GuitarDTM

: Logic Pro's Built-In Amp Designer Review | How Far Can It Go for Guitar?

2026/10/5

When you launch Logic Pro, Amp Designer is ready to use from the start. No extra cost. No installation. You can start playing right away. This review comes from someone with 13 years of guitar and 8 years of DTM. It is based on years of continued use. What Is Amp Designer? It is the amp simulator built into Logic Pro. It recreates the character of famous real amps, cabinets and mics, part by part. You can choose the amp, cabinet and mic independently of each other. Characteristics of All Models and the Genres They Suit Amp Designer's models are ...

Amp Simulators

: Amp Simulator Basics | Signal Chain Order and How to Think About Gain

2026/10/4

"With an amp simulator, what do I actually connect to what?" When you start recording guitar in DTM, this is the first question you run into. There are lots of knobs, and the order of effects isn't clear either. Raise the gain and the sound gets crushed, lower it and it lacks punch. This article explains amp simulators. I'll break down the basic signal chain order and how to think about gain from the point of view of a home-recording guitarist. I've left out difficult theory as much as possible. Learn this shape first, and you can apply it from ...

Amp Simulators

: UAD Paradise Guitar Studio Review | An Honest Take After Heavy Use in Home Recording

2026/10/5

"I load an amp sim, but my recorded sound never feels finished." UAD's Paradise Guitar Studio solved much of that problem for me. Released in December 2025, it is Universal Audio's first all-in-one guitar plugin. Amps, cabinets, mics, pedals and studio-style FX are all in one. What Is Paradise Guitar Studio? First, What's Inside In a word, it is "a plugin that puts the whole guitar recording chain on one plugin." You choose an amp. You choose a cabinet and mic. You add pedals and studio-style FX. That whole flow stays inside one screen. It is in UAD Native format, ...

Plugins & UAD

: Logic Pro Beginner's Guide | From Initial Setup to Exporting a Song in 5 Steps (for Guitarists)

2026/10/4

"I bought Logic Pro, but I don't know where to start." Starting from that state is perfectly fine. Logic Pro is a DAW with a lot of features. But there isn't much you need to learn first. This article walks through everything from initial setup to exporting a song, in order. I've narrowed it down to "just this much to start" from the viewpoint of a guitarist or band player. What Is Logic Pro? What Beginners Should Know First Logic Pro is a DAW (music production software) made by Apple, exclusively for Mac. It is serious software that is used ...

DAW, Recording & Mixing

: Best Studio Monitor Speakers for Home Recording | 8 Picks by Budget for Guitarists

2026/10/5

"My home-recording mixes just don't come together on headphones..." If you start feeling that, it's time to get studio monitor speakers. For a guitarist recording at home, headphones alone tend to lead you to wrong judgments. In particular, the "only my guitar sounds loud" problem becomes much easier to see once you put speakers in. In this article, I cover how to choose studio monitors and introduce 8 models by budget. By the time you finish reading, you should have decided on one that fits your room and budget. What you'll learn in this article The difference between ordinary speakers ...

Gear

: Best DAWs for Guitarists Ranked | What to Choose for Home Recording

2026/10/4

"I want to record guitar at home, but which DAW should I choose?" There are so many DAWs that people tend to stumble on the first one. In this article, I'm ryo, with 13 years of guitar and 8 years of DTM, and I've ranked the main DAWs honestly. The point of view is always that of a guitarist or band player. There are only three criteria. "Supported OS," "ease of recording guitar," and "budget." Look at just these, and you'll quickly find the one that fits you. 3 Points for Guitarists Choosing a DAW Before the ranking, let me ...

DAW, Recording & Mixing

: How to Record Guitar in GarageBand | A Complete Guide, Including Mac vs iPhone and iPad

2026/10/4

"I want to record my guitar. But DAWs seem difficult..." If that's you, GarageBand is the answer. It comes preinstalled on Mac, and it's free. Yet it has all the features you need to record guitar. This article walks you through recording guitar in GarageBand from start to finish. I started out recording on an iPad with an iRig. Then I moved to Mac, and now I record at home with Logic Pro. I'm writing from the point of view of someone who has used both setups. Are the Mac and iPhone/iPad Versions of GarageBand Operated the Same Way? This ...

DAW, Recording & Mixing

: Complete Guide to Mixing Guitar | The Order of EQ, Compression and Time-Based Effects

2026/10/5

"I recorded it, but my guitar sounds kind of scattered..." After you record guitar at home, the wall you always hit is mixing. In fact, guitar mixing comes together all at once once you know the order of processing. In this article, I'm ryo, with 13 years on guitar and 8 years of home recording. The topic is the order in which to apply EQ, compression and time-based effects, plus tips for the settings. I explain how to mix a whole band (drums and bass included) in this article. Guitar Mixing Basics | The Order of Effects First, the conclusion. ...

DAW, Recording & Mixing

: Is the Free TONEX (TONEX CS) Any Good? What It Can and Can't Do

2026/10/4

"I heard TONEX is free. But how far can it really go?" If you look for amp simulators, you will run into this question at least once. Here is the short answer. The free version of TONEX (TONEX CS) is surprisingly good. You get the same sound engine as the paid versions, and you can even record with it for free. For a free plugin, that is exceptional. That said, the free version has some real "walls." This article lays out exactly where the line is. I'm writing from the position of someone who started with the free version and ...

Amp Simulators

: 7 Best Free Amp Simulators for Home Recording | How to Choose and Signal Chain Basics

2026/10/4

"How far can you really go with free amp simulators?" Here is the short answer: today's free amp sims are fully at a professional working level. You can get usable sounds for a mix without buying a paid one. In this article, I introduce 7 free amp simulators that are truly usable, from the viewpoint of a home-recording guitarist. I also cover how to choose one and the basics of signal chain order. How Far Can Free Amp Simulators Go? Honestly, free amp sims used to be a "bonus." That is no longer true. There are two main reasons. The ...

Amp Simulators