September 2010 \ Features \ Plugging Into the Palm of Your Hand: iPhone & iPod Guitar Interface Roundup

Plugging Into the Palm of Your Hand: iPhone & iPod Guitar Interface Roundup

Jordan Wagner

Peterson iStroboSoft Adapter Cable (with iStroboSoft), Griffin Technology GuitarConnect (with iShred), IK Multimedia iRig (with Amplitube), Sonoma Wireworks Guitar Jack (with FourTrack), Peavey AmpKit LINK (with AmpKit), and PRS Cables GuitarBud Cable
Premier Guitar September 2010
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Like a lot of guitarists, I hate recording. There’s never really any way to accurately predict just how smoothly the process will go. Sometimes, I can get that one great take in a matter of minutes, other times it can take hours to capture that elusive idea rattling around in my head. That being said, I’m also constantly trying to learn more about the process. Like most musicians, I’ve lugged around a cheap four-track tape machine to track ideas that might pop up while out on the road. You know what I’m talking about—those cumbersome, flimsy machines that frequently suffer from tape jamming, dead batteries, and dirty tape heads. Luckily, we live in a time where we no longer have to stand for this anymore. The introductions of Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch devices have not only revolutionized how the world communicates and listens to music, but how we can record it as well.

We gathered together guitar interfaces from some of the biggest names out there and tested them with each one’s corresponding apps. We are happy to report that there are finally safer, more portable ways to capture those moments of divine inspiration.

In this roundup:
Peterson iStroboSoft Adapter Cable (with iStroboSoft)
Griffin Technology GuitarConnect (with iShred)
IK Multimedia iRig (with Amplitube)
Sonoma Wireworks Guitar Jack (with FourTrack)
Peavey AmpKit LINK (with AmpKit)
PRS Cables GuitarBud Cable

Read on...

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Comments

 (18 comments) display by
UsernameComment
Bob
on 04/02/2012 		I bought an irig, lots of noise and issues. Bought Apogee Jam, haven't had a single problem yet. Am gigging with it and Ipad. Works great.
Sledgebeast
on 12/05/2011 		Most of these interfaces look like they are probably just a simple cable connection. Can't you use the various iphone apps mentioned with any of these interface's ?

For example couldn't I use the iRIG connection with the ampkit software?
Dave
on 01/20/2011 		I see 2 of the best User friendly interfaces were left off of the review. The RapcoHorizon IBLOX and RapcoHorizon i-JAM
Ben
on 10/06/2010 		p.s. according to Sonoma, Guitarjack does support Ampkit although you have to load up FourTrack to set your levels before exiting and loading up Ampkit.
Ben
on 10/06/2010 		I have had Amplink for two weeks and great fun. Good effects and clean tones; the distortion is decent with effects but not as good as my Blackstar Duel preamp. Best thing is the convenience of having lots of backing tracks loaded up at your fingertips. There is some hiss but I woudn't know if this is better than any options as haven't tried them. I am so taken with the neatness of the solution am looking to get Guitarjack now to eliminate the hiss. Then I may sell a couple of pedals to fund it. My Boss TU-3 can go for a start as the Polytune app does a great job!
ManUsmell
on 10/06/2010 		Great article. Well needed here. Think I'm gonna go with the AmpKit
Daniel
on 09/28/2010 		Actually what I read was that the Ampkit link sounded the best, and the sonoma was a more precise piece of gear. The problem with the Sonoma is that you have to use out board guitar modeling gear, like the stuff Line 6 or Boss offer. Considering that the guitar jack costs $199, why bother? You can buy the Boss digital mini 4 track (sorry but I can't remember the model number although its about the size of a ipod touch) used in nice shape for around that price. And that has guitar modeling and effects built into it. I own the Ampkit Link and the iRig, and the Ampkit sounds much better. Not to mention that you can record and send your recorded part to any email, or even to your facebook account. I also have Four Track, but I found out the hard way that its not compatible with either the Ampkit or the iRig.
Carlo
on 09/27/2010 		It seems that IK multimedia solved the issues with the Ipod Touch 4 gen
hlestringman
on 09/21/2010 		Does anyone know if there is a similar app for the Blackberry product line. Those of us in the business world would like to know since that is a corp.device many of us have. Thanks!
Carlo
on 09/10/2010 		Beware that the IRIG/Amplitube does not work on the new Ipod Touch 4 gen



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