modulus

By David Cox

First published in Examiner.com

If you were a musician wanting to record multi-track in the 1980s, you needed to buy a 4 track cassette recorder. Costing hundreds, these well made but delicate devices made by companies like Fostex, Tascam were the only way really to get one track to play alongside another for a demo song or some other mult-track situation. More recently the smart device that you carry around at all times has made all that a thing of the past, but the problem of getting an analog signal INTO the device is still an issue.

Music interfaces have gone through a lot of changes over the past 10 years. In the area of smart devices, the challenge has always been one of delivering a lag free, interference free signal to the processor without distortion. Guitar signals and bass signals are analog and as such are prone to fluctuation in signal strength.

To compensate for unamplified guitar signals, users often ramp up the gain, which is fine, but often results in distortion. IK Multimedia’s HD iRig has virtually eliminated this issue. iRig HD is the first 24-bit audio interface that fits in your pocket and connects directly to your Lightning, 30-pin and USB devices and connects to iPhone, iPod touch, iPad or Mac.

iRig HD features superior digital audio quality, and offers a premium 24-bit A/D converter for a sharp digital signal. It is self powered, and an onboard gain control allows you to dial in the best signal level for your instrument and apps, and a multicolor LED lets you monitor the interface and signal.

iRig HD is compatible with the range of IK AmpliTube apps (the #1 app for guitar players) including AmpliTube Fender®, AmpliTube Slash and AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix™, as well as any other real-time processing apps, such as Apple GarageBand, which support digital audio. Use the iRig HD anywhere you play guitar – on the go, in the studio or on your Mac at home.

iRig HD at a glance:

• High-quality instrument-level 1/4” Hi-Z input jack
• Detachable cables for Lightning, 30-pin and USB connector compatibility
• Preamp gain control
• High-quality low-noise, high-definition preamp
• High-quality 24-bit A/D conversion
• 44.1 and 48 kHz sampling rate
• Powered by the iOS device or USB
• Connect electric guitar and bass
• Also works with line level signals from synthesizers, keyboards and mixers
• Ultra-compact and lightweight
• Comes with AmpliTube FREE apps (free download on App Store)
• Comes with 4 exclusive gear models, never before available for iOS, which are unlocked in AmpliTube (v. 3.0 required) after the first time you connect iRig HD. The models include Metal W & Metal 150 (amps), and Wharmonator & X-Flanger (stompboxes)
• Free AmpliTube Custom Shop software (download from IK site) and free download of AmpliTube Metal collection for Mac users

FROM IK MULTIMEDIA’s PRESS RELEASE:

iRig HD – plug in and play

No matter where you are, iRig HD delivers pure high-quality digital input signal. It features a 24-bit A/D ultra-transparent converter that accurately preserves the nuances of your instrument. This means you can rock out on your iPhone, iPad, iPad mini, or Mac laptop or desktop computer, with studio quality sound. iRig HD features a standard 1/4″ Hi-Z instrument input jack, and connects to your iOS device with the included 30-pin cable or the included Lightning cable.

One interface – everywhere you play

The beauty of the iRig HD is that it works everywhere you do. It also comes with a handy USB cable and is class compliant, so you can plug right in to your laptop or desktop Mac computer and keep jamming. Start a project on your iPad, finish it on your Mac with the same great tone: Brilliant.

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