GEAR REVIEW
AMPLITUBE X-GEAR PEDALS BY IK MULTIMEDIA | Eric Dahl
Achieving studio quality sound effects in a stomp box pedal configuration is a tall order at best . But IK Multimedia has been pushing boundaries for a long time with their affordable user-friendly hardware and expansive software . The new AmpliTube X-Gear Digital Boutique guitar pedals are the most sophisticated effects IK has created to date . Each robust pedal is focused on a different type of effects modulation . First let ’ s cover what each of the pedals do specifically then at the end of the piece we will discuss the features that all the X-Gear pedals share in common .
The AmpliTube X-Time Delay features tap tempo delay , tape echoes ( analog & digital ), ping-pong , reverse , slapback , duck , spill over / trails , arctic and BPM sync all in one device . The controls on top give you access to model , presets , parameters , time , feedback , filter , modulation , and mix . For the foot controls you have A and B back up and down and far right stomp is for
Tap tempo . What I liked most about the X-Time Delay pedal is the warmth of the sounds and realism . Also , the tap tempo footswitch is a must for staying in true time . If you are a big delay effects fan , then this will be a must have .
On to the AmpliTube X-Space Reverb , it is loaded with algorithms for shimmer , hall , room , chamber , church , plate , swell , spring , gate , reverse , early-ref , ethereal , magnetic extreme and bloom . The variety of usable reverb textures in the X-Space Reverb is staggering . Go from adding a bit of spring to sounding like you are playing in a cathedral and all the layers in between . The presets are great , but you will definitely want to compose your own on sounds on the X-Space Reverb especially for live performances .
For distortion fans the AmpliTube X-Drive was designed for you ! This X-Gear pedal essentially encapsules every distortion or fuzz pedal I have ever owned and a few extras . The sound pallet consists of these distortion options : modern , monarch , metal , cat , orange , yellow , green , booster , diode , blue , hi-boost , bigfuzz , fuzzace , purple and octofuzz . This pedal deviates from the X-Gear pedals by providing a cabinet simulation output and a headphone output ( great for dialing in your sounds in private ). You can achieve all your distortion desires with the X-Drive pedal and not have the unwanted ambient noise factor that many dirt pedals deliver .
The final member of the X-Gear family is the AmpliTube X-Vibe pedal . This unit can probably replace three or four of the current pedals on your pedalboard . The X-Vibe features these effects : step-filter , step-slicer , tremolo , rotary , metallic , doubler , electric , stone , fox , phazercl , phazer-10 , phazer-9 , 60-vibe , chorus-x , chorus-1 , and 80-chorus ( my personal favorite ). f you could only buy one of the X-Gear pedals