Pro Music Apps

Well, things are getting really interesting for guitarists.

What with a bunch of new amp simulators hitting the iphone/ipad platforms.

And just as new are the cables being released to connect your guitar to your device.

Griffin Technology have announced GuitarConnect, along with there own amp sim app.

Griffin Technology Inc., maker of ingenious ways to power, play, protect, and connect, and Frontier Design Group, maker of musically inspiring apps, has announced availability of Griffin’s GuitarConnect Cable and Frontier’s iShred LIVE in the UK. With this combination of cable and app, your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad becomes a mobile guitar workstation that is both fun and useful to musicians of all skill levels.

Griffin’s new GuitarConnect cable turns iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad into the most portable gig and practice rig imaginable. The 1/4″ cable connects easily into guitars, basses, or other instruments, and a stereo 1/8″ mini-plug connects directly to iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad for use with audio applications such as iShred LIVE. The 6 foot GuitarConnect cable also provides a stereo 1/8″ mini-jack to connect headphones or audio cable for connection to a home stereo, amp, mixer, or other audio source. Intuitive layout means no clutter and no unnecessary weight or stress on the cables; just comfortable, great sounding music with GuitarConnect and iShred LIVE.

iShred LIVE is a mobile app with amp modelling and stomp box effects for guitar, bass, and other instruments. Based on the popular virtual guitar app from Frontier Design Group, iShred LIVE gives musicians of all skill levels the ability to play a real instrument through their iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. The app opens to reveal a sight familiar to most musicians: an amp and pedal board with life-like effects pedals. The built-in amp simulator features clean and overdrive settings for added tonal colour. Each pedal features fully adjustable controls for accurate reproductions of classic guitar tones. Just tap the controls and iShred LIVE zooms in on the effect for easy manipulation. The first three effects are included for free with download of iShred LIVE:

•         HK-2000 Digital Delay (with tap tempo)

•         Q-36 Space Modulator / Flanger

•         Buzz Kill (noise gate)

Players looking for added tonal flexibility can download these additional effects through in-app purchase:

•         Hot Fuzz (super fuzz pedal)

•         Sybil (dual chorus)

•         Trembler (variable waveform tremolo)

•         Adrenaline (adjustable treble booster)

•         Kömpressör (compressor pedal)

In addition to effects, iShred LIVE features a number of essential guitar tools. Favourite sounds can be saved in one of 48 user-programmable presets, organized as 8 colour-coded banks for easy organization. A chromatic tuner allows quick and accurate tuning; the adjustable metronome includes tap tempo and selectable accent sounds. The app also features a looping audio player, giving users the ability to play along with any song in their device’s music library.

For more info go here:

http://www.griffintechnology.com/products/guitar-connect

http://www.frontierdesign.com/iShredLIVE/

Grab iShred LIVE now –

Adding to the growing list of custom built audio interfaces designed for recording guitars and vocals, comes this new model from Sonoma Wire Works, which looks set to tick all the key boxes for professional music recording.

Los Altos, CA – June 18, 2010 – Sonoma Wire Works, makers of the FourTrack recording app, announces the GuitarJack audio device. GuitarJack connects a wide range of instruments, microphones, and other audio hardware to iPod touch® (2nd and 3rd generation), iPhone® 3GS* and iPhone 3G* via 1/4 inch instrument and 1/8 inch stereo mic/line inputs. Addressing the most frequent request from musicians who use FourTrack, GuitarJack makes both level control and input monitoring possible when using a GuitarJack enhanced app. Sonoma Wire Works is also developing the TaylorEQ app for the GuitarJack. The free TaylorEQ app will allow Taylor Guitar players to hear and adjust the tone of their guitars playing through the GuitarJack using EQ settings custom designed by Taylor Guitars. GuitarJack will be priced at $199 MSRP. GuitarJack and TaylorEQ are scheduled to ship in Q3 2010. Pricing and availability subject to change.

For full product details – http://www.sonomawireworks.com/guitarjack

If your like me, and can’t wait for the Akai Synthstation to come out; i saw this update over at palmsounds.

it comes via comments on a video from Musikmesse.

The video is in German, but you get a nice look at the hardware

The controller should be available in june or july for 80euros, and the synthstation for 9.99euros.

Note: This free application requires Line 6’s MIDI Mobilizer hardware accessory, the world’s first MIDI interface for iPhone and iPod touch, to utilize the MIDI recording and playback features. MIDI Mobilizer is the perfect addition to any MIDI musician’s toolkit. More info can be found at www.line6.com/midimobilizer.

MIDI Memo Recorder simply records and plays any MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) data any time, any place. Its streamlined design makes it easy to store, find, recall and even email all your synth sounds, Line 6 effect patches, musical inspirations, and more.

MIDI Memo Recorder and MIDI Mobilizer are compatible with every single MIDI-capable keyboard, amplifier, effect, and miscellaneous piece of audio gear.

For more details head to – http://line6.com/midimobilizer/

Together with an Apple iPhone or iPod touch, and the free MIDI Memo Recorder app, MIDI Mobilizer can play, record, and backup MIDI information any time, any place. Whether you want to capture a quick musical idea or back up the settings of all your MIDI gear, MIDI Mobilizer is the most simple and compact solution for everything MIDI.

MIDI Mobilizer™ is the fastest, lightest and easiest way to manage all your sounds, sequences and other MIDI data.

Capture inspiration -

Inspiration is spontaneous, and MIDI Mobilizer™ can capture inspiration the moment it strikes. Just hook up the MIDI Out from any keyboard, and you can quickly record your idea. Connect the keyboard’s MIDI In, and instantly play back what you just created. Or email it to yourself or a collaborator as a Standard MIDI File (SMF) which can be opened and edited within virtually any Mac® or PC-based digital audio workstation.

Easily backup all your MIDI parameters from Line 6 gear and more. Want to transfer your settings into a friend’s POD® xt, or import your settings into rental gear? It has never been easier.

Rescue yourself from dreaded on-stage equipment failures. MIDI Mobilizer can import your MIDI sound data into any classic or modern MIDI equipment, including replacement keyboards.

MIDI Mobilizer is compatible with all models of iPhone and iPod touch.

For details head to – http://line6.com/midimobilizer/iphone_ipod_touch.html

This must-have accessory allows you to plug your guitar directly into your iPhone and 2nd Gen iPod Touch (simultaneously with your headphones) for use with all guitar applications.

The guitarist’s interface fuses your instrument with your iPhone – Now the possibilities are as endless as the apps on your phone. With the Guitarbud even the simple Voice Memos™ app (that comes with your phone) can be used to record riffs or songs anywhere – instantly email your track to your friends. All your apps become more powerful – use your iPod tuner in a noisy crowded bar, record your next tune on the 4-track recorder that’s as close as your iPhone.

This powerful, portable guitarist’s interface, is designed specifically for musicians by Bond Music Research in conjunction with PRS Guitars; makers of PRS Signature Series Cables Guitar Cables. Guitarbud is lightweight, flexible, and easily fits in your pocket. More than a simple adaptor, this 6 foot special instrument cable allows freedom of movement when you play, and links your headphones with your instrument.

There’s more info at www.prscables.com/guitarbud

ProTrack provides convenient, direct-to-iPod stereo digital recording to iPod in a portable, handheld form factor. Users can capture live audio anywhere and anytime with their iPod or iPod nano. ProTrack’s smart design integrates the iPod into the recorder, with included sleds to securely mount supported iPod models to the recorder.

Two high-quality condenser microphones are built-in, fixed in XY stereo configuration for high quality field recording. ProTrack also offers users a pair of combination XLR – 1/4-inch inputs for connection for external microphones and line sources. When running on plug-in power using the included AC adapter, ProTrack supplies 48V phantom power so that it can power condenser microphones.

ProTrack’s exterior contains a Universal Dock for iPod, LED signal indicators, and controls for 48V phantom power, limiter, and volume. Four AAA alkaline batteries provide four to five hours of operation. A threaded mount is integrated for tabletop use on a camera tripod.

Key features of ProTrack include:

•    Integrated iPod design
•    Records to iPod (Classic or 5th Generation), or iPod nano (2nd or 3rd Generation)
•    Professional connectors: two combination XLR – 1/4-inch inputs, 1/8-inch stereo output
•    Supplies 48V phantom power to inputs when wall-powered
•    Records 16-Bit, 44.1kHz or 22kHz stereo
•    Two built-in condenser microphones for detailed recording
•    Built-in microphones in XY configuration for optimum stereo image
•    Switchable limiter ensures overload-free recordings even in unpredictable aural situations
•    AC power adapter included
•    Four AAA batteries provide up to five hours of operation
•    Tripod stand mount for placing into ideal recording conditions

ProTrack is ideal for capturing sound effects, recitals, jam sessions, speeches, interviews, rehearsals, performances, meetings, lectures, notes-to-self, or any other audio material directly to iPod.

Head to the product’s official site for more details – www.alesis.com/protrack

The all-new Mikey is the perfect tool for mobile recording. Featuring two custom-tuned Blue capsules for stereo recording, a line-input, USB pass through and a stylish updated 230-degree rotating design. Mikey’s three gain settings allow for a versatile recording experience for everything from a loud concert to a whisper. Record lectures, voice notes, live music, interviews, and more. Mikey also comes with its own carrying pouch and headphone adapter or playback and monitoring. Mikey turns your iPod or iPhone into the coolest mobile recording device around!

Fore more details head to – http://www.bluemic.com/mikey/new/

From the land of the rising red sun comes this rather ingenious piece of kit for anyone after high quality stereo recording on the go for both iPod and iPhone.

The LIC-IREC03P from Japanese company Logitec (yes isn’t that cheeky of them!) features an X/Y style unidirectional moulded microphone arrangement. There is a pad offer -10db and -20db, plus three settings of automatic gain control (including off). Mic Sensitivity ranges from  -47dB +-4dB, and Recording Bandwidth is 20 ～ 16kHz

There doesn’t appear to be an official site for this product, but you can pick one up for roughly US$135 from www.geekstuff4u.com