Ik Multimedia AXE I/O Solo USER MANUAL

Compact audio interface with advanced guitar tone shaping

USER MANUAL

English

Compact audio interface with advanced guitar tone shaping

USER MANUAL

Table of Contents

Contents					2
English					3
	AXE I/O SOLO				3
	Register your AXE I/O SOLO				3
	Front panel				4
	Rear panel				5
	1		Installation and setup		6
		1.1		Software installation	6
		1.2		Setup	6
	2		Dedicated guitar features		8
		2.1		Direct amplifier output & Re-Amplification	8
		2.2		JFET / PURE input (only for Instrument Input 1)	9
		2.3		Pick-Up selector (only for Instrument Input 1)	9
		2.4		Variable impedance (Z-TONE™) control (only for Instrument Input 1)	10
		2.6		External control	11
	3		Setup your DAW		12
	4		Connecting microphones		12
		4.1		Condenser microphones	12
		4.2		Dynamic microphones	12
		4.3		Ribbon microphones	12
	5		Connecting instrument		13
	6		Connecting loudspeakers and headphones		14
	7		Direct monitoring		15
	8		Control software		15
		8.1		Interface view	16
		8.2		Controller tab	18
9			Specifications		19
	Warranty				20
	Support and more info				20
Regulatory					21

English

AXE I/O SOLO

Thank you for purchasing AXE I/O SOLO.

Your package contains:

•AXE I/O SOLO

• USB cable

AXE I/O SOLO is the most compact interface in the AXE I/O family, with 2 inputs and 3 outputs.

As with the original AXE I/O, it has been created from the ground-up with the goal of designing the best possible interface for guitar players, and sports a series of features that can’t be found individually or combined in any other competitive audio interface today. All of this in a very compact housing.

AXE I/O SOLO is a superior all-round audio interface too, thanks to the 192kHz sampling resolution at 24bit, the outstanding dynamic range and the asynchronous USB audio, for ultra low conversion jitter for premium audio performance.

Register your AXE I/O SOLO

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.

English

Front panel

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5	6
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1
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1.Instrument input 1 - 1/4” (6.35mm) jack type - Connect your instrument here (e.g., guitar).

2.GAIN 1 and GAIN 2 - adjust the input gain for the signals at Inputs 1 and 2 respectively.

3.Peak Meters - each input has a dedicated 5-segments peak meter, with 1-second hold on CLIP, that indicates the level of the input signal.

4.Z-TONE™ - Variable impedance control - the front control named Z-TONE™ allows you to change the input impedance on the instrument input 1 allowing for a unique possibility for tone shaping on your instruments.

5.PASSIVE/ACTIVE - Pick-Up selector - this selector allows you to match the type of pick-up installed on the connected instrument. This control will act exclusively on the instrument input 1.

6.JFET/PURE - Preamp topology selector - this selector allows you to select two different preamp topologies for your connected instrument: JFET preamp type and Pure preamp type. This control will act exclusively on the instrument input 1.

7.48V - This switch enables 48V phantom power on both microphone inputs. The switch illuminates when phantom power is selected.

8.MIDI IN/OUT LEDs - these LEDs illuminate when MIDI data is received from/transmitted to the MIDI port.

9.USB LED - this LED illuminates when the unit is recognised by the computer to which it is connected.

10.MONITOR - the Monitor knob allows you to blend your input signals with the playback streams from your computer. This allows you to monitor your input signal with zero latency. If the knob is positioned at 12 o’clock, the input signal and the playback stream will be equally balanced. Turning the knob to the left will increase the level of the direct signal; turning to the right will increase the level of the playback stream from the DAW. This control works both for Outputs 1-2 and Headphones.

11.HEADPHONES - connect one pair of headphones to the 1⁄4” (6.35 mm) TRS jack sockets below the headphone volume controls. The headphone outputs always carry the signals that are currently routed to outputs 1 & 2.

12.MASTER - main output level control – this control adjusts the level at Outputs 1 and 2 on the rear panel.

13.AMP OUT - this is a third 1/4” physical unbalanced, floating output with selectable ground lift (controlled with software). It’s independent from main Outputs 1-2. This output is specifically designed to allow the interface to feed guitar amps or stomps without the typically associated risk or hum or buzz noises caused by ground loops or mismatched levels and impedances.

English

Rear panel

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1.Kensington security lock - secure your AXE I/O SOLO to a suitable structure if desired.

2.MIDI IN/OUT - standard 5-pin DIN sockets for connection of external MIDI equipment.

3.USB 2.0 port - Type B connector - connect the AXE I/O SOLO to your computer with the supplied cable.

4.EXTERNAL CONTROL - use these 1/4” (6.35mm) jacks to connect external controller pedals (single or dual switches, continuous expression pedals). MIDI messages sent are freely assignable from the “Control app”.

5.LINE OUTPUTS 1/L and 2/R - Outputs 1/L and 2/R are balanced and floating analogue line outputs on 1⁄4”

(6.35 mm) jack sockets; use TRS jacks for a balanced connection. Outputs 1/L and 2/R will normally be used to drive the primary monitoring system.

6.MIC/LINE IN 2 - XLR Combo type input sockets - connect microphones or line level signals.

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1 Installation and setup

1.1 Software installation

All software required by the AXE I/O SOLO is available for download from the IK Multimedia website (www. ikmultimedia.com/products/axeiosolo). By downloading the “AXE I/O SOLO Drivers and Control Software” you’ll find:

MAC users: the installer contains the AXE I/O SOLO Control App.

Windows users: the package includes the AXE I/O SOLO Control App and the necessary drivers for the interface.

1.Using your web browser, go to www.ikmultimedia.com/products/axeiosolo and go to the Downloads section.

2.You can now download the “AXE I/O SOLO Drivers and Control Software” file (Mac and Windows versions available).

4.Download and install the “AXE I/O SOLO Drivers and Control Software” version (Mac or Windows) appropriate for your computer and follow all on-screen instructions.

5.When the installation is complete, restart your computer.

6.After restart, connect the AXE I/O SOLO to your computer with the supplied USB cable.

1.2 Setup

1. Download and install the AXE I/O SOLO Drivers and Control Software as described above.

AXE I/O SOLO Control Software

AmpliTube Deluxe 10 T-RackS plug-ins Ableton Live Lite

FREE DOWNLOAD

ikdownloads.com/axeiosolo

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2. Connect the AXE I/O SOLO to your computer with the supplied USB cable.

3.You can connect instrument signal to the front Jack 1/4” Instrument input 1, or microphone and line level signal to the back combo XLR input 2.

4.Connect speakers, amplifiers or other line devices to the balanced outputs on the rear panel of AXE I/O SOLO.

5.If needed, you can connect external MIDI devices to the physical MIDI ports (Input/Output).

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2 Dedicated guitar features

2.1 Direct amplifier output & Re-Amplification

in from MIC

RE-AMPLIFICATION

Among the features that make AXE I/O SOLO the definitive guitarist interface is the Re-Amplification feature. The “AMP OUT” is a third physical output which is independent from main Output 1-2. 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). The external stomps (or the miked amplifier) will be connected back to Input to return into the DAW on a newly recorded track.

The AMP OUT is a floating unbalanced output topology specifically designed to properly interface with guitar or bass amplifiers of any kind for maximum signal fidelity and integrity. This ensures the immunity from noises caused by ground loops with the Amps, so actually allowing reamping without the typical associated noise/hum issues.

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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.

Pure circuitry results in a more linear response featuring the absolutely cleaner signal path possible, for best transparency and clarity.

Each amplifier topology offers complimentary sonic performance to the other, and both are widely used in professional recording and stage work. Note: this control only works when the Pickup selector is on the Passive position.

2.3 Pick-Up selector (only for Instrument Input 1)

PICK-UP

English

AXE I/O SOLO works perfectly with both Passive and Active guitar or bass pickups, having independent circuitry that suits perfectly both topologies. Passive electric guitar pickups exhibit significantly higher output impedance than the active counterpart, among other significant tone differences, but neither of the two is “better” or “worse” than the other: indeed they have different behaviors. To properly couple this diversity of guitar pickups in the most musically pleasing manner, AXE I/O SOLO offers a pickup selector that allows the artist to select between Active (when using an active pickup) and Passive (when using a passive pickup).

2.4 Variable impedance (Z-TONE™) control (only for Instrument Input 1)

All passive pickups (being them single coil, humbucker, split, etc..) have 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.

The beauty of this system is that it allows you to discover tonal shades from your instruments that you never heard before, by shaping the tone right at the source, within the pickups, instead of what is normally done with post-processing tools of any kind.

Feel free to experiment without rules with this knob! You will find your tone becomes generally more thick and bold by reducing the impedance (control is moved clockwise) and, on the other hand, more crisp and sharp when rotated counter-clockwise.

For example if you find your high gain tones to be too harsh, try setting this control at mid position, and you’ll experience what the Z-TONE can magically do.

If you’re recording a bass (with passive pickups) and find it sounds a bit thin, try the same. The sound will immediately feel more bold, solid and bigger.

The key here is experimentation! Feel free to check it out on your instruments, on various configurations, the possibilities are really endless.

Settings start from the highest impedance value (named “Sharp”) to the lowest impedance value (named “Bold”) The Z-TONE circuit only works with passive pickups of any kind.

Using it on active pickups will not provide any significant useful change to the sonics of the instrument.

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Note: AXE I/O SOLO is very useful for feeding analogue stomp boxes from DAW tracks using the AMP output.

The best way to get the Stomp signal back into the DAW is by using Instrument input 1. This way the Z-TONE circuit will also be very useful because most vintage stomps can actually change the way they sound depending on the load impedance, so experimentation in this usage is very welcome as well.

2.6 External control

Connect up to two external controller here to send MIDI control messages. You can use any available “momentary” or “sustain pedal” type foot switch that includes a 1/4 inch connector. Both normally open and normally closed switches are supported. AXE I/O SOLO 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 I/O SOLO. MIDI messages associated with these controllers are freely assignable from the “Control app”.

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3 Setup your DAW

The AXE I/O SOLO is compatible with any Windows-based DAW that supports ASIO or any Mac-based DAW that uses Core Audio. After installing AXE I/O SOLO Control Software and connecting the hardware, you can start using your AXE I/O SOLO with the your DAW.

It is possible that your DAW may not automatically select the AXE I/O SOLO as its default I/O device. In this case, you must manually select the AXE I/O SOLO as the audio hardware on your DAW’s Audio Setup page. Please refer to your DAW’s documentation (or Help files) if you are unsure where to select the ASIO/Core Audio driver.

Once the AXE I/O SOLO is set as the preferred Audio Device in your DAW, all 2 inputs and 3 outputs will appear in your DAW’s Audio I/O preferences.

4 Connecting microphones

Always connect microphones to AXE I/O SOLO with XLR-to-XLR balanced cables. This will ensure a pristine and clean performance from your microphone with AXE I/O SOLO.

NOTE: In your audio software, select the Input 2 as the source of the track you will be recording to. Adjust the channel gain knob until you have a sufficient audio signal without clipping.

4.1 Condenser microphones

Most condenser microphones require external phantom power. If phantom power is ON, switch it OFF, and then connect your microphone. Turn phantom power ON only after the microphone is connected. Once it’s turned ON, check that the phantom power LED has become red.

4.2 Dynamic microphones

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. Most ribbon microphones don’t require phantom power, and some can even be damaged by it. If you’re in doubt just leave it OFF. If the microphone won’t work, check its user manual, it may need phantom power. Please note that when 48V phantom power is turned on, it works on both channels simultaneously.

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