Guitar Rig 5 Presets Sound Terrible: A Review of Native Instruments' Flagship Effects Processor

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For musicians looking to upgrade their sound without breaking the bank, Native Instruments' Guitar Rig series has long been a go-to choice. However, with each new iteration comes both promise and pitfalls – none more so than in this latest installment.

At its core, Guitar Amp Pro 6 is an effects processor designed specifically for guitarists seeking authentic tones from some of music's most iconic bands. But does it deliver?

The answer lies somewhere between yes and no. On one hand, you can't argue with the price tag – at zero dollars to download, even the most budget-conscious musician will find something to love.

But here's where things start to fall apart.

While Guitar Amp Pro 6 certainly offers plenty of features on paper (over 30 effects processors included), in practice these often feel somewhat neutered and lacking oomph. The presets selection is another area that leaves much room for improvement – with only a handful available straight out the box, users will quickly find themselves forced to either dig deep into their own library or seek external solutions.

And speaking of external solutions...

The biggest gripe here lies firmly at the feet of Native Instruments' business model. While it's understandable that developers want to make money from their software (after all – someone has got bills to pay!), there seems little reason why users shouldn't receive a more comprehensive suite of tools as standard, rather than being forced into shelling out extra cash for 'Pro' versions just to access the real meat and potatoes.

Take, for example, Guitar Rig 5's Metal Presets pack. Promising authentic tones inspired by some metal titans (including none other than Metallica themselves), these promise much but ultimately deliver little in terms of genuine depth or character.

In conclusion then – while there are certainly glimmers of hope here and there within Guitar Amp Pro 6, overall the experience feels somewhat underwhelmingly average. Unless you're a die-hard NI fan who simply must have their hands on the latest and greatest, perhaps it might be worth exploring other options before parting with your hard-earned cash.

Rating: *½ (out of five stars)

Recommendation:

* For those already invested in Native Instruments' ecosystem – yes

* Otherwise... maybe not

Alternatives to Consider:

* Ableton Live's drum rack and effects processors

* Logic Pro X's suite of vintage emulations

Guitar rig 5 presets sound terrible