Native Instruments Guitar Rig Pro 7 £179

Native Instruments’ guitar rack modelling standard is updated with newly modelled amps and effects. Is it seventh heaven asks Andy Jones?

- Andy Jones?

Can it really be true that it’s nearly 20 years since the very first Guitar Rig from Native Instruments? This guitar amp and effect pedal modelling software is one of NI’s most successful releases, thanks largely to its incredible sound and ease of use. It now appeals to an audience way beyond its initial target of guitar and bass players. Indeed, such is the girth of what it offers across the board effects-wise, it has become one of the best sound design tools out there. But nearly two decades on, can there really be anything more worth adding to this mightiest of effects racks?

Seven up

Guitar Rig Pro was steadily updated with amps and effects up to version 5, but there was an almost decade gap between that and v6 which introduced NI’s Intelligent Circuit Modeling (ICM), with machine learning homing in on the exact sound of the original hardware being modelled – see the box for more detail on the technology. Guitar Rig Pro 7 features four new amp models (making 26 in total) with matching cabs, all modelled using ICM. There are 100 new presets – always one of the strongest features of Guitar Rig – plus a new Impulse Response loader.