There is a FREE version of AmpliTube for iPad that only includes the Marshall model and three effects. Although you can spread the cost out over time. You can make it into a multi-track recording tool and stock it with many different amps and effects models but it will cost you considerable money to do so. However, many useful items and popular amp models require in-app purchases. It can turn your iPad into a handy practicing and idea capture device. It is also great for practicing on the go.ĪmpliTube for iPad offers a basic set of good sounding amp and effects models, and a nice song learning tool. I actually prefer AmpliTube for iPad for just plugging in, starting the Music app, putting it on random and soloing to whatever song comes on. Although the recording tool works well and can be good for getting song ideas down, it won’t be replacing my laptop for recording anytime soon. If you use a lot of effects on your amps you will probably not be able to get 8 tracks without the iPad choking. With eight tracks and very few effects my iPad Mini had reached the limit of its power. You can play it below to get an idea of what you can reasonably accomplish with the Recording bundle upgrade. I made a short eight track demo which I exported and made into a movie. It is basic but good enough for putting down ideas and making demos. The amount of editing you can do is obviously limited by the touch screen interface, but you can do basic editing like trimming and splitting audio, moving audio from track to track, and copy and pasting. It also include a DAW style interface for editing recordings. The recording bundle gives you eight tracks for recording using a reel to reel tape recorder interface. Since the included recording capabilty is only one track with no editing, I purchased the recording bundle to see how much recording I could actually accomplish with an iPad Mini. This makes AmpliTube for iPad a nice practice tool for those learning songs. It allows you to minimize vocals and slow down music for easier learning once you have imported and converted songs from your library.
The song learning tool is a nice feature for practicing. For a mobile device the models are quite good and cover a basic variety of tones, but many popular amp models require in-app purchases. Perhaps IK modeled a cheap 1 X 12 cabinet. Most amps sounded thin or even harsh with the 1 X12” cab, but vastly better with any other cab. The included amps and effects sounded good, but cabs make a huge difference in tone. If you can hook your iPad up to high-quality external speakers it should sound even better. Obviously inexpensive earbuds will not sound as good. I used high-quality Klipsch earbuds and Sony Headphones for monitoring. Most people will be using an iPad with some type of earbuds or headphones when making music.
IK Multimedia needs to make money on its software to stay in business. Of course Apple can afford to give apps away since it sells the hardware that runs the apps. While they do make the cost of entry low or even free, and allow you to buy only what you want, if you buy the recording bundle, some drum style kits, and a few of the amps or amp bundles, it can add up to significant money.īy comparison with Apple’s Garage Band for iPad you get eight amp and ten effects models, tons of loop content, keyboard instruments, drum instruments, and multi-track recording for free. I dislike in-app purchase as much as the next guy but they don’t seem to going away anytime soon. However, if your expectations are realistic you may find that iPads make great guitar companions for lighter duty tasks. A few years from now that may change, but if you are expecting a current mobile device to replace a laptop for music production you will likely be disappointed.
The reality is, an iPad simply doesn’t have the computing power of a modern laptop or desktop Mac, so AmpliTube for iPad is better suited as a practice, songwriting, or idea tool then a full fledged DAW. So when I got an iPad Mini I was eager to test out AmpliTube for iPad. I also have Native Instruments Guitar Rig, Garage Band, and MOTU Digital Performer which includes amp sims. I have IK Multimedia’s AmpliTube 3, AmpliTube Jimi Hendrix, AmpliTube Fender, and AmpliTube Orange. I have been using software amp simulators for many years for recording. You can’t beat the convenience and affordability of having numerous amps available in software. But for recording, software amp simulators are great.
For me nothing beats using a real amp when playing live.