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The Guitar Rig interface is easier on the eye than before.

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There are now separate input and output LEDs that shine in glorious green, making them impossible to miss, even in the murkiest of live venues.

Notably, there's much more consistency in the way the software functions are mapped to the individual switches of the Rig Kontrol, unlike previous versions where presets could differ a fair bit in the way they mapped the switches.

There remain a couple of gripes, though. There's still no output volume knob, only a pad switch. This means you have to set the volume level in software, which can be a pain.

Also missing is an XLR input. While the Rig Kontrol is aimed at guitarists and space on the back of the unit is sparse, it's supposed to be the only interface anyone needs, so it could be a disappointment for those wanting to hook up a mic too. For guitarists who sing, an XLR input would have made GR3 a one-stop solution to their gigging needs.

In summary

So has NI reached perfection with this version? Well, it's still really processor-hungry, so it can be tricky to keep the latency low if you're running more than one or two other plug-ins as you record.

What's more, Rig Kontrol is still a compromise as far as using it as a dedicated audio interface goes; it has to sit on the floor, which makes it awkward to adjust input levels, and you'll have to run cables from your playing position, which can be messy.

However, these are minor points, and the new amps and effects mean that pretty much all tonal bases are now covered.

But does it sound as good as the real thing? We can confirm that it does, and this is borne out by the number of big-name players who are already in love with Guitar Rig.

Purists may scoff that it doesn't sound the same as hardware, but we feel this is a redundant argument. The range of high-quality tones available makes this an awesome and essential creative tool.