Virtual guitar amp sim plugins have come along in leaps and bounds over the last couple of decades, and today’s axeman faces an embarrassment of riches when shopping for wholly convincing simulations of classic and contemporary amplifiers, cabinets and effects. Here are five that we reckon should be at the top of your list.
IK Multimedia AmpliTube 5
Alongside NI’s Guitar Rig (see below), AmpliTube is probably the best known software guitar processing suite on the market – and with good reason. The fifth version of IK’S blockbuster package is available in various versions, topping out at the flagship AmpliTube 5 Max, which nets a whopping 400 modelled amps, cabs, stompboxes, rack effects and microphones, including “officially certified” amps by Fender, Marshall, Vox, Mesa/Boogie, Orange, ENGL and many more. Version 5’s new Volumetric Impulse Response (VIR) technology takes cabinet emulation to unrivalled heights of realism, engaging over 600 impulse responses per speaker for true ‘3D’ mic positioning; and the new mixer and configurable signal path give you total freedom to build and tweak your own rigs entirely from scratch. There’s even a looper and multitrack recorder built in for capturing ideas in the standalone version.
With its incredible collection of virtual gear and stunning sound, AmpliTube 5 is a joyous tonal playground for any guitarist or bass player. Check out Mark Thompson’s in-depth review for more.
Native Instruments Guitar Rig 6
While it’s often said that AmpliTube holds the amp sim crown in terms of modelling authenticity, when it comes to pure creativity, Guitar Rig pulls ahead. Released at the tail end of 2020, the long overdue Guitar Rig 6 introduced a beautiful new GUI, greatly improved workflow and a wealth of effects modules from NI’s Komplete catalogue, including the superb Crush Pack, Mod Pack, Solid Mix Series and Vintage Compressors bundles, as well as the Replika delay, Rammfire amp and more. Bringing the de rigueur acronym to the party, NI’s new Intelligent Circuit Modelling (ICM) applies machine learning to amp simulation, and the three models that take advantage of it (one bass and two guitar amps) don’t disappoint in their sound and response.
Guitar Rig’s big selling point has always been its expansive sonic remit, which makes it a popular choice among synth-toting electronic producers as well as guitarists – the truckload of colourful onboard effects modules takes it beyond the conventions of traditional guitar tone shaping and out into broader sound design territory. Although version 6 is still comparatively modest in its selection of amps and cabs, what is there sounds magnificent and serves as a solid foundation for an endless variety of imaginative racks and rigs.
Positive Grid BIAS FX 2
In under ten years, Nevada-based music tech outfit Positive Grid have worked their way up from nowhere to the big league of software guitar effect development, and BIAS FX 2 is very much the star of their particular show. Like AmpliTube and Guitar Rig, this handsome plugin provides the computer-savvy guitarist a smorgasbord of circuit-modelled amps and effects, with 240 of the buggers in the top-tier Elite version. Where it stands apart, however, is in the rather brilliant Guitar Match feature, which enables any actual guitar to be sonically transformed into any of 20 classic instruments by Fender, Gibson, ESP, Gretsch, Suhr et al, to an impressive degree of accuracy. Factor in Positive Grid’s two other software offerings, BIAS AMP 2 and BIAS PEDAL, with which you can design your own amps and stompboxes (including easy matching of real-world hardware) for use directly in BIAS FX 2, and you have, arguably, the most technologically comprehensive guitar processing system around.
Blue Cat Audio Axiom
Essentially a mash-up of French developer Blue Cat’s Destructor distortion, Late Replies multi-effects and Patchwork plugin host plugins, Axiom is a guitar and bass tone tinkerer’s dream come true. Two amp channels each put the full component-tweaking, IR-importing power of Destructor at your fingertips, while 32 effects slots can be filled from a roster of 44 fully realised dynamics, distortion, delay, reverb, EQ, filter, modulation and other modules (including Late Replies itself and Destructor again!), and/or any other plugins you like from your VST/AU library. You can even load in up to four plugin instruments for accompaniment!
Dazzlingly diverse and almost overwhelmingly powerful, Axiom’s approach to amp modelling and rack construction is very different to the others here, and the depth to which it lets you dive into the fine details of your guitar (or, again, synth) tones is truly mindblowing.
Line 6 Helix Native
Line 6 have been at the forefront of amp simulation since day one, first with their original Pod hardware modellers and most recently with the Helix series of DSP-powered devices (two pedalboards and a rackmount). Helix Native puts the exact same HX technology as deployed in that acclaimed hardware in your VST/AU/AAX-compatible DAW, with 1:1 interchange of presets between the two platforms for effortless transfer from studio to stage.
Of course, there’s much more to shout about here than just convenience, though, and anyone experienced with a physical Helix will know what to expect from the plugin’s copious library of amps (60+), cabinets (30+) and effects (100+) – that is, utterly convincing classic and modern amplification modelling, a panoply of distortion options, and a spectacular array of high-quality delays, reverbs, choruses and other signal processors. And although the interface might not be as slick or visually arresting as the competition, its simplicity and directness will be a plus for many.
Ultimately, as Dan Cooper summarised in his review, Helix Native is made by guitarists for guitarists, and that shines through in its sublime sound and playability.
Has your virtual guitar rig of choice made our list? Let us know in the comments.