Manufacturer: IK Multimedia

Not a lot of people know this but...there's actually loads of Italian Music companies - the Italian government has been very active in promoting their home grown companies with some success, including ik Multimedia.

Starting back in 1996 they produced affordable "tracker" style Loop Remix software before moving into high quality Mastering applications like T-Racks and Sample based Softsynths like SampleTank (designed to replace the "workstation" keyboards made by Roland and Yamaha) but it was with the release of Amplitube in 2001 that their start really moved into the ascendent.

Amplitube allows users to arrange almost any combination of Guitar or Bass Amp and Speaker and Stomp Box FX Pedal that you can imagine producing stunningly realistic results.  Some clever hook ups with Fender, Ampeg and Jimi Hendrix's estate has meant they have authenticity coming out of every pore and more recently they've bundled the Software element with Hardware with the release of the Wah Wah styled Stealth pedal which gives Guitar and Bass players a simple and familiar way of hooking their instrument up to their computer and getting great results quickly.

Not afraid to branch out, they've moved into the world of iPhone Apps, producing the incredible iRig software and audio interface so that guitarists can start jamming on the train on the way to work in the morning!

Website URL: http://www.ikmultimedia.com