We typically focus on home studio recording on the Sage Audio mastering blog, but using smartphones and tablets for recording are becoming more popular and can offer a great way to capture sounds and tracks on-the-go.
iRig HD is a new mobile interface for guitarists that want to create a mobile recording opportunity. The product is from IK Multimedia, the company behind the popular AmpliTube guitar modeling plugin. The new product from the company allows guitarists to plug directly into their iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Mac with a variety of adapters offering USB, 30-pin and Lightning compatibility.
The iRig HD is about the size of a cigarette lighter and requires no additional power source. This makes it great for recording, as well as for those that want to run their live sound through an iPad.
Since mobile devices became powerful enough to run modeling and recording software, there’s been a slew of products attempting to provide the best way to connect instruments, including guitars. While some companies have used products like wraparound contraptions fit around tablets, they can sometimes seem bulky when considering the point of mobile recording is to have as little gear requirements as possible.
iRig isn’t the first of its size, and it’s not the only one that will work with Amplitube software, but it may be worth checking out for any guitarists wishing to plug in to their mobile device.
And the AmpliTube software may be a perk that interests many guitarists, as iRig comes with the free version of the software. The full version of the iOS software is $19.99, and comes with additional sound options to choose from.
All AmpliTube products are set up essentially the same, after plugging in your guitar to the device you are using, you choose the stomp box effects you want, the amp, the microphone and the mic placement to get a wide variety of tones. New versions of the software even include a recording app so you can record on the go.
However, the adapters can also be used to turn your mobile device into a guitar effects processor that you can use to perform live without the need for an amp.
The desktop version of AmpliTube offers the most variety of sounds, with 160 gear models included in the current AmpliTube 3 version. The makers of the software have partnered with companies including Fender, Orange, Seymour Duncan, Groove Tubes and Jet City to replicate classic and/or well known sounds. Additionally, the companies offers special add-ons to the software, such as Jimi Hendrix sounds and Slash guitar tones.
The iRig HD currently is only available for iOS devices, though other iRig products are available for Android, so it may be worth watching to see if it becomes available for use on these devices in the future. The mobile version of AmpliTube also is only available for iOS, though the company does offer a recording program for Android, the iRig Recorder for Android.
So, Why A Membership?
Let’s face it — trying to create professional mixes without the correct knowledge, tools, services, and network is like playing a concert with a broken instrument to an audience of no one.
That’s where the Sage Audio membership comes in — the membership gives you everything you need to create professional mixes consistently.
The membership is the secret to your success — it’s the difference between the 1,929,999,999 of poor-sounding mixes and the .00000002% of mixes that make people say 'WOW!"
There are 7 unique value-points included in your Sage Audio membership.
Let’s go over each one so you can decide if the membership is right for you.
1. Sage Audio University
- SAU Flagship Mixing Course: 23-video in-depth mixing course that reveals the little-known secrets of mixing and matches the needs of the new music industry.
- SAU Flagship Mastering Course: 19-video in-depth modern mastering course that dives into every nuance of making professional-sounding masters.
- SAU Pre-Mastering Course: Concise pre-mastering course that details the latest industry standards for preparing your mixes for mastering.
- SAU is designed for every experience level, ranging from budding mixing engineers to advanced engineers. The techniques and concepts taught can be applied to any DAW to create industry-leading mixes without expensive software or plugins - and free plugin alternatives are suggested throughout each course.
- Each SAU course includes Start-to-Finish session walkthrough lessons for multiple genres so you can follow along with your preferred genre.
- SAU Certification Document, which can be downloaded and showcased on your website and social channels.
Yes, I want to join the membership now >
2. Private 1-on-1 Mentorship
- The Sage Audio private 1-on-1 Mentorship gives you direct access to us for advanced mixing feedback, in-depth discussions, and customized guidance that's tailored to your specific needs.
- Unlimited private access to us for advanced mixing feedback, where we provide detailed suggestions for improvement.
- Unlimited private access to us for in-depth discussions to help you improve every aspect of your mixes and masters.
- Customized guidance that’s tailored specifically to your needs.
- Fast communication so you can improve your skills quickly.
Yes, I want to join the membership now >
3. Unlimited Mixing Feedback
- Unlimited professional mixing feedback directly from us so you can consistently improve your skills and create professional mixes.
- Mixing feedback is invaluable, and the Sage Audio membership gives you continual direct access to us for real-world feedback so you can improve every aspect of each of your mixes while you're in the process of mixing.
Yes, I want to join the membership now >
4. 50 Free Mastered Songs Per Year
- 50 free mastered songs per year with your own dedicated professional mastering engineer so you can get all your mixes sounding like professional songs.
- You get your own dedicated Sage Audio mastering engineer to create custom masters that are specific to you and sound exactly how you want.
- Unlimited revisions with your dedicated mastering engineer. As a standard of our service, we are not happy until you are happy with the sound of your masters.
- All masters are delivered as commercial, industry-standard high-resolution 24-bit HD WAV masters so they will sound clean and clear on every platform.
Yes, I want to join the membership now >
5. Community
- The Sage Audio community is a tight-knit community of passionate audio engineers who can provide you with additional real-world mixing feedback, meaningful discussions, networking, collaborations, and more.
Yes, I want to join the membership now >
6. 70+ GB of Curated Sage Audio Downloadable Content
- 36 multitrack sessions spanning multiple genres for mixing practice.
- 57 un-mastered mixes spanning multiple genres for mastering practice.
- 62 Recommended Free Plugins List (vetted, tested, and approved, so you don’t have to).
- 39 Recommended Paid Plugins List (vetted, tested, and approved, so you don’t have to).
- 71 Sage Audio custom plugin presets to improve your mixes and masters.
- Sage Audio Membership Badge to showcase on your website, social channels, and portfolio.
Yes, I want to join the membership now >
7. 800+ Video Catalog
- Access 700+ in-depth Sage Audio mixing and mastering videos - curated and organized into categories so you can easily take a deep dive into all aspects of audio engineering with thousands of hours of concise, expertly crafted Sage Audio videos to continually improve your skills at your own pace.
Yes, I want to join the membership now >
