(not a deal) Trying to find the best Heavy Metal Guitar VST3 or Kontakt library, can you please recommend (also please include best deal you seen from past)

[GTsongwriter]

On 3/16/2025 at 6:09 AM, mettelus said:

+1 to this... I mentioned this in my first post (custom GUI and not cheap), but it is definitely worth trying out. The "demo mode" had an obnoxious phrase in it when it first came out, but they changed that to simple noise. The presets/FX in that are nicely done too, but one reason why I grab that one most often is the guitar itself can be tweaked in more detail than others. It was $249 when first released (now $199), but goes on sale for down to $139 at different sites. IIRC, the demo doesn't have a time limit on it, just the noise added. They went into a lot of detail on the performance, so is worth trying out (be sure to also refer to the manual, as the MIDI map on that has some nuances also built into it (harmonics, a realistic "stop," an such)). If you get into that one, you definitely want to take the time to make an articulation map for it.

I would have, but I'm on a new computer and I have gotten rid of any plugins that required ilok for my new computer... i will for now on avoid all plugins that require ilok... and i found out that heavier7strings requires ilok.  So I won't be putting money on that.

[Carl Ewing]

Have all the ones mentioned in this thread (and a couple others), and I think Hydra is the best. Specifically because the scripting is excellent, so it's basically timeless since the dry guitar tone / sound is great so it's just a matter of choosing what to run it through.

Heavier7Guitars would be second. There's also Axe Machina (Soundiron). Ample Metal Hellrazer.

Actually, I think Ample Metal Hellrazer is very underrated. A lot of initial reviews / demonstrations were running through bad sounding VST effects. I have an Axe FX III hardware unit which really shows how good some of these libraries are. And I like Hydra the best running it through the AXE FX unit.

But all of these would be great for metal work, it's more a matter of what specific features you want (i.e. if strumming is important vs leads vs. articulation switching, etc.). Really as long as the dry tone is well done & versatile than it's as good as you can make it with effects and programming.

[mettelus]

1 hour ago, GTsongwriter said:

I would have, but I'm on a new computer and I have gotten rid of any plugins that required ilok for my new computer... i will for now on avoid all plugins that require ilok... and i found out that heavier7strings requires ilok.  So I won't be putting money on that.

I am not sure where that came from? I have had H7S installed for years and it doesn't require iLok.

[audioschmaudio]

2 hours ago, GTsongwriter said:

So.. looking at this.. it's currently $149 even on Memorial Day weekend... so does it ever go on sale?

Seldom.

Here's the price history on Music Software Deals. But that only shows the history from three shops, not even including the official vendor's store.
However, I got it for 28€ with a coupon code. They used to give you an 80% off coupon when unsubscribing from their newsletter. They stopped doing that after they became aware that this was posted here on the forum. You might still be lucky to find some coupon codes for Impact Soundworks on the internet though.

[GTsongwriter]

7 hours ago, mettelus said:

I am not sure where that came from? I have had H7S installed for years and it doesn't require iLok.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=heavier7strings+requires+ilok

Edit: I guess if I really want to know.. I can send them a email.

Edited yesterday at 12:13 AM by GTsongwriter

[mettelus]

As with a lot of VSTs, there may be an option to install it via iLok (I honestly cannot remember now), but I have no iLok VSTs loaded on my machine either.

[mettelus]

8 hours ago, Carl Ewing said:

Actually, I think Ample Metal Hellrazer is very underrated.

The only issue with Hellrazer I have had is that the notes do not follow hand position at times (which is okay as a VST, but not if was a real performance). That was why I had asked about the "Strings" feature that was recently released for the Ample Sound basses making it into the guitars. Ample Sound also is a little less obvious with shutting off all of the internal FX; so in a re-amp situation, it is possible they carried forward some of the internal FX into whatever VST they were using. The other niggle that some have had is that it only has one pickup position sampled (bridge only), but I have not had an issue with that.

[Brian Walton]

On 3/13/2025 at 9:16 PM, GTsongwriter said:

My needs would be the classic metal sound of the guitarist whom strums the guitar like a metal guitarist should.

If you listen to Metallica Enter Sandman right at the start 0:24 you'll hear the guitar rhythm I want to achieve, basically, but I still want to do other things with it. 

For the most part, the rhythmatic way that the metal guitarist strums a guitar is different than someone strumming a regular guitarist strumming a guitar. I think it's more of a performance than the guitar to change the sound?

 

TONEX with the Mesa Reference collection has a very spot on Enter Sandman patch/tone.  (Other option is free TONEX and search Tonenet for something similar.  With so many Mesa captures out there for free one has to be fairly close)

That said, I'm not sure what vst to drive it with as a guitar player I haven't seen VSTs that seem to translate to what actual guitar playing sounds like.   But a simple riff like enter sandman any advanced beginner can pull it off reasonably well with that one preset with Tonex.  

Lots of metal guitarists can't get anyone to want to hear them play.  Honestly you could probably get someone to put down a simple track for you for free or close to it.  

[GTsongwriter]

1 hour ago, Brian Walton said:

Lots of metal guitarists can't get anyone to want to hear them play.  Honestly you could probably get someone to put down a simple track for you for free or close to it.  

You probably right there.. I guess if I wanted to save money, I could "Youtube" find someone and post a question..  maybe have them join Bandlab to play against a song ... or suggestions?

The only bad thing about using Bandlab to find people is all you get is a majority of Hip-Hop Artists.. it's really hard to find any other genre other than Hip-Hop.

[GTsongwriter]

Overall...

Whom will actually listen to this vs whom will be critical of it?

That’s the thing no one really answered.. maybe they don’t want to.. or maybe they just assume the ones listening are the same ones judging.. but they’re not.. not really..

i understand Hydra’s more powerful.. more real to the ones who know the difference.. more layers.. more mapping.. more everything.. but if i bought that.. knowing how i work.. it would just sit there until i had the motivation to learn it.. and even then.. i’d likely still use the patterns if it had them.. just like the others

i’ve bought plugins before that promised full control.. and after a while.. the only plugins i actually used was the one that got me there fast.. cause when i’m in the zone.. i’m not thinking about articulation sets.. i’m thinking about whether it sounds like it means something.. whether it hits right in the moment it plays

Most of my listeners.. they don’t even stop to think if it’s real or not.. they hear the song and either feel it.. or they don’t.. only a few people can really tell if it’s sampled or played.. and even fewer of those actually care unless they’re grading it

 

So yeah.. I’m picking Electric Storm.. not cause it’s the most true-to-life thing.. but because i can finish something with it..  I can get it out, ready it quickly, and create something fast.. and that matters more to me than if the pinch harmonic bends just right under scrutiny

I want something that reaches ears.. not something that waits for perfection and never leaves the DAW..

[Carl Ewing]

2 hours ago, GTsongwriter said:

Overall...

Whom will actually listen to this vs whom will be critical of it?

That’s the thing no one really answered.. maybe they don’t want to.. or maybe they just assume the ones listening are the same ones judging.. but they’re not.. not really..

i understand Hydra’s more powerful.. more real to the ones who know the difference.. more layers.. more mapping.. more everything.. but if i bought that.. knowing how i work.. it would just sit there until i had the motivation to learn it.. and even then.. i’d likely still use the patterns if it had them.. just like the others

i’ve bought plugins before that promised full control.. and after a while.. the only plugins i actually used was the one that got me there fast.. cause when i’m in the zone.. i’m not thinking about articulation sets.. i’m thinking about whether it sounds like it means something.. whether it hits right in the moment it plays

Most of my listeners.. they don’t even stop to think if it’s real or not.. they hear the song and either feel it.. or they don’t.. only a few people can really tell if it’s sampled or played.. and even fewer of those actually care unless they’re grading it

 

So yeah.. I’m picking Electric Storm.. not cause it’s the most true-to-life thing.. but because i can finish something with it..  I can get it out, ready it quickly, and create something fast.. and that matters more to me than if the pinch harmonic bends just right under scrutiny

I want something that reaches ears.. not something that waits for perfection and never leaves the DAW..

Some people like punk rock, some people like avant-garde electro-acoustic symphonies that take 10 years to produce. You want simplicity, good for you.

If you want really simple, just slap some guitar loops together - that'll get to "ears" really fast, and it seems like the audience you're seeking won't give af anyway lol.

[GTsongwriter]

4 hours ago, Carl Ewing said:

Some people like punk rock, some people like avant-garde electro-acoustic symphonies that take 10 years to produce. You want simplicity, good for you.

If you want really simple, just slap some guitar loops together - that'll get to "ears" really fast, and it seems like the audience you're seeking won't give af anyway lol.

Yeah... Someone in this thread reminded me that I shouldn't really go for the best, and instead think that do I really want.. So I asked myself, who's my audience, and the answer was of simplicity, and not the best.

Eventually I'll come back to this thread.. and I will buy One of these other ones that are better than Electric Storm.. But for now it will do the job. 

So your post isn't for nothing.. It's just delayed.. and I'll be back to buy another..

[Soundwise]

18 hours ago, GTsongwriter said:

So yeah.. I’m picking Electric Storm.. not cause it’s the most true-to-life thing.. but because i can finish something with it..  I can get it out, ready it quickly, and create something fast.. and that matters more to me than if the pinch harmonic bends just right under scrutiny

I want something that reaches ears.. not something that waits for perfection and never leaves the DAW..

That's a very solid choice! Something to keep in mind about NI Session Guitarist libs, though: they don't go to eleven above G#6.

If you don't need those higher pitched notes, you are all set.

[GTsongwriter]

5 hours ago, Soundwise said:

That's a very solid choice! Something to keep in mind about NI Session Guitarist libs, though: they don't go to eleven above G#6.

If you don't need those higher pitched notes, you are all set.

Nice to know.. I guess if I need higher or lower pitch, I can already use a pitch tool like Waves Vocal Bender or Celemony Melodyne that can do the trick.. I bought Melodyne before it separated into multiple different products at much higher prices... So I ended up owning it forever as they progressed into the Studio edition..