New Gizmo--AmpliTube for iPhone

[Doctor Jeff]

I have a goal to be able to do as much as humanly possible with my iPhone, short of brain surgery. So I was pretty excited to try out the new AmpliTube software app that allows you to simulate amp, record, and send output to headphones or speakers.

There is a free version available as an app, but I went ahead and sprung $20 for the full version plus $10 for the 4-track recorder. Then you need a way to plug in your guitar. You can use the internal or external mic, or get something like the iRig, also made by IK Multimedia (http://www.ikmultimedia.com/irig/features/). It's $39 and comes with a 1/8" plug and a jack for a headphone or speaker. All in all I think the price is a little steep--should include a full version of AmpliTube with the hardward IMO--but then you'd pay about this much for a cheap stompbox anyway.

On first look it works pretty well. It has 5 or so amp versions, plus 11 stompbox effects, plus a simple 4-track recorder w/ effects like reverb, equalizer, compressor. You can create and save tracks, merge 4 tracks into 1, add vocals, etc.

My concerns so far are that it's a fairly sizeable, power-intensive program, so you need at least a 3GS or better with a fair amount of extra space (so I've read), also the input device is a little awkward hanging from the phone. It's tricky to work the program on an iPhone with the small screen--I imagine it would be much better on the iPad--but it's not too difficult.

My brief experience with the sounds it produces is favorable. The amps and boxes tend toward exotic flangy and distorted effects (like most modeling amps) , but you can get a clean jazzy sound as well. So far I have not noticed latency to be a big problem.

I don't know if it will make you give up your Polytone or work as a reliable replacement for a gigging amp, but I foresee the day when a guy will go to a gig with his guitar and an iPhone or iPad and plug it directly into a soundsystem. For now it seems like a good substitute for an amp for practice or travel and a tool for making simple recordings.

[mangotango]

Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff

.....I foresee the day when a guy will go to a gig with his guitar and an iPhone or iPad and plug it directly into a soundsystem......

Doesn't McLaughlin do this already, with a Mac?

John McLaughlin - Official Website v3

[NSJ]

Jeff,
I have this on my phone and my ipad. What sucks also is that they make you pay TWICE, once for each device. Plus the cable is kinda expensive. I think the 8 track recorder pretty neat--records audio too, not just from the guitar cable.

I tend to use this for practice, when I 'm not in the house, and take my guitar with me. Seriously have NO USE for MOST of those pedals (distortion? I think not )

There is an amplitude thread (large one, too) on the GearPage boards. People generally complained about the lack of gain, but it's find for my purposes (headphones, practicing).

You may also be interested in iRealBook for the iphone--has backing tracks (piano/bass/drums) for each tune, and you can over-ride the given changes. Sort of like a mini-band-in-a-box, kind of way. That is a very cool app for blowing on standards.

[Doctor Jeff]

McLaughlin would use a Mac, wouldn't he? He uses Amplitube 2 software on his Macbook Pro. Not quite an iPhone, but quite a departure from the traditional setup.

I agree the iRig cable is expensive. Any iPhone input will do, and there are cheaper cables around ($20 or so).

The only effect I usually use is reverb, but occasionally I play around with delay and chorus and pretend I'm Pat Metheny (LOL).

The Realbook is on my list of apps I want to get. I have been addicted to the paper version for 25 years.

There's another good iPhone recording program called Four Track that is very similar to Amplitube minus the guitar amps and effects (http://www.sonomawireworks.com/iphone/fourtrack/). It has the advantage of being quite cheap ($10). I use a Blue Mikey iPhone mic for recording.

[Mojojojo]

NSJ, you should see about getting a refund cause from all the things I read, including the IK Multimedia forums (just launched within the past few weeks) you should only have to buy the app once regardless of whether its on iPad or iPhone.

I also have iRealbook and love it. What I don't like is I can't use iRealbook and Amplitube at the same time. Regardless, I love both apps individually!

[mangotango]

Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff

McLaughlin would use a Mac, wouldn't he? He uses Amplitube 2 software on his Macbook Pro.

I guess that he's probably use a Mc.

Except that I would have thought of a McBook as something in which you write down how many burgers you sold today.............