Sorry for delayed reply. The problem was with the converter unit I originally had. It was dysfunctional, they're all made rather cheaply as far as I can find, but when they work, they work well. They're inexpensive to a degree. The signal is lossless digital, you should not be able to perceive anything as its sending a digital signal from the Axe into the Apollo. It works well IMO. The only other way I'd ever record out of the Axe is if I wanted a mic'd cabinet sound, in which case, you are using mic inputs. I see no reason to send any other way, but I'm not the most sophisticated user on here by a long stretch.