Guitar effects processors have been a popular choice for guitarists for many years. Traditionally, these processors exist in hardware versions. With the flexibility and power of computer plug-ins roaring at us, it's no surprise that plug-ins focused on guitar are becoming very popular. One such plug-in is Guitar Rig 3 by Native Instruments. This plug-in for Windows and Mac allows you to mix and match your favorite guitar amps, cabinets, microphones, pedal effects, delays, reverbs, and even toys like a “Loop Machine” for real-time phrase sampling. You also get a hardware pedal for stomping effects on and off just like you're used to with real pedals.

One of the best reasons to use guitar plug-ins is that you always record your audio without effects. That's right—you plug your guitar straight into the computer and it records clean, boring, direct guitar. The plug-in itself does all the work in real time. The largest win for you is that you can change your mind about your tone without needing to rerecord. You can start with a great Fender emulation and then decide to go for a Marshall amp. The sky is the limit! There are other plug-ins to choose from—Amplitube by IK Multimedia, 11 by Digidesign, and Revalver by Peavey remain popular choices.