The Axon AX 100 mkII is a very compelling product. Its guitar-to-MIDI conversion is as fast and accurate as anything available. Whenever I use it with my custom Koll Tornado guitar equipped with Graph Tech's Ghost Modular Pickup System, the AX 100 mkII accurately converts my performances into MIDI data. Its amazing breadth of features makes it ideal for live performance.

Along with the Axon's power comes complexity, but the excellent editing software helps to minimize the learning curve. Some guitar-to-MIDI converters offer simpler operation but fewer features, and others offer better built-in sounds but less flexibility. If you want a guitar-to-MIDI converter with impressive performance and a ton of features, the AX 100 mkII is the one for you.

The ultimate in musical expression

Guitar synthesis adds new levels of complexity to playing the guitar, and it works only as well as your setup and your technique - if your finger hits the string before your pick, it can cause false triggering, and the more accurate the tracking is, the more this is a problem. Playing burning solos an a guitar synth requires impeccable technique, and that can ultimately make you a better player. If you prefer less frills, Roland makes a various of entry-level guitar synths; their GI-20 offers further possibilities . But if the GI-20 is a Lexus, the AXON AX 100 MK II is a Ferrari. Yes, it costs more, needs fine-tuning, and demands very advanced technique, but the rewards are the ultimate in musical expression.

Verdict: Mark of Excellence

Well worth the price

For the benefit of those unfamiliar with the original AXON MIDI guitar system, hereŽs the lowdown: Using an AXON pickup or a supported third party one, xour guitarŽs signal is fed to the AXON AX 100 controller. Here, itŽs converted to MIDI and fed to built-in sound module and (via the MIDI output) your computer. All pretty standard so far, you might think, but AXONŽs system is unlike anything else on the market. Typically, MIDI guitar systems work like guitar tuners  they ŽlistenŽto the sound and work out its pitch. AXONŽs system works more like a submarineŽs sonar than a guitar tuner. Ultimately, AXONŽs system remains the best choice if you want to turn guitar data into MIDI, and thanks to this update, it now comes with a top-notch set of 500 sounds and ten drum kits. Well worth the price.

Verdict: 9/10 points

Extensive options

The AX 100Žs split options are extensive. You can assign individual sounds to groups of strings, split the fretboard into two along its length and even assign splits to pick zones  i.e. picking near the neck triggers a different sound than picking near the bridge. This makes for up to 12 split combinations, which is more than enough to leave the audience wondering whoŽs playing what, especially when you deploy the supplied footswitch to hold a phase generated by the arpeggiator. In fact, the adventurous solo artist could well turn a lot of heads with the sounds and performance splits on offer.

Verdict: The AX 100 system gives the guitarist fast, reasonabley accurate control of MIDI

Very effective tracking

Our first impression of the AXON  once weŽd got everything installed and communicating  were positive. The tracking is very effective when playing solo licks, although we did notice a few ghost notes creeping in as we strummed through some rhythm guitar riffs. This occurs when the pitch-detection algorithm becomes confused by ringing notes. AXON uses a complex neural network to eliminate ghost notes. It is trained to ignore partial harmonics and focus only on pick trasients; ghost notes, which are caused by misinterpreted partial harmonics shouldnŽt, therefore, occur. However, by adjusting the sensitivity settings on the AXON we were able to eliminate these ghost sounds entirely.

Verdict: An easy means of converting guitar notes into MIDI, the AXON is ideal for guitarists who want to have more control over their soft synths.

Best guitar-to-MIDI converter on the market

While the AX 100 MK II embodies some extremely clever technology, you still have to clean up your playing to get the best out of it, especially when playing piano-like sounds with percussive attacks, but it tracks extremely quick and does a great job at controlling external MIDI sound sources and soft synths. There are various playing techniques that can be adopted to make playing a more positive experience and most can be picked up fairly quick.

Verdict: This is probably the best-behaved pitch-tracking guitar-to-MIDI converter on the market.