The Keystone

The Keystone dials in the sound and spirit of the early-’70s Bay Area club scene to your iPhone and iPad. More than half a century later, that music is still being played—and guitarists are still chasing those tones. Connect to your audio interface, direct to your studio, powered speakers or headphone, or send to an amp and play live. Musician and developer Mike Lawson spent years performing and recording with Merl Saunders and recording/playing with musicians from that scene. The Keystone grew out of those experiences and decades of chasing the sound as a working guitarist. He created this rig from his own live and studio settings, pedals, from authentic schematics and calibrations to his own live rig. The Keystone puts a little of that magic within reach, without the vintage-gear hunt. At the center is Quackmaster III: a touch-sensitive envelope filter with the deep, vocal quack that makes this style of guitar playing so much fun. Around it are bell-like cleans, warm amplifier breakup, singing sustain, spring reverb, phase, octave and delay, even per-accurate amps with their mods. Choose from 65 factory presets or turn the knobs and find your own sound. The effects and settings, attention to details and a few Easter eggs, this is a fun to use as it is to play through. The Keystone includes both the standalone app and an AUv3 plug-in for GarageBand, Logic Pro for iPad and other compatible iOS hosts. Plug into a compatible audio interface to play through the app, or use the plug-in in your recording sessions. One purchase includes the complete rig and AUv3 plug-in for iOS. No subscriptions, no ads, no account required. Just all good things in all good time. Support: [email protected]