Using Vst Plugins For Guitar Practice
- Free Guitar Amp Vst
- Free Guitar Effects Vst Plugins
- Best Guitar Plugins
- Using Vst Plugins For Guitar Practice Guitar
Using VST plugins live on stage (guitar) 12 posts. Your solution using a NUC and a custom Linux build to use as a VST host in a stripped down format. The wrong usb port one time at practice. Best Free Guitar VST Plugins and Sample Libraries. If you’ve been producing music for a while, you probably know that a lot of the commercial guitar VSTs or libraries out there are pretty expensive and not always easy to use. Although I own a few commercial guitar libraries, I also wanted to see what free guitar. Top 10 Most Playable Guitar Plugins 2019 Every professional composer or producer has been in a situation where they need to add some cool guitar parts to their production. Even though guitars and guitar gear are at their peak at the moment with high-quality stuff that can be found for everyone’s pocket, let’s face it. VST is one such platform and plugins that work on this platform are known as VST plugins. In this case, a guitar plugin is a virtual instrument that allows different guitar tones to be played within a DAW either with a suitable midi instrument or through step-writing. Guitar Amp Classics make extensive use of advanced Yamaha modeling technology. Four amp types with completely different sonic characteristics are provided, CLEAN, CRUNCH, DRIVE and LEAD. Best of all, the version 2 update includes both a DSP-powered version. and a VST 3 version of Guitar Amp Classics.
- Guitar Pro 7.5 makes it possible, within any given single file, to mix tracks that use MIDI tones with others that use RSE tones. Improved instrument views The virtual-instrument (guitar, bass, banjo, piano, and drums) windows are resizable. Lock your files You may lock your file to prevent any accidental modification.
- Amplifikation Vermilion is a guitar amplifier audio plugins inspired by classic guitar combo amplifiers. It offers gorgeous looks and endless tonal possibilities for the serious guitarist who requires versatility. The engine is carefully tuned to match the tone of authentic classic amps and will truly sing to your playing style.
When the recording industry transitioned from analogue tape mediums to digital software platforms at the turn of the millennia, physical hardware became less essential for music production. Although not entirely phased out, the emergence of software plugins caused a steady decline in the need for studio outboard, as they could emulate real-life equipment in near-authentic detail.
For the last two decades, plugins have allowed musicians to easily record and produce music from just their laptops, usually with excellent results. And as guitarists, we’ve therefore never been more fortunate. That’s because plugins aren’t limited to just imitating traditional studio outboard like compressors, equalisers or reverbs; they can emulate guitar amps too.
Instead of the handful of passable-sounding guitar plugins that were available in the mid-2000s, today there’s loads of different amp and effects plugins out there that are tailored just for us. Let’s take a closer look at how these work and identify some of the key players. Free vst plugins for audacity.
What Are Guitar Plugins?
Guitar plugins are often classed as ‘VST’ plugins. VST stands for ‘Virtual Studio Technology’ and refers to audio plugins that use digital signal processing to simulate hardware. This technology has grown exponentially, with a VST plugin available for almost any musician’s needs.
Anything from simulations of legendary microphones to treasured SSL preamps are available, and the ability to harness the sounds of desirable musical equipment has never been simpler. One of the best things about VST plugins is that they cost just a mere fraction of the prices of their real-life counterparts, which has made recording far more accessible.
How Do You Record With Guitar Plugins?
Plugins can only be used if you have DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) recording software, like Logic, Cubase or Pro Tools. DAWs are able to host plugins, of which can be applied to virtual channel strips. You’ll find that most guitar plugins are compatible with these popular software titles as they can support 3rd-party products.
You’ll also require an audio interface; a device that connects to your computer via USB or Thunderbolt. With an audio interface, you can easily plug in your guitar with a standard jack-to-jack cable and set its input level. You can also hook up a pair of studio monitors to most standard audio interfaces.
What Are Guitar Plugins Able To Do?
Most guitar-specific plugins are designed to emulate the tonal characteristics of a range of iconic amplifiers. A lot of the amps that they capture the essence of are unattainable to most, as many are so expensive in real life. Giving you access to a whole palette of different sounds, these plugins have tonnes of flexibility with lots of additional features too.
For example, you can A/B a raft of different guitar cabs against your favourite amp head, to find the optimal tone. More advanced plugins also let you change out virtual microphones, and you can even adjust their positions against a speaker cab if you’re really fastidious!
The majority of these VST plugins feature libraries of emulated guitar pedals too. If you want to embellish a clean tone with some chorus or attain a gnarly fuzz sound, you can use these stompboxes in conjunction with your emulated amp of choice. Ultimately, this lets you setup your own custom signal chain.
What are the Best Guitar Plugins Available?
While there were just a handful of guitar plugins available a few years ago, today there’s loads of options on the market. In fact, there are quite a few packages that can be downloaded for free, or at least some free trials that companies offer of their flagship software. Let’s take a look at some of the big-hitters.
IK Multimedia Amplitube
Free Guitar Amp Vst
The first guitar amp plugin to really gain momentum was IK Multimedia‘s Amplitube, first released in 2002. Now in its 4th iteration, Amplitube models a range of amplifiers, cabinets, speakers and effects; letting you set up the entire signal chain from instrument to recording device. It’s worth mentioning that unlike some titles, Amplitube can imitate a range of licensed amps, from the likes of Fender, Orange, Mesa/Boogie and more.
The diagram below shows just how many stages of Amplitube’s virtual chain you can experiment with and adjust. With the ability to even set up a parallel rig, whereby effects and two virtual amps/cabs can be split and used together to create blended, stereo tones; Amplitube will satisfy true audiophiles.
Amplitube is one of the more aesthetically-pleasing and user-friendly guitar plugins around. With inspiring 3D graphics for its ‘Cab Room’ feature, there’s an extra sense of realism that comes with this software. On the subject of the Cab Room, this intuitive part of the version 4 software lets you customise your cabinet setup in incredible detail. With the ability to swap out speakers and adjust their sizes, you can also choose from a library of different microphones and play around with their placement like a bonafide recording engineer.
Free Guitar Effects Vst Plugins
Perhaps more significantly, you can change the virtual recording room too. This lets you achieve different types of ambience, with studio spaces like ‘Big Live Room’ and ‘Booth’ available, as well as niche environments like ‘Garage’ and ‘Venue’. A mixer section allows you to balance the room sound with the speaker mics and direct amp signal, for professional-grade levels of tweakability.
For capturing and developing ideas, Amplitube features a simple built-in 8-track DAW. With a basic 3-band EQ for each channel, as well as pan and level controls; this under-the-radar feature can also be used as a great practice tool. With the ability to import audio tracks, you can employ Amplitube’s speed and pitch controls to slow down and change the key of songs that you’re keen to learn.
If you really want to get the most out of Amplitube though, IK Multimedia’s new AXE I/O audio interface is made specifically for supporting the plugin and guitarists in general. Featuring a built-in tuner, a preset control for switching patches in Amplitube, an amp-out for re-amping with real amplifiers and a ‘Z-Tone’ impedance-adapting circuit that interacts with your guitar’s pickups for extra tonal flexibility; the AXE I/O is a fantastic hardware companion for Amplitube.
Positive Grid BIAS
Positive Grid‘s BIAS Amp and FX plugins are more modern pieces of software, which have challenged the likes of Amplitube in recent years. Synonymous particularly with metal players, BIAS boasts a vast library of amp, cab and pedal models, and versatility is certainly its strong-point.
Although its default models are excellent, the BIAS Amp plugin is particularly acclaimed for its ‘Amp Match’ capabilities. With this technology, you can mic up and record a real amp through your audio interface, while the software identifies and captures the qualities of its sound. This is similar to what Kemper Profiling amps can do, and you can even recreate the sound of an isolated guitar recording from your favourite guitarist or band.
As you’d expect, your captured tones can be saved as custom presets with the ability to tweak and recall them at any time. Install vst plugins fl studio 10. The great thing about this feature is that you can share your patches with other users via Positive Grid’s online community; ‘ToneCloud’. You can also download from over 50,000 presets created by Positive Grid themselves, or other eager tone-chasers.
In its latest update for BIAS FX, Positive Grid innovated a ‘Guitar Match’ function too. If you want to make your instrument sound like a Les Paul, Strat or a Tele for instance, the precisely-tuned emulations make that very possible. Ultimately, this was designed to remove the need for swapping out guitars in the studio.
In terms of usability, BIAS FX in particular has an incredibly intuitive interface, letting you easily drag and drop gear into a virtual signal chain. You can even save different pedalboard ‘scenes’ that can be switched with just a click; working much like a pedal switching system that turns off/on several pedals at the same time.
BIAS also has flexible MIDI support for making instantaneous mix changes. It can automate parameter tweaks too, like settings on a virtual pedal, for example. This functionality makes BIAS FX a very powerful live performance tool, and is not strictly a studio-only piece of software.
Native Instruments Guitar Rig
Native Instruments‘ Guitar Rig is another popular and longstanding plugin, first unveiled in 2004. Now in its 5th version, Guitar Rig remains a key part of NI’s acclaimed Komplete software package that offers musicians an entire virtual instrument suite.
Guitar Rig has a smaller library of amp, cabinet and pedal emulations compared to the previous two products. However, it is still highly-regarded as one of the best and most authentic-sounding guitar plugins around. With a modular system interface that resembles a typical guitar rack, its basic layout is perhaps less intimidating and confusing than say, BIAS, may seem.
Guitar Rig is therefore more suited for players that are looking for great tones out of the box, rather than ones that can be sculpted to the umpteenth degree. The ‘Control Room’ feature, however, does let you configure precise microphone setups for your amp, cab and effects rig. You can play around with microphone positioning and form sophisticated multi-mic arrangements, for achieving unique, personalised sounds.
Pros of Guitar Plugins
- They let you record with just an audio interface and a computer. It’s therefore very easy to just plug your guitar in and be creative. No time is wasted on setting up microphones, and hiring a studio space isn’t necessary.
- You can have an entire library of guitar sounds stored on your computer, and patches can easily be crafted and recalled at any time.
- Plugins sound good and consistent at any volume, unlike valve amps that typically sound their best when cranked up.
- Compared to real amps, guitar plugins are relatively affordable and infinitely more versatile.
- In a full song mix, many people cannot tell the difference between real amps and emulated ones.
- There’s more room for experimentation with guitar plugins. You can choose from a variety of different virtual amps, cabs and pedals and form unusual combinations for unique sounds.
- You can easily re-order elements in a virtual signal chain. A physical rig would take much longer to re-arrange and organise.
- Post-production is also much easier with plugins, as you can adjust EQ settings or add emulated pedals without having to re-record like you would with a real amp.
- You can share and download patches via online communities and forums.
- Guitar plugins don’t require maintenance. Real valve amps, for example, will need their tubes changed every couple of years.
- They are only going to get better over time, with regular software updates and brand support.
- You can buy add-on expansion packs for some titles, broadening the selection of amp, cab and pedal models available.
Cons of Guitar Plugins
- Don’t always sound as realistic as real tube amps. If “feel” is important to you, meaning the way that a tube amp reacts to your playing dynamics and instrument’s controls, virtual plug-ins probably won’t cut it.
- You can’t generally use real pedals in conjunction with guitar amp VST plugins. Stompboxes plugged directly into audio interfaces don’t sound particularly good.
- Although there are some packages that include dozens of amp models, fans of more niche amps will struggle to find emulations for them.
- Not all guitar VST plugins are advanced enough to emulate room sounds, which is something that can be achieved by recording real amps in studio environments.
- Latency can potentially be a big issue when playing guitar through your computer. Make sure that you purchase a high-quality audio interface (particularly with a Thunderbolt connector) to prevent latency, and also ensure that your computer has a fast processor.
Best Guitar Plugins
Conclusion
As we know, amps can be cumbersome, loud and expensive. Guitar plugins, on the other hand, are versatile and affordable pieces of software that offer tonnes of different amp, cab and stompbox emulations. Frankly, there’s more functionality than ever before in these all-encompassing pieces of software! So if you’re a guitarist that loves to experiment with different tones for recording, there’s never been an easier of attaining them. Gone are the pricey days of hiring studios!
Of course, some guitarists adore the organic feel and sound of analogue valve amps, which we completely understand. They still serve a great purpose for live performance, and if you can afford a brilliant amp then recording with it makes a lot of sense; especially if it has your “sound”. There’s a time and a place for both options, but if you’ve never used guitar plugins before then we’d definitely recommend taking the plunge into the virtual world.
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VST stands for Virtual Studio Technology. There are three types of VST plug-ins:
- VST instruments: These plug-ins generate audio and are either virtual synthesizers or samplers. Many VST instruments emulate the appearance and sound of famous hardware synthesizers. Popular VSP instruments include Massive, FM8, Absynth, Sylenth 1, Reaktor, Gladiator, Vanguard, and Omnisphere.
- VST effects: Effects process audio instead of generating it. VST effects function like hardware audio processors, like reverbs and phasers.
- VST MIDI effects:MIDI plug-ins process MIDI messages and send MIDI data to other VST instruments and hardware.
VST Plug-ins
VST plug-ins can be used within a digital audio workstation, in programs like Pro Tools and Logic. They’re frequently used to emulate hardware outboard gear such as compressors, expanders, equalizers, and maximizers. You'll frequently find these distributed to emulate certain models of hardware; there's some for vintage compressors, and you'll frequently find effects that emulate vintage hardware (both in instrumental and stompbox-like effects).
Think of VST plug-ins as really affordable ways to make your home studio sound like a really expensive commercial operation.
VSTi Plug-ins
Aside from VST plug-ins, you'll also find VST-instrument or VSTi plug-ins. These can emulate really cool, but expensive, hardware (like Hammond B3 and Nord Electro). The quality of these VSTi plug-ins can vary from acceptable to really poor; it all depends on the quality of your system resources (RAM and scratch space on your hard drive, for example), and how well-sampled the instrument is. You also want to make sure that your VSTi plug-in offers true polyphonic content, meaning you can make life-like chords that don’t sound too artificial.
Quality
There are thousands of plug-ins available. Some only take a few hours to produce and are free, but the quality is terrible. Some are made by huge companies and sound amazing, but are expensive. VST plug-in developers try to recreate the sound as closely as possible, but the original instrument is probably always going to sound better than the plug-in. You might be trying to get the rich, full-bodied sound of an organ, for example, but who owns an organ? No one has access to every type of instrument, so a plug-in will have to do. The good news is that VST plug-in technology is improving, so quality can only get better with time.
VST Plug-in Standard
Created by Steinberg, a German musical software and equipment company, the VST plug-in standard is the audio plug-in standard that allows third-party developers to make VST plug-ins. Users can download VST plug-ins on Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. The vast majority of VST plug-ins are available on Windows. Apple’s Audio Units are standard on Mac OS X (it’s actually considered a competing technology), and Linux lacks commercial popularity, therefore few developers create VST plug-ins for the operating system.
Where to Find VST Plug-ins
Using Vst Plugins For Guitar Practice Guitar
There are thousands of VST plug-ins available, both commercially and as freeware. The Internet is flooded with free VST plug-ins. Home Music Production and Bedroom Producers Blog have robust lists of VST plug-in recommendations, and Splice and Plugin Boutique also offer a ton of free plug-ins.