AmpKit and AmpKit LiNK Review
I'm a gadget geek at heart, so I'm happy to share cool gadgets or software when I can. Here's a quick review I hope you guys find useful:
Agile Partners recently released a stellar iPhone and iPod Touch app called AmpKit. To make a long story short - it's AWESOME.
But before I get to that, if you don't know of Agile Partners, they have two outstanding apps on the market already:
Guitar Toolkit - which is a tuner, chord library, scales, metronome.
Tab Toolkit - which is a guitar tab manager, that not only houses guitar tabs, but helps you download them directly on the web, AND PLAYS THEM for you just like Guitar Pro or Pro Tab. (It comes with a lot of practice riffs and scales and you can slow down the speed too. Very cool).
I have the above and found them to be high quality.
SO when I got the memo that they just released AmpKit and AmpKit LiNK - I was dying to try it out. Here's some quick input on both.
AMPKIT
AmpKit is an app that competes with Amplitude and PRS's offering. I hear that PRS is crap but that Amplitude is nice too. I don't have either, so I can only testify that AmpKit is awesome in it's own right.
It comes with a variety of Amp models and Effects models as well as a couple dozen presets. You can buy more amp models and effects models based on your needs. The app is free with some built in stuff, but I bought the $20 bundle which gives a lot more amps and effects at about 50% discount.
You can have unlimited number of effects in your effects chain (I think some other amps are limited to three) which is really cool. And all amp and effects settings are configurable as you would expect them to be.
SOUNDS GREAT! I've found the sounds to be something else...quite realistic and noise free (unless you WANT noise, lol).
The app also comes with a bunch of backing tracks built in to jam over. But you can also UPLOAD your own backing tracks or complete songs to play along with. I've uploaded all the backing jam tracks from my TrueFire Blue Grooves course and set my sounds and just jam away for endless fun. Additionally, I've uploaded various songs I'm trying to learn so I can jam along with them as well.
I've communicated a few times with the developer on feature requests and they've been VERY responsive which is a plus. They've also let us know that their new iPAD APP is in development and when released won't cost an extra penny if you have paid for AmpKit - AND all your gear purchases will transfer over as well. (Unlike Amplitude where you have to buy things twice...I hear...)
Anyway - two thumbs up for a cool app which makes couch-jamming a lot of fun!!
AMPKIT LiNK
Ampkit LiNK is their little adapter that allows you to plug your guitar into your iPhone or iPod Touch. Unlike iRig and other competitors, it's an "active" connection powered by 2 AA batteries (included) to make sure the signal is clean with no feedback or delay.
I haven't tried other connectors, but this one has worked flawlessly for me. Easy to connect and I've output my sound to iPhone earbuds for quiet on-the-couch playing and practicing AND using a 1.4"-to-1/8" adapter, connected it into a clean amp for some loud jamming! Even though the stereo sound gets sandwiched into a mono input into the amp, it sounds great and is like having a Line 6 Pod or some other effects processor - but it's ON MY PHONE.
Well - I hope that helps anyone who is interested.
- AmpKit is for free or $19.99 in the App Store depending on version.
- AmpKit LiNK is currently $29.99 at Sweetwater (lowest price I've found).
And if you want to check out other reviews, here's a link:
AmpKit Reviews
Rock On.
-Fireproof
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