LV2 plugins from the Guitarix project

Since version 0.25, the Guitarix software guitar amplifier has expanded its collection of plugins (previously in LADSPA format) with some thirty LV2 plugins, allowing us to use Guitarix comfortably from our favorite DAW without having to open the application as such. .

By using the LV2 format, it has been possible to implement some GUIs that, while having a lot to improve aesthetically, help when using guitar plugins (work that is very iterative). In the short time that I have used them they have already convinced me so, although I will update a bit the information on how to use Guitarix externally, in my next tutorials I will focus on the use of Guitarix as a plugin, since it will allow us modify the sound of the instruments at any time in our creative process.

Today, we are going to see what is inside this collection.


The first thing is to make sure we have the correct version of Guitarix. As I said, the LV2 plugins emerge as a result of version 0.25. If you use the KXStudio repos, you shouldn't have a problem. The information that I will provide you comes based on my version of Guitarix, (0.27.1 of the KXStudio repos for Ubuntu 13.04).

Regarding its use, it is very simple. They are loaded from our usual DAW (as long as it supports LV2). They must be distinguished from LADSPAs (which use a generic GUI), either through the plugin manager (Ardor and Qtractor have it and indicate the type of plugin and the availability or not of a custom GUI) or by name, since these LV2 plugins are indicated as "GX-pluginname".

The GUIs are very simple. The parameters can be modified as in Guitarix: moving the controls with the mouse or by double clicking and entering the desired value. Like any LV2 plugin, we can save / rename / delete the configuration of each preset from the same plugin. There is a (temporary) problem with this, and it is that once a new preset has been saved we will not be able to load it until we have closed and reopened the DAW.

Mainly, these plugins are divided into: preamp, dynamics processors and effects processors.

1. Preamps

The main function of Guitarix is ​​to use it as a previous to color the guitar and make it as close as possible to the sound of it after going through an amplifier. GX has a collection of preamps and amps that go from the most general use to the pure metal amplifier par excellence.

Of all those included, the most complete is GxAmplifier-X. It is not just a preamp, as it adds "tonestack" (bass / mid / treble controls according to the response of a series of real amps) and speaker emulation, so it really behaves like a whole amp (pre -> EQ -> speakers / »cabinet»).

As you can see in the image, GxAmplifier-X has:

  • Preamp valve selector (12ax7, 6v6 and many more configurations).
  • Pre-gain controls: pre-gain, distortion, clean / drive / distortion, presence and post-gain.
  • Speaker selector and volume control.
  • "Tonestack" selector and XNUMX-band EQ.

In total, Guitarix 0.27.1 incorporates 4 types of preamps:

  • Amplifier X (mono and stereo): complete amplifier with interchangeable tube, preamp and speakers.
  • Alembic Mono and Studio Preamp Stereo: Alembic preamp with brightness switch and controls for volume, bass, mid and treble.
  • MetalAmp and MetalHead: metal amps with distortion, volume, tone and gain controls.
  • Redeye Chump, Big Chump and Vibro Chump. Set of amps based on the famous Fender Champ.

    2. Dynamics processors

    There are two: a compressor and an "expander." They are the most used, along with the limiter, although this is more important when mixing. However, a compressor with a ratio of 20 does well as a limiter.

    You can see how they include the normal controls for the dynamics processors: ratio, knee, threshold, release and attack.

    3. Effects processors

    Guitarix includes the most common effects for guitar and bass: distortion, echo, delay, chorus, phaser, wah… although we can always complement them with the rest of the existing LV2 plugins.

    Here you have the complete list:

    • Distortion: Tilt tone (tube overdrive) and TubeScreamer.
    • EQ: Booster (bass and treble enhancement).
    • Modulation: Stereo chorus, flanger, phaser, wah and autowah.
    • Repeat: Stereo Delay, Tube Delay, Stereo Echo, EchoCat, Stereo Reverb, Stereo Zita Reverb, Tube Vibrato, Tremolo and Tube Tremelo.

    Finally, an excellent tuner could not be missing.

    We already have everything we need to "sound" our guitars directly in the DAW. In later posts we will see how to use these plugins alone and with IR (impulse response) files, for which we will use the known GO LV2.


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      1.   Roy Batty said

        How cool to speak with acronyms: «They are loaded from our usual DAW (as long as it supports LV2). They must be distinguished from the LADSPAs (which use a generic GUI) »