IK Multimedia AXE I/O & Amplitube 5 MAX Bundle

The audio interface guitar players were waiting for Since we pioneered guitar amp and effects modeling in 2002, IK Multimedia has spent more time studying guitar and amp recording than possibly anyone else on the planet. Modeling over 400 pieces of gear has required tens of thousands of hours painstakingly measuring the interactions between instruments, pickups, and amplifier circuits, not to mention the cooperation of the world’s most iconic guitar players, amplifier manufacturers, and engineers to learn how to create and capture great guitar tones.

AXE I/O brings all that experience to you. 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.

AXE I/O also includes a dedicated Amp Out, so you can create the perfect Tone Models of your amps and pedals using TONEX for Mac/PC. Or process your recorded tracks using real guitar amps and stomps without the need for external accessories (and without having to unplug your gear). This low-noise output also eliminates ground loops during amplification and Tone Modeling to keep your high-gain amps as quiet as possible.

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. With two floating balanced outputs, two unbalanced and one floating unbalanced Amp out plus a high-current headphone outlet 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 ensure the highest fidelity, whether you’re capturing vocals, acoustic instruments, amplified guitar, or just direct signal for use with AmpliTube. But that’s just scratching the surface.

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 a 117 dB dynamic range to ensure the cleanest signal. 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. AXE I/O’s patent-pending Z-TONE circuit lets you dial in impedance from 1 MOhm (“sharp”) down to 2.2 kOhms (“bold”) that interacts with your pick-ups. At the maximum impedance, you’ll find your sound tighter, sharper, and more precise. Increase the load and the sound becomes thicker and bolder. You’ll quickly find yourself using this to give your guitars even more sonic character – with just a few minutes’ experimentation you can dial in a sound that fits the mix beautifully, as if it's been EQ’d.

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.

Tone Modeling and Reamplification Made It Easy

AXE I/O also includes a dedicated Amp Out, so you can create the perfect Tone Models of your amps and pedals using TONEX for Mac/PC. Or process your recorded tracks using real guitar amps and stomps without the need for external accessories (and without having to unplug your gear). This low-noise output also eliminates ground loops during amplification and Tone Modeling to keep your high-gain amps as quiet as possible. It’s simple: connect the Amp Out to your amp, then mic it up using an AXE I/O microphone preamp. Now you can create a perfect Tone Model using TONEX for Mac/PC. Capture a clean copy of your signal while recording and feed it back to your amp afterward to experiment with different amp, stompbox, and microphone settings without re-recording countless takes. AXE I/O offers a simple, streamlined reamplification setup in a single box to save you time, money, and energy and open up unlimited sonic flexibility for all your guitar recordings.

Seamless Amplitube Integration - and more

For those who prefer in-the-box modeling, AXE I/O also offers a range of useful features. First, a Preset knob lets you quickly and easily scroll through AmpliTube presets. Just push the knob to select and load one. You can find the perfect preset without ever having to grab a mouse. And if you use any other software, the Preset knob can be freely assigned to any CC so you can have direct control of your preferred virtual rig. AXE I/O offers a simple, streamlined reamplification setup in a single box to save you time, money, and energy and open up unlimited sonic flexibility for all your guitar recordings.

Second, two dedicated controller inputs let you connect up to two expression pedals or two single/double switches to control AmpliTube, or any other software, in real time while playing. With AmpliTube’s MIDI Learn function, just right-click on any parameter you want to control, move the pedal, and it’s assigned. You can do up to 6 different controller configurations with AXE I/O, mixing pedals and switches, to suit your needs.

You can also use AXE I/O’s MIDI input and output to connect floor controllers or iRig Stomp I/O to add even more real-time controls - or use it with regular keyboards and other standard MIDI gear. There’s also a dedicated tuner on the front panel, making it easier to tune in between takes. We’ve worked hard to ensure AXE I/O offers minimal latency, giving you the tightest response and feel while tracking.

Advanced Digital Control and Routing

AXE I/O also includes a powerful, convenient Control Panel application to manage inputs and outputs and assign routing and controller inputs. In the interface tab, you can view the active inputs, enable phantom power, and control the ground lift to dial in the least noise for your setup. Adjust output volume, direct monitoring routing, select the sample rate, and more.

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. The AXE I/O Control Panel lets you keep focused on your work, instead of adjusting settings on the unit itself, for a faster, freer workflow.

What’s New in AXE I/O Control Panel V.1.1.0

Route instrument input 1 directly to the Amp output to record both DI and amplified signals simultaneously, with zero latency. Tuner can now be configured to mute inputs when engaged, for silent tuning. Outputs 1 & 2 can now be mirrored to outputs 3 & 4, to send the same signal to two different destinations more easily.

Legendary Guitar/Bass Gear on Your Mac/PC

Captures the sound, feel, and vibe of over 400 of the most sought-after guitar and bass gear ever.

Developed With Top Brands and Artists

Official gear from icons like Fender, Mesa/Boogie, Orange, Slash, Brian May, Joe Satriani, and many more.

Covers The Entire Signal Chain

Stomps, amps, cabs, speakers, mics, rooms, and rack FX all in one interface, all routed the way you want.

All-In-One Recording & Performance Studio

With an 8-track recorder + DAW, looper, tuner, practice tools, and live features all in one.

Free Preset-Sharing Community

Find new sounds or upload your own with direct access to ToneNET from within any version of AmpliTube 5.

The Most Realistic Tones Ever

IK’s DIM and VIR technology ensures AmpliTube nails the tone and feel of every piece of gear like never before.

What's New in Amplitube 5

All New Signal Chains & Routing Freedom

An all-new drag-and-drop signal chain supports up to 57 simultaneous models, series / parallel routing, and blended DI signals for unprecedented creative freedom.

New Cabinet Section with VIR Technology

Powerful new “Volumetric Impulse Response” radically transforms all 100+ cabinets in AmpliTube 5 with over 143,000 impulse response measurements in all.

Custom IR Loader

Load, tilt and re-size your impulse responses in place of any cabinet.

New Mixer with Built-In Effects

A new mixer lets you easily blend multiple cabs, mics, and DI, with 23 new mixing effects, including some from T-RackS 5 to add a final studio sheen to any track.

New Gear

Over 130 brand new models, including 2 new stomps, 5 acclaimed amps, 2 new rooms, 23 new rack FX, and over 100 completely re-captured cabinets.

New Preset-Sharing Community

ToneNET is a free web platform with social features dedicated to guitar and bass players and all AmpliTube 5 users.

The Highest Standard of Accuracy and Realism

Forged by 20 years of research and collaboration with the industry's top brands and artists, IK's Dynamic Interaction Modeling captures every nuance of each gear model. And AmpliTube 5 premieres our Volumetric Impulse Response engine, leveraging over 600 distinct impulse responses per speaker to set a new standard in cabinet sampling.

Over 400 Gear Models, Right at Your Fingertips

AmpliTube 5 offers the industry’s widest selection of stomps, amps, cabs, speakers, mics, and rack FX. Mix and match to your heart’s content to duplicate any tone with stunning authenticity or forge your unique sonic combinations.

Play, Practice, and Record with Powerful Tools

AmpliTube 5 offers powerful tools whatever your goals. With an 8-track recorder with integrated DAW and mixer, it’s the ideal musical scratch pad; an advanced looper for songwriting or jamming, high-precision UltraTuner, stage-ready Live Mode, and much more, AmpliTube 5 offers a powerful collection of tools.