If you have a guitar and/or a bass, or plan to add one of these instruments to your life, you'll likely have to navigate the complex and demanding territory of amplifiers. But before doing that... why not try a software-based alternative? While there's a healthy number of premium plugins out there, ToneLib GFX offers a wide selection of simulated effects and amplifiers at no cost.
In recent years, we've shared several resources for learning music, which, besides being completely free, also save us the rush to the store and the search for an instrument (at first). Today I'd like to share one more resource, with a difference: it's especially useful for those who own an electric guitar or a bass. If you're on the hunt for a new sound and want to experiment with plugins and other effects, I suggest the following: Download a copy of ToneLib GFX.
ToneLib GFX: More Effects for Your Guitar, Free
ToneLib GFX is mainly a collection of ready-to-use effects and amplifiers. The list of presets (on the left side of the interface) is overwhelming. The central part is dominated by the effects chain, each with secondary parameters, and on the right side we can choose effects divided into categories like "Dynamics / Filters", "Overdrive / Distortion", "Amp Simulators", "Cabinets", "Modulation / SFX", and more.
Once installed, ToneLib GFX will ask you to configure the audio devices, that is, which inputs and outputs to use. The cheapest way to connect a guitar to the computer is with a 3.5mm adapter (costing less than three euros) using the microphone input, but the market already offers very good dedicated interfaces with better sound and reasonable prices.
ToneLib GFX is not the only one in this family of software. The company also develops ToneLib Jam, a practice and composition software, and ToneLib Zoom, which lets us modify and save settings on Zoom pedals directly from the computer. ToneLib GFX is compatible with Windows (7 at minimum), Linux (Ubuntu and derivatives), and Mac OS, all 64-bit, and if you want to use it as a plugin in other programs, you can do that too.
Official site and download: Click here
