Hallo guitar fans. This month I am presenting JamUp XT Pro iOS app developed by Positive Grid. This is not only one of the best guitar amp simulators out there in my own opinion, it is much more than that.

JamUp XT review by Daddo Oreskovich

Some time ago, with the appearance of the first iOS apps for guitarists, iPad, iPod, or iPhone were merely a tool for great practice, warm-up or hotel room jam. Android is still not even close to iOS because of its latency issue.

I remember almost two years ago when I bought my iRig audio interface. I downloaded free AmpliTube app and I was amazed with an opportunity to practice virtually anywhere without harassing my neighbors with Progressive Metal and Rock music by turning my amp and the full gear on :-) The sounds were decent and the app served its purpose -> to be used as a practice tool.

After I found out about JamUp, honestly, I thought this is just one of the many variations of the same thing. I was so wrong :-) It is not only the perfect practice tool, it is truly every guitarist's "Swiss army knife" app. All magazines like: MacWorld, Guitar World, Guitar Player, Guitarist and Premier Guitar were reviewing the app with high appraisals, introducing the best seen symbiosis of Apple iOS and actual musical instrument.

What is JamUp? It is guitar amp and FX simulator, multi track recording device, loop/phrase sampler, guitar tuner and professional backing track player with tempo and pitch tweak possibility. What makes possible using this app live is ability of pairing with a third party MIDI controller pedals.

Amp simulators

Virtually almost every amp is emulated here; Fender, Marshall, Messa Boogie, Orange, Peavy, Laney are just to name a few. Regardless of what version of JamUp you downloaded (free or pro version), all additional amps and stomp boxes can be obtained through the "in app purchase". There are 3 categories of amps: acoustic, electric and bass guitar amps.

Stomp boxes

There are 6 stomp box groups in JamUp:

• nosie gate FX
• modulation FX (chorus, flanger, wah, phaser...)
• reverb FX
• delay FX
• EQ
• Compression and overdrive/distortion group

All effects and amps can be moved in the signal chain order. For example, you can drag the Tube Screamer stomp to be the first in the signal chain, Noise Gate on the last spot, etc... like the "real-world" pedalboard. All parameters are very easy and straightforward. Just use your imagination and tailor to your taste. All settings can be configured as a "patch". There are 4x16 patch slots including factory presets. Each slot and patch name can be renamed of course.

Jam Player

Jam player is professional grade audio file player. You can import your favorite guitar backing tracks and regulate their tempo and speed. This comes very handy if you have string lock on your guitar and the backing track is half step down for instance. Just raise the pitch parameter half step up to "1 o'clock"  and you can jam without retuning your instrument. Very cool. This is also great aid for singers. Not every male singer has a vocal range of David Coverdale or Bruce Dickinson, so backing track pitch comes very handy -> great karaoke player as well :-)

If you are "one-man-band ", it is great to control both your guitar sound and backing track in the same app, without a need for a separate CD/Karaoke player. Both volumes (guitar and backing track) are controlled separately.

Phrase sampler

Let's say you are on a guitar clinic or you have your guitar solo section on the gig. You can record and loop a phrase, and then play over it. You can also load a drum loop from your iPod library and jam with it and also save it for later exploit. Loop and instrument levels are controlled separately.

8-track recorder

One of the best tools in JamUp. I use it frequently when filming lessons for Live4guitar. I record video on the HD camcorder, I play backing track on iPad and record live guitar track on iPad. This eliminates dragging the computer to the best spot in my apartment for video recording.

Lets say you have your ProTools or any DAW session. You can export each track and the drums stem, and import into 8-track recorder for better control. You can also copy audio file from another app such as Garage Band as well. You can also record your guitar or bass in another app on the same iDevice using "Audio Bus" app. I briefly explain it how in the review video.

Many, many possibilities and options. This is why I claim JamUp to be the "Swiss Army Knife" music app.

 

Tone/Patch sharing

This is one of the unique features in JamUp. You can share your patches on-line with JamUp community. People can like or comment your patch.

I am truly honored to be chosen by Positive Grid as their featured artist. You can download and jam with my signature "Preset Pack". More about my Preset Pack in this video:

Using JamUp live

There are vast possibilities of connecting your guitar to JamUp and your iDevice to your pedal board. I am using Griffin pedal controller with JamUp. You can configure 4 different stomp switches from the app. This controller also has an expression pedal input, so you can control volume and Cry Baby wah. At the time of this writing, Positive Grid is developing emulation of Digitech Whammy so stay tuned for that one :-) There are many different third party external MIDI pedals that can be used with JamUp. For complete list visit www.positivegrid.com 

In the next video, I'm showing my Griffin controller and talking about my hybrid pedalboard in details.

The Verdict

I am giving JamUp 10/10 points. This is universal "guitar Swiss army knife app" for every guitarist and bassist. It can very astoundingly emulate all vintage amps and stomp effects. It can be used for making music, recording and sharing the ideas and patches. It can be used as a source of recording in other apps via "Audio Bus" app, so you can use JamUp sounds in Apple Garage Band for instance. With third party MIDI controllers, it can be used live on stage.

What else one needs? It's all in there, in iOS app called JamUp XT.

Download free version and see it for yourself. Here is direct iTunes link:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jamup-xt-amp-effects-processor/id449820506?mt=8

Also check out Daddo's guitar lessons on L4g Marketplace: http://marketplace.live4guitar.com/guitar-instructor/Daddo-Oreskovich/guitar-lessons