The Blackstar ID:X Floor is the company’s first high-performance digital floor modeller range, built for electric, bass and acoustic guitarists who want the dynamic response of a real valve amp paired with intuitive, hands-on control and modern routing flexibility.
Key Features
- Component-level digital modelling developed by Blackstar’s UK amp design team
- Twelve electric amp models plus bass, acoustic voices and an acoustic simulator
- IR-based CabRig speaker and mic simulation with “In The Room” response
- Multiple floor formats including models with built-in expression pedals
- Comprehensive I/O including USB-C, XLR outputs, headphones and MID
Some digital rigs impress on paper but lose something once your foot hits the switch. The sound is there, yet the response feels distant. Blackstar’s latest move focuses squarely on that missing connection, with a floor-based modeller designed to behave less like a computer and more like an amp under your fingers.
From ID:X Combos to the Floor
The ID:X Floor range builds on the groundwork laid by the ID:X Combos, but shifts the focus toward players who want everything at their feet. Rather than chasing complexity, Blackstar’s aim here is immediacy. Controls are laid out to feel familiar to amp users, keeping menu diving to a minimum and putting sound shaping front and centre.
According to Blackstar, the idea was to deliver inspiring tones straight away, whether you are plugging into a FRFR cabinet, running direct to front of house, or recording at home. The result feels designed to slot into existing pedalboards rather than replace them outright.
Component-Level Modelling That Feels Alive
At the heart of ID:X Floor is component-level modelling, a step beyond generic snapshots. The unit features twelve electric guitar amp models, split between six original Blackstar designs and six Ampton recreations of classic circuits. Add to that three bass amps, two acoustic voices and an acoustic simulator, and the tonal palette becomes surprisingly broad.
Selectable power valve responses, including EL84, EL34 and 6L6, allow players to fine-tune feel as much as tone. Blackstar’s patented ISF control also makes an appearance, offering a familiar way to move between American and British style responses without overthinking it.
CabRig and the “In The Room” Approach
Speaker simulation plays a huge role in how modellers translate in the real world, and ID:X Floor leans heavily on CabRig technology. Rather than static IR snapshots, CabRig uses IR-driven speaker and mic simulation designed to recreate how a valve amp actually moves air.
The “In The Room” mode aims to capture the immediacy of standing in front of a real amp, which becomes especially important when running into full-range systems or monitoring on stage. For players who have struggled to feel connected to their modeller through wedges or powered speakers, this is clearly a key part of the design brief.
Three Models, Different Workflows
The ID:X Floor range is offered in three configurations. ID:X Floor One keeps things compact and pedalboard friendly, focusing on core amp models and effects. ID:X Floor Two adds a built-in expression pedal for wah, volume or effect control. ID:X Floor Three expands further with additional switching, MIDI Thru and an effects loop for more complex rigs.
Across the range, connectivity is generous. USB-C enables use as an audio interface, balanced XLR outputs suit direct stage setups, and headphone output covers silent practice or late-night sessions. MIDI control allows deeper integration with external gear for players running hybrid setups.
A Floor Modeller Built Around Feel
Rather than chasing endless features, ID:X Floor appears focused on one core idea. Digital gear should respond like an amp, not behave like a menu system. By combining component-level modelling, practical controls and flexible routing, Blackstar ID:X Floor positions itself as a floor modeller for players who value touch, dynamics and simplicity just as much as raw processing power.
For guitarists who love the consistency of digital rigs but still crave the physical feedback of a valve amp, this feels like a thoughtful step forward.
ID:X Floor was released as part of Blackstart’s wider NAMM2026 lineup. Catch up on all the announcements HERE – NAMM 2026
