Riaan
Hey Rob, I've had Guitar Rig 3 for several months now, and for me it was money well spent. I have a nice soundcard (Edirol FA-66), connected to an old Pioneer hi-fi amp with Infinity hi-fi speakers. The sound is great for now, and my plan is to next upgrade to good quality powered studio monitors - real loud ones, monsters! ?
I use a Pentium quadcore, but it runs well on slower machines. Best is to dedicate a PC to your music stuff only. Alan posted a nice article about that on this forum - look for "studio pc build".
GR has all the amps and effects you'd ever want, and even the presets alone gives you tons of possibilities. If that's not enough, you can download more presets from their users forum, or create your own. This in itself can become a hobby on it's own!
It could be a bit complicated, given all the possible things that can be tweaked, changed or fiddled with, but I'd say it's a good way to go even for a beginner, as it represents all the sounds that's possible to get out of a guitar.
Even though you may now plan on using GR to explore which real amp and effects to buy, you would probably find that GR is so good, you would in all likelihood stay with the software and rather upgrade on your sound equipment, such as getting good monitors.
I can't remember when last I switched on my real amp!
RobK
Thanks Riaan.
So, a decent sound card, decent monitors/speakers and I'm a-4-away. Unfortunately I think my neighbours would have me locked up if I went for really loud ones. ? So we'll stick to something smaller for now - maybe even a decent set of headphones (looking at Grado labs SR80 at the moment).
I have actually downloaded the software and it does run (on Windows 7 nogal), and it runs through my soundcard. I had a sound delay issue but managed to sort that out. I just need to go through the software now and figure things out.
From what you're saying is sounds like a good idea, and since Native Instruments have dropped the price of the software by 50%, it would make even more sense(or cents ? ).
Thanks for the advice.
Riaan
Native Instruments have dropped the price of the software by 50%, it would make even more sense
That would make it a pretty good deal I think. If you consider all the amps and effects you actually get, and what it would cost you to get all those things as hardware!
Some of the gigging muso's on this forum uses GR3 with laptops, live. It's that good.
AlanRatcliffe
+1 to Riaan's posts.
I'm a firm believer in Guitar Rig for various reasons. In your case, it gives you access to a whole range of different sounds and it also has a number of tools ideal for the noob - like the metronome, the guitar tuner, the two "tape decks" (for playing along with recordings or recording your own stuff).
The downside for the beginner is the complexity - it's easy to get so caught up fiddling with stuff that you don't do much else. Also, as there are many ways to mess with your sound, there are many ways you can mess up your sound. So, as with any modeller (hard- or software), it's best to work with one thing at a time. Start by fiddling with the amps and speakers and get to know them well then, only once you have a a good handle on those, move on to the overdrives/distortions and learn those before moving on to the next effect.
A good interface is important if you want a decent sound quality, as are a decent set of speakers. The interface is best handled by getting one of the Native Instruments bundles with interface and software - then you know that you are getting the right thing.
RobK
Thanks Alan.
Went ahead and bought the software. Just waiting for the download to finish. I'll start with that and add the hardware once I've familiarised myself with the software part. Speakers will come later as they're not high on the list of priorities. Right now I only have a chance to play in the evenings and I can't exactly crank them up anyway - specially while I'm still learning. So a good set of headphones will do for now, I think.
I don't generally have problems getting my head around software - part of my job really, but you're right, I'll need to watch I don't get caught up in the fiddling. I'll never get any learning/playing done that way.
I think I'll start with the good ol' RTFM ?
bENDER
Can someone please explain to me how to connect my AXe with a pc....to use GR? I have a normal Hi-fi amp and Guitar amps..... ??? Do you just connect the amp with the pc and then the Guit to the amp? :-[
AlanRatcliffe
Simply put: Guitar into the PC's audio input. Amp and speakers on the PC's output.
RobK
Basically what Alan just said - I did it that way. Guitar into the Line In on my sound card and sound comes out my PC speakers.
[deleted]
A bit of useless information...
I see Guitar Rig 4 is being released on 1 October. . . I think I should wait for that one. This is the way to go when jamming alone in the room ?
RobK
I suspect that's why GR3 was going at half price. Might be worth getting 3 (I did) and then just paying for the upgrade.
LooneyAtTheGate
Does anyone use Guitar Rig or Amplitube live?
I wonder if one could do away with amps alltogether, just have guitar > laptop > mixer PA > speakers.
Im talking about a loud gig, rock or metal. Or will it start sounding bad at loud volumes? ???
Riaan
I suspect that's why GR3 was going at half price. Might be worth getting 3 (I did) and then just paying for the upgrade.
My timing was particularly bad, as usual. I still paid the full price, and a couple of months later they began offering discounts. Hope the upgrade is worth it. Does anyone know more about the upgrade?
I wonder if one could do away with amps alltogether, just have guitar > laptop > mixer PA > speakers
I'm not a live player and only speak from what I've heard, but apparently it is indeed possible to go this route. I've heard that some pros are doing just that.
AlanRatcliffe
Riaan wrote:
Hope the upgrade is worth it. Does anyone know more about the upgrade?
http://www.native-instruments.com/#/en/products/guitar/guitar-rig-4-pro/?page=946
They are talking about $80 for the upgrade on the GR forum. I'm not overly impressed so far, as NI have completely ignored all the brilliant suggestions in a "GR4 Wishlist" thread that's been running since GR3 came out. Other than a "control room" that lets you blend different mics (which no-one asked for), it's just two new reverbs, two new delays and three new amps.
I wonder if one could do away with amps alltogether, just have guitar > laptop > mixer PA > speakers
You can, but it puts you at the mercy of the monitoring system - not always the best idea at a rock/metal gig.
RobK
I think I'll stick to version 3 for now. I've only finished going through the manual (briefly) and I'm ready to start trying to setup something simple to help me make some noise.
