At the 2021 Summer NAMM Show, IK Multimedia has introduced AmpliTube X-GEAR pedals, a new line of four pedals, each featuring 16 different effects, drawn from the most popular AmpliTube models, plust new reverb and delay algorithms.
Each pedal is also accompanied by a virtual X-GEAR version of the exact same effects for use in AmpliTube 5 (SE version included). This lets you record, tweak settings and save presets back to the hardware pedal, so you can use the exact same effects in your DAW or live.
The company has introduced four AmpliTube X-GEAR pedals:
- X-DRIVE distortion;
- X-VIBE modulation;
- X-TIME delay; and
- X-SPACE reverb.
X-GEAR pedals feature an aluminum chassis, with ultra-low noise, 24-bit/192kHz converters, an extended 5 Hz – 24 kHz frequency response to capture the full scope of an instrument’s tone, and up to 123 dB dynamic range. Each pedal also features a pure analog dry path and selectable true or soft bypass.
X-GEAR pedals also work as a USB audio interface. Versatile routing options let you choose between sending the wet or dry signals to your DAW. There’s stereo out for monitoring and full MIDI implementation, so you can map the dials and stomps of X-GEAR to control AmpliTube and/or any compatible program.
Pricing and Availability
AmpliTube X-GEAR pedals will be available in August and are currently available for pre-order from the IK Multimedia online store and from IK authorized dealers worldwide for $/€299.99.*
£360 Inc VAT for 1 digital pedal with just 1 FX and 16 types? Good luck with that against HELIX Stomp for the same sort of money- It has just as good modelling but is more like 6 pedals… with 300 effects, amp, cab, and looper (and IR loading)…you would need 4 IK pedals at over a grand to do less!
Are you aware of that a Eventide charges even more for their pedals with just 1 FX?
IK are no Eventide in my opinion, of course there are expensive pedals…if there are the best sounding single fx type pedals ever made then who knows, I may eat my words, but the pedal modelling is not that great in Amplitibe and the demos don’t blow me away either. I think a lot of people who want this type of thing will stump up a little more for a Eventide H9 That will be a lot cheaper than buying 4 IK pedals to cover the same range of FX, but I suspect a lot are buying for synths fx, Something like a HX stomp seems better for guitar only.
Exactly, you pay more for the “brand name”, than the actual product.
There is just one reason why people pay £400 for a Strymon Big Sky, the sound, not the brand. If these pedals sound as good as Stymon and Eventide then they will sell, if not, they wont. Helix and others are a lot cheaper so they put themselves against the very best pedals in the world at that price point, so they need to be the very best ‘sound’ to compete.
Agreed that the price should be much lower, considering a Zoom CDR-70 packed with hundreds of fine effects, that you can stack, just costs a little more than a hundred bucks. Does made in Italy justify the price premium?
Unfortunately, the effects on the Zoom CDR-70 are nowhere near studio quality or state of the art.
I’ve got one, and it’s a useful pedal, but most people recognize that the effects are a big step down from pedals like this, especially the delay and reverb effects. If you compare the CDR-70 reverbs to the Eventide Space or the Strymon Nightsky, the CDR-70 sounds like sonically pixelated compared to more powerful effects.
Use the software to experiment stacking different effects and adjust the parameters, Zoom CDR-70 can sound nearly as good and the price cannot be beat.
IK Multimedia has some great products, some are terrible and clearly designed by people that don’t use them.
These pedals look nice (as if Strymon and Eventide had a baby). The demo didn’t do it for me. Maybe some demos with synths will change my mind.
that’s some terribly cheesy demo…
I genuinely thought with a little bit of noodling you could use ANY pedal with a DAW.
IK mutlimedia? what about $89,- ?