IK Multimedia iRig STOMP for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch review

Provides: iOS guitar input
Developer: IK Multimedia
Minimum Requirements: iOS device, guitar, guitar app(s)
Price: $59.99
Availability: Now

Connecting your guitar to your iPhone or iPad isn’t as simple as plugging straight in, but IK Multimedia has made it both easy and familiar with their new iRig STOMP. It’s a guitar input adapter that feels at home with the rest of your stomp box collection. It’s similar to the standard iRig with a few extra features in a rugged housing.

Let’s take a look at how well it performs.

If you’re expecting the iRig STOMP to be just like the standard iRig guitar input, then you’re going to be pleasantly surprised by a number of useful extra features. The iRig STOMP takes a standard 1/4″ input and feeds it to your iOS device via the included 1/8″ cable similar to the original iRig. The extra long cable is a huge benefit, though, as it won’t be pulling your iPhone around. It also has a headphone port for quiet playing. But that’s where the standard features stop.

The iRig STOMP has a nice big knob on it to control the input gain. This helps adjust the input perfectly to your specific guitar; important since not all guitars have the same volume level. In addition to the headphone out, there are two 1/4″ outputs for both stereo or mono setups. And finally, to qualify it as a real stomp box, there’s a foot switch that will gladly accept your stomping. This switch allows you to cut off the connection to your iOS device and have your guitar go straight through to the other side. There’s even a handy LED to let you know which is happening (if you for some reason can’t hear the difference).

In addition to the extra features of the iRig STOMP, it’s housed in a very rugged metal enclosure that will take more than a few stomps without budging. The foot switch is great, the knob is smooth…does this accessory have any faults? Well, yes. To make all of this happen, you’ll have to power the iRig STOMP with a 9V battery (one is included) or a power adapter. That’s not a problem. The problem is that if you leave a cable plugged into the input, the battery will continue to provide power (i.e. drain) regardless of whether the iRig STOMP is actively pushing your signal to an iOS device or merely acting as a passthrough. It should be known that this isn’t the only adapter that functions this way, but it really would have been nice to have an on/off switch to preserve the battery; 9Vs are expensive. The workaround is to either unplug your cables when you’re not using it, or use a power adapter.

Still, the iRig STOMP is the guitar input of choice for musicians who love stomp boxes. It’s a versatile choice for any guitar player, even if you don’t intend to use it in a stomp box setup. The numerous outputs, on/off foot switch and variable input gain put the iRig STOMP at the top of the iOS guitar input adapter list. You’d be hard pressed to find a better analog guitar input adapter for iOS. And considering how Apple is about to change the dock connector, an analog solution is looking like a pretty solid choice.

Appletell Rating:

Buy the iRig Stomp