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Plugin technology continues to amaze me. Acoustic guitar is one that I have never heard done well. Until today.

Check out this video on this virtual instrument - the player's technique is very well suited to it since he knows how to play the keyboard in a guitar like fashion, but even so the sound it incredibly convincing, in my opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrEM448PxAE

Here's the plugin. http://www.amplesound.net/en/purchase.asp it's not cheap, $170 for just one model of guitar, but this is the closest I've ever heard and listening to the Youtube without watching definitely sounds realistic.

With BIAB midi generated acoustic guitar tracks, I'm guessing most folks could get really nice results from this plugin and fool most people very well.

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Amazing.

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Originally Posted By: lrosicky
Amazing.


That's what I thought. I'm very surprised there aren't more replies here as folks have asked about acoustic guitar simulations for what seem like ages and they have all had the caveat that they don't sound realistic. This one is amazing to my ears, given the right midi technique.

I would think that it would be great with BIAB, which my understanding outputs guitar-technique-appropriate arpeggiation.

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Scott,

I think it depends on where you’re coming from. For me, (JMHO), using an acoustic guitar simulation and talking about how wonderful it sounds is kind of like telling someone that they should go to Bozo’s Authentic Seafood for Alaskan King Crab.

The only problem with Bozo’s Alaskan King Crab is that it’s actually fish scraps that are pureed and poured into forms, artificial color and artificial flavorings are added and then they attempt to pass it off as Alaskan King Crab.

The trouble is, … there’s NO crab in it!!!

It doesn’t look like crab, it doesn’t smell like crab, it doesn’t taste like crab, it doesn't have the texture of crab.

So if you want crab, go to someplace like Joe’s Crab Shack.

If you want acoustic guitar, …… find one of the tens of thousands of acoustic guitarists who are looking for work and offer them a job.

Most of them will work CHEAP ! wink

JMHO.

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Bob, that has been my opinion as well. Let's say that someone has a midi-only setup (very common on this forum from what I can gather) - then this is the type of thing that's right up that alley.

Did you listen to the demos? Or watch the guy giving it a run-through? It's pretty impressive.

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I listened and watched and I thought that this would be a good thing for any non-guitarist to have in his or her arsenal. I think that this is one of the closest sounding acoustic guitar sounds that I have heard. Of course like any other instrument that you are trying to emulate you must get to know all of the nuances that make whatever instrument sound as real as possible. The guy on the demo must also play guitar.

I don’t think that many of the PG MIDI style guitar tracks are that good. I do believe that with the MIDI SuperTracks and the transcribing of RTs to MIDI will change all of that.

Being an acoustic and electric guitarist who has other guitarist friends that come over to my home studio I will not be buying this. However for other instrumentalists this is a very good sounding softsynth and well worth the $170 IMHO.


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Scott,

Quote:
Did you listen to the demos? Or watch the guy giving it a run-through? It's pretty impressive.


I did watch as much as I could.

It’s not that it didn’t sound good.

It’s just that I don’t think music should be turned over to an algorithm that has to “decide” what is physically possible on a guitar or any other musical instrument.

I’d just rather hear REAL LIVE MUSICIANS play musical instruments instead of listening to a computerized approximation.

………………………………………………………………

OOPS !!!!!!!! wink

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Originally Posted By: bobcflatpicker
I’d just rather hear REAL LIVE MUSICIANS play musical instruments instead of listening to a computerized approximation.



Hi Bob, I agree with your real live musicians’ statement. However, I’m not trying to start a war here I’m just giving you my opinion, real live musicians have been playing MIDI instruments for years. Keyboard, wind controller and guitarist for example.

I would rather listen to a real sax player but there are wind controller players who do a fantastic job at it. Keyboard players have been emulating B3s, pianos, Rhodes etc for years now. In fact I played for years with a midi controller guitar to emulate some of the sounds that we could not perform live with. Sounds like mallets and steel drums and such.

The only genres of music that I do not like to have emulated is bluegrass and true blue country, not the pop country of today. I know that bluegrass is your favorite so I know where you are coming from.

Peace


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Originally Posted By: bobcflatpicker


It’s just that I don’t think music should be turned over to an algorithm that has to “decide” what is physically possible on a guitar or any other musical instrument.

I’d just rather hear REAL LIVE MUSICIANS play musical instruments instead of listening to a computerized approximation.

………………………………………………………………

OOPS !!!!!!!! wink




OK, this seems more of a criticism of auto-generated backing tracks than it does of this particular plugin.

I'll take a live band that is tight any day, including if I can play the parts. But man I've been using MIDI since about 1983 as well. I've also been continuing to build my own chops on different instruments over the years. I would have never guessed I would 'become a bass player' until I simply got fed up with midi bass and bought one and started in learning the thing. That was probably 2006 or 2007. Now, I could have a Sunday gig every Sunday of the year playing bass in worship teams across this city. On more than one occasion, I played AM and PM services, across town from each other.

That said, the whole premise of BIAB needs realistic MIDI sound generation. This is the best acoustic guitar MIDI module I've ever laid ears on.

That's all. Not trying to take anyone's gig away from them. Tonight I'm off to practice electric guitar for this Sunday's set....

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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.

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In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!

Special offers until December 31st, 2025!

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Learn more and listen to demos of the Xtra Styles PAK 21.

Video: Xtra Styles PAK 21 Overview & Styles Demos: Watch now!

Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.

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