Computer Guitar Rig

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rsm
rsm
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Anyone have a computer guitar rig? What are you using?

Finally decided to finish building this as a portable rig. Just ordered the remaining components for a computer / software plugin rig.

I have an older mini-desktop computer with Windows 11 Pro, i5, 512 GB SSD, 16G RAM. I've been using this computer with my Audient Evo 8 audio interface and KRK Rokit 5 monitors, and my guitar software plugins.

Ordered a 12.3" touchscreen monitor, and a long HDMI cable.

USB-C Audio Interface is an Arturia MiniFuse1, 24-bit / 192 kHz.

I'll be using my KMI SoftStep2 USB Midi Controller, have to see if I need a small USB hub or if I can use the USB connection on the MiniFuse? The KMI has an expression pedal input, and I'll be using my EHX NextStep Expression pedal.

Guitar into my EHX NextStep Volume pedal, into the audio interface. I'll be going out of the audio interface into a powered PA system.

The missing pieces should be arriving this week.
 
I run a Windows 10 Pro system, Intel Core i7-6700 CPU @ 3.4 Ghz, 32Gb RAM

Reaper DAW

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB interface

JBL Professional 305P MkII Next-Generation 5-Inch 2-Way Powered Studio Monitors
 
I use Ableton Live suite for my DAW; but this rig is focused on using standalone guitar plugins; for those like Softube Amp Room and Helix Native that don't have a standalone app, I have Blue Cat Audio PatchWork - which is a lightweight plugin host. Uses much less compute resources than Ableton.
 
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rsm said:
Anyone have a computer guitar rig? What are you using?

Finally decided to finish building this as a portable rig. Just ordered the remaining components for a computer / software plugin rig.

I have an older mini-desktop computer with Windows 11 Pro, i5, 512 GB SSD, 16G RAM. I've been using this computer with my Audient Evo 8 audio interface and KRK Rokit 5 monitors, and my guitar software plugins.

Ordered a 12.3" touchscreen monitor, and a long HDMI cable.

USB-C Audio Interface is an Arturia MiniFuse1, 24-bit / 192 kHz.

I'll be using my KMI SoftStep2 USB Midi Controller, have to see if I need a small USB hub or if I can use the USB connection on the MiniFuse? The KMI has an expression pedal input, and I'll be using my EHX NextStep Expression pedal.

Guitar into my EHX NextStep Volume pedal, into the audio interface. I'll be going out of the audio interface into a powered PA system.

The missing pieces should be arriving this week.
Click to expand...

This sounds like you're focusing *this* one for live playing, not as a DAW host?
 
Dave M said:
This sounds like you're focusing *this* one for live playing, not as a DAW host?
Click to expand...
exactly, but I have no plans to play live anymore, I did paying gigs from 14 to 32 years old. This is a computer guitar rig to replace my digital modelers that I sold (GT-1000, Helix LT).

FWIW, I have a software keyboard/synth rig as well; I use a 4-tier pedestal stand with 4 x 61-key MIDI keyboards each keyboard can be assigned to different software keyboards via the KMI SoftStep2 MIDI controller.

Still have my tube amps tho!
 
My computer rig is:
  1. Arthur Sound JCM800 preamp
  2. Axiom Effects Power Amp Emulator PAE-1
  3. Mooer Radar IR loader with Ownhammer Marshall 4x12 impulse response
  4. Audio Box USB interface
 
@homespun that's more hardware than I'd like to use, sounds more like a hybrid system?

I'll be using a few software plugins for nearly all the sounds except wah and volume; I'll have volume and wah pedals in front of the audio interface, and expression pedal for controlling parameters in the plugins, and the SoftStep2 for MIDI, pedalboard mode, preset mode.

Still waiting for one of my fav software plugins, PolyChrome DSP McRocklin Suite, to add MIDI support which they have on their list for a future.

Also plan to use my Neural DSP Mesa IIC suite and Archetype: Petrucci.

I have Blue Cat Audio PatchWork which is a MIDI controllable plug-in patchbay. I plan to use this to switch between plugins.

Cheers!
 
Computer based rigs are awesome, and quite cost effective. This is a video I did with VST Amp Rack, the bundled guitar software that comes with Cubase. I have no doubt you'll get better results with some of the plugins you mentioned. But how I'd mix it up is by going into a power amp and then a real guitar cabinet, it'll sound more guitar-like.



 
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@nightlight I ran digital modelers into FRFR PA systems for years. The current plugins I have sound great to me, once I have everything assembled and working it should be a small rig accept for the PA.

I do have one smaller hardware rig, Mooer Prime P1 + F4 wireless footswtich. It sounds good, and depending on the amp and cab has a good feel, and feedback too...just not sounding as good as the software plugins, but not bad for the ~$170 I spent on it.
 
Drop that 98khz to 44.1khz, drop that block size to 16 or 32 and you can get some killer low latency for plugins.
 
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Not getting any noticeable latency at all, so far.

Had to order HDMI and USB-c extension cables. So far everything works as expected though the touchscreen monitor user guide wasn't clear; since I'm not connecting to a 2-in-1 laptop but to a mini-desktop, it doesn't send video signal over the USB-C, only sends power; once I connected the HDMI cable everything worked.

Going to need a small pedalboard for my wah, volume, expression pedals, and SoftStep2; from the board I need to run a USB cable (to the computer) and instrument cable (to the audio interface).

Once I get the components of the rig laid out, I have to dig into MIDI programming with the SoftStep2 which needs 1) preset/bank change and 2) pedalboard modes.

Polychrome DSP just did a preview of the upcoming 1.5 upgrade which includes MIDI control finally.
 
Seems windows 11 gets confused about which monitor is connected and if there's a touchscreen. Looks like I got it sorted out, and as an added bonus I'm getting power and video over the USB-C cable so no need for the HDMI cable. I shutdown and started several times to make sure.

If the computer turns off the touchscreen monitor, it doesn't like to wake up again using the touchscreen monitor, so I have to set it to never sleep and never turn off the monitor.

Connecting to my powered PA, I'm getting noise sounds like computer noise going over the USB cable to the audio interface. Did some research and found an iDefender+ see if it works, a few youtube vids were convincing.
 
The Only Thing I Would Do To Compensate
Windows Buggy Video And Audio Is Off Load
Both Video And Audio To
External PCIe Expansion Box.
Like This One I Just Found.
https://www.startech.com/en-us/cards-adapters/4pcie-pcie-enclosure

After This Was Set In Place?
The Windows Host Would Be
Freed Up To Run The Software.

Windows Is A Huge Memory Hog.
Having As Much Memory As One
Can Fit On The Hardware Is Always Best.

At A Bare Minimum A Quad Core Intel
CPU Is A Great Platform, And Strong.

Now, Then Let Add A Few Things About
Using Headless Windows PC's.

Headless Just Means The Main Computer
Lets Another PC Log On The Host PC
And Use All The Software As Normal.

This Frees Up The Host To Run Software
As The "Remote" PC Is Using It's Own
Hardware To Run The Software On The Host.
Newer Windows Is Build For This.

Very Trick And Slick Way Of Using
Pretty Cheap Off The Shelf Hardware.
This IS Called COT Hardware Officially.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commercial_off-the-shelf
This Is Why Windows Has So Many Hats When it Comes
To Hardware, And The Same Hardware Is Everywhere.


This Is Much More Easy On Non Windows
Then It Is Windows. Windows Is Buggy.

Windows Was And Is Designed To Run
On A Single PC.


I Can Break This Down Much Nicer,
But Just Wanted To Provide A Proof
Of Concept Idea Here.
 
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ghosty999 said:
Drop that 98khz to 44.1khz, drop that block size to 16 or 32 and you can get some killer low latency for plugins.
Click to expand...

Latency is lower at higher sample rate. Anyway I think a computer based guitar rig is a bad idea, unless you're striving for some very specific functionalities that are not possible/accessible without a computer. If what you want to achieve soundwise is possible without a computer, then a computer-less rig will be much more satisfying IMHO.

nightlight said:
Computer based rigs are awesome, and quite cost effective. This is a video I did with VST Amp Rack, the bundled guitar software that comes with Cubase. I have no doubt you'll get better results with some of the plugins you mentioned. But how I'd mix it up is by going into a power amp and then a real guitar cabinet, it'll sound more guitar-like.
Click to expand...

It will sound even more guitar-like by skipping the computer altogether LOL

rsm said:
Seems windows 11 gets confused about which monitor is connected and if there's a touchscreen. Looks like I got it sorted out, and as an added bonus I'm getting power and video over the USB-C cable so no need for the HDMI cable. I shutdown and started several times to make sure.

If the computer turns off the touchscreen monitor, it doesn't like to wake up again using the touchscreen monitor, so I have to set it to never sleep and never turn off the monitor.

Connecting to my powered PA, I'm getting noise sounds like computer noise going over the USB cable to the audio interface. Did some research and found an iDefender+ see if it works, a few youtube vids were convincing.
Click to expand...

You're only at the very beginning of the big serie of headaches. It's still time to give up before it's too late. Anymore effort in that direction will lead to more aggravation.

edit : ok I need to nuance my post. If what you want is tinkering with computers then go ahead. The thing will keep you busy for months, possibly years on end. It will also cost you a lot of money if your goal is a real-world solid good sounding giggable solution. If what you want is to play guitar, then stop wasting your time right now. BTW I work in software dev for a living when I'm not playing guitar.
 
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Jack Luminous said:
Latency is lower at higher sample rate. Anyway I think a computer based guitar rig is a bad idea, unless you're striving for some very specific functionalities that are not possible/accessible without a computer. If what you want to achieve soundwise is possible without a computer, then a computer-less rig will be much more satisfying IMHO.



It will sound even more guitar-like by skipping the computer altogether LOL



You're only at the very beginning of the big serie of headaches. It's still time to give up before it's too late. Anymore effort in that direction will lead to more aggravation.

edit : ok I need to nuance my post. If what you want is tinkering with computers then go ahead. The thing will keep you busy for months, possibly years on end. It will also cost you a lot of money if your goal is a real-world solid good sounding giggable solution. If what you want is to play guitar, then stop wasting your time right now. BTW I work in software dev for a living when I'm not playing guitar.
Click to expand...

Yes, but I recommend 44.1k to reduce CPU overhead. Also I've played with a couple guys who use Amp Sim Plugins live, so I don't share your opinion that people should just "give up before it's too late". It didn't keep them busy for months. They set up a Macbook running the plugin and an Apollo firing audio into a mixer sent to FOH. Set up time was around 5 minutes. Show was great.
 
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ghosty999 said:
Yes, but I recommend 44.1k to reduce CPU overhead. Also I've played with a couple guys who use Amp Sim Plugins live, so I don't share your opinion that people should just "give up before it's too late". It didn't keep them busy for months. They set up a Macbook running the plugin and an Apollo firing audio into a mixer sent to FOH. Set up time was around 5 minutes. Show was great.
Click to expand...

CPU overhead is not much of a problem with recent computers for running an amp sim and a few plugins. How much money are we talking about for a Macbook + an Apollo interface ? For the same amount, for my own taste, I guess I'd prefer a nice amp/pedalboard rig. But that's a matter of personal preference of course.
 
Jack Luminous said:
CPU overhead is not much of a problem with recent computers for running an amp sim and a few plugins. How much money are we talking about for a Macbook + an Apollo interface ? For the same amount, for my own taste, I guess I'd prefer a nice amp/pedalboard rig. But that's a matter of personal preference of course.
Click to expand...
CPU bottlenecking is an issue with Neural DSP stuff at high quality etc. Even on modern CPU.

Second hand macbook and interface to run all the amps, patch changes, lighting DMX signals, MIDI clicks, keyboard backing tracks etc. Was around $1000, which is less money and stuff to carry than buying all that PLUS an amp.

The other dude ran his off a Dell 7390 into a Focusrite 18i20. Total cost was around 400$.
 
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ghosty999 said:
CPU bottlenecking is an issue with Neural DSP stuff at high quality etc. Even on modern CPU.

Second hand macbook and interface to run all the amps, patch changes, lighting DMX signals, MIDI clicks, keyboard backing tracks etc. Was around $1000, which is less money and stuff to carry than buying all that PLUS an amp.

The other dude ran his off a Dell 7390 into a Focusrite 18i20. Total cost was around 400$.
Click to expand...

If Neural DSP stuff has trouble running on a modern computer then maybe they are accurately simulating the nuclear power plant feeding the power grid itself feeding the modeled amp for a more realistic experience. Or maybe they don't know what they are doing. I wouldn't rely on such software experts for my live gigs in any case.

Indeed, if DMX, midi clicks, backing tracks etc. are to be handled by the same hardware as the guitar rig then a computer is the only possible solution. For my own pleasure, I'd keep the DMX/clicks/backing tracks/whatever firmly separate from my guitar rig.

A 4 years old used Dell and a low end Focusrite interface is a cheap solution but not the same thing at all as a MacBook and an Apollo interface.
 
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