Playing Guitar with the iPad

So, we can now plug a Les Paul into a magazine-sized touch-screen computer and play through mountains of virtual gear.  Where does one begin?
-In order to play your guitar through the ipad there are two main decisions that you will have to make:  Which interface and which app.

Don't be this guy

Interfaces
There are two basic kinds of guitar interfaces for ipad.  
Headphone Jack Interfaces:
These units are by far the cheapest and are very simple to use.  Because they are line-in through the headphone jack they suffer from line noise so not ideal for amplification but you can get by at lower volumes.
-Griffin’s Guitar Connect is the cheapest at only $20.  It does not come with any apps but you can download the basic version of iShred for free.

Griffin Guitar Connect

-IK Multimedia, makers of Amplitube, offer the iRig for $40.  It includes a basic version of Amplitube for iPad.

iRig and Amplitube

-Peavey’s Ampkit Link is $30 and includes a basic version of the Ampkit app.
Of all these units, only the Ampkit Link is battery powered.  This gives it a huge advantage in sound quality.  Also, the Ampkit Link plays very well with other apps whereas the iRig has been shown not to.

Peavey Ampkit Link

Dock Connected interfaces
These units use Apple’s 30-pin dock connecting resulting in far better sound quality and very low latency.  

The Apogee Jam offers much bang for the buck.  It not only works with ios but also Mac osx.  In simplest terms it’s an ¼ inch to USB converter.  This means that it can accept an array of audio sources from guitar to bass to voice.  There is also a gain control to balance output signals from different pick ups.  A great deal at $99.

Apogee Jam

The Alsesis IO Dock is everything Apple left out to make the ipad a musical instrument.  It features an assortment of quality audio ins and outs, video out and even a foot switch jack for controlling apps.  All of this is packaged in a portable control surface.  Considering all this thing does, it’s a steal at $200.


Apps
It feels like every month a new rig modeling app is released.  Most of these work in the same manner.  You select amp and effect models with a very friendly, familiar interface.  
Basic apps may come free but expect to pay for in-app purchases to upgrade to additional gear(that’s how they get ya).

-IK Multimedia’s Amplitube has gained a great name for itself as a great assortment of guitar tone tools and their ipad app is no different.  The basic version comes with the iRig and a loaded version is $20.  There is also a Fender edition for $14 featuring gear models from the legendary company.
-Peavey’s Ampkit basic version comes with the Ampkit Link and Ampkit+ is also available from iTunes for $20.

Peavey Ampkit

-iShred only comes in a free base version but there are many in-app purchase options available.

Garageband for iPad is really hard to beat.  It’s a very usable version of the popular Mac program and has flexibility and options that the previous apps can’t touch.  You’ll still find the familiar amp and effect interface similar to the other apps but that’s just where it begins.  It’s a multi track studio.  It has a wide array of midi instruments that can be played with on screen keyboard or an external midi controller.  This is the only app mentioned here that does not feel like a novelty.  All for only 5 smackers!  What more do you want?

Garageband

The Bottom LIne
If you want a very low budget, portable practice rig with good sound get the Peavey Ampkit Link and use the free software. Also, download the free basic version of iShred for some extra kicks.
Total Cost-$30

If you want quality sound and great portability in an ipad guitar set up then the Apogee Jam is for you.  Couple this with the Garageband for ipad and you have a usable ipad studio for $105.

Is the ipad becoming a significant part of your live or studio setup?  The Alesis IO Dock is THE way to go for musicians who play multiple instruments, use multiple apps and who want to make serious music with the iPad.  Again, use this with the amazing Garageband for ipad and you have a sleek, portable studio for $205

Alesis IO Dock

Also..
Do you dig synths?  Check out the Sonnus i2M.  This device is a $99 way to play all of the software instruments for the ipad and mac in a tiny package.  Mind you, it’s only monophonic.  But, many of the great analog synths are as well.  Now you can impersonate Jan Hammer with your strat on the cheap!  To confuse you even more, the i2M also runs audio allowing you to use it the same way as the Apogee but at a lower quality.

Sonuus i2M