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
(2 of 7)


Peterson iStroboSoft Adapter Cable (with iStroboSoft)
The Peterson iStroboSoft interface cable is probably the simplest of the six interfaces that PG received. The unit consists of a sturdy, single ¼” input, with a small cable protruding out that plugged into the iPhone’s headphone jack. It’s primarily designed to work with the company’s $9.99 iStroboSoft tuning app, which also works with the iPhone’s internal mic. For those with an iPod Touch, Peterson also offers a small, pill-sized external mic that plugs into the device’s headphone jack. Using a 1997 Fender Jazzmaster, the iStroboSoft software’s tuning accuracy improved greatly with the adapter cable. With a 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom with hot Tom Anderson pickups, the software program’s level meter clipped a few times, which signaled to me that the interface has a difficult time handling hotter input signals. The tuning accuracy wasn’t affected however, and the iStroboSoft program still showed that it’s one of the best iPhone guitar tuning programs available.

Knowing that customers might attempt to use the Peterson interface for other guitar-related apps from Apple’s App Store, I decided to fire up Sonoma’s FourTrack interface with the unit. The adapter cable doesn’t have a jack for headphones, so it was impossible to monitor the sound coming from my guitar. I could see the level for the track that I enabled for recording, and that was the only indication that my guitar signal was coming through. The iStroboSoft adapter cable is a quick, inexpensive way to directly plug into Apple’s phone, but could definitely benefit by adding a headphone jack that would allow the player to use it with more than just Peterson’s tuning app.

MSRP: $12.99
petersontuners.com

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

« Previous    1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7    Next »

Related Articles

The Amplifier Wars
FU-Tone.com High Performance Titanium and Brass Bridge Package Reviews
Catalinbread Galileo Pedal Review
Fretboard Implant
GALLERY: Summer NAMM 2011 - Day 3 Editors' Picks


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



Your Comment:  

All comments are subject to editing or deletion by the Premier Guitar staff.

Your Name:  


Please enter the text you see in the image:  
10

11A464EA-C204-4C18-95F7-B16AA875BEFA