AmpKit App And iPhone Audio Interface Looks Set To Put Roadies Out Of Business

Posted by Ben Harvell on June 18th, 2010

If you don’t know what a guitar amp or pedal is then the chances are you won’t be particularly interested in the new partnership between music kit giant Peavey and app developer Agile Partners.

If you do, however, this collaboration will truly rock you…

Forget about the novelty iPhone apps that let you strum virtual strings while looking like a banjo-playing buffoon, AmpKit is true innovation brought about by two major players in their respective fields. Peavey, a brand you'll no doubt have seen on the stage at every concert you've ever been to, and Agile Partners that has under its belt popular apps that include GuitarToolkit and TabToolkit.

Combining an iPhone app with a small interface to connect to a guitar (or any other line-based instrument), musicians can now access all the power of a full guitar rig including a variety of amplifiers, effects pedals, mics and speaker cabinets to create unique guitar tones right from their iPhone. The output can then be sent to headphones or pumped out via powered speakers or a PA system.

What once could have filled a guitarist's trunk now fits in the palm of their hand and, according to Peavey as well as the tech editor of Guitar World, sounds just as good. While live performance is an option, AmpKit also allows for recording as you play, storing both the unprocessed guitar sounds as well as those from the amplifier making it an ideal training aid or music creation tool.

"We are excited to collaborate with Agile Partners to launch the amazing combination of AmpKit and AmpKit LiNK," said Hartley Peavey, founder and CEO of Peavey Electronics Corporation. "Peavey is deeply committed to virtual instrumentation innovation".

The AmpKit LiNK interface will cost $39.99 and is available for pre-order from Peavey right now. AmpKit is soon to be available on the App Store and will be compatible with all devices bar the first generation iPod touch. The app will be available for free with In-App Purchases available from the "Gear Store" allowing users to add amps, pedals, cabinets and mics to their setup.

Check out the video below to see just how impressive this app and hardware pairing is and then start guessing which artist will rock AmpKit on stage first.