Guitar Rig 7 Pro
by Native Instruments · Amp Sim · Amp + creative FX rack
vst3s Score 8.4/10 · rated #9 of 10 amp sims
An amp sim and modular effects rack with a strong creative side. Producers use it on synths, drums and vocals as much as on guitar.
A free Guitar Rig 7 Player edition is available.
Best for: Guitars, Bass, Sound Design. Genres: Rock & Indie, Electronic & EDM, Ambient & Cinematic.
Keywords: electric guitar, creative, bass, drums, modular, synths, vocals, lo-fi, impulse-response based, AI/machine learning, cinematic, circuit-modelled, mixing, samples & loops, sound design, utility.
What it does
Guitar Rig 7 Pro is Native Instruments' amp sim and modular effects rack, as much a creative multi-effects tool as a guitar rig.
- Amps: 26 guitar and bass amps with matching cabinets. Newer models use Intelligent Circuit Modeling (ICM), NI's machine-learning approach.
- New in 7: four ICM amps (Super Fast 100, Reverb Delight, AC Box XV and Bass Rage), five pedals, four lo-fi components, Loop Machine Pro and 100+ rack presets.
- Effects: 115 effects and tools covering distortion, reverb, delay, modulation, EQ, dynamics and utilities.
- Cabinets: a cabinet IR loader, with IRs from Lancaster Audio and 3 Sigma Audio.
A free Guitar Rig 7 Player edition is available.
Source: Native Instruments product page
When to use it
Guitar Rig 7 Pro is the most creative plugin in the category. Its amps are less focused on authenticity than the Neural DSP suites or Helix Stadium Native, but its rack of effects works on anything: producers load it on synths, drums, keys and vocals as often as guitar.
- Best for: producers who want one rack for guitar parts and creative effects on other sources.
- Genres: electronic, lo-fi, ambient and cinematic, pop and rock.
- Look elsewhere if: absolute amp realism for rock or metal is the priority.
- Tip: try the lo-fi components, such as Tape Wobble and Noise Machine, on keys and drums.
What producers say
Reviewers value its range and creativity more than its amp realism.
- Sound On Sound (John Walden, 2024) praised "a vast array of guitar and bass tones" and its use as a multi-effects processor for synths, vocals and drums, but thought it may not satisfy amp purists.
- Guitar World (Andy Jones, 2024) called it "still the ultimate suite of software guitar tools", while noting version 7 is an incremental upgrade from 6.
Where to buy
- Native Instruments: $99
- Plugin Boutique: $189
- PluginFox: $199
- AudioDeluxe: $199
Tutorials and reviews
- Guitar Rig 7 Pro walkthrough (Native Instruments)
- How to use everything in Guitar Rig 7 Pro (Native Instruments)
- Beyond guitar: exploring Guitar Rig 7 Pro in music production (Native Instruments)
- What's new In Guitar Rig 7 Pro
- Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro - Sound Demo
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