They are stubborn old guitarists. Although we live in a world where a salvo of great software can provide access to some of the greatest amplifiers in history, virtual effects rigs that could completely transform an old ax and much more, there is always those stick-in-the-sludges that reject software entirely.
They don’t know what they’re missing, of course. While you’re visiting MusicRadar, we’re going to assume that you’re already a smart, software-savvy guitarist. You already have one on the computers, so don’t overlook this host of freebies that can add even more color, power and processing to your carefully crafted sound.
Software guitarists will know AmpliTube as one of the the big players when it comes to virtual amp packages, but did you know that there is a totally free version that comes with 42 rig models? These include 10 amazing pedals, five amps, six cabs and a selection of moving mics. If you are a guitarist without an AmpliTube, you should immediately open this luxurious courtesy basket.
Amp sims that might be overlooked for being a little too “metal” include Emissary by Ignite Amps, a flavorful modeling of a tube amp that features sparkling clean tones, along with its accented crunch, or the NRR- 1 soaked in fire, built by a death metal guitarist and clearly focused on huge-sounding distortion.
Conversely, there’s the smooth, tweedy tones of Shattered Glass Audio’s Ice, inspired by a Fender Tweed Champ – the go-to for many surf rockers. Off-roading is often a lot of fun. They are free after all, so easy to come, easy to take away!
When it comes to pedals, the free page of amp simulation heavyweight Mercuriall is well worth a trawl. Metal Area is a particularly impressive free-to-use distortion pedal, inspired by Boss’ well-worn Metal Zone MT-2. While the sound quality of this distortion is an acquired taste, the company has done a phenomenal job bottling it here, with heaps of tweakability.
Maybe you’re just looking to add punchy metal guitar texture to your track, but don’t have the rock chops to lay it down yourself? Impact Soundworks’ Shreddage 3 Free has you covered. It’s actually a virtual metal guitarist that you can direct and manipulate at will. This thing sounds massive and will give your tracks some free rock hard weight.
Ample Sound is highly respected for the clarity of its playable sampled guitars, and this free version of its Martin D-41 acoustic guitar simulation exudes warmth and sophistication. You can strum, play by note, or even load tablature for instant accurate playback. There are also endless humanization options. To classify.
Reverb is often one of the trickiest effects to apply effectively to the guitar. Reverb Solo’s one-knob solution simplifies the process of positioning your instrument in the right virtual room, with different-sized acoustic spaces intelligently traversed as you scale its singular parameter. The A/B testing feature is also very handy.
Apple’s free DAW has established itself as formative music technology for an entire generation of musicians. And, for guitarists on a budget, it’s still a refreshing base for capturing ideas, processing your sound with plugins, and developing your track ideas. It’s also loaded with plenty of stylish Logic pedals in its pedalboard. High level.
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