In today’s article, we’ll take a look at the best classical guitar plugins and libraries released so far in 2023.
Instrument libraries are one of the best tools available to modern music producers. Even if you don’t have adequate conditions to record or even play such instruments, these libraries can contain a multitude of samples and dynamic variations that will simulate a real musician in no time.
Acoustic instruments are even more delicate to work with, especially due to their unique sound profile. Microphones are imperative in this process, so if there’s no appropriate way to capture their essence, a sound library is a welcome solution to your problems.
In a nutshell, here are the best classical guitar plugins & libraries in 2023:
- 1. Ample Guitar L (Plugin)
- 2. Native Instruments Picked Nylon (Kontakt Library)
- 3. UJAM Virtual Guitarist SILK (Plugin)
- 4. Sketch Nylon (Kontakt Library)
- 5. Evolution Modern Nylon (Kontakt Library)
- 6. Ilya Efimov Nylon Guitar (Kontakt Library)
This time, we’re analyzing some classic guitar libraries and plugins that can sound just as good as a real recording would. They can assist you in reaching the perfect timber with minimal effort included so that most producers will benefit from at least one item on this list.
Let’s dive into our hot picks for classical guitar plugins and Kontakt libraries available as of 2023.
Top 6 Classical Guitar Plugins & Kontakt Libraries 2023
1. Ample Guitar L (Plugin)
This Kontakt library brings the notorious sound found on classical Alhambra guitars right into your DAW.
Alhambra Guitars has been a well-established company since 1965 and is present in over 70 countries. Alhambra is the perfect union between the handmade work’s tradition and modern woodworking techniques with an outstanding dedication to building the best handmade classical, flamenco, and steel-string guitars,
With such a high standard in mind, Ample Sound unveils this exciting new Kontakt library based on such instruments. You can expect the same warm tones with the distinct color of the nylon strings, but in a friendly package that fits within your preferred workstation and all your projects.
Aside from that, the articulations are vast and can help “humanize” the playability with different strum and picking patterns.
Key Features:
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- Sampling
Featuring almost 4GB of samples, Ample Guitar L contains very diverse and rich sounds. Aside from the excellent quality, they all feature the imperative dynamics for instruments such as this. You’ll find the “Finger” and “Pick” libraries, exclusively dedicated to your preferred picking style, and also “Sustain,” “Hammer On,” “Pull Off,” “Legato Slide,” “Slide In & Out,” “Palm Mute,” “Natural Harmonic,” and other various articulations that will bring more life to your samples, just like a real classical guitar would have. - Riffer
This is an awesome feature to help expand your creativity even further. With the “String Roll Editor,” you can alter eight-note attributes: “Pitch,” “Velocity,” “Length,” “Off Velocity,” “Articulation,” “Legato,” “Vibrato,” and “Bend.” The “Dice” symbol is a riff generator that works with a mouse click and can unveil new possibilities to your creativity, all based on an algorithm that analyzes a bunch of music scores and deliver a fresh new idea instantly. - FXs
There are also some good FXs that can be helpful when dealing with a classical guitar. Here, you’ll find an 8-band EQ with frequency response and the possibility of soloing a single band, a 2-line compressor with two detections modes (RMS and Peak), soft knee, auto release, and auto makeup, a tape echo that allows you to tweak six parameters of the effect individually (feedback, pan, volume, etc.), and an IR reverb with “Room,” “Studio,” “Hall,” and “Larger Hall” types. - Tab Reader
A Tab Player can load and play several guitar tablatures in different formats. The user can load, play, and display any specific track inside a tab while also exporting it in an audio file when used inside a DAW. This is a helpful feature for transcribing songs in a heartbeat and in practice sessions.
- Sampling
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.9 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats and standalone host.
Summary:
This plugin bears a huge name attached to it: the famous Alhambra Guitars. To have such an important company backing it, you can expect nice classical guitar tones within this package.
Not only that, but the different articulations that help the sound become more human make a real difference in the final result and can sound as real as a genuine instrument would. The effects present only increase that experience, and tools such as “Tab Reader” and “Riffer” are notorious for expanding both creativity and the usage of this library.
Related Reading:
Top 7 Acoustic Guitar Plugins (And 4 Best Kontakt Libraries)
2. Native Instruments Picked Nylon (Kontakt Library)
The unique sound of a handcrafted classical guitar is captured in full detail on this new addition to NI’s Session Guitars sample libraries.
The nylon-stringed guitar is a nice addition to any genre, from classical to EDM, and is more solidly represented in styles such as bossa nova and flamenco. It doesn’t matter if you’re working on a pop song or a film score, it’s a coveted and powerful sound that can bring more timbres and nuances to your production.
All sounds in Picked Nylon are from a guitar built by the renowned luthier Lisa Weinzierl, recorded using amazing preamps, and in a controlled studio environment to capture the best sound possible. In addition, six highly sought-after microphones were used to create three separate stereo setups, fitting a range of organic sounds with different dynamics attached.
Key Features:
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- Plucking position
Guitarists constantly change the position in which they pick or pluck a string in order to have different sounds and dynamics when playing. This effect is even more noticeable on an acoustic guitar, and the delicate aspect of nylon strings is a distinct remark. Native Instruments thought of this and decided to include a real-time brightness control that lets you do that. By tweaking closer to zero, you’ll have a around and warm neck sound, and by increasing its value, it will sound closer to the bridge position. - Resonance
Another imperative aspect of any acoustic instrument is linked with its resonance. On acoustic guitars, it lies upon the body construction and the sound hole. The “Sympathetic Resonance” control allows you to emulate the resonance effect of neighboring strings whenever a single note is played, creating a vivid and organic character to the classical guitar’s sound. - Fret noises
Whenever a musician plucks a note on a guitar, the string is divided between two sections: from the note up to the bridge saddles and from the note down to the nut. This creates additional harmonics that can be heard when you mute the strings with the right hand. To emulate this effect properly, Picked Nylon makes all the ghost notes and slides in real-time within the “Noise” section, with dedicated control for the fret sounds (“Fret”) and another for breathing sounds and guitar movements (“Musician”). - Microphones
Aside from featuring six great-sounding microphones when capturing the samples, this library also contains three different settings to choose from: “Stage (MS),” “Main (AB),” and “Close (MS).” The “Width” control located nearby will change the balance between the mono close and ambient microphones so that you can set in the perfect ambiance for your sound.
- Plucking position
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.14, 10.15, 11, and 12 (64-bit only) and Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit only). It runs in Kontakt Player 6.6 and higher. Free Kontakt Player not supported.
Summary:
Native Instruments always brings the best possible sounds to your production in many instrument choices. This time, Picked Nylon unveils an awesome tool to assist you in the best way when it comes to classical guitar sounds. The nice quality of the samples is one of the good characteristics, but the possibilities regarding adjustments can create a very human and organic experience.
Controls that adjust the overall playability of a nylon-stringed guitar are present, and so are the effects and microphone configurations. This library is expected to attend most producers that need a quick and reliable tone to be included in any music style wanted.
Related reading:
20 Best Kontakt Libraries For All Categories (Synths, Drums, Vocals)
3. UJAM Virtual Guitarist SILK (Plugin)
All the smoothness and delicacy of a nylon-stringed guitar is present here, favoring clean and vivid sounds in any style you’d like.
UJAM’s Virtual Guitarist SILK is a Kontakt library that intends to easily create classical guitar tracks and fingerpick melodies with many styles, phrases, and arpeggios available. You can expect delicate arrangements and vivid fortissimo phrases in the same library, showcasing its diversity and versatility.
SILK mixes an excellent sound quality demanded by all with an elegant design that will spare frustrations to beginners, allowing for good ideas to freely flow without any previous guitar knowledge attached. The integrated amp modeling can help get a nice vintage amp sound, while common effects like delay and reverb will polish the final sound.
Key Features:
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- Authentic sound
A vintage guitar will always bring the perfect sound to the table and can be crucial when choosing between similar libraries. According to UJAM, the team decided to go for the best possible option to record this library. They used an unspecified 1967 German classical concert guitar, made by a renowned luthier and played by the best session musicians possible. - Tweak your best sound
One of the recurring problems with plugin libraries is that they sometimes tend to sound too robotic and unnatural. This can be fixed with SILK’s 670 phrases (distributed along 60 group-styles), sophisticated mic setups and channel strip combinations within the “Character” control, an “Animate” algorithm that adds depth and movement to the signal, and controls for “Swing,” “Timing,” “Feel,” and “Variance” that can increase the timing precision and overall dynamics to meet your song’s style. - NKS-ready
SILK supports Native Instruments’ NKS, so you can quickly use your Komplete Kontrol Keyboard or Maschine. The library will be mapped accordingly straight out of the box, enabling you to use Virtual Guitarist with the Light Guide, Smart Play features, and all the potential of Komplete Kontrol without spending too much time configuring it.
- Authentic sound
Compatibility:
This library runs in OSX 10.11 and macOS 10.12 or higher (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It comes in VST, AU, and AAX plugin formats.
Summary:
If you’re not so familiar with playing the guitar or simply don’t have much time to tweak a Kontakt library, this option is a great choice. UJAM created this library so you can focus on creating music instead of spending hours trying to get a nice classical guitar sound.
With very common settings that can help it become as organic as possible, Virtual Guitarist SILK is a nice library with good-quality samples and effects. The main source for these samples is a vintage guitar, and although most users will be satisfied with this info, others might find it weird and suspicious that they chose not to reveal the brand or even the luthier’s name, as this detail could attach more weight to the name. Nonetheless, it’s a smooth and great-sounding option for your production.
Related reading:
Top 20 UJAM Plugins For Music Production
4. Sketch Nylon (Kontakt Library)
sketchsamples bring great sampling with inexpensive price tags, aiming at a lower budget profile while maintaining high quality.
The first installation of a series of cheap yet powerful libraries, Sketch Nylon, is a nice sample collection that will bring a touch of nylon strings to your music. A simple design and friendly interaction with Kontakt Player will provide a straightforward experience while showcasing imperative settings to make it sound as natural as possible.
All samples were recorded with Takamine classical guitars, high-quality microphones, and a piezo pickup. The first two items are somewhat mandatory, but it’s awesome to see they included a piezo alternative – these pickups are mounted on the guitar’s bridge, resulting in a very specific output sound. You can also stipulate an adequate balance between the acoustic and pickup sounds if necessary.
Key Features:
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- Articulation
This library features 14 articulations, including “Tirando,” “Apoyando,” “Mute,” “Flageolet,” “Vibrato,” “Pull/Ham,” and “FX.” It also features other options that allow for a playback speed control and are tailored to melodic ornaments, such as “Slup_fast,” “Slup_slow,” “Mordent 1,” “Mordent 2,” “Triplet,” “Gliss_up,” and “Gliss_dw.” Adjusting each articulation will bring the experience as close as possible to what a real instrument would sound. - MIDI pack
The MIDI pack includes 05 styles with variations, including “Bossa Nova,” “Samba,” “Baião,” “Choro,” and “Frevo,” all great Brazilian rhythms. Each style feature an accompaniment and four types of guitar chords (major, minor, 7, and mb5), totalizing 1968 different ones to choose from. Each MIDI file features four zones corresponding to a keyboard section, separated by colors. The blue area is recommended if a chord alteration is needed, as it maintains authenticity regarding the guitar sound. - Nail attack
This setting allows for a genuine sound of a note attack picked by a nail. When set at zero, the sound is unchanged; but as the “Offset” knob or CC110 controller value increases, the distinctive sound of a long nail picking a string appears, bringing more life to any melody played.
- Articulation
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.14, 10.15, 11, and 12 (64-bit only) and Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit only). It runs in Kontakt Player 6.1.1 and higher. Free Kontakt Player is not supported.
Summary:
Sketch Nylon is a fine example of a cheap sample collection that can sound as good as any expensive library out there. The equipment used might not be the best possible, but it surely will sound like a nice reproduction of a real nylon-stringed guitar, especially because it was recorded as such.
The possibility to alter between a piezo pickup and the guitar’s natural sound is a unique addition to this list, while all the common dynamics adjustments are also present here. The MIDI package is another great feature, serving as the main source of inspiration and customization to the notes and chords played.
Related reading:
Top 10 Guitar Libraries For Kontakt (Acoustic, Electric, Bass & Freebies)
5. OTC Evolution Modern Nylon (Kontakt Library)
A rich and complete option designed to deliver a great nylon-stringed sound while maintaining a pop/rock characteristic to its profile.
The crispness of a steel-string acoustic is consolidated as one of the best guitar sounds out there, but sometimes it can be too harsh. A more mellowed and sweet sound can mix more fluidly between tracks and nothing like a classical guitar to bring that up.
Evolution Modern Nylon is a sample library created to simulate as closely as possible the natural sound of a nylon guitar and every percussive sound attached to it. All samples were recorded at Rosewood Recording Company, one of the best recording studios in Utah, utilizing the greatest analog audio equipment to emphasize the tonal qualities of this instrument.
Key Features:
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- Complex scripting
Orange Tree Samples’ team of developers focused on bringing the best dynamics and strumming patterns to this library to capture better the nuances found on acoustic guitars. Sustains, palm mutes, harmonics, and special effects such as body hits are all covered within this selection. - Many FXs
Besides common effects such as reverb and delay, Evolution Modern Nylon features tons of classic effects, such as wah-wah, compressor, distortion, tremolo, chorus, equalizer, and even an amp and cab simulator. They were all modeled after iconic units, containing over US$ 10,000 worth of gear. - Strum engine
There’s a dedicated menu to create and modify strumming patterns very easily. You have the option to manually strum any chord you’d like by pressing the D1 and D#1 keys, moving up and down, respectively. Programming your own strumming pattern is simple and can be done right at the window menu, allowing even for a selection of articulations, the direction of strum, and which strings should be played.
- Complex scripting
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.9 and higher and Windows 7 and higher. It runs in Kontakt Player 5.5.2 and higher.
Summary:
It’s easier to associate classical guitars with genres such as flamenco or bossa nova, but Evolution Modern Nylon aims to expand this perception to include more modern styles, like pop and rock.
Not only that, but this is one of the few options available that covers body hits and string slaps into its articulations, something that even flamenco songs can benefit from. The excellent selection of effects allied with a complex strumming engine makes this a truly unique choice on this list, resulting in many increments and modifications at your disposal.
Related reading:
How To Record Electric Guitar Into Logic Pro X?
6. Ilya Efimov Nylon Guitar (Kontakt Library)
Featuring rich and transparent sounds, the Ilya Efimov Nylon Guitar is a great-sounding library that offers many variations.
The Ilya Efimov Sound Production‘s website describes this library’s sounds as “rich and sensual, transparent, and incredibly expressive.” Such expressiveness and realism are possible because of the 14 dynamic colors for each note, meaning that each can feature a specific picking.
IESP also ensures that every fretted note is available at your disposal, so the entire range of this instrument is usable and encouraged to be played with. Without much effort, you can control any parameter via a sequencer or by exploring the simple and clear graphic interface design. As for the sound, every sample features 44.1kHz 24-bit stereo quality.
Key Features:
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- MIDI guitar mode
While many users prefer to use their keyboards when dealing with libraries, Ilya Efimov Nylon Guitar allows for a MIDI guitar to be used. This can be helpful to bring the instrument’s experience closer to reality. All you have to do is hit the “MIDI mode” selection at the bottom right, selecting the “Guitar mode” option instead. - Playing position
You can alter the playing position to any desired fret with the “Set position to fret n” keys, ranging from E5 to G#6. You can also change the position relative to your current one. This can assist you when dealing with a particular octave or fretboard region, especially in higher positions. - Automatic string selection
This useful tool can switch between two chords modes, A and B, to better enhance the sound of the strings played. In mode A, you can identify chords with a strong algorithm acting underneath the interface. It analyzes the entire span of notes on a particular chord while reproducing the notes somewhat simultaneously. The algorithm will play each note according to an adjacent string in mode B, making strumming significantly faster.
- MIDI guitar mode
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.6 and higher and Windows 7 and higher. It runs in Kontakt Player 4.2.2 and higher.
Summary:
This library may feature more or less the same functions as other options on this list, but the main aspect is how well-made the configurations are regarding articulations or dynamics.
They are all easy-to-use controls, offer a large number of customizations, and can deal with any minor aspect of playing a real instrument. The dedicated guitar MIDI mode can be welcoming to guitarists who want high-quality samples in their productions without using a keyboard for it.
Related reading:
Should I Learn 4, 5 Or 6 String Bass Guitar & Why?
Best Free Classical/Vinyl Guitar Plugins
1. Echo Sound Works Vinyl Guitar
Vinyl Guitar is a character guitar plugin by Echo Sound Works. The sounds of this instrument are sampled guitar notes played through an actual vinyl record player, providing a lo-fi character to this plugin.
Instead of having to sample songs on vinyl to get lo-fi guitar sounds in your hip hop beats, Vinyl Guitar does the sampling for you, letting you worry only about the music.
Key Features:
- Lo-fi sound
This instrument’s guitar notes come from an actual record player, which gives the sound the classic warped and fluttered sound of lo-fi. Using Vinyl Guitar saves you from doing a bunch of processing on a real guitar to “fake” that lo-fi sound. - Make it realistic
Vinyl Guitar comes with fret noise, pick noise, and string buzz knobs; all meant to add more character and organic feel to the sound of this plugin.
Compatibility:
Vinyl Guitar is available on Windows and Mac OS, 64-bit only, in AU and VST3 formats.
Summary:
Vinyl Guitar is a free choice for anyone after lo-fi guitar sounds. The plugin sounds great and unpredictable at times due to the warp and flutter effects. The added playability noise knobs are a tasteful extra touch of control that provides more character and make this plugin an excellent choice for all hip hop producers.
2. Quietmusic Classic.Gtr Lite (Plugin)
Featuring fewer presets than its paid version, Classic.Gtr is a straightforward plugin to assist your acoustic needs.
Quietmusic developed this nice plugin with a very objective interface in mind, focusing on the possible modifications for your sounds instead. The graphic interface features eight knobs and a selection of presets to bring your preferred acoustic sound right into your track in good overall quality.
Key Features:
- Filters
There are two filters present, low and high-pass options. Allied with the LFO modulation, this can instantly manipulate the sample’s sounds and create different atmospheres depending on what you aim at. Other controls, such as “Attack” and “Decay,” can alter the sonic spectrum further. - Presets
This free version differs from the full one by the number of presets available – instead of 38, you’ll get only seven. By all means, these are more than enough to start exploring it, and the number of controls available can be crucial to have even more timbers. There are 301 samples in total, all converted to FLAC 24-bit 44kHz.
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.13.6 or above and Windows 10 only. It comes in VST, VST3, and AU plugin formats, in 32 and 64-bit systems.
Summary:
A simple yet very useful plugin, Quietmusic’s Classic.Gtr Lite is a good freeware option for anyone looking for straightforward software to create classical guitar parts. The interface might be a little too dark and somewhat simple, but the knobs there can tweak your sound to new territories. Its simplicity makes it a fun plugin to work with, although the paid version may not bring much more into play.
3. Keolab Spicy Guitar (Plugin)
Although this is an acoustic guitar synthesizer, there’s much fun in playing with this awesome plugin.
More serious users might prefer recorded samples over synthesizers, but this might be a good choice if you don’t fit this particular group. Keolab developed this software to bring realistic guitar parts into rich, natural, and lively sounds based on innovative technology.
Key Features:
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- Guitar character
Nine real guitars were used to capture the perfect wide range of a guitarist’s playing style, including major techniques and articulations. As this is based on full physical modeling of a guitar, characteristics such as body size and the string’s material can be altered in real-time. - Chord detection
Spicy Guitar also features a chord detection system that can instantly convert piano chords into guitar chords, automatically strumming them and facilitating the development of complex rhythm patterns.
- Guitar character
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS and Windows (64-bit only). It comes in VST and AU plugin formats.
Summary:
Although the interface might seem as if taken from a 1990s website, this plugin can be one of the most configurable on this list. Every single aspect of the guitar’s sound must be tweaked within the interface, with elements like fingerpick or plectrum strums, vibrato, harmonics, and even room ambiance available. As a free option, it’s certainly one of the best available nowadays.
Related reading:
How Often Guitar Necks Need Reset? Answered & Explained
4. DSK Guitars Nylon (Plugin)
As simple as it gets, this plugin can bring the best classical guitar sounds with minimal adjustments.
It’s not regular that such a simple plugin might be so good-sounding, but DSK Guitars has proven so. Arguably the plainest interface on this list, Nylon gets the job done without complicated configurations or presets, presenting an authentic classical guitar sound in simple packaging.
Key Features:
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- ADSR controls
With an envelope control with faders dedicated to Attack, Decay, Sustain, and Release settings, this plugin is as simple as possible. These four parameters help bring the essential characteristics of any acoustic guitar sound as close as possible to reality, acting alongside a master-level fader.
- ADSR controls
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS and Windows (64-bit only). It comes in VST and AU plugin formats.
Summary:
Simplicity at its best. This truly defines DSK Guitars Nylon, a simple and straightforward plugin dedicated to nylon-stringed sounds. If you need something quick and without any difficult controls at all, this is definitely your best choice on this list.
Related reading:
How Often Does A Guitar Need A Setup? (Acoustic, Electric, Bass)
Bonuses:
1. MusicLab RealGuitar 5 (Plugin)
A sample-based virtual library with an innovative approach to guitar sound modeling and instrument performing.
RealGuitar 5 is the mixture of two different instruments, the Classic and Steel String. As expected, the latter refers to a steel-stringed acoustic, while the former recreates the sound of a classical guitar. Aside from some patches and different tunings, both programs bring the same high-quality results.
If you are serious about having a refined acoustic guitar part on your project, MusicLab offers a great option for your use. You can have it set up as a live/MIDI keyboard performance instrument, with all articulations and techniques that go with it, or make use of the built-in song sequencer and arrange the entire song very quickly.
Key Features:
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- Classic modes
This plugin features six global modes that can implement different working methods. Aside from the classic MIDI keyboard, you can use the “Pattern” and “Song” modes to easily create many sounds without even touching an instrument. The “Direct” mode allows for a plain sampler with multi-channel MIDI to be controlled while accessing all internal sounds individually with the intelligent features turned off. You can even hook up a Guitar Hero controller into it! - Chord voicing
Guitar chord voicings tend to be unique and deeply entwined with the instrument’s construction. The algorithm present on RealGuitar Classic automatically reproduces a chord voicing automatically, with up to 30 chord types and all their inversions, extensions, and alterations included. - Rhythm patterns
A huge library containing 1250 rhythm patterns is included here. It can be used at any time to create guitar accompaniment parts either in the DAW or the internal song sequencer, bringing a new and authentic sound profile to your track. Blending unique rhythms is also possible, making the possibilities almost endless.
- Classic modes
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.10 to 10.15 and 11.6 and Windows 7 or higher. It comes in VST2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats and standalone host, both in 32 and 64-bit systems.
Summary:
This might be the ultimate package for acoustic guitar sounds, and all features present confirm this. You get both steel-string and nylon-string guitars here, aside from unique rhythm patterns and control options to suit your needs better.
All samples bear a high-quality resolution, packed in a convenient and concise user interface. It doesn’t matter if you’re a beginner, intermediate, or professional because this software can be simple to program and easily manipulate in any common situation.
Related reading:
Do Fender Guitar Appreciate In Value? (Are They Worth It?)
2. Naroth Audio Boutique Mood Guitars (Kontakt Library)
This multi-sampled guitar library can be of assistance to any producer looking for modern guitar sounds.
Boutique Mood Guitars was developed to bring a delicate sampling process and an intimate sound to your fingertips. Naroth Audio’s team recorded a bunch of modern and vintage guitars with three different mood characters each, plus adding a selection of effects and three additional sound layers.
Each guitar can contain up to three multi-sampled articulations, which in turn can contain three moods per articulation – clean, moody, and moodier. There are also some effects on the package, such as convolution reverbs, EQs, and delays.
Key Features:
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- Articulations
Although it features some other guitar types, the classical guitar articulations were recorded with the help of an Orpheus Valley Solea SA-C nylon guitar. The “Nylon” and “Nylon Harmonics” are dedicated to this instrument, with each note being gently filtered by the velocity on the latter option. - Cassette module
A custom Cassette module was designed for this library, instantly creating a wonderful pitch drift and cassette-like effect. The module features a controllable mix and cassette playback speed controls, allowing for even further tweaking.
- Articulations
Compatibility:
This library runs in macOS 10.13, 10.14, 10.15, and 11 (64-bit only) and Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only). It runs in Kontakt Player 6.5.1 and higher.
Summary:
Mood is the best word to describe this library. When seeing the interface for the first time, you can suspect that the right amount of controls will make that very clear when you first use it. Tweaking between different effects and their configurations will bring subtle, warm, and mellow tones straight at your acoustic sample. It features more guitar sounds, but the nylon-stringed samples were as good as any other plugin on this list.
Conclusion
Recording an instrument, especially an acoustic one, may require expensive tools such as good-quality microphones and nice-sounding preamps. The recording techniques are included and can take some time to nail correctly, but the final result is indeed gorgeous if done properly.
Most producers nowadays can get their tracks done without much recording studio equipment in their hands because most details are made inside the DAW itself.
The beauty of samples comes into place in situations like this when a microphone recording is somehow not possible. Companies will get this part of the job done for you, and we have much to thank them for.
Acoustic guitar sample libraries can save you tons of time, even more, if you’re not a guitarist or don’t know any. They come in different sizes, options, and functions, but they all get the job done just the same.
Libraries like Native Instruments’ Picked Nylon are a good example of a well-recorded sample: they used an especially crafted guitar for this task, with a special set of microphones.
Other examples, such as AmpleSound’s Ample Guitar L, feature a selection of specific classical guitars, Alhambra models in this case. Having assured that a high-quality recording is done, it’s indeed much easier to tweak further and alter any other aspect of the sound.
Modern approaches like Evolution Modern Guitar help bring the usual sound profile to more extended genres like pop and rock. Exclusive features, like the strumming pattern editor, can enhance the possibilities of such an instrument to fit in almost any modern production.
If your wallet is currently not your best friend, Keolab’s Spicy Guitar is a great tool with plenty of options ready for your tweaking while not having a bad sound quality at the same time. Of course, the resources are much more limited, but it gets the job done anyway.
It’s imperative to know exactly what you need before trying these options out – is sound quality as necessary as MIDI capabilities, for instance? – and it’s worth studying some of these options deeper than others.
I hope this article helped you find a better classical guitar sound for your productions. I’ll see you next time!
Eduardo Cardoso is a musician and audio producer based in São Paulo, Brazil. He studied both music production and theory in college and has successfully launched his career as a solo artist in 2021. With over 10 years of experience with the music business, he currently acts as a session musician, music producer, audio editor, and content creator. Read more..