Hamer of iPad Interfaces?

[velorush]

I have one for the experts: I am actually playing again. The band is using MultiTracks to build and share setlists, then I am able to use their ChartBuilder to practice and develop my parts for each song. I'm using an iPad (A16 if it matters, it likely will if I ever get to the point...) to run ChartBuilder both during practice and performance (synced with other band members).

The question (I'll throw in today's Python reference: "GET ON WITH IT"): with the guitar plugged into the iPad, I would like to combine the ChartBuilder playback with some sort of amp simulation. All of this should be portable as much of my practice time happens during lunch at work. For options, I find:

• iRig HD X
• Apogee Jam X

The reviews on these seem to be either 1 out of 5 or 5 out of 5 (for both), which concerns me as I deal with IT all day at work (I am a finance guy. How did I get here?) so I the last thing I want to deal with when I have a guitar in hand is some sort of technical fiddliness. 

Has anyone used either of these or any other portable interface that works and works well? 

The advantage I see of the iRig over the Apogee is if the amp sims are good, one can use the second iRig output to go to FOH. Apogee apparently has no such facility. 

[mathman]

I've used a couple of versions of the irig and they have always worked well.  Could something be better?  of course but the iRig has worked well for me. 

[velorush]

Watched this last night. It was pretty interesting, especially the noise floor comparison.

[HEY! IT APPEARS THE PREVIEW DISPLAY IS BACK ON SHARED YOUTUBE LINKS! HOORAY!]

I didn't even know Positive Grid made an interface and was excited at another possibility, but when he demoed it, I saw that it had the same feature as the Spark Amp I find so desperately aggravating - the noise gate. Also presented grounding issues. Go figure.

Pretty settled at this point on the iRig HD X. I'll probably be ordering that today unless someone has a better idea.