Axion Bridge

Axion Bridge is a small Windows helper that owns your audio interface through WASAPI exclusive mode and streams audio to the browser over a local encrypted WebSocket. The browser still runs the rig, presets, UI, and DSP. The helper only moves audio in and out with lower latency than the browser can usually achieve through shared-mode audio.

Bridge is free. You do not need Pro to use it. Pro still controls Pro-only app features such as 96 kHz mode, MIDI, third-party IRs, and preset sharing. (NAM capture loading is free.)

BETA Axion Bridge is currently Windows-only and unsigned. Windows may show "Windows protected your PC" on first launch. Click More info, then Run anyway if you downloaded it from the official Axion link.

Requirements

• Windows 10 or Windows 11.
• Chrome or Edge recommended.
• A USB, Thunderbolt, or built-in audio interface that supports exclusive-mode playback and capture at 48 kHz.
• Wired headphones or monitors. Bluetooth adds too much latency for live guitar.

Download the helper here:

Download Axion Bridge for Windows

First launch

1. Download axion-bridge-windows-x64.exe.
2. Put it somewhere stable, such as your Desktop or an Axion folder. There is no installer.
3. Open it. If Windows SmartScreen appears, choose More info -> Run anyway.
4. Pick your input and output devices.
5. Click Start bridge.
6. Open Axion and choose the Bridge connection mode.

When the connection is live, Axion shows a BRIDGE chip in the top bar and the latency readout switches to the bridged round-trip estimate.

How it works

The helper listens only on your own machine at local.axion.cab:17800. That hostname resolves to 127.0.0.1, so no one on your network can connect to it.

Axion fetches a shared TLS certificate at helper launch and caches it under:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Axion\Bridge\cert.json

That certificate lets the browser make a normal wss://local.axion.cab:17800 connection without installing a local root certificate or changing browser settings.

Updating

For the unsigned beta, updates are manual:

1. Download the latest helper from the Axion Bridge link.
2. Close the old helper if it is running.
3. Replace the old .exe with the new one.
4. Launch it again and reconnect from Axion.

The helper has self-update plumbing, but automatic remote updates stay disabled until Axion Bridge is code-signed. This avoids applying untrusted executables.

Troubleshooting

Axion says it cannot find the helper

Make sure the helper window is open and Start bridge has been clicked. Then reconnect Bridge mode from Axion. If it still fails, check that security software is not blocking axion-bridge-windows-x64.exe.

The helper cannot open my device

Another app may already own the interface in exclusive mode. Close your DAW, audio control panel, Discord, game launchers, and any other app using the same input or output, then restart the helper.

I get crackles or dropouts

Use 48 kHz first. Close background CPU-heavy apps. If the interface exposes a control panel, start with a 128 or 256 sample buffer. Very small driver buffers can be less stable than Axion Bridge's own adaptive buffers.

I hear nothing after connecting

Check that the helper output device is the one connected to your headphones or monitors. In Bridge mode the browser output device is only used as a timing clock; the helper output is what you actually hear.

Can I delete the helper?

Yes. Close it and delete the .exe. If you also want to remove cached bridge data, delete:

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Axion\Bridge