Got a GUITAR, daddio? Wanna plug it into iOS or Droid? Try the iRig 2

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However, the new iRig 2 goes back to basics and utilises the 3.5mm headset jack socket. This time it’s designed to work with both iOS and recent Samsung Android handsets – more on this later. Described as a universal guitar interface, it will even plumb into your Mac, although it will need to be a post-2010 model featuring the mic/headphone combo jack socket.

That’s not all the new iRig 2 offers, as it also gets its own input gain control thumbwheel, so you can better match the signal coming out from your guitar to the app, although it could benefit from some position markings.

This addition helps, as the iRig has a new bypass (FX/THRU) function, and a separate 1/4-inch jack output, so you can hook it up to a guitar amp. Having the separate input level should mean that if you’re switching between both clean and app-effected signals, then you shouldn’t need to fiddle too much with the guitar’s output level when doing so.

Gain thumbwheel and an effects bypass are among the new additions on iRig 2

It’s a fairly well-thought-out evolution, as you’d be stuck with headphones or hooking up to a hi-fi stereo or a mixer to listen to the original iRig. Although the cabling could be reconfigured to plumb into a guitar amp, this separate jack output is much more elegant.

Talking of evolution, AmpliTube has a Fender amp version that can be tried for free and there are separate iPad and iPhone layouts. Within the apps there’s the Custom Shop which allows in-app purchasing of different modelled amps, cabinets and studio microphones. And yes, you can choose the mic and alter positioning to the cabinet to change the sound characteristics. This has been around for a while but now you’ve even more options, all from an app.

If you find a 4x12 cab is more than you need, why not try AmpliTube Fender and use the Neumann impersonator, the 87 condenser mic?