Software guitar rigs

philflood

I looking for y'all's opinions on software guitar emulators, like Amplitube, Guitar Rig, etc (there are several lesser know boutique-like ones out there.) One thing that occurs to me is that these products are made with the presumption that digital sound output will be reasonably equal across various computers. Just as we struggle with the best FR/FR amp/speaker sets up for our GNX's, it would seem to me that there have to be some differences that result from various soundcards being used to process the software emulator. That's before you even get to the issue of how it sounds out of the monitors. Anyway, for those that have had experience with these products, how do they compare to GNX's, to each other, etc. ?How taxing are they on the CPU? The idea of a portable rig inside my laptop is intriguing, but I do like having a big ol' floorboard.

shredd

Not having used these things, my expert opinion :roll: is that the sound you get out of these would probably be true to the companies' \"sound\" (ie BOSS v. Line6 v. etc etc); the differences that come from various monitors and amps and puters and puter speakers and such will color anything you play through them...

hodge

A friend of mine has GRII and controller. The GRII controller is the sound card, but you can run it without if you've got a low latency audio card...can also run it off midi controllers like FCB1010 I think. From what little I played on it, I'm impressed at the sound..not too shabby...it's got a few sweet presets and some cheezoid ones as well, all the way to the super freaky unuseable..easy to create, tweak and save, and the library function is outstanding...GUI shows actual graphics of the amp faces and stomps and I think that's the first thing NI should get rid of , rework the GUI and free up some space on the screen...Can't split screens either, one common window only. I like my GNX4 much better on all comparative factors except the library......so does he, and bought the GNX3000 about a month ago..he's been here reading......sweet sounding unit the 3000, as most have said. I'd probably install his copy of GRII to play with it, but my computer is wheezin already.....

I guess if the idea of carrying around a laptop appeals to you, the software modelers are worth looking at...I can see how it might be beneficial to have all your vst music toys right there at the keys wherever you go..., but I don't think it's a replacement for the quality hardware modelers / workstations available....certainly no replacement for my GNX4......just my opinion.

Kewlpack

I'm using Amplitube 2 for everything right now. I love it. Fantastic as a VST and Stand Alone PC-based amp/effects system.

Great!

T L F

I use Guitar Rig 2 quite a bit . OIften I'll record a dry track via the GNX and then layer in a GR2 patch and it really adds dimension. the possibilities are endless with it actually. You have to do quote a bit of amp tweaking to get it right though...

Mickster

I have GRII, the Line6 stuff, GT Player, etc. It's all great stuff and I use it all the time on my laptop when traveling on business. I got one of those small electric travel guitars so I basically have all I need to keep me out of the hotel bar.

GT Player (I think it might have a different name, nw) is darn good value. I got the limited version with M-Audio's 'JamLab' USB interface. I highly recommend checking this out!

Cheers!

Mickster

thehootman

Sound cards (unless they are incredibly bad) do not affect the sound of the digital signal. The only thing that would change digital sounds from PC rig to PC rig would be the monitors.

scotthef

\thehootman\ wrote:

Sound cards (unless they are incredibly bad) do not affect the sound of the digital signal. The only thing that would change digital sounds from PC rig to PC rig would be the monitors.

Yes, I find that things sound better on a system with an SVGA monitor, as opposed to a VGA monitor. Much crisper, more definition, higher highs, deeper lows, that sort of thing. ;-)

ednrg

Why would a monitor have anything to do with the sound?

Mickster

\ednrg\ wrote:

Why would a monitor have anything to do with the sound?

Ahem, there is a winking emoticon on the end?.

Actually, though, an interface with a half decent A/D, D/A and low-latency drivers is a must. The JamLab is small and has a guitar input and headphone output. I have several higher-end audio interfaces but this works great for guitar.

Cheers!

Mickster.

ednrg

\Mickster\ wrote:

Ahem, there is a winking emoticon on the end?.

Missed it.....my bad :oops: :oops:

Mickster

Well, I recently downloaded the 10-day demo of 'Amplitube Jimi Hendrix' and was very impressed. My GAS had me reaching for the credit card but then I read that the GR3 upgrade (from GR2) was even better so I got that instead. It just arrived so I'll hopefully get it installed later.

Where will it all end :?

Mickster

shredd

\Mickster\ wrote:

Where will it all end :?

It ends when you get a record contract and your face on the cover of Git'r Player, then companies start SENDING you their stuff in hopes you'll play it.
Then you'll have more toys than you know what to do with, and you won't even have time to play with them all 'cuz you have a deadline for the album, your drummer is on crack and can't keep a beat, and you realize how hard it is to come up with a decent solo when a Cameron Diaz-looking groupie is pulling down your zipper with her teeth. :shock:

cyclonic

guitar rig impressed me up to the day i got my GNX4 and i haven't used it since

i suppose GR is a wise choice if all you have is a laptop ,headphones,and a guitar 8)

Mickster

\cyclonic\ wrote:

guitar rig impressed me up to the day i got my GNX4 and i haven't used it since

i suppose GR is a wise choice if all you have is a laptop ,headphones,and a guitar 8)

GR3 is a HUGE improvement over GR2. I was expecting it to be hype. Download the demo and you'll see what I mean.

It's all good stuff, no matter what.

Cheers!

Mickster

cyclonic

^^^C 8) 8) L!!!.............thanks Mickster for the advice!my travelling studio(laptop) surely needs an upgrade

wildmann

8) It'll END with the Electromagnetic Pulse from a suitcase--- , an' we'll all become wanderin' minstrels with [Hopefully] a Martin D-28, or D- 12/20 slung on our backs, goin' from town to town, like in \"Daze Of Old\", entertainin' with only our \"Witts and Talent\" to Make Music and Survive!! 8) What a \"Shakeout\" that would produce!! No computers 'n stuff to Hide Behind!! :shock: Gordon Lightfoot, Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan and numerous others have \"Shown The Way!!\" What a Concept, A Man, and a Guitar!! Don't get me wrong, I've got as many TOYZ as ANYBODY 8) Geezer Rock Rules, Even on an ol' Tennessee Flat-Top Box 8)[Johnny Cash]

\"If Jerico Had Electricity, Josua would have Blown Down the Walls With A 'Strat' and a 'Super Reverb' \" :shock: -Wildmann Original!--

cyclonic

did you say Tennessee? :P

its all good,i still have all my analog gear from the 80's and a case of tdk's

as long as my pointy guitars still work :shock: