Archive for guitar

Sean | May 5, 2013
One comment

The iPhone as a Guitar Pedal

I got an email from a reader today sharing that they’re using their iPhone running JamUp Pro, as a guitar pedal…

“I’ve got my strat going into the iRiffPort on my iPhone running JamUp, and that output going into my Fender Hot Rod Deluxe – it’s been great to be able to experiment with so many different pedals on the cheap, and these JamUp simulations are shockingly close!!!”

All the more reason something like this would be super awesome. Route your iPhone in-between physical amps and pedals and be able to stomp activate it’s effects… If such a pedal existed, with high quality IO, MIDI support for assigning controls to effects inside of the apps, and support for multiple audio processing apps, I’d probably buy it in a heartbeat.

JamUp Pro XT (universal) on the

Category: guitar, iOS guitar amp and effect processing, iRiffPort, JamUp Pro |
Sean | January 27, 2013
3 comments

Guitarism for iPhone

Guitarism from Rhism is an Audiobus and AudioCopy supporting acoustic guitar simulation app for iPhone and iPad. The developer of the app got in contact with me to tell me a little bit about it…

As a guitarist, I’d tried every single virtual guitar app but just couldn’t find one that let me play live and perform confidently without looking at the screen, so I made it myself. My focus with guitarism has been on an intuitive, expressive interface and awesome sound quality, both of which I believe I’ve achieved. I’ve also added Rhism Nation, an online user community for sharing recordings and chords, and most recently Audiobus support – sounds great through JamUp!

I’ve tried the app out and it’s possible to play without looking at your iPhone, but it takes a little practice. The app uses samples at the core, but does some light modeling on top of them to simulate velocity and strum position (closer to the neck vs bridge). It sounds pretty darn realistic – but don’t take my word for it. Hear for your self:

There are loads of guitar simulation apps on the App Store, but I’ve never used any of them as much as this one – as none of them sound realistic at all, this is simply not the case for Guitarism.

Category: guitar, guitarism, touch instruments |
Sean | December 1, 2012
No comments

New iOS Musician YouTube video: Sonoma GuitarJack and iPhone 5 with Lightning Adapter – A much better dock connection

Sorry about the cardboard, I put my old iPod on a box with a hole in to record the video! (which actually works really well…)

Sonoma Wire Works GuitarJack Model 2 on Amazon
Apple Lightning to 30pin Adapter on Amazon
GuitarTone (FREE) from Sonoma Wire Works on the App Store

Category: guitar, guitar jack, hardware, iOS Musician YouTube videos, Lightning connector, Sonoma Wire Works |
Sean | November 15, 2012
No comments

JamUp Pro XT for iOS Guitar tone demos with Sonoma Wire Works GuitarJack 2 + Experience with the GuitarJack

Everything was recorded with the Sonoma Wire Works GuitarJack 2 and JamUp Pro XT, which is a fantastic amp and effects simulation app – the best available on iOS in my opinion. All of the amps and pedals used in these demos come with the app – they’re not unlocked by in app purchases – although the IAPs are worth the extra money. I’ve purchased the bass and effects packs ($9.99 each), both of which sound great and have been loads of fun to experiment with.

JamUp Pro XT - Positive Grid LLC

The GuitarJack 2 sounds great and is extremely durable, but the interface plugs directly into your iDevice – i.e. there’s no cable in-between it and the dock. This makes it pretty hard to get a ‘dock safe’ connection because a bulky guitar cable’s tugging on the same thing that’s plugged into your device. Sonoma Wire Works sells a dockXtender which helps, but it’s cable is also pretty stiff. CDM put up a post confirming the GuitarJack 2′s compatability with the iPhone 5 via the ‘Lightning’ adapter, so if you’ve got an iPhone 5 this is probably your best bet for making the GuitarJack ‘dock safe.’ I don’t own an iPhone 5 or the adapter, but based on the cables used for Apple’s USB adapters, the Lightning adapter’s is most likely very similar.

Other iOS interfaces, like the Apogee Jam, come as separate units that you connect with a provided cable, but don’t offer simultaneous 1/8″ and 1/4″ (the 1/4″ is stereo) recording. Furthermore, the GuitarJack 2 costs $50 more than the Apogee Jam, but does unlock a bunch of gear in their free app when you plug it into your iDevice.

GuitarJack Specs: Input level control with 60 dB gain + 12 dB pad, Lo-Z and Hi-Z modes. More here.

Gibson SG Classic & Tweed Bassman


Gibson SG Classic & AC Boost amp & MOD Tremolo pedal


Fender Stratocaster & Black Duo & RVB reverb pedal


Gibson SG Classic & Stomp Tube Driver Pedal & Plexiglas amp


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Category: app audio demos, guitar, Guitar Jack 2, iOS guitar amp and effect processing, JamUp Pro, Sonoma Wire Works |
Sean | November 3, 2012
2 comments

AmpKit developers keeping an eye on the AirTurn

As I posted earlier this week, the AirTurn BT-105 Bluetooth page turner could potentially be one brilliant companion for guitar effects processing apps. I just got word from the developers of the AmpKit app for iOS (free version available) regarding Bluetooth support:

We’ve got an eye on the AirTurn, as well as the Griffin Box, the Alesis Docks, and several other pedal controllers designed to work with iOS devices. Our objective is to add compatibility to as wide a range of devices as possible – but we’re not there just yet. I can’t make promises about when, but this is a very hot topic internally, and we continue to look at what can be done in future releases.

Good to know that it’s on their radar. If we do start seeing this, a lot more guitar interfaces will be better suited for live use, as you’ll be able to use a pedal like the AirTurn BT-105 4 pedal version to activate various effects/presets, instead of having to hook up a MIDI pedal board. Plus, less cables is always better. You might even be able to play a live show with just an iPhone, guitar interface, AirTurn pedal, and speaker system!

AmpKit+ - Agile Partners

Free version available: AmpKit - Agile Partners

Category: airturn bt105, Ampkit, Bluetooth, guitar, iOS guitar amp and effect processing |
Sean | October 30, 2012
One comment

GrainProc – toe controlled granular processing app for iPhone and iPad is here! …and…

The toe controlled granular processing app (see previous post) is here! …and it’s free! …and it’s universal! …and the developers emailed me!

Our app is finally live on the app store. We had to rename it since Apple was not happy about us encouraging usage of the iPad with feet. However, it’s out on the store and ready to be used. We’d love to get your feedback on it and a note on the blog post would be great too. Audiobus is also soon to be released and we’ll look into that once its out!

…and it requires iOS 6. (I’m not complaining, this is something we’re just gonna have to get used to…)

GrainProc - Mayank Sanganeria

Category: Audiobus, Free Apps, GrainProc, guitar, iOS guitar amp and effect processing |
Sean | October 28, 2012
No comments

JamUp Pro XT and Alesis AmpDock: A match made in heaven

The Alesis AmpDock is easily the most sophisticated iOS guitar interface on the market. You’ve got knobs, a separate pedal board, all sorts of ins and outs, MIDI DIN, but best of all, the pedals and knobs are assignable to presets and knobs inside JamUp Pro XT! You can set up knobs in the virtual amps and pedals to be controlled by the physical ones on the AmpDock, and have pedal board trigger different presets… that’s perfect for live use!

JamUp Pro XT - Positive Grid LLC

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Category: guitar, hardware, iOS guitar amp and effect processing, iOS Guitar Interfaces, JamUp Pro, using your iDevice live |
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