Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

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Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by alexis »

It'd be great to have some realistic guitar sounds in my little songs I distribute to friends, family, and band mates. I'm not looking for amazing solo work, just something to fill out the sound, help with the rhythm, and maybe do some short little single note runs.

In another thread ajay_m kindly pointed out (thank you :wave:😊) a Musiclabs VST,https://youtu.be/ygTldaU9dgk?si=O6Ap_Cp4hhJNVXnv, which truly has blow away- level sound quality.

As ajay_m and others point out, the fingering is a huge aspect to all this.

Can anyone recommend a guitar VST that can translate keyboard-into-fret fingering? I could see a workflow that starts with the keyboard, then has the fingering translated to "guitar style" by one app, then applying the Musiclab VST to get realistic enough sounds for me.

Thank you!
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by 2pods »

I'd like one that does the opposite, as I'm fine on Guitar controller (Fishman Triple Play, GK-5, etc) but rubbish at keyboards.

Some of the Session Guitarist/Bassist for Kontakt are pretty good.
There's everything for various acoustics to 8 string Heavy Metal sylee stuff.
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by IAA »

I use MusicLab instruments a lot and now supplement that with my growing guitar skills (coughs a little)
Anyway Im pretty sure it does translate the keyboard chords and voicing to proper guitar fingering IIRC and the humanise functions are stellar.
Ive been a tester for their instruments for transparency but no other affiliation, they simply are the best Ive tried as a keyboard player.

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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by alexis »

Thanks, 2pods, and thanks Ian - good to know!
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by Zukan »

I used to use Musiclab's RealGuitar and now Rob's RG.

I'm sure there are others out there.
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by The Elf »

Orange Tree are very good, but their prices make me wince.
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by Zukan »

Alex baby, give the collab forums a hit. Loads of shredders there that will drop a riff for you.
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by Moroccomoose »

I'd like a good method for coming at this from the other end. How can you easily make strum rhythm from some MIDI chords. I've seen methods for painstakingly staggering each chord note to make a strum, but it is very laborious, especially if you want a complex or busy strumming pattern. In a perfect world, I would simply fill in the chord track (Cubase) and have a rhythm slash track. There must be a way!

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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by The Elf »

In Cubase, use the trim tool (+ alt) to make a diagonal cut across the MIDI notes of the chord, bottom to top. Job done.

After that it's just about moving each chord to where you feel it sits in time, most often with the last note of the chord near the beat.
Last edited by The Elf on Mon May 12, 2025 3:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by alexis »

Zukan wrote: Mon May 12, 2025 2:48 pm Alex baby, give the collab forums a hit. Loads of shredders there that will drop a riff for you for.

Thanks, Zuke!

That will save time for sure ...

I'll consider that further! :):)
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by Zukan »

alexis wrote: Mon May 12, 2025 3:48 pm
Zukan wrote: Mon May 12, 2025 2:48 pm Alex baby, give the collab forums a hit. Loads of shredders there that will drop a riff for you for.

Thanks, Zuke!

That will save time for sure ...

I'll consider that further! :):)

Offer them some spandex leotards and they'll do anything.

Amazon has a good deal on several styles that are popular with most shredders. Throw in a plectrum and they'll do some chord progressions as well.

If they resist, throw in some Elnett. That always gets them.
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by Wonks »

Zukan wrote: Tue May 13, 2025 7:32 am If they resist, throw in some Elnett. That always gets them.

Though most shredders from the 80s are well beyond having the physical attributes required to use hairspray these days. Just think of Max.
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by Zukan »

Yeah, my bad..
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by Arpangel »

Keyboard players that want to sound like guitarists, guitarists that want to sound like keyboard players, men that want to be women, women that want to be men, where’s it all going to end?
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by Drew Stephenson »

After the final chorus of Lola.
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by Wonks »

Drew Stephenson wrote: Wed May 14, 2025 9:20 am After the final chorus of Lola.

:D:clap:
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by alexis »

Drew Stephenson wrote: Wed May 14, 2025 9:20 am After the final chorus of Lola.

:lol::lol:
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by ManFromGlass »

Cranked really LOUD!
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Re: Realistic Guitar VSTs for keyboard DAW play

Post by Arpangel »

ManFromGlass wrote: Wed May 14, 2025 1:08 pm Cranked really LOUD!

11
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