amplitube2 & stomp i/o - in place of dongle?

[woodie]

hey squids...just curious - since you guys are coming out with Stomp I/O for Amplitube2 and since it works off the USB port and *IF* IK is going to stick with the "dongled solution" = WILL the Stomp I/O replace the USB dongle?

If so...I may be interested as you well know now...I'm not a fan of dongles (like lots of other people here), but I MAY consider Amplitube + Stomp I/O...if Stomp I/O will be used as the dongle itself. As least it will be a useful piece of gear, unlike a USB dongle.

Since our discussion a couple of days back on the new Line6 GearBox, I haven't looked deeper into it, but a bit bummed on a couple of things beer brought up. My gut tells me Amplitube, but unfortunately I won't be able to sleep at night knowing I had to rely on a dongle (too many bad experiences with USB Flash drives).

I'll say it again....IK should be very grateful you are here supporting their products like you do, squids.

So hey...is that you in the Stomp I/O video!??

[Squids]

I can confirm that the AmpliTube 2 stand alone that comes with Stomp IO does not require an additional dongle. It will run just with the Stomp IO itself.

That could be me in the video. I tend to be asked to do those things even though it isn't really my job (I am not a product specialist, I am a sound developer!.... I am not an animal hehe). I don't mind though. It's fun. You can tell I am genuinely excited about a product such as this. 6 expression pedal inputs!!!!

[bduffy]

6 expression pedals?!? Not to be closed-minded, but why would you need six expression pedals???

[woodie]

I can confirm that the AmpliTube 2 stand alone that comes with Stomp IO does not require an additional dongle. It will run just with the Stomp IO itself.

That could be me in the video. I tend to be asked to do those things even though it isn't really my job (I am not a product specialist, I am a sound developer!.... I am not an animal hehe). I don't mind though. It's fun. You can tell I am genuinely excited about a product such as this. 6 expression pedal inputs!!!!

OK, wait a minute....I really have no use for Amplitube as a Stand-Alone, so you're saying that for using it in a Host, such as Ableton Live (which I use) - I need a dongle, even if I have Stomp I/O?

hmmm...6 expression pedals, eh. are you sure?? Without going back to look at the site...there were definitely 6 click-type foot-switches, but surely not 6 pedals!

[Squids]

6 expression pedals?!? Not to be closed-minded, but why would you need six expression pedals???

One of the things I've always loved about certain vintage stomp boxes is when they had CV inputs for expression pedals. The Mutron Bi-Phase, the ADA Flanger etc. Usually you could only control one thing like the LFO rate of the effect (which is cool enough). Sometimes you could control other things too or mod the pedal to do more.

Well, with the combination of Stomp IO's 6 expression pedal inputs and the ability to route the controllers to any knob in the software you can have a virtual CV pedal reality that is like the ultimate modified vintage hardware set up (not to mention some people would have trouble modifying their vintage gear and ruining it's collector's value).

So, this means you could have one pedal doing a wah, another pedal doing a volume, a third pedal doing say the lfo rate of a phaser, another doing the depth of that phaser or a chorus, another one increasing the drive on a fuzz box, another one clamping down a filter cutoff... basically you can do some cool live tweaking with your feet and since guitarists and keyboardists are usually using both their hands, the foot controller seems to be the long lost performance element in my opinion!

You can also set those up to be foot switches as well to turn things on or off or do fancy set ups. I believe you can also use the expression pedals as macro controllers sending to multiple things at once so you could turn up the rate AND the depth and the drive all at the same time.

Bottom line? It's freakin' COOOOOOL!

[Squids]

I can confirm that the AmpliTube 2 stand alone that comes with Stomp IO does not require an additional dongle. It will run just with the Stomp IO itself.

That could be me in the video. I tend to be asked to do those things even though it isn't really my job (I am not a product specialist, I am a sound developer!.... I am not an animal hehe). I don't mind though. It's fun. You can tell I am genuinely excited about a product such as this. 6 expression pedal inputs!!!!

OK, wait a minute....I really have no use for Amplitube as a Stand-Alone, so you're saying that for using it in a Host, such as Ableton Live (which I use) - I need a dongle, even if I have Stomp I/O?

hmmm...6 expression pedals, eh. are you sure?? Without going back to look at the site...there were definitely 6 click-type foot-switches, but surely not 6 pedals!

Yes I am sure. It's switch or expression.

You can use the Stomp IO's AmpliTube 2 as a plug-in within Abelton Live without the need for a separate dongle.

[woodie]

Yes I am sure. It's switch or expression.

You can use the Stomp IO's AmpliTube 2 as a plug-in within Abelton Live without the need for a separate dongle.

well alright, squids!....now that's starting to sound like music to my ears!

SO...ok, this brings a couple of questions:

1) so with Stomp I/O there's no need for a separate USB dongle, BUT! I ASSUME the Stomp I/O will act like a dongle, eh? In other words...it needs to be connected to Amplitube2 in order for it to run? (say for example, in Ableton Live)

2) If yes to #1, is the mechanism for the "dongle" part of Stomp I/O based on what iLok, Synchrosoft, Pace or in-house technology?

3) when is Stomp I/O going to be available? any idea on the street price?

4) is there a patch-sharing community for Amplitube? That's probably the biggest thing going for Line6 (from what I gather) - is the patch sharing.

5) does IK have its own support forum or are you the "unofficial" support dude?

6) will Amplitube have "expansion" sets...kinda like what Line6 does? In other words...say they come out with more amps/cabs or whatever....will they offer expansion sets as add-ons for the basic package?

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. thanks again, squids...

[bduffy]

6 expression pedals?!? Not to be closed-minded, but why would you need six expression pedals???

One of the things I've always loved about certain vintage stomp boxes is when they had CV inputs for expression pedals. The Mutron Bi-Phase, the ADA Flanger etc. Usually you could only control one thing like the LFO rate of the effect (which is cool enough). Sometimes you could control other things too or mod the pedal to do more.

Well, with the combination of Stomp IO's 6 expression pedal inputs and the ability to route the controllers to any knob in the software you can have a virtual CV pedal reality that is like the ultimate modified vintage hardware set up (not to mention some people would have trouble modifying their vintage gear and ruining it's collector's value).

So, this means you could have one pedal doing a wah, another pedal doing a volume, a third pedal doing say the lfo rate of a phaser, another doing the depth of that phaser or a chorus, another one increasing the drive on a fuzz box, another one clamping down a filter cutoff... basically you can do some cool live tweaking with your feet and since guitarists and keyboardists are usually using both their hands, the foot controller seems to be the long lost performance element in my opinion!

You can also set those up to be foot switches as well to turn things on or off or do fancy set ups. I believe you can also use the expression pedals as macro controllers sending to multiple things at once so you could turn up the rate AND the depth and the drive all at the same time.

Bottom line? It's freakin' COOOOOOL!

Wow! Yeah, well, that's wild! That's way too "Eric Johnson" for me, I could maybe do with 2: Wah and volume, but talk about extensibility! I've become really impressed with IK over the last couple years; if I am going to buy an amp sim, this is definitely what I'd get.

Do you know how much Amplitude 2 will cost with the Stomp I/O?

[Squids]

SO...ok, this brings a couple of questions:

1) so with Stomp I/O there's no need for a separate USB dongle, BUT! I ASSUME the Stomp I/O will act like a dongle, eh? In other words...it needs to be connected to Amplitube2 in order for it to run? (say for example, in Ableton Live)


Not entirely sure on this because I don't have one yet. Want one!

2) If yes to #1, is the mechanism for the "dongle" part of Stomp I/O based on what iLok, Synchrosoft, Pace or in-house technology?

I don't think any of those. All I know is that Stomp IO is designed to control nearly every aspect (if not EVERY) of AmpliTube 2 and the specialized stand alone version which is quite advanced for live playing, controlling and preset management.

3) when is Stomp I/O going to be available? any idea on the street price?

I could only guess. Stealth Plug is coming out around now though. I have one and it is really a lot of fun. I have it with me right now while I am traveling and it is the ideal portable guitar input (I've been writing a lot on guitar lately). But, I am not sure on Stomp IO. Not this month I know that. Maybe a little more time. I guess once I have one then you know it is soon. You can go by that. I don't have one yet. But I can't wait personally (even for keyboards as a foot controller to be honest).

4) is there a patch-sharing community for Amplitube? That's probably the biggest thing going for Line6 (from what I gather) - is the patch sharing.

We're going to do something on www.esoundz.com and I think there will be something on AmpliTube.com as well. I am considering being a moderator on an IK forum on the IK site if that happens as well... lots of things going on.

5) does IK have its own support forum or are you the "unofficial" support dude?

I am not a support dude, I am the owner of the sound company that IK works with called Sonic Reality. However I like to hang with the musicians that use our stuff to help and to learn.

6) will Amplitube have "expansion" sets...kinda like what Line6 does? In other words...say they come out with more amps/cabs or whatever....will they offer expansion sets as add-ons for the basic package?

Don't know.

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. thanks again, squids...

Sure. No probs.

[woodie]

..that sounds ace, squids. be sure to drop us a line when you get it in and had a chance to give it a go. sounds like it's right up my alley and watching the video again and looking at the I/O's specs - it really does look the beez-kneez. the cool thing about something like Amplitube as well....is the ability to use it as an effects box on anything.

anyway...i've just been scoping the IK site and thinking about giving T-Racks a go as I didn't realize it's actually 4 separate plugins in addition to a one-stop shop (I just assumed it was a mastering plugin) + listening to the audio demo on your site. CSR looks yummy as well, but...argh!...I won't say it.

thanks again, squids, for being so responsive.

btw - did I miss something here....IK has a forum??