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Unrivalled Functionality
Guitarist is a virtual guitar that's designed to emulate rhythm parts played on an electric guitar. The actual guitar player has been transformed into a step sequencer system with a huge level of customisation when it comes to chords or fingering patterns and a detailed control over authentic nuance and expression.
The Sequencers
Detailed Control and Vast Arrangement Options
The Patterns page in the centre is actually very easy to use. On 16 steps you can determine if a chord is triggered, which strings are played and if the strum goes up- or downward.
Each string can be played individually at any time, guaranteeing gigantic arpeggios, nuanced metal riffs are also easily done. The damp- and deadnotes make it funky and lively.
The lower lanes are where you can define the chord sequences. Select a root note, choose one of 12 different chord types, each available in three fingering variations and use the "step-repeat" for longer patterns. You can also create up to 24 user chords (incl. impossible chords) by clicking on the fretboard.
The Human Touch
Busy Fingers
The "Animations" page lets you program extra movements for each of the mechanical "fingers" on the fretboard. A finger can be moved up or down by one, two or three semitones per step, to enrich chords with harmonic elements.
The "Action Section" offers the means for immediate intervention. Loop parts with a press of a button, include dead- or damp notes, half tempo works as well.
The Guitars
Four Electric Models with More to Come
Three different guitars are built in: Fender's Stratocaster and Telecaster are included, along with a Duesenberg Starplayer Special. The Starplayer exists in a "Bright" and "Normal" version.
Each of these beautiful six-strings was recorded with 2,000 samples. Extensive sets of fretted notes and open strings have been sampled, each one repeated several times.
The "round robin" function can alternate the playback of different samples. In Random mode, a sample is selected at random from the available pool for the note triggered.
Amps and Effects
Form Your Sound
Two effect-units with 10 effects altogether provide the colors you are looking for. FX1 specializes in modulation effects, including a very nice Chorus, a throaty Phaser, and "Phase Wah" and "Auto Wah" effects. FX2 does classic delays and reverbs, and a reverse‑buffer delay effect.
Two wonderful sounding amp models are available as well as a direct out mode for your favourite amp-emulator-software.
And there’s the Wah-Wah pedal. This is more sophisticated than the average guitar stomp-box, with an integral, variable‑rate LFO to sweep the effect back and forth (this can be deactivated, and a MIDI controller assigned for manual control). The LFO can be set to retrigger with input signals above a given threshold (another way of producing "auto‑wah" effects), and Max and Min controls allow you to set the upper and lower boundaries of the effects sweep.
Clever and Detailed Mechanics
The Feature List Keeps on Giving
Here are some more features to improve workflow and provide an authentic setup:
- Global Strum Speed controllable by host automation
- Export MIDI sequences to your DAW - can be useful when used to double on another instrument
- Copy/Paste buttons all over the place for effective composing
- Detune strings by a semitone using the pegs
Sounds & Presets
Authentic and Expressive:
- Presets are sub-divided into four categories: Global, Sound, Pattern and Chord
- Sound presets store settings such as the guitar type and selected effects. Pattern presets store the strumming and picking patterns, while Chord presets store chord changes
- Selecting a Global preset automatically loads the matching presets in the other three categories. However, you can mix and match the different categories, combining the chord progression from one preset with the picking from another, and the effects settings from still another
- User presets of all four types can be created and saved
Features
- Four electric Guitars with more to come soon
- More than 2,000 Samples for each Sixstring
- Control over Strum, Chords & Song Structures
- Action Section for real-time Control
- Slides, Vibratos or Portamentos
- Warm Amps and Direct-Out
- 10 Effects plus Wahwah Pedal & Talk mode
- Mute or De-tune individual Strings
System Requirements
Mac
- macOS 10.12 or higher (Apple Silicon M1 supported) (64-bit only)
- VST2, VST3, AU, AAX & Standalone Application
Windows
- Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only)
- VST2, VST3, AAX & Standalone Application
Important note: This software is only available in 64-bit format for both Windows and macOS and will not function on 32-bit systems.
Any references to any brands on this site/page, including reference to brands and instruments, are provided for description purposes only. For example references to instrument brands are provided to describe the sound of the instrument and/or the instrument used in the sample. Plugin Boutique do not have (nor do they claim) any association with or endorsement by these brands. Any goodwill attached to those brands rest with the brand owner. Plugin Boutique or its Suppliers do not accept any liability in relation to the content of the product or the accuracy of the description. "RHODES" is a registered trademark of Joseph A Brandstetter.
Product Reviews
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Electric guitar is one of the most difficult instruments to recreate in sample-based form. Sugar Bytes are the latest developers to brave the...