It’s honestly a bit of both. I’d lean toward calling it a specialty plugin since I tend to use it for specific tasks, like injecting life and analog warmth into certain elements – usually synth-based leads or chord progressions. It’s great for turning something overly clean or sterile into something with character and depth that fits better in the mix.
That said, I also use it on a group level from time to time, adding subtle saturation or compression to help a stack of sounds blend together. For example, it works really well on layered pads or vocal stacks, giving them a bit of glue and warmth without losing the individuality of each layer.
For me, it’s about flexibility.
Guitar Rig isn’t necessarily something I throw on every track, but when I do use it, it’s because it can solve a problem or add something unique that other tools can’t quite replicate. It’s more about finding the right moments for it rather than relying on it as an all-purpose solution
Hyperbits pro tip: When using Guitar Rig on group tracks, experiment with your favorite dynamic EQ plugin after the chain to tame resonances that might build up from the saturation or compression applied to multiple layers.
Start using Hyperbits tips in Guitar Rig
We wanted to give a massive shoutout to producer, educator, mentor, and wizard on the deck, Serik Slobodskoy AKA Hyperbits, for taking the time out of his busy schedule to chat with us about how he uses Guitar Rig every single day in the studio to achieve massive results.
Time and time again, we are reminded that it’s rarely ever about one massive, drastic move in a track that defines it. Instead, it’s a buildup of hundreds, maybe even thousands, of small and minor changes and adjustments that make music come alive and give it that nuanced and detailed quality we most often associate with warmth.
The best part?
Guitar Rig gives you all of these touch points and modulation stages directly in one single plugin environment so that you can stay focused and get the warm results in your mixes fast and efficiently; making more music that gets top-quality results like a nod from Kasakde just like Hyperbits did (and it’s, in large part, because of tools like Guitar Rig).
