Monster Guitar
Key Features
- 14 presets across three playing modes (Chord, Lead, Notes) covering acoustic and electric guitar styles
- Chord mode with adjustable strum length — short, normal, or long voicings triggered from a MIDI keyboard
- Lead and Notes modes for individual melodic lines with optional distortion for heavier tones
- Genre-spanning preset library including reggae skank, rock, pop, dangdut, and 12-string acoustic sounds
- Built-in master reverb, delay, and full ADSR envelope controls on every preset
- Low RAM footprint with external soundbank storage — library files can live on a separate drive
- Expanding preset library with new sounds added by the developer over time
Description
Monster Guitar by Agus Hardiman (MonsterDAW) is a sample-based virtual guitar instrument built for quickly sketching out guitar parts in a DAW. Rather than aiming for hyper-realistic studio recordings, it provides ready-to-play presets covering acoustic strumming, electric picking, lead lines, and genre-specific chord patterns.
The plugin ships with 14 presets organized into three playing modes: Chord, Lead, and Notes. Chord mode generates multi-note guitar voicings with adjustable strum length (short, normal, or long), while Lead and Notes modes let you play individual melodic lines and add distortion for heavier tones.
Presets span a wide range of styles, from reggae skanks and rock power chords to Indonesian dangdut rhythms and shimmering 12-string acoustics. Each preset is built from recordings donated by real guitarists, giving the samples an organic feel that pure synthesis cannot replicate.
The interface is straightforward, with master volume, reverb, delay, and full ADSR envelope controls on every preset. An LCD panel in the center of the GUI displays help text and preset information for quick reference.
The sound library weighs in at 2.11 GB, yet the plugin itself uses very little RAM during playback. Soundbank files can be stored on an external drive rather than your system disk, keeping your startup volume lean.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most realistic guitar plugin?
Ample Sound and Native Instruments Session Guitarist are widely considered the most realistic guitar VSTs due to their deeply sampled, multi-layered recordings. Monster Guitar takes a different approach — it prioritizes quick MIDI mockups over photorealism, making it ideal for songwriters who need a usable guitar sketch without the complexity of high-end libraries.
Does Monster Guitar come with an installer?
No. Monster Guitar does not include an installer. You need to manually copy the plugin files (VST2, VST3, or AU) into your DAW's plugin folder. The 2.11 GB sound library is downloaded separately and can be placed on any drive, including an external disk.
Can Monster Guitar play individual notes or only chords?
It can do both. The plugin has three modes: Chord mode triggers full strummed voicings, Lead mode plays single-note melodic lines with optional distortion, and Notes mode gives you access to the full note range on a MIDI controller for freeform playing.
How do I use Monster Guitar in Pro Tools?
Monster Guitar does not natively support the AAX format required by Pro Tools. The developer recommends using BlueCat PatchWork as a wrapper, which lets you load VST and AU plugins inside Pro Tools sessions.
