ATTENTION GUITARISTS AND RECORDING ENTHUSIASTS: Amplitube 2 or Guitar Rig 2?

[Butters!]

I've been contemplating for a while which guitar software to use for recording: Amplitube 2 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/IK-Multimedia-AmpliTube-2-Electric-Guitar-Amplifier-and-Effects-Modeling-Plugin-Software?sku=702486) or Guitar Rig 2 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Native-Instruments-Guitar-Rig-2?sku=708231). The raves, popularity and price of Amplitube 2 naturally draws my attention but I've heard that Guitar Rig 2 is a close competition with its new features.

I've tried out Amplitube 1 with GarageBand 3 and it didn't give me the sound I was looking for with my guitar. I record punk songs and need awesome distortion for my guitar. To get an idea, I'm looking for distortion such as the kind in bands like New Found Glory or Green Day (earlier records). I'm currently using the pre-sets for distortion and grunge from GarageBand 3 and although they suffice to some level, I'd love to step it up a notch. Since I could not find the anticipated sound from Amplitube 1, there's that "not-so-sure" block in me from getting Amplitube 2 as I anticipate that it's going to be the same sound I heard from Amplitube 1.

I'm really trying to stay away from Guitar Rig 2 mainly because of the price. Though I can afford it, I'd be killing myself if I spent that much money and not find my sound. But if the reviews are good enough, I may purchase otherwise.

For now I'm leaning towards Amplitube 2 but if any of you guys who have either used each software or own either software can provide me some reviews, that would be great! Maybe it'll help me in my buying decision.

So I've put up a poll to see roughly which guitar software stands mightier than the other. I encourage all guitarists and recording enthusiasts who have either heard, use or own either software to vote and give reviews, comments and suggestions.

Oh and another thing: aside from releasing Guitar Rig 2, it's company, Native Instruments, has also come out with Guitar Combos Bundle (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Native-Instruments-Guitar-Combos-Bundle?sku=704035) which seems like Guitar Rig 2 Lite. I read the description from Musicians Friend and it looks like a very condensed version of Guitar Rig 2. And it's beautifully priced! So if you fellow guitarists and recording enthusiasts could take a look at that or know something about it and give reviews, that'd be great! You guys rock! Thanks in advance.

[taste_u]

Price?

Price???

This is software we\'re talking about - download it off limewire with a keygen

[The_Murphulator]

maybe its your guitar

[taste_u]

Amplitube is great

[Butters!]

maybe its your guitar

With an American Fender Telecaster, American Fender Stratocaster, Fender Squier Bass, and a Gibson SG....no....no, I don't think it's any of my guitars.

However, I AM using a M-Audio MObile Pre-Amp via USB. Does that have anything to do with the sound?

[webtrekker]

I use Amplitube 2 ........ it's the bee's knees as far as I'm concerned.

Download full version from here ..............

http://rapidshare.com/files/70119572/ikm-ampli212-work.rar

password = morz@magesy

Enjoy! :D

[h4z4rd]

I have used both Amplitube 2 and Guitar Rig 2. Out of those two programs I would say Guitar Rig is definitely the better program. With Guitar Rig you get a little better selection of amps, cabs and effects to choose from. You also have a bunch of various equalizers, sequencers, compressors, etc. at your disposal that you can use to get practically any sound you want. So it's a little more flexible than Amplitube.

Both programs give you options such as tuner, metronome, loop machine, audio player etc. However with Guitar Rig 2 you also get to record your guitar using the tape deck feature. So as far as I know Amplitube doesn't have a record feature. Another thing I found is that Guitar Rig uses a much better library system than Amplitube does, meaning it's much easier to create, save and select a given preset in Guitar Rig than in Amplitube. Both programs however come with some great presets to help get you started with finding the sound that you are looking for.

That's not to say that Amplitube is not a worthy competitor: it definitely is. It's a great emulation program to start off with, but if you're a little more serious about recording then I would say Guitar Rig is the better choice.

Also, what equipment do you have besides the M-Audio preamp? Are you using studio monitors? Currently i'm using an M-Audio Firewire solo box to hookup my guitar to the computer and my output goes to two M-Audio Reference Monitors. The M-Audio preamp you have should work great with either software program, but I definitely recommend getting a pair of studio monitors as the sound difference between them and plain computer speakers is huge.

Anyway let me know if you need any help getting the preamp setup with either program.