by Lisa Forester
Modern day musicians know that technology gave them a new playground with mobile applications for mobile devices. Here are the top three apps you can download to get the best effects for your guitar and music needs.
Manufacturer IK Multimedia markets AmpliTube iRig as the leading guitar and bass tone gear modeling application for your phone or tablet. The current version, AmpliTube 2, features 11 stomp box effects, five amplifier preamp and power sections, and five speaker cabinet models. With this package, you receive two microphones (dynamic and condenser). IK Multimedia sells more gears as add-on content, although the basic package is pretty robust.
AmpliTube gets rave reviews from both the guitar and tech worlds. CNET lists it as their Editor’s Choice and Guitar and Bass Magazine gives this application their full support.
AmpliTube 2 is a more condensed version of Amplitube 3, which is designed for PC or Mac desktop use. While that version will run you $349.99, iTunes has the iOS version for just $19.99.
iRig is the hardware that connects your guitar to any iOS device, including the iPad. Buying the iRig gives you the AmpliTube interface at no cost, but you must still pay for the effects. You can attach your mobile device to an external amplifier or use headphones to listen. Below is a demonstration video of the AmpliTube with iRig in action…
4Pockets.com puts out a slightly less functional, but still nice to have, application. It provides digital effects, chromatic guitar tuner, metronome, and loop recording process.
The current version of Stompbox, 1.10, offers 17 distinctive effect modules including delay, reverb, and flanger along with some classic distortion. You will find noise gate, compressor, and parametric and graphic equalizers with the program. Stompbox allows you to customize your own rack of effects. Users can pick the ones they like and build their own personal Stompboxes.
The guitar set up requires a hardware device such as iRig, but 4Pockets suggests that the USB sound card from a camera kit might work as well. You can find Stompbox on iTunes for $19.99.
OMGuitar
The OMGuitar application from Amidio Inc. doesn’t do quite as much as big boys like AmpliTube, but if you are all about the visual, you will like the interface on this program. If you are familiar with some of the music applications in the marketplace, Amidio Inc. is not new to you. OMGuitar comes from the same designers that put out Touch DJ.
The program is essentially a guitar on a screen. After installing OMGuitar to the iPad, users can literally strum the screen. OMGuitar provides 23 chord variations for every root note, as well as assignable quick-chords for easy access. It can synthesize three acoustic and three electric guitars.
OMGuitar comes with 50 preset effects that include distortion, reverb, delay, chorus, and flanger, just to name a few. Users have the ability to record the music they create and export it to iTunes to share with others.
Amidio admits that OMGuitar is still in its infancy, but promises more functionality and options are on the way. This is an opportunity to get the software on the ground floor and upgrade as you go. iTunes sells OMGuitar for just $4.99.
You might not be quite ready to ditch the pedals and stomp boxes yet, but trying out some of the mobile applications available gives you more options. Technology is always expanding and this is the just tip of the iceberg for guitar applications that make beautiful music.
Lisa starting playing guitar at the age of 15 specifically to learn a Dashboard Confessional song and it has been her guilty pleasure ever since. When she’s not playing 90’s classics, she is a full time blogger for SatelliteTV.com, home of the best deals and internet packages. Fine her on Twitter @TheLisaForester
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