Native Instruments Guitar Rig Pro 7

With new models, new effects, an IR loader and the return of the looper, this latest version of Guitar Rig has plenty to offer guitarists and producers alike.

Whether you prefer your virtual guitar rigs in software or hardware form, we’re now spoiled for choice. But I think that’s a good thing! All the leading products have different strengths, but for me, one of Guitar Rig’s main selling points has always been its breadth: there might be more focused options if you’re chasing tones for particular songs or genres, but if you’re looking for a ‘do it all’ option, capable of creating virtually any style of guitar or bass tone, Guitar Rig is a very well stocked one‑stop shop. Guitar Rig Pro 7 takes this even further and, I think it fair to say, extends its applications well beyond the bounds of guitar tones.

Now, unless you’ve been living under a rock, it won’t have escaped your attention that iZotope, Brainworx and Plugin Alliance are all now part of the Native Instruments stable. Thus, as well as being available as a product in its own right and as part of NI Komplete, Guitar Rig 7 also forms part of iZotope’s impressive Music Production Suite 6, along with Ozone 11 Advanced and Nectar 4. The software can run either standalone or as a plug‑in hosted by your DAW. VST3, AU and AAX plug‑in formats are supported on both Windows and macOS. An Intel i5 (or Apple Silicon) processor and Windows 10 or macOS 11 (or later) are required. Of course, for playing through the amps in real time you’ll need a system that’s capable of running at low latency, but Guitar Rig Pro itself is very efficient in that regard.

Plug In, Rock Out

Guitar Rig was already one of the most comprehensive offerings on the market, but this release brings us more. In terms of new amps, cabs and effects, there are four new amps (with matching cabs) and five new stompbox‑style effects options. These have NI’s machine‑learning technology (ICM) under the hood, and NI claim this adds greater depth and realism. The amp models themselves include both Fender and Vox inspired options, the Super Fast 100 (I assume based upon the SLO100) and Bass Rage (I think inspired by the Ampeg Venture), and these new models are a real step up in quality — I’ll be interested to see if NI eventually apply the same process across the breadth of Guitar Rig’s amp collection. Compared with the earlier Fender and Vox models, the newer versions are a significant improvement, particularly in terms of their feel and response to your playing dynamics. The new bass amp is also impressive — it can do a lot more than just the ‘rage’ I’d expected.

GRP7 adds four new amp models, including the Reverb Delight and Super Fast 100 shown here, and all were built using NI’s ICM technology.

The same can be said of the new stompbox‑style effects, which include a new take on the Skreamer (a Tube Screamer model) called Skreamer Deluxe. The sonic differences are for the better if...