Has anyone purchased a StompIO yet?

[sockofgold]

I'm curious. It says In Stock everywhere, and it is supposedly shipping. Has anyone actually purchased one yet? I ask mainly because I am interested in how well (or poorly) X-Gear works, especially concerning the long overdue MIDI control.

Personally, I think this thing is WAY overpriced. I don't know why they feel compelled to include all of the Amplitube editions. They should just let a buy choose one, and price it at $400-500, like Guitar Rig with the Rig Kontrol.

[manytone]

Bump

I am curious about users opinions of StompIO too.
Anybody actually got one yet?

Please let us know your thoughts.
It looks like it should be a pretty cool system.
I am considering it.
Paul

[A3ntar]

Bump

I am curious about users opinions of StompIO too.
Anybody actually got one yet?

Please let us know your thoughts.
It looks like it should be a pretty cool system.
I am considering it.
Paul

Paul, why not be the first one then and you give us your opinion?

What I heard from the NAMM videos was not impressive at all. But I learned with time not to base my judgment on a compressed video.

I don't think tone wise, it will be any worst than a professional USB 2.0 interface + good DI + the software. The pro interface will be more versatile than the StompIo, the stompIO will be more practical and compact as a setup for guitarists.

The real added value really comes from the portability of the setup for live and touring musicians. You have your audio interface (high quality presumably), preset switching, and added expression pedals, in a single unit. On the down side, last time I checked, the StompIO would not allow you though to control other software through MIDI. So it is like a dedicated control interface for IKMM products only. Hopefully this will change with time.

The software that comes with it is of a good value, not right now though were you get the IKMM deal going.

If you already own AT2, or ATJHE, you can always wait until IKMM promotion has ended and sell these licenses at a reasonable prices, and maybe you can recuperate 300$ or so of your investment on the stomp.

Maybe one solution is to have a bare naked StompIO that comes with a mimimum software (AT2 Live), and would cost around the 300~400$ mark. I know this would be impossible though at the moment because IKMM can toss all the software around but for actual hardware, they have more constraints on the pricing with that Italian made unit, which is as a minimum the BOM + Production costs. Unless they move production to China or something...

For now my TheBrick + Delta1010 is doing a great job for me at home running it through ATJHE (sounds incredibly sweet), and with the coming X-Gear, I can use my FCB1010 to control the stand-alone software. So I am fine....for now...

[manytone]

Yeah...Plenty of options you mention.

The FCB1010 Controller may be cool and inexpensive to control XGear and Amplitube but I don't think it will interface as smoothly as the actual StompIO will.

The thing is with the Group Buy that ESoundz has going right now, I picked up Amplitube2 and Jimmy Hendrix edition and XGear for $179.00.

Squids is offering an Upgrade to StompIO for the difference in price between the GB and the price in our ESoundz members area. (ie: we can apply the group buy payment to Stompio.) He also said that we would get Metal once it comes out for Free if we did this.

So that makes it pretty attractive for me as it won't be that much more than buying something like the FCB1010 and the Metal edition of Amplitube once it comes out.

As said... I am considering grabbing one but surely would like some opinions of actual owners.

I thought the various videos on it were pretty cool. They at least showed the full connectivity and control. I just don't think that is possible with a FCB1010 or any other controller though, well at least not all the features etc will be accessible.

Paul

[A3ntar]

He also said that we would get Metal once it comes out for Free if we did this.

Doesn't StompIO include Metal as well?

Here is the quote from their website "5 full software products are included in StompIO: AmpliTube 2, Ampeg SVX, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™, AmpliTube Metal (only for previously registered AmpliTube 2 users) and AmpliTube X-GEAR. Over $1,200/€990 worth of software alone - more than the retail price of StompIO!"

I wonder what that "only for previously registered AmpliTube 2 users" means though. If you register the Amplitube2 that comes with the stompIO before registering Metal. Will you be a "previously registered" user?

As said... I am considering grabbing one but surely would like some opinions of actual owners.

Then I would say, go for it Paul!

You seem to have already done your homework, and researched your use for the StompIO.

And if Squids apply the price of the GB towards the StompIO, that is even a craziest deal than I thought!

[sockofgold]

Yeah...Plenty of options you mention.

The FCB1010 Controller may be cool and inexpensive to control XGear and Amplitube but I don't think it will interface as smoothly as the actual StompIO will.

Paul

You know, we veer off topic here, but I have been using my FCB1010 with a combination of AT2, ATJHE, Guitar Rig, and Nick Crow's Simple Combo inside Usine Free with marvelous results. It's like an X-Gear to bring them all together! I definitely recommend giving it a try to anyone considering X-Gear, as I can't imagine X-Gear being more intuitive than Usine. You can also get full MIDI control of Amplitube through Usine, no need for X-Gear. The only thing you can't do directly is change presets, because that is done through hotkeys, so if you really want to, you can use Bomes to set that up as well.

[A3ntar]

Yeah...Plenty of options you mention.

The FCB1010 Controller may be cool and inexpensive to control XGear and Amplitube but I don't think it will interface as smoothly as the actual StompIO will.

Paul

You know, we veer off topic here, but I have been using my FCB1010 with a combination of AT2, ATJHE, Guitar Rig, and Nick Crow's Simple Combo inside Usine Free with marvelous results. It's like an X-Gear to bring them all together! I definitely recommend giving it a try to anyone considering X-Gear, as I can't imagine X-Gear being more intuitive than Usine. You can also get full MIDI control of Amplitube through Usine, no need for X-Gear. The only thing you can't do directly is change presets, because that is done through hotkeys, so if you really want to, you can use Bomes to set that up as well.

I took a look at Usine once, but found it un-necessarly complicated for VST live use. I use Console now and it does a decent job, and I can control AT2 and ATJHE. I also tried bidule, and it was pretty neat, but you couldn't even buy the software.

I will give Usine a second look see if they simplified the interface for live usage.

[sockofgold]

Yeah...Plenty of options you mention.

The FCB1010 Controller may be cool and inexpensive to control XGear and Amplitube but I don't think it will interface as smoothly as the actual StompIO will.

Paul

You know, we veer off topic here, but I have been using my FCB1010 with a combination of AT2, ATJHE, Guitar Rig, and Nick Crow's Simple Combo inside Usine Free with marvelous results. It's like an X-Gear to bring them all together! I definitely recommend giving it a try to anyone considering X-Gear, as I can't imagine X-Gear being more intuitive than Usine. You can also get full MIDI control of Amplitube through Usine, no need for X-Gear. The only thing you can't do directly is change presets, because that is done through hotkeys, so if you really want to, you can use Bomes to set that up as well.

I took a look at Usine once, but found it un-necessarly complicated for VST live use. I use Console now and it does a decent job, and I can control AT2 and ATJHE. I also tried bidule, and it was pretty neat, but you couldn't even buy the software.

I will give Usine a second look see if they simplified the interface for live usage.

The real power of Usine lies in getting you setup built once, then knowing it is forever ready to go from that point on. From the looks of it, Console is probably a little simpler, but Usine Free is... well, free. And for the use we're talking about, which is running guitar amps, the free version does not feel cut down at all.

[manytone]

Okay, I received my StompIO last week and have had a few good goes at it.

A few guys had pm'd me or asked in other threads for my thoughts on it, so here they are.

So far I am LOVING it!!
I do have a few issues with VST mode at the moment (I can't get proper gain in the VST mode. It is suppose to happen via the StompIO gain control but the gain control becomes useless in VST mode yet works 100% in Standalone) I am waiting to hear from IK on that though so we'll see soon "I Hope".

As for control... It is fantastic! ...different modes like 2 step (browse through presets) or Stomp Mode (Set up the 4 pedals to control stomps.)

The whole thing can actually be controlled by your feet, though there are also smaller buttons on it for hand use.
The menu's are pretty straight forward to get to and use once you get the hang of where things are. It can fully control everything without a mouse or screen but, I do however like to have the pedals or amps visible on my screen though.... It makes things a bit easier and nicer to see the actual pedals etc.

As you switch these via the StompIO's foot controls, your screen view on the PC changes to reflect. This means you can see your stomp boxes or amp or cab views on screen as you control it via foot. You just input that mode on the StompIO and that particular view is present on the computer screen. Nice!

4000 preset locations.
750 are used by A2 JH and Ampeg.
Metal will add a few hundred more I expect.
That leaves 3000 user preset locations you can set up however you wish. It is unreal the control and instant callup of your own patches (I am still experimenting with this) You can save right on the unit itself. I have been saving to computer through XGear at the moment ....till I sort my own arrangement of user banks.

I also get Metal free once released. Really looking forward to that.
They do not sell it at this point without all the software from what i see. I would think they would in the future as I am sure there are a lot of users who own most of the soft already.

Build quality .... Highly impressed so far. Very strong Metal, made in Italy.
It is nice ...my buddy guitar players are drooling on it too!

No regrets here yet at all in fact quite the opposite. I just hope I get the VST Gain issue sorted. Also the Asio drivers seem fast and solid in standalone mode but I am still questioning the full daw use of them. That said standalone is unreal ... I load my backing Drum and Bass tracks into speed trainer and Jam away! My buddy and I are going to use it for our live act. I am running the main outs from StompIO into a Mackie Mixer powering a Balanced Stereo PA Rig. Two Large 3 way PA Speakers complete the chain.
The Presets in Amplitube etc that are Stereo sound Incredible through this setup.

Patch switching seems seamless so far. Fast instant change of amps and pedals on the fly.

More details when I get to learn it a bit more.

So you know I grew up on, and owned some of these Tube amps and others, and a few of these real pedals. I then got into the Zoom and then into a Pod, but this new Rig is the Mother Truckload of all Rigs! I mean there is no comparing to real gear, as it all relates to the enjoyment you get out of what you use. I know I could "NEVER" achieve this level of sounds and "instant" recall of them with my old Hiwatt and Boss pedals and rack mounted knob gear. For me it is so far, the Dream Rig.

I still have been so lost in a few Presets that I have not even plugged my Bass in to try Ampeg SVX yet....ohhhhhrrrrr, I'll get there.

The knobs on the StompIO are set up to control your Gain, EQ controls and Volume. This is nice as it is like having the real amp controls there for you.

The Tuner on the Unit itself is Fantastic ...3 places to look at meters and cents.

One really cool thing is the fact that the StompIO has presets setup that use the Wah pedal in various other ways. Like controlling a filter pedals Freq control or controlling the Drive in a distortion, or a knob on a delay pedal.
This is neat stuff.

You can also stack 4 pedals on 1 switch from what I have read, so when you hit that footswitch 4 FX turn on or off.... still need to try that

Well there ya have it ...my early impressions of the StompIO.

Bit longer than I figured

sockofgold also has one, from what I heard, the guy got Lucky!
Paul

[misterg]

awesome review Paul

can this unit power from USB, or do you have to use wall wart?

I hope IK will offer a no software version down the line (or a pick your plug version... I could go for metal)

[A3ntar]

Thanks a lot Paul for the review. Much appreciated.

Would you say that beside the added flexibility, do you gain anything more audio quality wise and tone wise then using AT2 or ATJHE with through good quality audio interface?

[NTR]

Thanks a lot Paul for the review. Much appreciated.

Would you say that beside the added flexibility, do you gain anything more audio quality wise and tone wise then using AT2 or ATJHE with through good quality audio interface?

There's a good question. Are the convertors worth the price of admission?

Oh, and are there any bonus presets that come with Stompio? I'd love to know if they are any good?

[Sickle]

Money-wise, its a toss up for me between Stomp IO and a BOSS GT-Pro..

[sockofgold]

For those still interested, I have finally got around to playing with mine. Between moving, starting a new job, and DHL's general idiocy, it took almost a month for me to have time to use it. I have messed around with it for a while now, and while I would certainly need a lot more time to get into everything (this thing is crazily in-depth), I feel like I know what its pros and cons are.

A lot of what I would say has already been covered by Paul, so I will not go into those too much--namely: great, smooth patch changes, great control options (5 different modes), and my favorite: the fact that you can control EVERYTHING from the pedalboard. You could literally run Amplitube without even having your monitor on. Pretty much every little thing you could do in the program can be done from the pedal (using buttons for your hand, or you can even use the footswitches and control everything with your feet--it's kind of cool, kind of weird). If IK would add an option to launch X-Gear from the pedal, then you could really never think about your PC.

When you save patches (which are different and seperate from "presets"), it saves every little tiny StompIO setting and configuration in the file, so you could really get into some crazy stuff, and change your general configuration around quickly. Very nice.

Manual: excellent! There are so many options in this thing. You would never find your way around without a clear, in-depth manual, and it has one. One of the best, easiest to read manuals I have ever seen. Thank you for that, IK!

All in all, it is really a very nice product. I don't think I would recommend it for use a general DAW interface, though; it seems a lot less flexible than my NI Audio Kontrol 1. But for guitar, it is fine.

What I don't like: the expression that is included. It is stiff and rough, and very 'digital' in the literal sense of the word: it doesn't move in a smooth motion. It moves more like it is being rotated by large gears, and you can feel each one clicking into place as it turns. Very unpleasant, and for me, unusable as a wah. I guess it would be okay for volume, but it just doesn't feel like a real wah pedal. I am disappointed, and I can't believe they are selling these for something like $80 on their website. You would be better off getting a $30 Behringer expression pedal.

It has MIDI I/O, but it will not send MIDI through USB. Therefore, you cannot use the switches and controls unless you run an actual MIDI line. I have not tried it, because I really have no need to, but it is worth noting. Used with other programs, the Stomp IO essentially becomes the largest 2-channel interface ever conceived, because it really doesn't offer any benefits--all those potential controls, and they won't send messages via USB (unless I have missed something. Like I said, I haven't toyed with it much, but the USB device does not show up at all under MIDI devices).

Also, I don't like the fact that you have to register and authorize the Stomp itself, just like it is a piece of IK software. Just like their programs, you can only authorize it on 5 PC's. Isn't the point of authorizations so that you don't spread your software to all your friends? It seems rather pointless to have to do the same with hardware. You can't exactly distribute copies of it, now can you?

I don't want to give the wrong impression here, though. I pretty much agree with all the great things Paul said, and simply see no point in reiterating them. Instead, I am pointing out what I find to be flawed. This is, afterall, a major investment we're talking about, and I feel anyone interested should know as much as possible.

Overall: worth $900? I don't think so, and here is why: when it comes down to it, the total price is $900 PLUS the cost of the PC required to run it. For no more than $500, you could buy a POD XT or a Tonelab LE and be done with it. Simple as that. Fewer devices to carry around, less money invested, etc. That's my take on it, but come one... $900 for a guitar interface is a MAJOR investment.

Well, that's it. If you read all of this, it's time to stop being so lazy and get back to work. Thanks again to esoundz for hooking me up with this. I really do appreciate it and love it. It is a really great product, perhaps just a little overpriced. Feedback and/or questions are welcome.

[festernaecus]

Well, I wish I could be as rosey as you guys about the StompIO... but I just got one, and so far it's an $800 doorstop.

Constant clicks, pops, farts, and frequent total loss of audio signal requiring restarts which may or may not have any palliative results. Nothing about this thing is 'seamless' as far as my experience goes. And you better believe I've tested it with the settings configured to minimize CPU usage. I've maxed out buffers, set sample rates at minimum, disabled oversampling. None of this is the least bit helpful. I'm using a powerbook G4 (1.5ghz) with 1.5g RAM, well over IK's posited requirements. Anyway, my problems don't appear to have anything to do with processor usage. They recur even with the CPU meter below 20%.

But these problems I expect with a newly-released piece of gear.

The real sticking point is that the process of getting any support has been... well, frustrating. The support number, until yesterday, was a voice mailbox that would accept no new messages. Yesterday it turned into a recorded voice that told me to use the website. "Most questions are answered instantaneously by our online FAQ's", it chirped.

There is no online FAQ for the StompIO.

Ten days ago I filled out the online tech support form. I included a paragraph of detailed description. Received a one-line answer asking questions I thought had been answered in my support request. Since then I have sent two further small essays detailing this incorrigible little widget's shortcomings -- including lists, play-by-play re-enactments of various crashes, etc. No responses have exceeded two sentences; thesetend to be rather slow in coming. Most recently they suggested that I download the upgraded software. Well, that was a bit of a time-waster. The bugs addressed in the upgrade have not even a tangential relationship to the issues I'm having, as is made clear in the release notes.

If I could get even get IK to tell me "yeah, it's your computer; build a new one" I would be satisfied. I'd gladly throw a couple hundred dollars at NewEgg.com to get this thing to work the way it's supposed to. But no. The most I've managed to get is a non-committal "your specs look OK". As you can tell I'm upset. I shelled out a pretty penny for this shiny new abortion, and the support seems pretty lax. I should have known when it was delayed for three years that the StompIO would turn out a boondoggle. Stupid optimistic me. I'd love for IK's support staff to miraculously step in on Monday and prove me wrong, but really, how likely is that? I'm at the point of just asking for my money back, which I now fear will be a six-month process. Glad you guys have had better luck than me.

Fester

edited for excessive negativity. sorry.