iPhone amplifier emulator summary

I have finished all of the articles I set out to write in regards to the amplifier emulators for iPhone that I was aware of. I’ve since written a few unplanned reviews on the interfaces I used throughout the article writing journey. However the Blogging process feels incomplete. There’s something missing that would allow me to look back on the past two months with a great sense of achievement. That something … is a comparison chart.

After reviewing all of the amplifier emulators on my iPhone I had developed my own sense of “which apps are the best?” What I hadn’t done though was produce anything to back it all up. What if someone was to ask me which app was the best? How could I provide a response that didn’t just come across as some kind of biased opinion? What proof did I have other than the incredible articles I’d put together?

I had nothing. … iPhone amplifier emulator summary

Guitar Gear iOS Reviews

Review: AmpKit LiNK

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!

… Review: AmpKit LiNK

Guitar Gear iOS Reviews

Review: GuitarConnect Cable

GuitarConnect Cable by Griffin was the first guitar interface I purchased for my iPhone. I found it on eBay and noticed in the product description that it worked with iShred LIVE. That was convenient for me as I had already heard of that amplifier emulator and was interested in trying it out. It was almost like destiny—the predetermined fate kind, not the funky Jacksons album from 1978 kind.

I’ll be honest and state that when I first saw it I thought it couldn’t actually work. All the other interfaces I’d seen were little boxes that you plugged your standard guitar cable into. This just looks like your average guitar cable with connections (style and quantity) that don’t initially make sense. But once I’d purchased the cable, I saw immediate advantages to this system. I also saw that it clearly worked well. … Review: GuitarConnect Cable

Guitar Gear iOS Reviews

Review: GuitarJack

Another interface I used for the testing of guitar emulators in my recent test of 11 iPhone guitar emulators was GuitarJack by Sonoma Wire Works. I was doing my testing using the GuitarJack Model 1 for the following reasons:

It was on sale when I purchased it (reduced to $49.00 USD)
It connects to my iPhone 3GS
I wanted it.

From what I’ve seen and read, GuitarJack Model 2 is way cooler (as are the iPhone 4GS and the iPad). But I can’t write about that other than to say “I want all of those things!”

But let’s learn more about my experiences with GuitarJack Model 1 and the 11 apps I tested it with. … Review: GuitarJack

Guitar Gear iOS Reviews

Review: JamUp Plug

Now that I’ve completed my articles on the amplifier emulators I have access to on my iPhone, I thought I’d write some articles on the interfaces that make it possible to connect your guitar to your iPhone. When I first started the review process I was aware of four interfaces. That soon changed to seven. I believe I am now aware of nine. The most recent interface I’ve managed to add to my collection is the JamUp Plug by Positive Grid. It’s one of the easiest interfaces to use and it’s quickly becoming one of my favourites.

Let me show you why. … Review: JamUp Plug

Guitar Gear iOS

AmpKit for iPhone

AmpKit for iPhone is the last app in my lengthy guitar playing/recording on the iPhone review journey. Strangely enough, it’s one of the apps I first downloaded when I discovered that guitar playing and the iPhone worked so well together. So my journey has almost come full circle. And I’m glad I complete the journey here. AmpKit is one of my favourites in this field.

I should point out (and therefore I will) that AmpKit comes in a free version and the fully loaded AmpKit+ (for $19.99 USD). I have the free version that I’ve enhanced with all the in-app purchases I’ve made over time to get the sounds I’m searching for. … AmpKit for iPhone

Guitar Gear iOS

Amplitube for iPhone

AmpliTube for iPhone is one of the most complete amplifier emulator packages on the market. It’s also one of the packages out there with a great number of variations for you to choose from. There is AmpliTube FREE, AmpliTube LE and the full version of AmpliTube. There are also free and full versions of AmpliTube Fender. If you start with the free version and decide you like what you’ve got, you should decide at that point if you’re likely to want to purchase in-app or if you’re better off upgrading to LE or the full version. Whatever you do, stick with one. In-app purchases don’t transfer between apps. This isn’t a fault of AmpliTube, it’s just the iOS app way.

Me? I ended up going with AmpliTube LE. Then I bought big. Let’s see what you can end up with … using my usual black and white imagery (below). … Amplitube for iPhone

Guitar Gear iOS

Amps & Cabs for iPhone

Some of the amplifier emulators you can get for your iPhone are complicated beasts (with their ability to switch pedals/effects, record yourself with their built-in recording tools or similar fancy features). This is not one of those apps. Amps & Cabs (by Ground Up Audio) is an app that gives you exactly what the name implies—amplifiers and cabinets. Then you play to your heart’s content.

Simple. And with some decent sound quality thrown in. Let’s look at it in my favourite colour styling … none! … Amps & Cabs for iPhone

Guitar Gear iOS

GarageBand for iPhone

GarageBand for iPhone is quite the beast. It’s not a simple guitar amplifier emulator, as it also has built in instruments you can play (and record) such as drums and keyboard. There are also smart instruments that you can utilise. But I’m not here to cover any of that. I’m here to tell you that you can plug your guitar into your iPhone (using GuitarConnect Cable, Ampkit Link or GuitarJack) and play ‘amplified’ guitar. Luckily you can also record your guitar playing in a multi-track recorder.

GarageBand is one complete package. … GarageBand for iPhone

Guitar Gear iOS

Guitar Amp for iPhone

Guitar Amp by StudioDevil and Quixonic is a very simple guitar amplifier emulator with limited effect options. My black and white images are not going to do the app’s red, yellow and green indicator lights any justice, but the Delay Box will be close to reality as it’s a sexy brushed metal pedal anyway.

What I can tell you straight away is that this little app works well with AmpKit Link, GuitarConnect Cable and GuitarJack. We’re off to a good start. … Guitar Amp for iPhone