The Noise & Feedback Filter was pared all the way back to about 15%. With the AmpKit LiNK interface, plugged into the AmpKit app and the same raucous amp setting as we had before, we were able to set the Input Gain at about 38% with the Output Gain around 50%. This was with the 'Noise & Feedback Filter' set to 60%, meaning a serious lack of sustain (this filter cuts the audio signal as soon as it detects interference or feedback, which means cutting off notes instead of leaving them to ring out).

We had to reduce the Input gain from the iRig all the way down to about 19% and the Output gain down to around 23% before we could take our hand away from the strings without feedback. As soon as we plugged the iRig in to AmpKit with the 'Killing the King' preset engaged we almost blew our eardrums out through audio feedback. The real difference came when we switched to the high-gain Peavey-type amp in the AmpKit app. The AmpKit LiNK seemed to be more resilient as we increased the gain, drive and volume controls in Amplitube, although not by a massive amount. When on the high-gain settings in Amplitube we really didn't have any feedback problems from either guitar interface until we introduced a Distortion stompbox and a Fuzz pedal on top of the Metal Amp setting. If you have ever stood in front of a guitar amp with full bore distortion dialled in you will a) know just how much fun this is and b) know that you are walking a fine line between cutting tone and screeching, eardrum shattering feedback. Apart from make a lot of noise (thank goodness for the headphone out) this part of the test showed the key issue with these type of guitar interfaces - susceptibility to screeching feedback, apparently due to crosstalk from the close proximity of microphone and audio out circuits (or something similar). This has an effect on the tone of the guitar which becomes more evident, although still slight, when using a bit more gain.įinally, we stopped playing nice and opened up the screaming distortion and high gain amp models to see what these interfaces could do. This was the case in both apps, and there is a definite small volume lift when using the battery powered AmpKit LiNK over the non-powered iRig. If you listen very carefully you may hear that the AmpKit LiNK provides a slightly clearer, less muddy sound than the iRig.

In Amplitube it is Preset 1 - 'Mild Crunch' and 'Captain Crunchy' in AmpKit. The next thing we are going to look at is the Crunch preset in each app with both guitar interfaces. Read on to find out what happens as the volume gets louder. In Part 2 we are going to ramp up the gain and continue to compare the performance of these two guitar interfaces. In Part 1 we set out the use for these interfaces and compared the basic dry signal passed from a guitar via these interfaces and the Clean Amp settings in the two iPad apps that partner with these devices, Amplitube and AmpKit. This is the second of a two part head to head review of iRig and AmpKit LiNK, arguably the two primary guitar (or other line level instrument) interfaces for the iPad (of the ones that use the headphone socket).

Ampkit metal