IK Multimedia has a tendency to pump out some high-quality and highly functional recording devices that are just packed with features, great for all types of recording artists on-the-go or in the studio. I love their devices and use them to record frequently. Back in the day, when I discovered how fast and convenient it was to record ideas and even tracks with my iPad, I ended up trying, through a friend’s recommendation, the original AmpliTube iRig, which for as basic as it was, made recording quick, for when I had a riff stuck in my head and wanted to put that idea down before I forgot it. The ease of use and audio quality made me trust their products. Since then, I’ve owned the iRig Pro HD and the iRig Pro Duo 2. None have disappointed and have consistently gotten better in quality over time.

So when I had the chance to try out and review their new iRig Pro I/O, it was a no-brainer to give it a spin. Like all of their products, this pocket-sized mobile audio/MIDI interface is compatible with iPhone®, iPad®, Mac®, PC and Android™.

For a plug-and-play recording device, IK Multimedia stands true to its previous versions by keeping this product compact in size, but once you start recording, you can hear the difference in sound quality from previous versions of the past. Recording at 24-bit/96kHz, the resulting audio quality sounds as pro as it gets. It’s a huge step up from the original iRig and even its predecessor, the iRig PRO. Guitar tracks sounded crystal clear and the fact that it has both a Volume knob for headphones on the side and a Gain knob on the front, you can tweak it to get a more precise sound on your instrument.

Features in the iRig Pro I/O like everything else they offer is immense, covering all that you might need in a portable recording interface and more, including the standard 1/4 XLR guitar, mic, and line input, 1/8 headphone/line out with level control for use with the latest Apple devices and to connect to headphones, mixers or powered monitor speakers. There’s an On/Off switch for 48V phantom power, important for mics to work properly. One new interesting feature is that the iRig Pro I/O is the first interface of its kind that includes built-in device charging for extended playing sessions, using an optional power supply. The cool thing about this is that when connected to an iPhone/iPad you would need 2 x AA batteries (included)  but if connected to a Mac or PC, it would run off of USB power, one of my favorite features of the previous iRig Pro interfaces.

What comes in the box with the iRig Pro I/O is the user manual and wires including one Mini-DIN to USB and one Mini-DIN to Lightning cable along with two 5-pin MIDI to 2.5mm cables for connection to standard MIDI gear. Of course, there’s plenty of free software, as the iRig Pro I/O comes with over $/€550 worth of full version IK Software including AmpliTube for iOS, AmpliTube 4 for Mac/PC, SampleTank 3 SE, T-RackS Deluxe with Mic Room, and more.

At the end of the day, the iRig Pro I/O  is a great interface to record on-the-go and at home. The sound quality is crystal clear for recording instruments and vocals and the fact that you don’t need the batteries when connecting to a PC or Mac make this a great buy at $/€149.99.

For more information, please visit: www.irigpro.io

For a video of iRig Pro I/O in action, please visit: www.irigpro.io/video