Honestly, I don't know why people complain about the distortion on this program. With a little tweaking, I have been able to achieve some amazingly convincing distortion sounds, especially from the JCM 800 and Citrus models. I use GR3 live and in the studio and it destroys anything else I have ever used!

What can I say? It has everything you could ever need and has expandable controls.

Because I have computer and sound engineering experience, I find GR3 extremely straight forward and simple to learn/operate. I can, however, understand if some less experienced people find its wealth of features a little overwhelming.

I have played about 50 gigs with GR3 and a Macbook and I have had absolutely zero issues with reliability. The hardware is durable and the software has yet to crash. I'm sure that running it on a Mac helps. I would not recommend using a Windows PC for a live application.

Compared to actually owning the gear that GR3 emulates, the value is ridiculously great. Compared to any other modeling system, the value still holds up due to its vastly superior quality.

As most people familiar with Native Instruments tech support know, they(NI) are not the most helpful people. They seem to assume that the user should already know whatever they are asking about. If we did, why would we be asking? Thankfully, the product works well and so far has not required any support from NI.

I needed it, and I bought it. I wanted it so bad that I bought a brand new Macbook for the sole purpose of operating it. I don't even have any other apps installed!

Pro Musician/Musical Director/Producer/Engineer

All

Best thing for the money. Hands Down. I am a recording hobbist and I travel a lot and this is absolutely perfect

USB or Firewire would be nice, but it is cool the way it is

rock solid, built liek a tank

this thing rules, I go tmine for 389.00 with education discount

never got any support, so can really say

just gotta hav it

Hobbyist

rock, metal, blues

Well, honestly I wasn't expecting much since I've used more than a couple of other software products of this genre, but the majority of effects truly sound very good and you can wreak all sorts of crazy goodness with this software. My biggest disappointment, if I had one, was in the distortion department. The distortion isn't very convincing, in my opinion. I've tinkered with it till I'm blue in the face and for the life of me I can't make it sound as convincing as a POD or a few of the physical stomp boxes I've tried but if you can live with substandard distortion, it's excellent in other regards. Heck, just use some external distortion with it; the effects it does have (outside of distortion) are worth it alone and the possibilities in that regard are seemingly infinite.

What can I say, other than it has more features than you can shake a stick at?

This is a fairly high quality product for what it is and does. I don't think we'll be seeing it used in professional studios to record the next big album, however for bedroom recording artists / guitarists who're working out ideas and could use a good songwriting palette, this is HIGHLY(!) recommended.

Considering how much it would cost to buy all of the equivalent (real) hardware that's been programmed here, I'd say this is a very good value. If you have the money, sure, it's better to own the physical hardware in many cases, but one nice thing about software like this is that you can save your racks and setup presets and recall them with ease. I do like twisting real vs. virtual knobs, myself but all in all, when it comes right down to it, this software is a really, really great value.

I've never had to use Native Instruments tech support so I wouldn't know.

Obviously the software had a high enough "I Want It" factor if I own it, you know? My rating is based on what that factor was before I bought it.

Active Musician, Producer

Rock, pop, metal or just whatever sounds good,

Yes, I said it... a 10. But here's the scoop: It doesn't really sound perfectly like the Mesa Boogies, Marshalls, Big Muffs, Tube Screamers, and the other guitar equipment that is emulated here. The real stuff will always sound better. But the equipment that has been emulated has been referenced with obvious care and reverence. All that aside this software sounds amazing in it's own right so I recommend that one just forgets about the preconceptions and comparisions and truly listen to what is offered and what is possible here. It's quite stunning in the correct setting.

The strongest 10 possible. One may configure the Guitar Rig components in infinite and exciting ways --- from traditional, to classic, to modern, to quite experimental. It will work in many useful ways in your favorite computer based studio --- even if you just want to apply the Rig's effects to non guitar related sounds. But even more interesting is how this can be made to work with other hardware (including your real world pedal collection as well as your beloved tube amps). I have been hooking up two of my amps for beautiful true stereo guitar effects and a very BIG wonderful and surprisingly truthful sound. The floor unit itself has it's own studio quality/low latiency soundcard that will be a useful link between the real world and the computer world. One can even use the Rig's card instead of their computer's card while not even using Guitar Rig 2. If that is desired. That's a few examples of what I'm talking about.

Drag and drop in any order and play. It also has tons of usable and tweakable presets. The floor unit will be familiar to any guitarist with a pedal effect.

Appears road ready and road tough. But only folks with intense confidence in their laptop would dare take this on the road. The computer would be the weak link here. The software has never crashed on me and the floor unit is built very solidly. NI makes the best sounding, best written, and most ambitious music software available --- period.

I give this a SEVEN, not because of the price. Everyone will have to decide for themselves if that's too much for them. I give it a SEVEN because I truly believe that one needs a reasonably powerful computer and excellent monitors to really hear what this can do. In fact, I only play through this software using great/classic guitars through high quality tube amps. Also, as with the use of any software, effects pedals, or whatever, the quality of your guitar and set-up are of paramount importance in being able to fairly judge the new equipment. In short, it's value will depend on your set-up and your imagination. So it's SEVEN because of the varibles involved. (For me personally it obviously a big fat TEN --- I can do a lot with this!)

I had a problem once and contacted NI support. I got a reply the next day that was rather terse and of little value. Fortunately I'm somewhat computer savvy and was able to figure out the problem myself.

Sexy --- yes. Only took two dates and now I sleep with it every night.

artist

No style at all

I've dealt with all kinds of modeling technology in the past ten years. I've owned Roland's VG-88, Fender Cyber Twin and Cyber Twin LE amps as well as a Line 6 POD and a Spyder. All of which are very good, but still do not capture all the nuances of an analog signal. Guitar Rig 3 is no exception. It gets close, but not close enough for my tastes.

The one thing I really love about this program is the stackable components. Makes it really easy to edit/play with new sounds. If you've ever messed around with programs like Reason, you'll be right at home with this setup. What would be really great is if they had an online community where people could list patches for popular tones they have created....maybe they do, I'm not sure but haven't researched that yet.

I'm only giving it a ten because I never had any problems with it. I'm using it with Win 7 and a MOTU Ultralite MK3 interface and it was simple plug and play. Never even had to read the manual and the interface is pretty intuitive at first glance

I'm laughing at some of the reviews on here in terms of quality. One guy said,"It's built like a tank." Not how I would describe a computer program but whatever...it's not like it has badly designed knobs that might fall off or electrical connections that can get jarred out. For a program though, it seems to be pretty stable.

If you're using this program for a home recording studio, it has the potential to be pretty useful. I have a pretty quick computer (Intel Core i7 at 3.2GHz with 12G of RAM), but the latency issue was a buzz kill for me. I would never imagine using it in a live setting at all cause the half second delay is huge when doing really syncopated rhythms. I use it more to make samples and place them where I want them in my DAW rather than record live....just too annoying to use as my main effects program.

Never had to use them so not sure

My explanation for the Value of this program should explain the "1". Too much latency for me. I got it as an add in with my purchase of Cakewalk Producer 8.5, but I definitely won't be buying any of the extra amp and effect add ons. Probably going to uninstall it from my computer after a bit of playing.

Active Musician/Recording

Rock, Alternative, Blues, Flamenco, Metal

for a software amp sim it delivers great sound quality, compared to dissappointing Amplitube for example. Playing through guitar rig feels very good, it really responds well to playing dynamics.

A complete set of flexible guitar fx components. The tuner, tape-decks are very useful and welcome additions.

don't know

funky, jazzy, from jimi to electro

Actually, the tonal quality, complexity and even the "feel" is quite natural. The problem with reviewing modeled sounds has to do with the playback system they are heard through. Through good loud monitors, like Mackie SRM 450's, (in stereo of course,) the sounds are VERY convincing. Through cheap monitors, it sounds like an imitation of a recording of famous amps and effects. Still, it is MUCH better than a POD or any of that crap.

Features get high marks because of the numerous creative ways to use the multiple effects, and the fairly intuitive interface. "Assignable pedal functions" is a very cool idea. Just the list of effects is impressive. However, be sure you have a FAST dedicated computer (a MAC) with LOADS of memory,(at least 1 Gig, NOT the meager minimum 512Mb suggested,) otherwise, this CPU-hog will crash and burn. All the features in the world are worthless if it makes your computer choke and puke to death.

For stock presets, user interface is easy. Learning to "tweak" takes some time, a bit of reading and a ton of experimentation. That is to be expected with any software-based product. It still sounds twice as good as any POD junk and is ten times easier to use than POD, Roland GT, Digitech, you name it. That still doesn't make it reliable or truly easy like a good ol' analog amp and some pedals.

Foot controller seems solid, as do metal inputs and outputs. (not plastic like on Roland's junk) I haven't taken one apart to look inside. From general experience though, it appears well-built. Can't speak for the software. I do know it eats memory and CPU power like Oprah eats ice cream.

If you judged only by the number of models and effects, it would be a great value at $500. However, you absolutely MUST have a BadDazz computer, with plenty of RAM and high speed CPU to run this thing. So that adds another (minimum)thousand dollars, thereby greatly reducing the "value" rating for such a product. And if you end up hating it? It is software. You cannot return it like normal gear. You're screwed.

Called for help. No response in several attempts. Then when I finally got a response, it was less than courteous and NOT helpful. The attitude was, "Our company is GOD and if you don't "believe", then you are an infidel! You must be having a problem with your cheap hardware you ignorant techno-turd." (I should point out that I have been recording professionally over thirty years for Major labels in some of the world's most well-equipped and technically-advanced studios.)

The NI website does a great job of "selling" this product. If you believe everything they say, it is a SEXY MF. If you are experienced, wise and a bit skeptical, then the sex-appeal factor diminishes rapidly. I based my rating on the cost of a comparable system from other manufacturers and the number of gigs it would take to pay for it. So long as it works, it is a great tool. How well it works depends on your technical knowledge, the quality of your computer and memory management.

pro studio and touring for national and international recording artists

you name it

The added amplifiers and cabs are the best art of the whole package. Everything else is repetitive to what they have been selling.

After the 3rd version they still haven't been able to make use of single coil pick ups just as the book says. If you want to use this software and get it's best sound quality make sure your using humbuckers or you will be disappointed. Take a little shop around and you won't find this in many packages.

If your looking for a particular sound you'll find it using humbuckers but not with single coils. Pretty simple plug and play but if your experimenting with the order of the effects chain you'd do yourself a favor and read the manual. No specific order is correct bt when using this package there are some things you should know.

With the exception of the Foot Pedal, its software and we all know how unreliable software can be until its tested and tested. Upgrades, bugs, etc. too early to tell. I wouldn't trust it on the road without a backup system. With the exception of a few changes and upgrades if it holds up as 1 and 2 is still doing and you don't have to bother support will just have to wait and see about the quality.

By far. Well over priced.

Your better of searching the web unless you want to take the heat for bothering them.

Neither. If there was a return policy it would be returned.

30 yeras, playing, recording, teaching still active

Any and all except death-doom metal

Sounds as good if not better than the virtual gear's hardware counterparts. Lots of room to tweak and knobs to turn, could definately find my "signature sound" with this plugin.

Works well as a standalone plug. Will mostly use for studio work however, I can't see myself using it on stage. Loaded to the brim with amp/cab/mic/tone variables, making for almost endless possibilities of sound styles and textures. I like how there are a few bass and drum presets included there.

Native Instruments. nuff' said.

I suppose it could be cheaper, but buying the hardware individually would be insane!

n/a

I believe this all-in-one plug is a must for anyone remotely interested in playing guitar.

Worship, Rock

I like the sound of this product. I was able to recreate the 80s Judas Priest and Anthrax Metal sound. The trick is i first select a Marshall JCM800 with a matching cabinet and then i select another 4x12 matching cabinet i dial in the settings and do some tweaking and i have a pure thrash metal tone. I have tryed this with the other amps and they all deliver me the type of metal high gain tone i love. Always select the distortion pedal first before the amp otherwise you will end up in the group criticers who criticse this software cannot deliver high gain its not the softwares problem but the duds problem who doesn't know how to use this software

Fantastic all i can say

Very easy to use but hard for some who always select the distorion pedal first and complian about the gain.

Tih softwares quality is awesome.

I think the value of this software is very good. If i use this software live on a laptop and connect it straight to a P.A. Audio System no can will be able to figure out where the huge sound is coming from.

Good

Very sexy

Native Instruments really stepped it up with Guitar Rig 3! Anyone serious about recording guitar in their home studio needs to have this product.

The matched cabinets feature rocks. I can grab a usable tone really quickly and jam instantly.

The foot pedal is rock solid. I stomp on that thing and it holds up without fail.

This is the best amp modeling system for the money, period.

Words cannot describe how beautiful the effects and overall sound is on this beast. Amps, foot pedals are a thing of a past. A must have for any serious musician and working bands. Try it, you'll love it!

It's worth every penny. I just don't have $500 plus tax to spend. I'm poor :(

Great sounds work is needed for exceptable distortions

Do not loose th cd key I went through hell with support to get my copy up and running again on a new comp

Great sounding. I especially like the amp heads and cabinets. Very versitile.

Theres not much you cant do with it.

The manual has been a useful read.

Built well. A growing set of effects and presets from their web-site.

This is an essential tool in my personal studio.

Haven't used it.

Got it, use it every day. I have a Heritage 575 and it sounds great.

By far the best guitar sounds I've ever heard emulated. Miles above amplitude, pod, warp etc.

Very reliable

Much more features for your money than similar products

Yes. Will be selling all previous effects

the best virtual machine FX for guitar, bass ,vocal...

accesories apart...

this software works very stable as stand alone also as VST instrument..

forget the price, this product comes full of presets,sounds,etc

no problem

amazing,cool, don't know but I think I have a very rare problem with NI products...

Black metal, doom, death...