Axe I/O XLR Preamps

[Strhessed]

So, I decided I wanted to mic my guitar cabinet with an SM57. I plugged in and I literally have to have the level input MAXED to get a normal recording level. I had a Steinberg interface prior to this that NEVER had this issue. I only had to turn the level up maybe 1/4th of the way for an adequete level. Am I doing something wrong? I'm in an apartment, so cranking my amp isn't an option (before it's suggested). I'm using Logic Pro X. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Peter_IK]

That's not the normal behavior. Please make sure you have the AXE I/O Control Panel software (which also installs the latest driver) installed and that the settings for all inputs/outputs are correct there. If that doesn't help please reach out to IK Support at http://www.ikmultimedia.com/contact-support for direct and official tech support to resolve your issue. Thank you.

[dlgebert]

So, I decided I wanted to mic my guitar cabinet with an SM57. I plugged in and I literally have to have the level input MAXED to get a normal recording level.

I use my AXE I/O to mic my Orange Crush 35RT using an SM57 microphone about an inch away from the cabinet grill, and YES having it almost at maximum is normal. I use Instrument channel #2 and turn up the [GAIN] knob to maximum and then back it off a little bit.

That's what I do to get an acceptable input signal into my DAW via USB. The AXE I/O doesn't have a "microphone preamp" onboard, the same as it doesn't have any guitar amp/cab/effects onboard. If you use just the "analog" microphone gain on the AXE I/O, then it's like plugging in your guitar and not using Amplitube 4 with your AXE I/O.

For my microphone pre-amp, I use the T-RackS 5 British Channel for vocals, mic'ing my amp and acoustic guitar. The pre-amp itself is super clean and transparent, the only noise is from my Orange Crush. You can get a nice mic'ed amplifier sound and keep it at "bedroom" level.

I added a link to it along with some effects that I use with it as well. Definitely worth the price.

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/trbritchannel/?pkey=t-racks-single-british-channel
https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/trsunsetsound/?pkey=t-racks-single-sunset-sound
https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/trspacedelay/?pkey=t-racks-single-space-delay
https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/trtapeecho/?pkey=t-racks-single-tape-echo
https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/trcsrhall/?pkey=t-racks-single-csr-hall-reverb

Dave

[Strhessed]

That's not the normal behavior. Please make sure you have the AXE I/O Control Panel software (which also installs the latest driver) installed and that the settings for all inputs/outputs are correct there. If that doesn't help please reach out to IK Support at http://www.ikmultimedia.com/contact-support for direct and official tech support to resolve your issue. Thank you.

I have contacted them and have still received no response. It's been over a week now. I'm about to return this and go with another company.

[Peter_IK]

That's not the normal behavior. Please make sure you have the AXE I/O Control Panel software (which also installs the latest driver) installed and that the settings for all inputs/outputs are correct there. If that doesn't help please reach out to IK Support at http://www.ikmultimedia.com/contact-support for direct and official tech support to resolve your issue. Thank you.

I have contacted them and have still received no response. It's been over a week now. I'm about to return this and go with another company.

You opened a second ticket a week ago. You asked the same question in your first ticket about your serial card and was asked for a photo of your AXE I/O settings (the actual unit) to which you never replied. That ticket was opened August 17 and replied August 19th with the request. Please reply to that and you'll get the proper assistance as they need the requested information. This ticket number is 4351218 and again, please reply to the tech's question with what they require and I'm sure they can figure it out.

[Strhessed]

I NEVER received that request otherwise I would have replied promptly. Can they try resending the request?

[Strhessed]

Nevermind. It was buried in my junk mailbox. I will respond now.

[dlgebert]

Did my reply make sense? If you're looking for a fully hardware based mic preamp with onboard EQ, then the AXE I/O may not be for you.

But if you're looking for a clean, transparent, zero floor noise solution using a proper software based console quality pre-amp, then the AXE I/O works great with a Shure SM57. It does for me.

Dave