼" inputs for guitars and basses, 2 rear combo inputs with phantom power to connect mics and line instruments, and clear precision front peak meters to conveniently monitor the signal level at the channels input. Two floating balanced outputs, two unbalanced and one floating unbalanced Amp out plus a high-current headphone out let you connect monitors, mains and headphones, with independent volume for both. A Monitor knob makes it easy to blend direct monitoring and the audio from your computer for zero latency monitoring.

24-bit, 192 kHz conversion and an ultra-stable, low jitter internal clock ensures the highest fidelity, whether you’re capturing vocals, acoustic instruments, amplified guitar or just direct signal for use with AmpliTube.

Your guitar’s golden channel
AXE I/O’s main channel offers 3 different circuit topologies – that means you have 3 different options to adapt to any type of guitar, pick-up and style so you can always dial in the perfect tone from any instrument.

All three stages offer 117 dB dynamic range to ensure the cleanest signal. And the 3 Hz – 32 kHz frequency response preserves the full sonic impact of your instrument. Unlike the 20 Hz bass response in budget interfaces, AXE I/O captures the full impact of even the deepest bass and won’t artificially cut off sounds above 20 kHz.

Tone and feel like you’ve never heard
Guitar pickups can dramatically change their character depending on the impedance of your preamp. Many guitar amps offer a load of 1 MOhms, while pedals can run much lower. That’s why the tone and responsiveness of your guitar can change so much when plugging into different gear.

PURE mic preamps for transparent recording
When it comes to recording with microphones, AXE I/O offers two PURE mic preamps designed for transparent and clean recording. These mic pres offer a wide, flat frequency response: 5 Hz to 32 kHz, ± 0.5 dB (at 96 kHz) to avoid unwanted coloration and perfectly preserve the sonic character of your acoustic guitar, piano or other instrument, and maintain the signature of whichever mics you connect. They offer 116 dB of dynamic range, for ultra-quiet sound perfect for recording even the most delicate instruments, but make it easy to also pull back and record the loudest amp stack.

Re-amplification made easier than ever
Many guitarists have tried to integrate their amps and stomps with recording setups only to discover it’s not an easy task! AXE I/O makes this all easier than ever with its Amp Out. It features a dedicated ground-isolated low noise ¼” output right on the front panel for easy access.

Common
Conversion	24-bit A/D, 24-bit D/A
Sampling Rate	44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz
Power	DC IN
Device Connection	USB B-Type 2.0
Enclosure	Metal sheet
Line Outputs 1-2 (Monitor)
Configuration	Electronically balanced and floating, automatically compensates level when connection is balanced or unbalanced, tip hot.
Output impedance	150 Ohms balanced, 75 Ohms unbalanced
Output Level	0 dBFS corresponds to +21 dBu
Frequency response	From 3 Hz to 32 kHz within 0.5 dB (96 kHz sample rate)
Dynamic Range	116 dB(A)
THD+N	-106 dB(A) at -1 dBFS
Channels 1-2 crosstalk	115 dB(A)
Line Outputs 3-4
Configuration	Unbalanced
Output impedance	75 Ohms
Output Level	0 dBFS corresponds to +16 dBu
Frequency response	From 3 Hz to 32 kHz within 0.5 dB (96 kHz sample rate)
Dynamic Range	115 dB(A)
THD+N	-102 dB(A)
Channels 3-4 crosstalk	112 dB(A)
Output 5 (Amp output)
Configuration	Unbalanced, floating, with selectable ground lift
Output impedance	100 Ohms
Output Level	0 dBFS corresponds to -6 dBu
Frequency response	From 10 Hz to 32 kHz within 0.5 dB (96 kHz sample rate)
Dynamic Range	110 dB(A)
THD+N	-104 dB(A)
Headphones Out
Output impedance	Virtually ideal source (zero Ohms) until clipping
Maximum Output level	+12 dBu into 50 Ohms load (approx 180 mW)
Frequency response	From 3 Hz to 32 kHz within 0.5 dB (96 kHz sample rate)
Dynamic Range	112 dB(A)
THD+N	-100 dB(A)
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
Line Inputs 1-2
Configuration	Class-A discrete differential line receiver, tip hot
Input impedance	20 kOhms differential
Input level, min gain	0 dBFS is obtained with a +26 dBu signal at the TRS input
Input level, max gain	0 dBFS is obtained with a -24 dBu signal at the TRS 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
Instrument Inputs 1
Configuration	Multiple topology instrument preamp
Input impedance, PASSIVE mode	Variable from 1 MOhms down to 2.2 kOhms
Input impedance, ACTIVE mode	10 kOhms
Input level, min gain	0 dBFS is obtained with a +14 dBu signal at the TS input
Input level, max gain	0 dBFS is obtained with a -17 dBu signal at the TS input
Frequency response	From 3 Hz to 32 kHz within 0.5 dB (96 kHz sample rate)
Dynamic Range	117 dB(A)
THD, PURE mode	0.0015 %
THD, JFET mode	0.5 %
Instrument Inputs 2
Configuration	Hi-Z instrument preamp
Input impedance	1 MOhms
Input level, min gain	0 dBFS is obtained with a +14 dBu signal at the TS input
Input level, max gain	0 dBFS is obtained with a -17 dBu signal at the TS input
Frequency response	From 3 Hz to 32 kHz within 0.5 dB (96 kHz sample rate)
Dynamic Range	117 dB(A)
THD	0.006%
Connections and Controls
Front Panel	Two 1/4" instrument input jacks Two analog potentiometers for Input GAIN Two 5 segments input level meter (peak) Two INST, LINE, MIC LEDs Analog potentiometers for Z-Tone control Pick-Up selector (PASSIVE/ACTIVE) Preamp topology selector (JFET/PURE) +48V phantom power switch Tuner switch Tuner display and LEDs USB LEDS MIDI IN/OUT LEDs push-encoder for Presets Monitor knob 1/4" headphones output jack Master potentiometer for main output control 1/4" Amp output jack
Rear Panel	On/Off power switch External DC power input MIDI I/O 5-pin DIN connectors B-Type USB socket for connecting a computer (Mac/PC) 2 x 1/4" TRS External controllers sockets 2 x 1/4" TRS Balanced floating line outputs 2 x 1/4" TRS Unbalanced line outputs 2 Combo sockets for MIC input and Instrument input (auto selecting)