Archtop VST that actually sounds good

**Esport** · 06-02-2024, 07:19 AM

Gotta say, I’m really impressed with the sound and nuance that went into this plugin. I probably wouldn’t have questioned that it was a virtual instrument.

**nevershouldhavesoldit** · 06-02-2024, 07:53 AM

It does sound very nice. If you want to record with an archtop but don’t have one, it’ll do the job. Like the original Super 400, its name is its price ($145) - and it won’t work on the free Kontakt platform.

If they make it usable in a real time plugin host for live performance without latency, it’d be a truly useful tool for gigging.

**Esport** · 06-02-2024, 08:05 AM

Seems like it’s already pretty darned useful in real-time use. I’m gonna scoop it up and mess about with it. I’m a better keyboard player, anyway!

**nevershouldhavesoldit** · 06-02-2024, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Esport

Seems like it’s already pretty darned useful in real-time use. I’m gonna scoop it up and mess about with it. I’m a better keyboard player, anyway!

The “real time” mode is not for live performance - it’s an alternative algorithm for recording, if I read the user manual correctly. You also have to toggle between polyphonic mode for playing chords and mono mode for single note lines, which requires a foot pedal if you don’t want to have to click an icon to do it while playing.

You can trigger it with any MIDI controller. So a Roland pickup and MIDI interface will let you use a guitar. But you’ll have to have something to trigger it - keyboard, guitar with MIDI pickup, wind controller etc. Latency is a consistent problem in multiple device chains like this, especially when the components were not designed together for live use.

**Esport** · 06-02-2024, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit

The “real time” mode is not for live performance - it’s an alternative algorithm for recording, if I read the user manual correctly. You also have to toggle between polyphonic mode for playing chords and mono mode for single note lines, which requires a foot pedal if you don’t want to have to click an icon to do it while playing.

You can trigger it with any MIDI controller. So a Roland pickup and MIDI interface will let you use a guitar. But you’ll have to have something to trigger it - keyboard, guitar with MIDI pickup, wind controller etc. Latency is a consistent problem in multiple device chains like this, especially when the components were not designed together for live use.

Fair point. Although I would never use this in a live MIDI equipped guitar situation, I could get good results in a project by programming key switches. I misunderstood how the real-time playability is achieved.