Earlier this year, IK Multimedia shared its product roadmap for 2014 with Gizmag, which included a brief overview of a 16 pad groove controller called the iRig Pads. We got a quick look at the portable digital beat maker and MIDI controller for the electronic musician on the move at IFA 2014, but the company wasn't quite ready to release final specs. IK Multimedia has today announced that the device is now available for shipping.
The iRig Pads has been designed for use with an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch via the included Lightning cable (30-pin connector is available separately), as well as Mac and PC over USB. Mobile groovers needn't worry about forgetting the power adapter because it doesn't need one, the 7.5 x 8.1 x 0.9 in (190 x 205 x 23 mm), 1.2 lb (547 g) unit draws the power it needs from the device it's connected to.
The controller sports two MIDI knobs, two buttons, one slider and a pushbutton rotary encoder, which are all user programmable. Its 16 velocity-sensitive rubber pads are laid out in a familiar 4x4 configuration, and each pad has multicolor backlighting. All controls are MIDI-assignable, and users can save up to 16 different MIDI maps for quick recall during a performance (the device ships with six preset maps already loaded). MIDI-class compliance allows beat masters to use the iRig Pads with any MIDI-compatible app/software, such as GarageBand, FL Studio Mobile, Ableton Live and Maschine.
At the moment, iPhone and iPad users will be able to get straight into beat creation courtesy of the included free edition of the company's SampleTank suite. In the near future, GrooveMaker 2 will be made available for looping and grooving, together with DJ Rig free for remixing of favorite tracks. Mac/PC users will be treated to SampleTank 3 SE, which will work as a standalone or plug-in virtual instrument for most popular DAWs (digital audio workstation). This suite includes more than 6.5 GB of top notch samples, 400 instruments and 150 MIDI patterns.
IK Multimedia is also dangling a tasty carrot for those who register their iRig Pads, in the shape of more samples and more MIDI patterns known collectively as The Grid.
The iRig Pads is available from today for US$149.99.
The promo video from IK Multimedia is below.
Product page: iRig Pads
