Native Instruments Guitar Combos VST (Mac)

I've been playing guitar for 20 something years. The computer that I use is a Mac G5, 1.9Ghz, with 1 GB of memory. I primary switch between three guitars: a Washburn MR450, a bastardized (and handsomely age) sunburst Johnson Strat-- with a set of killer guitarfedish.com clearance pickups with an aged green pickguard, and a very nice playing Douglas 335 copy with horrible stock pickups and a wonderfully plump neck. I love how simple it was too set this thing up. I unwrapped the CD placed in the side of the computer and did what it told me to do. A couple minutes later and I jammin. The software blends seamlessly with Garage Tunes, recognized as a AU (audio unit). I can only assume that it integrates just as effortlessly in any of the recording suites that accept it. I have yet to find (or pay enough money for) a good sounding computer speaker so Im listening to the emulations through a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M40 fs headphones.

The operation of this software is stupidly simple. If you've ever plugged in to an amp, you can operate guitar combos. The visual resembles the face-plate of the amp that it emulates. You click on the knob, slide your mouse up or down and thats it. It's neat because this whole combo package can also be controlled by midi, just in case you decide to use this live with a laptop; a midi footpedal and you have instant access to all of the amps! The what's and how's to all of that stuff are in the manual if you are so inclined (or technologically proficient) to explore that route.

I decided to buy this software after I read an article about Pete Anderson (D. Yoakum's guitar palyer/ producer).In the article, he stated, flatly, that he had not used a real amplifier in the studio in years. At the time, he was refferencing his use of the Line6 Amp Farm Plug-In. This guy is the epidemy of the roots-rocker and he wasn't even using an amp in the studio! I knew then that this technology was good enough for me. I read a few reviews of NI's Guitar Combos software and they all gushed over the product. Now in all honestly, I can count the number of times-- atleast times that I can remember i.e. concerts-- that I have been in ear shot of a roaring plexi amp, a beautifully mint AC30, or a pristine 66' twin. So, inorder to refernce the sounds, I searched the internet for authentic soundclips-- you would be amazed at how many soundclips exist for these amplifiers. I narrowed it down to a few samples that seemed to have all the sonic characteristics of each amp. This software was able to mimic every example with ease.

It is rediculous how much the Plexi can ape the clankorous hollow roar of an original 67' model. The AC30 combo is dead-on accurate in it's representation of the highly prized box-- most think that ths justifies the price, alone. The twin has all the dimensionality and snarl that the 66' musters. And all of the models responded incredibly to volume knob changes, allowing you to get several different sounds with one overdriven model. The additional effects that are attached to each amp work nicely, however, I have not found a good use for the fuzz unit on the Plexi.

Granted, I am going by soundclips but I doubt that the average guitar player is going to discern the the subtle nuances that account for the difference, in a full mix of instruments. (perhaps not even alone).

The only downside is the thing sucks power. More than a couple instances in a song and your laggin. However, there are ways to get around that like applying the amp models after the track has been recorded.

I give it a 9 because, I have not figured out how to generate feedback (good feedback) with the software.

This product is worth every penny. Now I have convincing non-digital sounding amp emulations to play. I couldn't be happier with the product. One of these days I am going to uprade to the Guitar Rig 2 but for now, I am more than satified.