KVR Audio

michael2 · Post by **michael2** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:51 pm

sorry if I am rehashing an old thread topic. did a search and found some angry/negative threads, thought I'd just make a new one (and hope that people would stick to the positve/constructive).

I want to buy an amp sim that I can use on my iphone or ipad; thinking the phone might be better as it takes up less room while I'm sitting on the couch. I want to be able to get some decent sounds (something like a fender with access to effects), nothing heavy metal sounding. would be great if I could record my ideas to a click track and export them. I won't be using it live, I just thought if I got an iphone/ipad amp sim I might actually pick up a guitar every once in awhile. could be good for songwriting. I have been playing guitar forever, so I would want it to sound decent.

i was thinking amplitube, but I hear that the iRig is noisy and makes the amps sound compromised. maybe the few people I talked to are being overly critical? any other ideas, amps/hardware that you love, food for thought? thanks for your input.

edit: I have garageband on my phone and my ipad if there is a way to do that. seems like that would just require a cable.

Dewaine · Post by **Dewaine** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 9:56 pm

I use the Apogee Jam interface, and it works great with the IK Media stuff, and Jam Up Pro. The Apogee Jam interface cost more, but you can also use it with your desktop/laptop and many say it is better all around. I can't really say because it is the only one I have and so have nothing to compare it to, but it does work great.

I like both Jam Up Pro, and Slash from IK Media. IMHO the IK Media stuff is a bit more polished in it's interface, has more presets, and has an excellent tuner. But both Jam Up Pro and the IK stuff sound great, and are a blast. I use my iPad because for some reason it just works better than my iPhone 4. I think that is just me though, because other have said there is no difference.

Most of the negative stuff you see is because both companies spam the forum with their sales pitches. I just ignore it all and throw my money at them because regardless of what they do, they both have great products.

Anyway, IMHO get ether one, it's all good...... and fun!

ObiWonder · Post by **ObiWonder** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 10:39 pm

Why not try out AmpliTube FREE or AmpliTube Fender FREE to compare with the competition? We have recently updated them as well to have a ton more features including Core Audio so you can use any audio interface with them.

If you have any questions just let us know, we're here to help. Best of luck in the never ending quest for tone!

Derek Buddemeyer · Post by **Derek Buddemeyer** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 11:24 pm

Oh man....I really tried to resist on this one! Hahaha! I just had to bite. How can I do this without starting world war 3.....ahh, ok here goes: everyone has different preferences in tone, gear, and playing styles. The one thing that I can recommend and hope you take into consideration is the interface...I use the Apogee JAM. Clear audio and a simple but effective way to monitor and control input gain. Now the apps...anyone who knows me on a personal level, knows my gear and how I operate...but this is not about that. 3 major players in the game right now...Ampkit, Amplitube, and JamUp (not listed in any particular order). Each app has a free version...so why not try them all! I prefer to use the iPad...I have more processing power and a bigger interface to work with. Regardless of which app you choose...the interface is key!!! I will say one more thing...these are the only apps to be even remotely considered for anything more than just a toy. Anything else would be a waste of time and money. Have fun!

michael2 · Post by **michael2** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 3:26 am

thanks guys. the apogee jam looks nice and that is cool that you can run it into your computer as well. also pretty expensive (trying to save up for a new computer). looks like that may be a down the road purchase. couple of questions:

which amplitube has the recording feature? is it only the full priced version? like I said, trying to save cash. does the $2.99 model have recording?

and interfaces: is the iRig as noisy as everyone says? any other recommendations besides the apogee jam? plug and play (don't want to have to monkey rig something every time i pick up a guitar). thanks again.

michael2 · Post by **michael2** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 5:06 am

okay, I guess the hard part of this question is not the amp sim itself since I can try them all for nothing basically (and I'm leaning towards amplitube anyways). the main question was the interface (the Jam was too expensive at the moment). I did some research and opted for the Peavey Ampkit LINK (which will work with Amplitube). Just found one on ebay for $19. not a bad price. i read that the sound quality is way better than the iRig.

ObiK, was looking at the amplitube app on the IKM site. it seems that for the $20 app you need to purchase the 4 track recorder of you want to record more than 1 track (unless I'm reading it wrong). how much is that add on (it doesn't say on the website). also I was wondering if I don't get the add on (since I wouldn't use 8 tracks usually), can I record the 1 track with a metronome without hearing it on the recording. seems like a stupid question, but you never know.

Last question: I have a bunch of credits I bought for the custom shop; I will most likely spend them for my computer at home, but can they be used to purchase in app purchases as well?

oh wait, 1 more question: do I get to use amps I purchased on my computer, in the app or do I have to buy them again? and can I load the app on my phone and my ipad and have the add ons in both devices? sorry, that was more than 1 question.

Thanks for your time.
Michael

shanecgriffo · Post by **shanecgriffo** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 2:32 pm

Just in reply to an earlier question
Yes i find irig too noisy for my liking.. But the ik app itself sounds great.
B.t.w-I'm really just using irig now,to run into the 'midi guitar' app ,which works well in combination..
Midi guitar is worth checking out once you get an interface if you have any interest in trying guitar synth sort of stuff.

Peter - IK Multimedia · Mon Jul 16, 2012 3:54 pm

Yes, iRig is not active which is why we now support 30-pin audio input and we'll also have iRig Stomp coming out soon which will be an active device that still plugs into the input/output jack (so you could use the 30-pin connector for iRig MIDI for control, etc).

ObiWonder · Post by **ObiWonder** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:46 pm

michael2 wrote:okay, I guess the hard part of this question is not the amp sim itself since I can try them all for nothing basically (and I'm leaning towards amplitube anyways). the main question was the interface (the Jam was too expensive at the moment). I did some research and opted for the Peavey Ampkit LINK (which will work with Amplitube). Just found one on ebay for $19. not a bad price. i read that the sound quality is way better than the iRig.

ObiK, was looking at the amplitube app on the IKM site. it seems that for the $20 app you need to purchase the 4 track recorder of you want to record more than 1 track (unless I'm reading it wrong). how much is that add on (it doesn't say on the website). also I was wondering if I don't get the add on (since I wouldn't use 8 tracks usually), can I record the 1 track with a metronome without hearing it on the recording. seems like a stupid question, but you never know.

Last question: I have a bunch of credits I bought for the custom shop; I will most likely spend them for my computer at home, but can they be used to purchase in app purchases as well?

oh wait, 1 more question: do I get to use amps I purchased on my computer, in the app or do I have to buy them again? and can I load the app on my phone and my ipad and have the add ons in both devices? sorry, that was more than 1 question.

Thanks for your time.
Michael

The 4 track recorder is $9.99 and you can simply record 1 track if you like with no problems with the metronome. The credits in the AmpliTube Custom Shop do not transfer to iOS as it is managed by iTunes. The AmpliTube Custom Shop is all IK, for this reason we can not transfer stuff from iOS to the Custom Shop and vice versa. AmpliTube for iPhone and AmpliTube for iPad are separate apps you'd have to purchase separately. The iPad version does offer more in terms of features.

JavaJ · Post by **JavaJ** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 10:39 pm

if you try Amplitube Free (or any of the free ones). My recommendation- DO NOT BUY ANY INAPP PURCHASES. If you like the interface, then get the full Amplitube and in-app from there.

michael2 · Post by **michael2** » Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:55 pm

Since Jam Up was on sale and I had heard/read so many good things about it, I ended up buying Jam Up and the Peavey Ampkit LINK. I'm hoping that it will be what I'm looking for. If i hate it, I'll either try out amplitube or (better yet) figure out a way to use headphones with my little 70's tube practice amp (it's an Alamo and sounds greeeeat).

strizbiz · Post by **strizbiz** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:46 pm

ok, so i know this is an old thread but I want to add my two cents for people who still are trying to decide on the two. I have been using Amplitube with the irig for at least a year now, brought all the in app purchases minus the vocal bundle. Has some great sounds, especially since adding the Hendrix and Slash bundles, but yes, its a very noisy affair indeed. you pretty much need the noise filter a LOT, which kinda sucks since you only can use 3 pedals at a time on the Iphone version.
So after trying Jam up free for about a week I decided to make the plunge and get the full version. Now I wasnt crazy about spending more money since I spent a LOT on in app purchases on Amplitube. But I will say at the moment I like what I hearing from Jam up pro a LOT. Much cleaner, less hiss and feedback and though Im using the same Irig for both.
So I will give you some pros and cons from my viewpoint on both.
With Amplitube, there are a lot of great things, things that you cant do in Jam up pro, such as mics , 2 of which you can choose from, a sure sm57 type mic and a Nueman U87 type mic. Being about to switch cabinets between heads. With Jam up there are no switchable speaker cabinets or mics.
Now with Amplitube there is a four track recorder and some over all mastering effects, and this week they came out with an update that has drum loops included,well... a few drum loops but more are in app purchases.
So thats probably the biggest drain with Amplitube. They try to bleed you with in App purchases. The Four track, is actually a One track unless you upgrade via in app purchase. the over all mastering effects? In app purchase. A lot of the pedals you think come with the full version? in App purchase. Now... lets say you are using it for your Iphone now.. but you are planning on getting an Ipad soon? Guess what? You are going to have to buy everything all over again because its not a universal app that will work on both. The Irig itself... not bad for jamming or live application, but recording wise?? You get cross talk on tracks, so you here other previously tracks on the new one your recording... Im not trying to totally crap on Amplitube, It has a lot of cool things going for it but it did lead me to look for other options.
Enter Jam up Pro Xt. Right away i noticed the sounds are great, a lot less noise. You can actually use 6 pedals vs the 3 you can only use in Amplitubes Iphone version ( 4 in the Ipad version) but right now Im working on the Iphone so Ill stick to that version)
So while Jam up pro doesnt have the ability to switch between speaker cabinets and mics, it still sounds great. It does have in app purchases, which I will probably end end buying, it comes with a lot of great pedals already. Another big plus is that it is universal so i wont have to buy a separate version to use it on the Ipad. Another thing I like is in app bundles. I wrote to Ikmultimedia asking if they were going to do a bass bundle, that could include a GK head, a SVt head and a Mutron pedal. Jam up pro already has one with the exact same gear I wanted.
So, another issue... Im sure people might be looking for something just to jam with or practice. But the IOS music app world is growing, and if you dont already know what Audiobus is, well... Its an App that lets you run apps in and out of each other, or rather route them in out and thru each other, pretty much like a patch bay. So when you went to record songs, you might want a nice 24 track multi tracker ( Like Multitrack DAW) you would want to use audiobus to send you guitar from your Amp sim into it. At the moment.. Amplitube does not work with Audiobus so you SOL. Jam up pro xt does. Anyway I could go on but hopefully Ive covered some stuff to think about. While I havent deleted Amplitube from my Iphone, because it does have a lot of great features,Im using Jam up pro more. And the funny thing is Amplitube feels a lot more claustrophobic on my Iphone. I like the landscape layout in Jam up, I wish Amplitube had done that . Anyway so theres my two cent ( well maybe 50 cents lol)

Wormhelmet · Post by **Wormhelmet** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:12 pm

Apogee Jam, Jamup Pro, AmpKit +.

polaris20 · Post by **polaris20** » Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:25 pm

I am really digging JamUp. I wouldn't encourage anyone to buy any application that doesn't support Audiobus.

Dewaine · Post by **Dewaine** » Wed Feb 06, 2013 12:38 am

IMHO both Jam Up and Ampitude are great products. For me the biggest improvement came with getting the Apogee Jam. In my case the interface made everything just work.

ipad amp sims; help me choose one.