AmpKit LiNK is difficult to type on account of its varied capitalisation, but it’s so simple to use. Here’s the basic process.
- ensure your battery is in place (I’ll mention how cool the battery feature is later)
- plug in your guitar
- plug in your headphones/speakers
- insert interface into iOS device
- rock!
AmpKit LiNK by Peavey and Agile Partners is one of my favourite guitar/iPhone guitar interfaces. It seriously packs a punch that finds me pushing the boundaries in regards to output levels of the amps and effects I’m using in every amplifier emulator I own. I love that about it. Let me show you exactly what there is to love through the power of black and white imagery.
AmpKit LiNK plugs into your iOS device’s headphone socket and allows you to plug your guitar into it using the 1/4″ connection (seen on the right in the image below). You can also plug in your headphones or other audio outlet option using the 1/8″ connection seen in the white box of power seen in the images below.
So far AmpKit LiNK seems to be not too dissimilar to other interfaces that plug into the headphone socket. One difference however is AmpKit LiNK’s battery power pack. This powered pack eliminates the majority of unwanted feedback you may otherwise experience. Personally this has allowed me to push the envelope in regards to my metal tones. Probably too far.
This is seriously cool though. You may recall that I did mention it was cool in my introduction.
So what else is required to get the most out of your AmpKit LiNK experience? I recommend an iOS device. I choose to use the iPhone 3GS (because it’s all I have).
You’ll also require a guitar cable with standard 1/4″ ends. I’ve included a photograph of one I had neatly rolled up on the floor.
Normally I plug my guitar cable into an electric guitar. Just before I did that tonight I took a photograph of my guitar so I could use it in this very article. That would be it further below.
The final component would be the headphones. You could plug your iOS device into speakers or some other sound output device, but I’m a very average guitar player. Headphones are best for everybody when I’ve got the metal settings going full bore.
With all the components together, what does AmpKit LiNK look like all connected? The group image below hopefully helps with that.
As you can see (below), the interface sits neatly next to the iPhone and allows you to have your headphone connection close to your guitar connection. The interface also works in other locations (which is handy because I don’t always play guitar on a carpeted floor).
As with the other reviews, I have plugged AmpKit LiNK into all of the guitar based apps I have at my disposal. And just like GuitarConnect Cable and JamUp Plug, AmpKit LiNK connects to everything except the Mobile POD app (for the same reasons mentioned in those reviews—my device and that app). View the results in the pretty spreadsheet of data below.
The results are also available as a PDF complete with links to all of the apps mentioned (click their icons).
The final thing to write about for this interface is of course how it sounds when you’re playing and when recording. AmpKit LiNK is seriously awesome in this department. It may be on account of the battery feature I mentioned briefly before … it may just be because it’s an outstanding interface. Did I mention the cool factor the battery adds to this interface?
Whatever the reason, I love playing the guitar into this device and into my headphones.
For your listening pleasure—I use the term loosely—I am sharing this track recorded using four tracks of guitar in AmpKit recorded using AmpKit LiNK. One track is recorded using a preset that was kindly shared with me to create a bass sound and the other three guitars are recorded using a metal preset of my own.
Just remember, the review is about AmpKit LiNK. The quality of the sound is theirs. The (poor) quality of the playing is mine. Blame the player.