Sugar Bytes - Guitarist

Guitarist is Sugar Bytes' virtual rhythm guitar, for producers in pop, funk, house, electronic and film music who need convincing electric guitar parts without a guitarist in the room. The player is turned into a step sequencer, with detailed control over chords, strumming, fingering and the small details that make a part sound played.

The sequencers

On a 16-step pattern you decide whether a chord triggers, which strings sound, and whether the strum goes up or down. Strings can also be played individually for arpeggios and riffs, and damped and dead notes bring the funk. Lower lanes set the chord sequence: a root note, 12 chord types each with three fingerings, and up to 24 user chords drawn on the fretboard.

The human touch

The Animations page moves each virtual finger up or down by up to three semitones per step, for hammer-on style movement inside a chord. The Action section adds hands-on control: loop a part, drop in dead or damp notes, or switch to half tempo. Slides, vibrato and portamento are all there.

The guitars and effects

Four guitar sounds are included: a Fender Stratocaster, a Telecaster, and a Duesenberg Starplayer Special in Bright and Normal versions, each recorded with over 2,000 samples. Warm amps and a direct out, ten effects, a wah pedal and a talk mode complete the rig, and individual strings can be muted or detuned.

The sound

Guitarist is designed for rhythm parts and is very good at them: choppy funk, disco and house stabs, strummed pop chords and arpeggiated textures. It isn't built for expressive lead solos. For harmonic sequencing of other instruments, see Consequence.

Features

• Four electric guitar sounds: Stratocaster, Telecaster and Duesenberg Starplayer Special (Bright and Normal)
• Over 2,000 samples per guitar
• Step control over strum, chords and strings
• 12 chord types with 3 fingerings, plus 24 user chords
• Animations page for per-finger movement
• Action section for real-time control
• Slides, vibrato and portamento
• Amps, direct out, 10 effects, wah pedal and talk mode
• Mute or detune individual strings

System requirements

• Version: 1.1.1
• Mac: macOS 10.13 or later. AU, VST2, VST3, AAX and Standalone (64-bit). Native on Apple Silicon
• Windows: Windows 7 or later. VST2, VST3, AAX and Standalone (64-bit)

SOUND7 is an authorised Sugar Bytes reseller. Digital delivery: licence activation code sent by email.

Demo