Digitech's new iPB-10 floorboard processor

[Elantric-fgn]

Now this looks interesting:
http://www.digitech.com/en-US/products/ipb-10-programmable-pedalboard



http://www.gizmag.com/digitech-intriduces-ipb10-ipad-based-pedalboard/19019/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=e89db085d6-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email




Reprinted from GizMag;


Only a short time ago, if you'd asked me to describe a modern guitar effects unit, something like the GR-55 from Boss would probably have come to mind. Since the introduction of iPhone and iPad music creation apps like IK Multimedia's AmpliTube app, however, multi-effects processing and amp/cab emulation have risen up from the stomp box on the ground and into the hands of the player. Now DigiTech have announced a new unit which offers the best of both worlds. Docking an iPad in the iPB-10 Programmable Pedalboard allows guitarists to drag and drop a chain of effects using the accompanying app and then use the physical footswitches to control the action.
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The fact that the iPad was practically everywhere at NAMM recently is testament to the power and versatility that music apps on such a device bring to players. For the most part though, players have to interface their instruments with Apple's tablet using something like the Apogee JAM or the iRig from IK Multimedia. With DigiTech's new iPB-10 Programmable Pedalboard, users actually slot Apple's tablet into the built-in docking bay and then hook up the instrument and amp to the back of the unit itself.

DigiTech has also launched its own specially-designed iPB-Nexus app for iPad that gives iPB-10 users the ability to design boards by drag and drop on the tablet screen and includes a MyTones library to store and organize presets. Players can choose to use other apps with the system but full functionality may suffer.
"The iPB-10 will stream a digital audio signal to any application that uses the digital audio input on the iPad," Scott Klimt, Marketing Lead at DigiTech, told Gizmag. "In our testing we've found that we can create a preset within iPB-Nexus app, run that sound into Garageband, add any additional effects within that application and record tracks. We're not able to control third party apps with the footswitches but you can run those apps while the iPad is docked in the iPB-10."
DigiTech is also currently working with application developers to incorporate more features into the Nexus app and has plans to offer users the chance to upload custom presets to a community portal and share them with others.
"The iPB-Nexus app for iPad brings a level of connectivity and sharing to musicians that never existed for presets," says Klimt. "Allowing users to share their presets with each other directly from their pedal within an online community of iPB-Nexus/iPB-10 users is one of the features that make this part of the future of guitar effects. Imagine the ability to search and load the perfect tone for any song without having to unhook all your gear, plug into your desktop computer, install the drivers, and wait for everything to update."
Up to ten different effects pedals can be included in any one chain, in any order. The Nexus app offers a choice of 87 different pedals - including various flavors of wah, distortion, chorus, flanger and phasers. Board design can be undertaken on a docked or undocked iPad, if the latter the iPB-10 will auto-sync with the Nexus app when the tablet is next docked.
"At this time users can assign up to 5 of those pedals to a footswitch A-E (top row)," Klimt explains. "Footswitches 1-5 (bottom row) are presets within a bank. There are 20 banks (1-20), each with 5 presets within each bank. Players have access to up to 100 through the footswitches. In a future update to the app there are plans to incorporate more advanced configuration options that could allow players to completely customize the layout and assignment of each footswitch within each preset."
Once satisfied with the effects, a user can then add one of 54 amp emulations - with numerous models from Mesa Boogie to Marshall and Fender to DigiTech's own - and one of 26 cabinets to the design and save the whole thing to one of a 100 preset locations for easy recall later on, although the Nexus app itself can store an unlimited amount of designs.
When a preset is chosen, individual pedals in the chain are brought in and out according to their footswitch assignment and a real-time performance view shows each pedal and its settings on the iPad display. Any loaded preset can be further tweaked as necessary and saved to the current or a different location as desired. Users also have the advantage of recalling different board designs for live, studio or rehearsal situations or even swapping between layouts during a song.
Interestingly, a user will still be able to choose from onboard presets even if there's no iPad in the cradle - although it won't be possible to alter the configuration, that can only be done using Apple's tablet computer.

To the rear of the cast metal unit, there's an instrument input, an amp loop, an effects loop, stereo line-out with an Amp/Mixer switch, stereo XLR outputs, external footswitch control, USB port, and a headphone jack.
The iPB-10 is powered by two Audio DNA2 DSP processors, offers 24-bit analog-to-digital conversion and a 44.1kHz sample rate, and is compatible with all models of iPad and iPad 2.
Shipping starts this month at a suggested retail of US$700, with the free iPB-Nexus app available via the App Store. Of course, the unit doesn't include an iPad - you'll have to either already own one or go out and buy one and I have to say that this development might just tempt me to do so.

[MCK-fgn]

You beat me to it! I saw it online and came to FGN to post about it and saw your post! Kudos to the fastest gunslinger of the wild wild west! 


I like the idea a lot! I wonder if the board's interaction with the iPad is something others can leverage and write applications for... Will order one definitely.

[vanceg-fgn]

That is an interesting concept.  As some folks have mentioned on other sites - I'm wondering if it's a good idea to put an ipad so near to feet.  The press release says you can extend the cable if you want to keep the ipad at table level...and I think that's what I'd have to do.

It does become nearly as expensive as a (used) VG-99 when you add the cost of a (new) ipad to the pedal board.  Maybe not a totally fair comparison. but just sayin. I really like the idea.  I think I'd love it even more if it was a Mac Mini sitting there connected via WiFi to control software on my iPad.

[vanceg-fgn]

Note, also, that the iPAD isn't really doing any of the signal processing. Instead, a DSP chip inside the pedalboard itself is doing the work.  To me, this sounds like a good idea - use a specialized chip to do the DSP.  It does mention that the iPAD can be removed and the pedalboard can be used on it's own, switching presets and everything....you just don't have any on screen UI.  No problem - I don't have much on screen UI with my pedals either  ;-)

I like the idea. Don't think I NEED one...but I sho' nuff dig the idea.

[MCK-fgn]

Yup. I read about this as well. This also reduces the possibility of using the pedal board as a pass-thru device to control other stuff. It looks nice but...

[Johnnyurq-fgn]

Looks pretty cool but I wouldn't have my iPad on the floor at Pub gigs. It would die from some drunken eejit standing on it or soaking it in beer.

Still very interesting though.

[MCK-fgn]

Ok. Finally caved in and bought one. It really is a sweet device. Very well built hardware coupled with a very decent interface. Wish Roland would take a page from Digitech's playbook in the app area... Anyways. More feedback to follow.


My plan is to put this next to my GR55 and route the MagPU into ipb-10 while GK3 sounds go to GR55...

[Elantric-fgn]

I'm thinking that a new version may be imminent since NAMM is only one month away. Possibly from another company.

[MCK-fgn]

Ahh thats a good point. I have 30 days return on this thing so perhaps best is to get to find out its abilities and then return to wait for new version. Thanks for the heads up.

[Elantric-fgn]

The most comprehensive info on the iPB-10 is here:

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2846127-NEW!-DigiTech-iPB-10-Programmable-Pedalboard

[MCK-fgn]

Thanks for the pointer. I don't have an account there but might end up creating one just for that thread... Oh well...


For now my only gripe is unexpected crashes in the iPad app. Apparently IOS5 is not playing so well with it yet

[stewslash]

oh this cod be my Christmas present to myself 

[shawn-fgn]

There are a lot of videos on YouTube now about the iPB10. One of the complaints that many early reviewers had was that it seemed like there was no way to engage the board's tuner via footswitching. One intrepid gear vlogger eventually figured out how to use the board's built-in tuner with or without the iPad connected. (I guess the board ships with a no-frills manual and for awhile, Digitech removed the comprehensive manual from its website? The full manual is back up and available again for download, from what I understand.)

I've got my heart set on putting a Line 6 rig together. If I change my mind about that, I'm definitely going after the iPB10. I think using an iPad as the interface is brilliant and could take some of the tedium out of patch building.

[Elantric-fgn]

I think MCK owns one of these IPB-10 rigs

But lately I'm considering using Apple Mainstage, but run it on a headless Mac Mini , but control using a wireless VPN connection with Ipad, and use normal MIDI footcontroller connected to MacMini.

There is a limit to what the iPad can do for real time processing, true the IPB-10 uses its own DSP, and the iPad is merely running the GUI 

Today there is a head spinning array of options for the modern guitarist.

Might explain why I play in a minimalist surf band - it's a relief and I can employ time honored skills I learned 40 years ago

[shawn-fgn]

Today there is a head spinning array of options for the modern guitarist.

Truth!

For years, I just played the guitar plugged into a standard two-channel amp and that was it. I bought a Flextone II combo in 2001 and that was the first time I played with any effects in years, and I liked the simplicity of just having it all built into the amp.

Ultimately, I like simple setups. But I would like to have the ability to expand things if necessary. That's why I like the Variax/POD combination, since you can include the guitar models into the patches.

Still, I could save myself some money (and potential headaches) and just use the gear I already have. Well, I'd have to upgrade my Telecaster's stock pickups. And probably add a Stetsbar, too... (It never ends!)

[MCK-fgn]

I think MCK owns one of these IPB-10 rigs

But lately I'm considering using Apple Mainstage, but run it on a headless Mac Mini , but control using a wireless VPN connection with Ipad, and use normal MIDI footcontroller connected to MacMini.

Yes. I have an IPB-10 and love it. Its a great pick up and go unit which can serve many purposes. I sold a bunch of pedals that the IPB-10 made redundant for me and it already more than paid for itself.


Great idea with the headless mac mini. This was the rig I imagined ever since I first got the Guitar Rig that cme with the Darkfire etc.