UK guitar and bass amp manufacturers Orange have launched a most unusual new product, called the Orange PC (or OPC for short). Effectively a computer built into a guitar cabinet, the OPC boasts 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and an integrated Nvidia GeForce 9300 graphics card (with the option to get an ATI 5760 GPU fitted, in addition to the onboard Nvidia graphics). No details were given about the specific type of processor, but Orange say that the OPC uses “Intel chips”.
Other features not normally found on a guitar combo include WiFi connectivity, eight USB ports, a PS2 socket, an Ethernet port, and what appears to be an eSATA connector. The top panel of the amp houses some of the more traditional amp adornments, including volume, treble and bass controls, while the audio input socket is described by Orange as a “universal input jack” that allows you to connect a guitar, keyboard, microphone or MP3 player.
Probably the most obvious reason for building a computer into a guitar combo is to combine the features of amp-modelling software with the sound of a real guitar cab, and that’s precisely how Orange envisage people using the OPC. The first models sold will apparently come with amp simulator software, and though Orange don’t say what this will be, they do say that it will include models of both vintage and current Orange amps and cabs. The OPC will also ship with a “branded” recording software package, but again no further details were available at the time of writing.
The OPC will be available from this June, with more info becoming available closer to its release.
