Anyone gigging with an iPad and Amplitube?

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Kent_in_CO
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Anyone gigging with an iPad and Amplitube?

Post by Kent_in_CO » Thu Jan 02, 2014 6:06 pm

A few questions:

- iRig is a good way to get a high-quality guitar signal into the device. However, this means that the sound output will need to come out of the 1/8" headphone jack. What are the best options for connecting to a PA? The Isopod looks like a decent choice: http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ISOPOD/

- How does Amplitube sound in a live setting?

It would be pretty sweet to use the iPad and perhaps a Blue Board wireless pedalboard to switch patches. But if the sound is sub-par, that's a deal-breaker.
Hong Kong: 2050 A.D. You're about to inject a dose of mind-altering nanobots. This is the soundtrack to your trip. https://seven7hwave.bandcamp.com/album/cyberia

Tone Deft
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Re: Anyone gigging with an iPad and Amplitube?

Post by Tone Deft » Thu Jan 02, 2014 7:57 pm

live playing in bars? home recording?

nobody really gives a shit about sound quality in the bar. they only care if you're too loud, IMO.

Amplitube and all the sims are dependent on how good the user is at setting them up. it's a total mixed bag on those things, IMO it's about the user.
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Kent_in_CO
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Re: Anyone gigging with an iPad and Amplitube?

Post by Kent_in_CO » Thu Jan 02, 2014 10:15 pm

Live as in actual live music venues, with a solid PA, soundguy and a board and the whole bit. Places where the audience is more likely to listen to the music with a critical ear.

I'm a tone snob but also am willing to sacrifice convenience for tone to some extent. Do I miss the sound of my majestic bias-modded 5150? Yes I do. However, it's a lot easier to take my decade-old J-Station to a gig and simply plug it into a DI box. I'm thinking that Amplitube on iPad might be able to accomplish the same thing - with the added benefit of adding a Blue Board for wireless MIDI.

I'm pretty confident that I can find the right tones as long as the app is decent, but am more concerned about getting a nice strong signal from the 1/8" output to the PA.
Hong Kong: 2050 A.D. You're about to inject a dose of mind-altering nanobots. This is the soundtrack to your trip. https://seven7hwave.bandcamp.com/album/cyberia

Tone Deft
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Re: Anyone gigging with an iPad and Amplitube?

Post by Tone Deft » Fri Jan 03, 2014 2:20 am

line level output is line level output. I googled a bit on 'iPad audio out level' and didn't find anything but I'm lazy and don't have a horse in this race. I'm sure it's fine. if not, there are plenty of small amplifiers, compact mixers and whatnots to boost the level.

if you have the gear, try it. if you can record into Live without boosting a bunch you're fine. another check, play into a mixer, if you can hit the red with it, you're good. that mixer is that same input as the FOH guy.

a good or great performance goes a long way to cover up tone issues.
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yur2die4
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Re: Anyone gigging with an iPad and Amplitube?

Post by yur2die4 » Fri Jan 03, 2014 4:58 am

Of you have a class compliant audio interface, you can grab a powered USB hub, the USB camera connector suitable for your device (depending on the jack your device has), and then so all audio and midi with the hub and interface. Most audio interfaces let you plug in slightly more robust audio jacks.

Then again, this might not be what you're after. All the extra wires and all...

Tarekith
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Re: Anyone gigging with an iPad and Amplitube?

Post by Tarekith » Fri Jan 03, 2014 3:10 pm

There's definitely a noticeable lack of space and depth when using the headphone jack as opposed to the digital out into a sound card IME. For small gigs at pubs might not be a big deal, but for a full on pa I think it makes more sense to get a small sound card with outputs to use instead.

Check out the Bias app too if you haven't yet, great for making your own tone.
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Kent_in_CO
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Re: Anyone gigging with an iPad and Amplitube?

Post by Kent_in_CO » Fri Jan 03, 2014 5:34 pm

Yeah, that's my main concern. To me that's a deal-breaker for using the 1/8".

After doing some digging around, this seems like a very solid solution: http://guitology.com/line-6-sonic-port-review/, killing both the guitar input and line-level 1/4" output bird with one stone. It's $99, Line 6 knows what the fuck they're doing with guitar interfaces (I've been gigging with a Toneport UX2 for years), and it's pretty minimal (lightweight and no annoying breakout cables, etc.).

Bias looks sweet...It would be fun to experiment with different tubes and what-not. Sounds very realistic too. The only downside is it doesn't appear to support MIDI for live patch switching...hopefully they'll add that at some point.

Tarekith, what you using these days for live guitar tones?
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Re: Anyone gigging with an iPad and Amplitube?

Post by Tarekith » Fri Jan 03, 2014 5:41 pm

Mostly using JamUp Pro XT in Auria for iOS guitar work (via my Lynx Hilo), or the Pod HD for studio work. The Line6 interface looks pretty sweet, but I've heard a few people say that when using it for input and output, the latency is a bit much. Here's a good review:

http://www.sonicstate.com/amped/2013/11 ... app-audio/
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Kent_in_CO
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Re: Anyone gigging with an iPad and Amplitube?

Post by Kent_in_CO » Fri Jan 03, 2014 6:36 pm

Ugh damn latency. The bane of digital audio. I wonder how much it's a function of the apps being run and audio being processed in the device, as opposed to the hardware.

FWIW the Ampkit Link HD might offer better latency: http://forums.peavey.com:81/viewtopic.p ... b3d181b74e

Guess I'll just have to experiment and see what's best.
Hong Kong: 2050 A.D. You're about to inject a dose of mind-altering nanobots. This is the soundtrack to your trip. https://seven7hwave.bandcamp.com/album/cyberia

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