One of the biggest issues I had with the original iRig guitar connector itself was its non-standard design. It works really well when playing a guitar through it to the iPhone or iPad and then listening with headphones, but there was no easy way to connect it to an amp without adapters and such. Adding the pedal setups in Amplitube Fender, for example, seems like a great way to expand the sounds available for my guitar, but if I can’t use it on stage easily, it’s not going to get used.

Enter the iRig Stomp, an actual stomp-box-sized peripheral that allows a standard guitar connect via a standard cable through to an amplifier in a standard guitarist’s stage setup. The iRig Stomp looks and acts a lot like any other standard guitar pedal, and thus has more of a chance to be included at gigs.

The solidity of the box is commendable, from the sturdy metal construction of the box itself to the solid-feeling clicker button and large input gain level knob. The device looks and feels as indestructible as my other guitar pedals, and doesn’t look out of place on my pedalboard.

To connect the iRig Stomp, it’s a simple matter of plugging in a guitar via a cable to the right side of the stomp box, and then out from the left side to an amp via the L/Mono jack, or to a stereo mixer via the R and L jacks. There’s a 1/8 inch headphone jack on the top, for private practice sessions, and a second, similar sized jack to connect the iRig Stomp to the iPhone or iPad with a compatible app, like Amplitube. The clicker button on the bottom of the pedal is a bypass switch which will let your guitar play through to the amp without the app guitar sounds. I sort of wish the button was configurable to a pedal “on/off” setting like most standard guitar pedals, but that functionality is contained within the app itself.

Overall, the iRig Stomp is a fantastic piece of guitar gear, ready to integrate with any professional or hobbyist guitar pedal setup. It’s comparatively priced to other boxes at $59.99, and allows players to control a ton of guitar-centric apps available on the App Store today.

The Expendables 2 is coming out in August, featuring more action movie stars from the last four decades than one could shake a stick at – a stick that would then explode violently. To help promote the movie, Lions Gate has released an Infinite Trailer app. What this lets users do is to record a 5-second video clip that then adds a special effect, like a grenade explosion or an airstrike coming in. Then, once the video is processed, it can be added to a trailer for the movie with other users and the actual stars of the movie, with the user’s inputted last name showed before their 5-second footage of awesomeness. Or, whatever random inanity they decided to put in. Thus, it creates an “infinite trailer” that could go on as long as there’s new footage to stitch in! For Comic-Con goers, there’s even an “exclusive” long range RPG strike effect, which I presume actually has to be recorded at Comic-Con because the app crashed whenever I tried to apply it. Crafty developers!

FREE!

The Expendables 2 Infinite Trailer

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-07-10 :: Category: Entertainment

Every day the iPad can be something different – a fun way to play games one day and an easier way to read books the next. Now, it’s music’s turn with AmpliTube for iPad. Amplitude is a virtual amp and effects processor for your guitar or bass, allowing you to plug in your instrument via the iPad’s 3.5mm jack connection with some specially designed kit made by IK Multimedia. The application is available now for $19.99. There is a free version available, with a limited number of effects, but you can buy and download effects on-the-go.

AmpliTube provides the same twenty-three effects as the iPhone edition, which was released last month also at $19.99. Such effects include five amp models, eleven stompbox effects, five cabinets and two mics. For a full break down, see the bottom of this post. The iPad’s extra power means that it can handle four simultaneous stompbox effects, rather than three on the iPhone. In addition, a built-in tuner and metronome are provided, as well as the ability to import songs and backing tracks.

The specially designed kit that I mentioned earlier, namely IK Multimedia’s iRig, costs $39.99 (€29.99) but doesn’t include the premium version of AmpliTube. You plug your guitar into iRig, which then connects to your iPad. It offers a 3.5mm line-out for headphones and speakers. You can buy it here.

Hit the jump for more details and video.

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