griffin

StudioConnect with Lightning is Griffinā€™s popular all-in-one audio interface for music creation on the iPad, now compatible with the new fourth generation iPad and iPad mini.

Nashville, TN (July 10, 2013) ā€” Griffin Technology, one of the world's foremost creators of accessories for home, mobile and personal technology, is increasing its presence in the music products industry with the introduction of several new accessories for Apple iOS at Summer NAMM 2013.

These new productsā€”StudioConnect with Lightning, GuitarConnect Pro, GuitarConnect Cable and MicConnectā€”will inspire a new breed of musician that wants to practice, record and perform his or her music anywhere, using the power of an Apple iPad, iPod or iPhone.

Read MoreShow less

Griffin GuitarConnect Pro, Line 6 Mobile In, RapcoHorizon i-JAM 3-n-1, Tascam iXZ, Traveler Guitar MI-10, Griffin StompBox, IK Multimedia iRig STOMP, Blue Mikey Digital, and Tascam iM2X

One of the benefits of using recording interfaces and apps for iPhone and iPad is that they allow you to quickly lay down an melody or riff at a moment's notice without having to fumble around with setting up an entire recording rig. For most musicians the best musical ideas often pop into your head without warning, and losing that inspiration after 10 minutes of amp tweaking and mic placement can be extremely frustrating. And the absence of those hassles makes iOS guitar accessories attractive and useful for players who spend a lot of time on the road and away from their home studios.

We've taken a look at some of the most exciting new devices on the marketā€”including interfaces (Griffin GuitarConnect Pro, Line 6 Mobile In, RapcoHorizon i-JAM 3-n-1, Tascam iXZ, Traveler MI-10), controllers (IK Multimedia iRig STOMP, Griffin StompBox) and microphones (Blue Mikey Digital, Tascam iM2X)ā€”and tested their durability, sound quality, and whether they're really worth your hard-earned dollars.

Ratings

Pros:
Rugged build quality. Simple operation. Low latency, click-free recording.

Cons:
Pricey. Canā€™t charge the iPad and use the interface simultaneously.

Tones:

Ease of Use:

Build:

Value:

Street:
$79.99

Griffin Technology
griffintechnology.com

Griffin GuitarConnect Pro Analog to Digital Interface
Griffin has been a player in the electronics accessories business for a long timeā€”even when the iPhoneā€™s ancestor Newton PDA was still kicking around. So they know a thing or two about designing rugged accessories for portable devices. The GuitarConnect Pro showcases their eye for detail with a slender, weighty and rubber-footed enclosure, single Ā¼" input jack, input gain knob and 30-pin connector for low-latency digital tracking (as of press time, Griffin has not announced a Lightning jack-compatible version). The connection to the dock gives the interface the ability to help track 24-bit sound at 48 kHz, and pull power from the connected Apple device. Sadly, thereā€™s no USB through-put jack to charge the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch being used, so youā€™ll need to keep an eye on the deviceā€™s battery level while youā€™re recording.

As far as simple iOS interfaces go, the Guitar Connect Pro is one of the best on the market. It tracks the instrumentā€™s signal perfectly, and its weighty build and thick rubber pad keep it from sliding across the table. I experienced no latency issues when tracking with GarageBand, and the appā€™s built-in modeling seemed to have extra sparkle and clarity with the interface than with most of the others in this roundup. Unfortunately, my iPad 2ā€™s battery started to die while I was in the middle of a recording session, and I had to disconnect the cable to charge the tablet. A USB-through jack for simultaneous charging on the Guitar Connect Pro would have prevented that inspiration-killing moment.

Read MoreShow less