The new iRig Stomp I/O is a one-stop box for using your iPhone, iPad, or even Mac, with a musical instrument. You place it on the floor, drop your iDevice onto the the provided shelf space, and connect it to an amplifier, mixer, or speakers, and you’re away. The idea is that you can hook up a guitar or microphone and use it with any of the music apps on your device, and control it all with foot pedals.

All-in-one

There’s nothing really new in the Stomp I/O. What’s unique is that it’s all gathered into one floor-mounted pedalboard. The unit combines a USB audio interface for connecting instruments to your iPad, along with a set of foot switches for toggling effects, or controlling apps while you stand and play. There’s also a built-in expression pedal, a trade that allows you to control parameters with your feet.

For instance, a guitar player could hook up the Stomp I/O between guitar and amp, and then use any of the many guitar effects apps available for iOS. Their iPhone or iPad then becomes the brain of the unit, with the Stomp I/O as a foot-operated remote.

Stomp I/O MIDI

The Stomp I/O can also function as a standalone MIDI controller. MIDI is the language music apps and devices use to talk to each other, and the Stomp I/O can use its switches to control any MIDI device, without having to plug it into a computer first.

Hookups and let-downs

The Stomp I/O has plenty of connections, but it has one annoying design aspect common to most iRig devices: a proprietary iOS cable. Instead of a standard USB port that could connect to an iPhone using a standard Lighting cable, you have to use a special cable with a mini-DIN connection. One is supplied with the kit, but it’s only two-feet long. This makes the entire Stomp I/O unsuitable for use on stage, because the 2-foot cable means you have to leave your iDevice down on the Stomp I/O’s shelf, guaranteeing it’ll get beer spilled on it, or worse.

Lots of connections, both good and bad.

Thankfully, there is a USB-A port for hooking it up to a Mac or PC, so you should be able to use that for an iDevice with the right adapters, and keep the iPad up out of harm’s way (and where you can reach it with your hands to adjust settings in the apps).

Still, it’s an ingenious idea, and much better executed than previous efforts to do something similar. If you’re in the market for using your iOS device for live music, and you have the money to spend, then this has everything you’ll need.

Price: $300

Buy from: IK Multimedia