IRig 2
Connect your guitar and iPhone
£30 Manufacturer IK Multimedia, ikmultimedia.com Requires guitar with jack lead, iOS device with headphone port and running compatible recording software
The original iRig was a hugely popular and entirely idiot-proof means of plugging a guitar into an iOS device. This follow-up isn’t quite as simple, but because of that it’s far more versatile.
The basics remain the same: plug it into your device’s headphone socket, then plug your guitar jack lead into the quarter-inch input. You can plug headphones into the 3.5mm output socket too, to better monitor what you’re playing. The new additions are an input gain dial and jack output; with the flick of a switch, the output signal can be toggled between FX (processed) and THRU (clean). The case now boasts a clip, and there’s a strap in the box for attaching your iRig 2 to a mic stand.
During testing, it was immediately apparent this isn’t so much an improvement on the iRig as an entirely new piece of hardware. With our iPad Air we experienced no discernible latency, and the default input was clearer than the relatively thin sound you get from the old iRig. Apps seemed happy with the gain up high, which provided a strong signal for recording; when outputting to an amp, the ability to fine-tune gain levels was useful for improving the overall sound.
Compared to higher-end Lightning port guitar interfaces, such as Apogee’s JAM or IK Multimedia’s own iRig HD, the iRig 2 still comes off second best, lacking some richness and depth; but then it’s a fraction of the price, doesn’t stop you charging your device and works with older hardware. Craig Grannell