Virtual guitar rig recommendations

[samesung]

I'm looking to get something like Guitar Rig, I see the new version is out, but I'm wondering what other options there are. Amplitube, Melda, NAM, something else not on my radar? Are there any particular pros and/or cons? I'm not looking to get anything too crazy. I like options, but I don't like endless tweaking and I don't feel the need to tweak every fine detail (which is why Melda's software scares me sometimes ). Also, I don't know about NAM - it is just amp, or there are cabs IRs, FX etc? Can you recommend websites where to find that stuff, regardless if its free or paid?

[Vollofi]

I have GR7 and it's awesome. Also, I love Positive Grid - BIAS FX 2.

P.S. there are a lot of tasty deals on Positive Grid right now!

[hotmitts]

Good place to start is with the free versions, there's a free Amplitube, and I think a free Guitar Rig, and some of the other developers too.

[SLiC]

Line 6 Helix has been the best Amp Sim I have had in terms of both sound and the amount of 'gear' you get for your money. All the updates have been free since it was launched. https://uk.line6.com/helix/ Also if you like it and you 'play out' its identical to the helix floor pedal so you can take your sound with you.

[zerocrossing]

At this point, almost everything is good or great. It really depends on your needs. I give Amplitude “best all rounder,” as it has a good amount of flexibility and some fantastic sounding models. Some of the cabinet emulations aren’t great, but you can bring in your own IRs. You can also run Tonex amps and stomp boxes in it. The only main complaint I have with it is that the reverbs can be overbearing.

Helix Native is similar. I wouldn’t bother unless you’re looking for a hardware counterpart. It came free with my HX Stomp XL. Maybe a bit more experimental effects.

I rely like Guitar Rig 7, especially with the new cabinet section (v6) and the new ICM stuff. If you’re looking for advanced effect laden sounds, look no further.

I found MGuitarArchitect to sound generally bad. So much aliasing! Shame, because I generally love Melda’s plugins.

NAM is good for free, but that one could benefit from some oversampling too.

I like the sound of the Neural DSP plugins, but I don’t like the simplicity of them. If they made a software version of their Quad Cortex that included all their models, I’d snap it right up.

Lots of other great options, but generally I feel like every time I compare something to what I have, I feel like it’s not better, just a variation.

[Magic Russ]

Helix Native is similar. I wouldn’t bother unless you’re looking for a hardware counterpart. It came free with my HX Stomp XL. Maybe a bit more experimental effects.

It's normally $399 if you don't have Line 6 hardware. I think it was on sale for $199 the week of Black Friday. That is going to keep a lot of people from picking it up any time soon.

I found MGuitarArchitect to sound generally bad. So much aliasing! Shame, because I generally love Melda’s plugins.

It needs more than just fixing the aliasing. It really shouldn't be that bad.

As for the others...

Amplitube is a good default choice, especially if you get it as part of a group buy/holiday sale where you get all the components cheaply. The ToneX integration is a great feature. There's something for everyone there.

S Gear is another good option. It's limited in choice in amps, but what they have are extremely good. The programmer is an electrical engineer with actual experience designing amps, and all of these amps are "idealized' versions of the general type of amp they are modeling.

Guitar Rig used to be weak for guitar sounds, but it has gotten much better. While it is not my go-to amp sim, there are a lot of sounds that have made it onto tracks I have been working on.

As for Revalver, since it used to be owned by Peavey, it shines at those amps and Buddah models. I'm not as impressed with the new Headrush amps.

BiasFX has good modeling, but I hate how it is always asking me to sign in. Also while their user library seems to be well a implemented feature, the user uploads are so wretchedly bad that it will make you doubt yourself for liking the product.

[hotmitts]

https://plugins4free.com/effects/Guitar-Amp/

has some surprisingly good free amps

[hotmitts]

https://plugins4free.com/effects/Guitar-Amp/

has some surprisingly good free amps, those EXE ones are nice

Sorry I for double post I meant to hit edit. The EXE amps and the Ignite amps are worthwhile I meant to add

[Jafo]

If your CPU is good, NeuralAmpModeler gives astonishing results: very responsive and detailed. It's also free. If your CPU is slower (like all of mine!), the LePou and eXe amp sims are fantastic (and likewise free). Yes, I focus on what's free — with all the nonsense Native Instruments and Apple are pulling, free is the only viable long-term solution short of learning to code.

[The Noodlist]

I would try some of Tone Junkies captures if you you take that route.
https://tonejunkiestore.com/
They have some free content.

[hotmitts]

If your CPU is good, NeuralAmpModeler gives astonishing results: very responsive and detailed. It's also free. If your CPU is slower (like all of mine!), the LePou and eXe amp sims are fantastic (and likewise free). Yes, I focus on what's free — with all the nonsense Native Instruments and Apple are pulling, free is the only viable long-term solution short of learning to code.

The quality of those free ones is excellent I thought, you can definitely find the equal of the paid stuff for free if you look

[samesung]

Wow! Many great responses and seems there are more options out there than I thought. I'll definitely have to do some comparison and demoing. I like the sound of Helix, but it seems a bit expensive if other plugins can do similar stuff. I had Guitar Pro 6, I did't dislike it, but I didn't like it either. It had some cool presets, but I had trouble making it sound the way I wanted. Maybe it was just the lack of experience. I see people have nothing but nice things to say about Guitar Pro 7 tho! I somebody wrote Bias requires login each time - that's a hassle.

Also, I saw people like Neural DSP. Not really sure what it's about. I looks like an amp and some fx to me, and many different models. Why have so many different models? Also, I prefer when they'rr called rock, metal, jazz... so I know what I can expect. I know nothing about Plini for example.

Anyways, thank you all for very informative replies and for your time !

[dan_flash]

I really like the cross-platform Audio Assault plugs, especially since evolving into Amp Locker, but then again I use an old machine with a weak CPU running Linux so a lot of the other stuff isn't an option.

The cab IRs are more than bearable too but I personally load 3rd party ones into the IR loader after the pedals / amps / rack fx within Amp Locker.

[SLiC]

Wow! Many great responses and seems there are more options out there than I thought. I'll definitely have to do some comparison and demoing. I like the sound of Helix, but it seems a bit expensive if other plugins can do similar stuff. I had Guitar Pro 6, I did't dislike it, but I didn't like it either. It had some cool presets, but I had trouble making it sound the way I wanted. Maybe it was just the lack of experience. I see people have nothing but nice things to say about Guitar Pro 7 tho! I somebody wrote Bias requires login each time - that's a hassle.

Also, I saw people like Neural DSP. Not really sure what it's about. I looks like an amp and some fx to me, and many different models. Why have so many different models? Also, I prefer when they'rr called rock, metal, jazz... so I know what I can expect. I know nothing about Plini for example.

Anyways, thank you all for very informative replies and for your time !

Pity you just missed 50% off Helix in BF Sale...second hand licences come up occasionally, worth trying the 15 day demo- you get a lot for your money.

Scuffam Amps S Gear is also great- possibly the best for cleaner tomes; again, try the demo- its very reasonably priced and not overwhelming https://www.scuffhamamps.com/

Revalver 5 may also be worth a try as very cheap, I wasnt so keen personally but others seem to like it.

[hotmitts]

It really is worth demoing them, as they all have their quirks. Amplitube is good but slow to load (at least with me) and has a 'storefront' attitude...DSP have ilok protection, which many don't like...Guitar Rig doesn't really nail the realistic sound but is kind of it's own exotic effect. I haven't tried Helix but they do seem expensive...
I found a cheap option called Amp Locker which I'm demoing at the moment...lots out there

Meanwhile, I found another nice freebie
https://www.resonantdsp.com/swankyamp/