IK Multimedia ships AmpliTube iRig iPhone interface adapter
By Darren Murph 
posted July 8th 2010 9:58AM
posted July 8th 2010 9:58AM
IK Multimedia AmpliTube® iRig™ Now Shipping
New iRig adapter and AmpliTube app turn iPhone, iPod and iPad into the ultimate portable guitar & bass multi-fx
July 2010 – Modena, Italy - IK Multimedia is pleased to announce that the iRig™ guitar and bass interface adapter for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad is now shipping worldwide. The new iRig interface allows guitar and bass players to plug their instruments directly into the headphone/microphone input jack on their mobile Apple device and access the new world of mobile guitar and bass tone – AmpliTube for iPhone.
iRig features:
- ¼" jack mono instruments input with Hi-Z impedance adapter - suitable for guitars, bass, synthesizers, mixing consoles
- 1/8" mini-jack stereo output can be connected to headphones, amplifiers, powered speakers
- Compatible with iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, iPod Touch 2nd and 3rd generation, iPad
- Ultra-low latency (down to 128 samples) for real time playing with AmpliTube
- Feedback cancellation and noise filter available in AmpliTube
- Works also with any other apps like tuners, recorders, etc...
iRig + AmpliTube for iPhone - Your Guitar Tone On Your iPhone
Combined with the AmpliTube for iPhone app range (FREE, LE and FULL versions already available on the iTunes app store) the iRig interface adapter allows everyone to plug their instrument into their iOS mobile device and play anywhere with real effects and amplifier tones, just like a traditional guitar or bass stage rig!
In the app, your signal chain can consist of up to 3 simultaneous stompbox effects plus amplifier, cabinet and microphone, all reconfigurable with the touch of a finger. Choose from 11 stompbox effects (including fuzz, distortion, overdrive, delay, wah, envelope filter, chorus, flanger, noise filter, phaser and octave) 5 amps (clean, crunch, lead overdrive, modern hi-gain and bass), 5 cabinets and 2 microphones to create your custom portable rig.
Additional Tuner, Metronome and Backing-Track player with loop-points allow for play and practice anytime, anywhere.
The iRig is the ideal companion not only to the AmpliTube mobile app range, but also works with any other recording, processing or tuning app.
Plus, you can also use the iRig with line level signal sources such as synthesizers, keyboards or mixing consoles.
Pricing and availability
AmpliTube iRig - Retails for $39.99/€29.99 MSRP (exc. VAT) and is now available for shipping from the IK online store, as well as from all select IK retailers and distributors worldwide.
AmpliTube for iPhone app is available in 3 versions from the iTunes app store: FREE, LE and FULL.
- AmpliTube Free: Includes 3 stompboxes, 1 amp + cabinet, 2 microphones
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/amplitube-free/id373309342?mt=8
- AmpliTube LE: Includes 5 stompboxes, 1 amplifier + cabinet, 2 microphones for $2.99/€2.39. (More gear through in-app purchase for as low as $2.99/€2.39)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/amplitube-le/id373507300?mt=8
- AmpliTube FULL: Includes the entire collection of available gear with 11 stompboxes, 5 amps + cabinets and 2 microphones for $19.99/€15.99
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/amplitube/id373524000?mt=8
A dedicated iPad version of AmpliTube app is also expected to be available soon. For more information: http://www.amplitube.com/irig
iRig? iLol
@Rick Astley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzAs1vMymtg
Nice competition you got there!
@patrickgs I think this is the competition hes looking for http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S6RgSpnb0w
@Lord Vader *hand wave* This isn't the competition you're looking for.
Does it mute the guitar if you try to play left-handed?
@Khav Not even remotely funny anymore.
@Khav i loled
@Khav
That joke NEVER gets old.
This thing is pretty cool. $40 ain't bad at all!!!
This is great if you're 10 and own a guitar for under 200 bucks. As for anyone else, this won't even come close to replacing effect pedals, real tone of analog equipment and to satisfy those who are serious about their playing. Next iFail please. I wonder how fast I'm going to get down ranked for an honest post by turds who never even played an instrument (GH doesn't count).
@FermentedDischarge it's not meant as a replacement for real guitar or recording gear. But I love the idea to be able to record ideas with a freaking phone ;)
@FermentedDischarge Obviously its not meant to replace real hardware...Come on guy.
@FermentedDischarge
I don't think anyone's going to be gigging with this setup ;)
I'd buy it if it came out for Android... should be pretty fun for hotel-room-jamming with a decent pair of in-ears.
@FermentedDischarge Nothing wrong with good hardware and tubes and tone (we're all gear freaks here, not just software users) but even hardcore wine fanatics can stop the cork-sniffing once in a while. This is far from hobo wine, though. Give it a whirl and see.
That thing is vastly overpriced. It's just a damn plug with 2 jacks. The material costs are probably well under a buck.
Also, the passive design generates a serious amount of crosstalk like with the cable PRS is offering for some time now.
I'd rather wait for the active AmpLink from Peavey.
@fiendie
Yes because the people who designed, developed and produced it don't deserve to make a profit. That would be silly of them to even think such a thing.
@UptownDonkey don't pretend I'm having some kind of anti-corporatist agenda here. Of course they are entitled to their profits. But if Peavey can sell their interface with built-in headphone amp and active crosstalk elimination circuitry for the same price it does seem a bit expensive don't you think?
@fiendie According to IK, they've worked out the impedance issues that plagues the PRS cable. I have a cable I hacked together to plug my guitar in but $40 is not bad for a cleaner, simpler connector. Plus it will be handy for other audio apps too.
@fiendie it doesn't need a battery to solve the crosstalk issue - quite a nice advantage, eh? It is more than a simple lead/splitter - although it appears a simple accessory, it is the result of many rounds of experimentation and a highly selective components selection. Many technical challenges were solved by IK's engineers before we were able to reach the best possible solution in terms of sound quality and usability. This isn't just solder and wires, in other words.
@ikmultimedia I'm inclined to take your word for it ;)
It's nice to get an official comment on this, though.
Maybe you should advertise those feats more aggressively? :P
@fiendie We try not to be as aggressive as others ;) There are a ton of high-profile reviews and people are getting these in their hands now and it will definitely be good to see and hear what people think. Following that, we should have these on the shelves of major retailers, and the momentum to make that happen and make that successful is appreciated since it is through the words of all kinds of players (from the really nice Richard Fortus video to tweets and such from players of all shapes and sizes) that this happens.
@fiendie Don't forget there has to ba an A-D converter in there! its not just a cable adapter.
suuuuwweeeet!!!
*Yawn*
@Juggernaut408 Your comment made me yawn too.
It's pretty obvious this isn't designed to replace a real amp, but I'm really excited about it because it will let me play my electric while sitting on the couch and watching tv. This will also make me more likely to bring my electric rather than an acoustic when I travel. I don't see why anyone could be angry about this tech -- it's just one more option we have. Hell combine it with some decent multitrack recording software and it will be a cool option for recording some creativity on the road.
So many i's in that title. :)
If anyone takes this thing too seriously they're missing the point... it is a fun and original idea.
MONSTERRRRRRRRRRRR name
so they use the microphonic input of the iphone as a line input.
another kind of "brilliant engineering".
Nah thanks, I'll have an Orange Micro Crush instead.
Rock out with your iRig out.
I hope this works as good as they say it will. If you use headphones it is stereo, if you hook it up to an amp it is mono. You need a splitter from mini head phone jack to mono L/R RCA's and plug one of those in to amp. Why wouldn't you gig with it if it works?
Who is this for anyway? Anyone who knows who IK is probably has a better solution for portable digital amp modeling. (Like a line6 toneport GX which I own)
@max3000
but you don't want to carry your line 6 everywhere. this is $40 . . . think on the novelty and convenience side of things. who doesn't take their ipod/iphone around with them? I'll plug in on the subway going to band practice, at the park, whatever. I plan on playing so little acoustic guitar because of this.
@max3000 will people visiting Best Buy and Apple Stores really know who IK is? We will appear in stores of that caliber so I think it will touch more than those who are already aware of IK.
@ikmultimedia First of all, woah IK actually replying haha
Second of all I own a copy of Amplitube Fender and it's amazing, I play live with it through my toneport gx and no one knows that's not a deluxe reverb haha
Third, those people you are talking about probably don't play guitar. The ones that have been playing over a year have a clue. I dunno, just might opinion, I might be wrong but that's my impression/prediction for this product.
@max3000 I wish you were right about that many guitar-playing people knowing IK! There would be a lot more AmpliTube users in the world. :-) For portable, I had been relying on StealthPlug or StealthPedal and a laptop, so I welcomed this concept. I hope some are in that boat, as well as those using some less convenient all-in-one portable options.
Is this supposed to be better then the similar, and much cheaper, product from Griffin Technologies, GuitarConnect?
http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/guitar-connect
@cruncis Yes, see the comment above: "although it appears as a simple accessory, it is the result of many rounds of experimentation and a highly selective components selection. Many technical challenges were solved by IK's engineers before we were able to reach the best possible solution in terms of sound quality and usability." Can't say the same for the one you mention.
@cruncis I got my GuitarConnect cable yesterday. Works wonderfully. Zero set up problems. sounded great and is just awesome. I spent about 2 hours playing with it. I used both Amplitube and the app that Griffin is promoting along side of the cable. Both work very well with it.
I don't see why iRig is so much more expensive than the GuitarConnect. It's the same type of product. And I could get a GuitarConnect so much faster since they were already available for shipping. Why pay more for a dongle when you have to supply your own cable to plug in. With GuitarConnect, you have the cable all in one product. I highly recommend GuitarConnect
@zeejaydee same type of product, but there is much more going on with iRig - it is not a simple connector/splitter there are components that do critical things like impedance matching and the quality of the signal will be that much better. However, nice to know the app sounds that good that it also pleases the ear with an inferior connector.
@zeejaydee i have the iRig & AmpliTube for my iPhone. and as great as the iRig is with the AmpliTube app, it's a bummer that it doesn't work with other apps. you saying that the guitarconnect works is totally gonna make me get one! i also like the fact that the headphone connector is at the guitar-end of the cable instead of being at the top of the iPhone.
@mongchacha ok, i know no one is gonna read this, but i feel like i gotta make it known somehow. the iRig really is the ideal accessory to use with amplitube. the GuitarConnect cable "works" but it doesn't sounds as clear. in fact, it sounds quite muddy. you can adjust the EQ settings on the amp but just know you'll have to make extreme changes and even then, it won't sound as good. that's all i gotta say!
iVomited because of how stupid the name is.
@sonicyoof iSee what you did there.