The Idea Thread

[- IK User -]

This thread is basically for ideas of plug-ins that do not exist yet, but could. A thread that you can just let your imagination run wild in when it comes to plug-in ideas if you find them roaming around in your head at times and want to get them out. My first one would be this one I wrote about awhile ago. It would be cool if IK ultimately developed something like this.

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=28689&p=123350#p123350

[- IK User -]

And to add on to the idea, you could take the concept of Amplitube amp/effects collections and expand to collections of sampled guitars of various guitar players out there as well.

[- IK User -]

So collections for the plug-in would include amps, effects, and the sampled guitars of whatever guitar players the collections are of, instead of just amps and effects as they are in Amplitube.

[- IK User -]

Bringing a whole new meaning to "Just plug-in and play."

[- IK User -]

Also another feature of the plug-in above could be to include the ability to see the notes on the fretboard along with the ability to choose to see the lay out of basically every scale and chord known to mankind up to this point.

The plug-in can basically be viewed in 3 ways. Firstly a tool actual guitar players can use when away from their guitars as a learning/idea tool they can apply to their actual guitar playing. Secondly a tool non-guitar players can use to incorporate programmed or controller played guitar parts into their compositions. Thirdly a combination of both as in it can be used as a learning/idea tool for guitarists and to incorporate controller played or programmed guitar parts into compositions along with guitar played parts. For example, a guitarist (or someone a guitarist is working with) would have the ability to program or play a controller played rhythm part with the plug-in then the guitarist play a solo over it. Or in reverse, the ability to program or play with a controller a rhythm part and then play with a guitar a solo over it.

And keep in mind we are talking nicely sampled real guitars here combined with a huge amp and effect selection such as in Amplitube. Talking Les Pauls, Strats, SGs, and the list goes on and on. While the collections for the plug-in could include actual sampled guitars of the guitar players the collections are of. In a lot of cases, one probably could not even tell the difference between the controller played or programed parts and the parts actually played with guitars. Put them side by side and you would have a lot of people guessing which is which. We are talking an epic masterpiece of a plug-in here if but followed up on.

[- IK User -]

And oh man, when it comes to tunings, it could be loaded up with all kinds to choose from. Albeit standard tuning will be the default, of course.

[- IK User -]

Even more detailed specifics like what kind of strings and string gauge could be included.

[- IK User -]

The ultimate hot rod of all guitar plug-ins out there. Catch the vision. Haha...

When it comes to amp/effect combination plug-ins, I personally would consider Amplitube 5 already the most hot rodded plug-in out there at this point in time. However let us not overlook the possibility of expansion over to actual sampled guitars beyond amps and effects. There are some already decent ones out there, but nothing like I am referring to here. Take something like Amplitube 5 and combine it with a well sampled guitar library and you got the most hot rodded guitar sim out there as well. Again, think a sort of MODO Guitar with more guitars to choose from than basses in MODO Bass combined with more of a vast amp/effect collection like Amplitube 5.

[- IK User -]

Albeit one more thing about seeing the notes on the fretboard. That could be made optional. Maybe something like including 3 modes you can go with when it comes to the fretboard. One in which only blank dots are displayed when a note or chord is played, one in which the letter note or notes of the chord played displayed, and one in which you choose a key and the numbered scale degree/degrees of the note or chord played displayed.

Same applies when you choose a chord or scale from the vast array of them included. You can choose to view them in whatever mode out of the 3 you choose. That is, you can view and examine the scale or chord you choose on the fretboard as just dots, letter notes, or numbered scale degrees.

[- IK User -]

And come to think about it, an actual guitar player who is not into using samples of guitars could even use the plug-in (or standalone) with their guitar as well as opposed to just when they are away from it. Sure, guitar players could use it when they are away from their guitars to come up with guitar parts to play on their guitars, examine scales/chords, etc., but they could also just open up the plug-in or standalone and sit right in front of it with their guitars and practice scales, fingerings for chords, etc. Maybe even the ability to go over tab right in the plug-in could be included.

The future is wide open on this thing. Can't never could. It can be developed and be the cream of the crop when it comes to guitar/amp/effect plug-ins out there. Someone just needs to follow up on it.

[- IK User -]

You know how in Amplitube 5 you have the ability to record tracks with it? Same concept can apply to the plug-in talked about here, but the additional element included would be the inclusion of the ability to play with a controller or program a part played with the sampled guitars.

And let us not overlook its appeal to hardcore guitar-or-nothing guitar players as well who want nothing to do with using guitar samples and want to play all their parts actually with guitars. Among other things like being able to be used as a learning tool considering all the scales and chords all over the fretboard that can be examined and incorporated into ones guitar playing, the appeal would also lie that even when they are away from their guitar they could open it up and go about creating guitar parts using a controller or programming them in note by note with some sort of pencil tool using nicely sampled guitars and rad amp/effects sims that later they can review and transfer over to their actual guitar rig. Think using it as sort of a guitarist sketch pad to jot down ideas when one's guitar is not handy and hear them played on a nice set-up before you get around to playing them. While for the non-guitarist or guitarist not antagonistic toward the use of sampled guitars at times mixed in with parts played on guitar can actually use it as a plug-in in a DAW to include guitar parts in their compositions.

We are not talking a plug-in trying to take the place of guitarists whose first love is actually playing guitars. But a tool that can go to make life easier, enhance the knowledge of, and provoke the creativity of the guitarist and non-guitarist alike.