Tutorial : Using Guitar Rig 4 with Garageband

October 20, 2009 in Featured, Tutorials, Video by David John

Having received the very latest Guitar Rig 4 release last week I have been playing and recording at every opportunity. It is amazing just how easy it is to get the power of a professional guitar application to work seamlessly with Apple’s Garageband multitrack recording application. I have decided to show just how quick and easy it is to start your own home recording studio using Garageband in a short video tutorial.

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Guitar Rig doesn’t actually even have to be running for Garageband to be able to access the processing engine. This means you can tweak amps, and effects easily during recording sessions.

For the purpose of this tutorial I am going to demonstrate how quickly it is to load a Guitar Rig preset and be recording in seconds. Simply connect your Guitar to your Mac using the Guitar Rig Session (review link) or Guitar Rig Kontrol (Review link) and follow this simple video guide.

Apologies for the state of the guitar playing in this tutorial, I am sadly no Steve Vai and trying to concentrate on recording a screencast at the same time as playing guitar isn’t easy. This video also appears on our YouTube page.

9 Comments

October 20, 2009 at 11:42 pm | Devan

Thanks! Great tutorial (and great playing too!). I currently use Amplitube with GB, but checking out the possibilities of Guitar Rig…
October 21, 2009 at 12:01 am | Peter Watson

I am blown away, firstly I thought your playing was brilliant but I want to clarify a few issues.
1. Does the guitar sound you use come with Guitar Rig 4.
2. If I buy Guitar Rig 4 can I do exactly what you did here or do I need the top of the range version or extra hardware ?

I have looked at Guitar Rig before but never considered the fact I could record so easily. I assume you can drag in other tracks such as base and drums ?
October 21, 2009 at 12:08 am | David John

@Peter, I can assure you if you go for Guitar Rig 4 Pro you can do exactly what I did in the tutorial. I would highly recommend the Kontrol unit though. I have had the Guitar Rig Session for a few months but have been completely amazed at the floor control unit. The guitar sound I used is included and I assume is a Steve Vai type sound. Finally 3. buy the Kontrol edition and all you need to do is install the software and hook up the USB.

I haven’t even come close to scratching the surface of what the software can do. Expect more tutorials in the next few weeks. There are 250 odd presets to work through…… it is stunning.
October 21, 2009 at 12:19 am | Peter Watson

Thanks David, I arrived reading your wifiphoto review and now have put Guitar Rig on my next purchase list. I was saving for one of a new Ibanez but this looks much more exciting. Can I ask one final question, what guitar did you use in the tutorial ?
October 21, 2009 at 12:23 am | David John

No problem Peter. I used my Charvel San Dimas that has Seymour Duncan pickups. To be honest I don’t think there is a guitar out there GTR4 won’t sound good. Honestly though go for the Kontrol system see http://www.totalapps.net/hardware/unboxing-guitar-rig-4-kontrol/ it doesn’t get better ! If you have anymore questions feel free to post here or use the contract form. I am going to do a few more tutorials on managing presets etc. I am hooked !
October 21, 2009 at 1:14 am | Vin Thomas

Wow. That was pretty easy. I didn’t realize it would be that simple. Thanks for the tutorial.
November 17, 2009 at 6:23 am | Neil

Hi, I would like to know, how to hook up my POD XT Live to Guitar Rig 3. I am also using Garage Band on an intel powered Mac. Any advice?
November 29, 2009 at 6:23 am | Robert in Bangkok

I have Garageband 09 and am using an Edirol interface. If I buy Guitar Rig 4 will it work seamlessly with Garageband and the Edirol? No shops carry Guitar Rig products here, and so I can’t easily buy their interface.
March 2, 2010 at 4:38 am | Adam Johnston

Man can’t wait to get this stuff working. I have guitar rig 4 love it as a stand alone, recently fragmented my PC into a zillion pieces and now have a MAC. Just starting to learn how to us garage band, but can’t get guitar rig 4 to work as a plug in . I watched the tutorial, but guitar rig does not show up as an effect when I follow you instructions. I set the preferences both in and out puts to guitar rig. and you give me some advise?
Thanks
ADam