Pros

• Hundreds of available sounds
• Silent recording
• Space efficient
• Change sounds after you’ve recorded them

Cons

• Requires confidence with a computer
• Can be processor intensive
• Less player feedback than a ‘real’ amp
• Can sound processed and artificial

Step one:
First connect your guitar to your audio interface.

Step two:
Route the incoming signal straight to a channel in your recording software, and arm it for recording.

Step three:
Balance the output level on the audio interface and the input level in the software to set the input level.

Step four:
Select your chosen amp modeller asa plug-in to that channel – this might be a third party product such as Native Instruments Guitar Rig, or it might be included with the recording software, for example Apple’s Amp Designer and Pedalboard in Logic.

Step five:
Use the plug-in’s own interface to choose different amp and effects combinations – and remember you can change sounds subtly or radically again after you’ve recorded!

Step six:
Hit record, play!