1.1 Installation on MacOS

1. Continue to install.

2. Read and accept the license agreement.

3. Select plugin formats to install. Change Location if you want to install sample library in a different place.

4. Close to exit.

1.2 Installation on Windows

1. Extract installer.

2. Continue to install.

3. Read and accept the license agreement.

4. Specify location to install standalone.

5. Specify location to install 64bit VST.

6. Specify location to install 32bit VST.

7. Specify location to install sample library.

8. Select plugin formats to install.

9. Choose if to create a Start Menu folder.

10. Finish to exit.

Microsoft official download page
* Please install Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable if program can not run.
* If encountered with error shown above, please close and simply ignore it.

1.3 Activation

1. 7-days trial with full features is offered.

2. Trial requires an internet connection.

3. Open Activation Manager to activate products, You can activate all of Ample Guitar with one time activation.

4. Online Activation: fill in User ID and password and click "Activate" to complete activation. Click "Forgot" if you want to inquire User ID and reset password.

5. Offline Activation: please send Challenge Code and User ID to service@amplesound.net. Our customer service will send you Key Code within 24 hours. Fill in User ID and Key Code and click "Activate" to complete activation. Keep your User ID and Key Code in case of reinstallation.

6. After activation succeeds, please close Activation Manager and restart program.
Video tutorial on Youtube

2.1 Overview of Setting Panel

• Save/Load Preset
• Instrument Path Setting
• Master Tune
• MIDI Out
• Max Voices
• Real Time Memory Display
• Velocity Sensitivity
• Real Time Voices Display
• Velocity Layer Thresholds
• Bender Range
• Poly Bender
• Mod Wheel Range
• Auto Mod Wheel
• Hold Pedal Noise
• Cycle Mode
• Cycle*3 and Cycle Reset
• MIDI Guitar Mode Setting and Toggle

2.2 Save/Load Preset

You can save your current parameters setting as local file for later use with other projects or DAWs.

2.3 Instrument Path Setting

You can move sample library folder indicated by original path to anywhere you want, and set path to new location.

2.4 Master Tune

Default tune is in 440Hz. You can set tune to any non-standard between 430 and 450Hz.

2.5 MIDI Out

Toggle on MIDI Out, add a MIDI track in project and set the input to MIDI Out of Ample Guitar. Then any note being played will be converted to MIDI, including those by strum and tab.
* Logic is the only one DAW which doesn't support MIDI out feature.

2.6 Max Voices

Defines the maximum number of voices which can be played simultaneously. Voices will be forced stop if the number goes beyond maximum.

2.7 Velocity Layers

Rhombic Sampling Structure: Greatly improves sample utilization proficiency.

Sliders control velocity thresholds of corresponding layers. Adjust them according to your play style.

2.8 Poly Bender

When toggled on, open string and multiple notes can be bended.

2.9 Cycle Mode

You can switch cycle mode among Each Cycle (default), Round Robin and Random.

Each Cycle: Separate sample cycle for each note and each velocity layer, more appropriate for ARP and Strum.
Round Robin: more appropriate for Solo.
Random: Sample Cycle random

2.10 Cycle*3 and Cycle Reset

Cycle*3: When toggled on, 3 times cycles will be available for each note.

Cycle Reset: You can reset cycle index here.

2.11 MIDI Guitar Mode Setting and Toggle

Toggle on when you use midi guitar as input. Make sure the input channel of midi track is set to all.

2.12 Customized Parameters Control

2.12.1 MIDI Controller

All buttons, knobs and sliders on GUI can be controlled by MIDI Controllers. Alt + click or right-click a control to open the dialog below and assign a controller.

• Left Column: Available controllers, including After Touch, Bender and MIDI CC.
• Right Column: Assigned parameters.
• OK: Assign the selected controller to the control.
• Cancel: Close dialog.
• Learn: MIDI Learn.
• Clear: Clear the assigned controller of the control.

2.12.2 Automation

You can also use automation to control parameters.

2.12.3 Tips

Detailed information (tool tips) can be displayed by hovering your mouse over a control.

2.12.4 Fine adjustment & Value reset

Press Shift + click to reset a control to its default value. Press Ctrl and drag the mouse to make fine adjustments.

3.1 Overview of Guitar Panel

• Sample Library
• Sound Mode
• Capo Logic - Intelligent Fingering Simulation Algorithm
• Strman
• Open String First (G#6)
• Hold Pedal
• Play Mode
• Auto Legato Switch (D#6)
• Stroke Noise
• Alternate Tuner
• Capo

3.2 Sample Library

Acoustics have three distinct sample libraries: Finger, Pick and Strum. Strum library includes real strum samples customizable for any chord and rhythm without loss of quality.
Electrics have sample libraries of three pickup options: Neck, Both and Bridge.

*Sample Library cannot be switched during play.

3.3 Sound Mode (Acoustic only)

Two mono and stereo modes are available. In addition, you can adjust mic volumes, pan and width to meet your need

Preview: Stereo 1, Stereo 2, Mono 1, Mono 2, Width(25%), Width(100%), Mic 1(Volume 1) : Mic 2(Volume 0.5), Mic 1(Volume 0.5) : Mic 2(Volume 1) in order.

3.4 Open String First

Used for high position arpeggios with open strings. When toggled on, notes will be played priory on open strings regardless of Capo Logic. Note G#6 can toggle it on with high velocity and off with low velocity.

Preview: Normal, then Open String.

3.5 Play Mode

When Keyboard Mode is on, multiple notes can be played on same string simultaneously. When Solo Mode is on, only single note can be played. Both Keyboard Mode and Solo Mode will mute Auto Legato.

3.6 Auto Legato Mode

When two notes on same string overlap and Keyboard/Solo Mode is off, a legato will be automatically made. Note D#6 can switch auto legato mode, high velocity for Auto LS and low velocity for Auto HP.

3.7 Stroke Noise

When toggled on, a noise will be added for poly notes.

3.8 Tuner

You can tune every string by turning its corresponding tuner, 2 semitones down at most. Tuning is fully compatible with strummer, tab and all articulations.

4.1 Overview of Main Panel

4.1.1 Acoustic Guitar

• Articulations and Poly Legato (Important)
• Mic Volume / Pick Attack Accentuation
• Master Volume
• Pan
• Stereo Width
• Doubling Toggle and Width (Important)
• Release Sound Gain
• FX Sound Gain
• Resonance Gain and Time / Fade In (Original)
• Fret Sound Toggle and Gain (Original)
• Global Sample Start Time (Original)
• Capo
• Peak Meter
• Bender
• Manual Vibrato Wheel (Original)
• Strman & Capoman
• FX Sound Group
• Strum Mode Toggle
• Poly Repeater (Original)
• FX Sound Group 2
• Open String First Toggle
• Auto Legato Mode Switch
• Tab Play Toggle

4.1.2 Electric Guitar

4.1.3 Metal Guitar

4.2 Articulations and Poly Legato (Important)

4.2.1 Acoustics and Electrics

4.2.2 Metal

4.2.3 Sustain & Pop (Artificial Harmonic)

Keyswitch is C0. Notes of velocity less than 127 will be Sustain. For acoustics, notes of velocity 127 will be Pop. For electrics, notes of velocity 127 will be either Artificial Harmonic or Pop depending on Accentuate Mode.

4.2.4 Natural Harmonic & Artificial Harmonic

Keyswitch is C#0. For electrics, notes of velocity less than 127 will be Natural Harmonic. Notes of velocity 127 will be Artificial Harmonic.

4.2.5 Palm Mute

Keyswitch is D0. Lower the velocity, greater the mute depth. If you press C0 and D0 at the same time or for Ample Metal Guitars, subsequent notes of high velocity will be Sustain and notes of low velocity will be Palm Mute.

4.2.6 Slide In from below & Slide Out downwards

Keyswitch is D#0. When D#0 is before a note, subsequent note will be Slide In. When D#0 is during a note, Slide Out is triggered whose velocity is determined by D#0. Articulation will revert to Sustain when note ends.

4.2.7 Legato Slide (Poly Legato)

Keyswitch is E0. The two notes must overlap and E0 must be ahead of the start note. Articulation will revert to previous one when destination note ends. Slide triggered by E0 of high velocity will change fret position. Low velocity will not.

Poly Legato: Press the highest note of destination set to slide upwards; Press the lowest note of destination set to slide downwards.

Slidesmoother: The speed of long legato slide (slide more than 2 frets) is determined by the velocity of destination note. Higher the velocity, faster the speed.

Auto Slide: When keyboard/solo mode is off and auto legato mode is Auto LS, two overlapped note on same string will make a slide automatically without keyswitch.

4.2.8 Hammer-On & Pull-Off (Poly Legato)

Keyswitch is F0. The two notes must overlap and F0 must be ahead of the start note. Articulation will return to previous one when destination note ends. HP triggered by F0 of high velocity will change fret position if it goes beyond. Low velocity will not.

Auto HP: Ample Guitar can switch to HP automatically if there is a legato on one string, without pressing a Keyswitch first. if you don't need it, open "keyboard mode".

Poly Legato: The HP Keyswitch can also change the Capo in the same way as LS, Highly-advanced scripting logic enables this feature to select both the correct "capoed" fret and string, to exactly replicate a real guitar performance.

4.3 Doubled Guitars

Toggle on to achieve an authentic doubling effect with only one Ample Guitar.

The Double knob adjusts the time difference between the notes on the left and right channels.

Preview: Normal, then Doubling.

4.4 Controllable Resonance Sound

Resonance is an indispensable part of the expressiveness and realism of an acoustic instrument. During a live performance, the guitarist controls the volume and duration of resonance manually, Ample Guitar simulates this control.

Preview: Open Resonance, Close Resonance, long Resonance time and short Resonance time modes.

Silent Press(G5), Silent Stroke(G#5) and releasing Hold Pedal can mute ringing resonance.

4.5 Rich Fret Sound

In real performance, hand is constantly moving and touching fretboard. Without fret sound virtual instruments would sound artificially "clean".

Preview: Open Fret Sound, then closed Fret Sound.

4.6 Global Sample Start Time

After pick strokes string, it takes around 50ms to get the string really vibrating. Ample Guitar preserves the moment of the stroke, otherwise it will sound like piano.

Set Start Time to 50ms and Track Delay of DAWs to 0ms as shown in the figure above on the left for real-time playing.

Set Start Time to 0ms and Track Delay of DAWs to -50ms as shown in the figure above on the right for playback or export.

If your DAW doesn't support Track delay, you will need to drag the track a few ms (according to start time value) forward manually, or use the formula of Time to BPM: Track Delay(beat) = Time(s) * Tempo / 60, e.g. for 50ms, you need to drag a track 0.1 beat or 48 ticks forward when Tempo = 120.

You need to export audio one bar earlier after Track Delay is set as shown in the figure below.

4.7 Capo

Shifts all incoming notes without need to change original.

4.8 Manual Vibrato Wheel

Vibrato can be controlled by hand like a real guitarist does. If you want to vibrate automatically, open Settings Panel to toggle on Auto Mod.

4.9 Strman & Capoman

4.9.1 Strman

Specify a string to be played manually. G0-C1 correspond to 6th string-1st string. High velocity StrMan will affect fret position while low velocity will not.

4.9.2 Capoman

Switch to a fret position manually. Press C#1(F0 for Metal) and the CapoMan line (yellow) will appear. Then press E1-C3 to switch to position 0-20 respectively. For metal, press C1-E2 to switch to position 0-16 respectively.

4.10 FX Sound Group

4.11 Poly Repeater

As a simulation of repetitive downstroke and upstroke, you can press D6 and E6 to repeat notes being played or last ended note. Multiple notes are supported.

5.1 Overview of Strummer

• Strum Mode Toggle(C#6)
• Strum Time (C#5) and Mode
• Body Resonance and Mute Depth
• Stroke Noise Volume
• Strummer Humanizations
• Chord Setting and Switch (Important)
• Switch Chord Mode between Select Mode and Detect Mode
• Transpose Whole Chord Bank
• Save/Load Whole Chord Bank
• Browse Chords 1-12 or 13-24
• Chord Play and SEQ Edit: 14 Strum Notes + 28 Ways to Play (Important)
• Copy Current SEQ from Another
• Clear All SEQ Notes
• Default SEQ Note Velocity
• Save/Load Pattern
• SEQ Sync
• Pattern Information
• SEQ Export to MIDI
• Previous/Next Pattern
• SEQ Play
• SEQ Swing
• SEQ Quantize and Time Signature
• Strummer Keys

5.2 Strum Time and Mode

Strum Time controls how fast pick cross strings. When Strum Time is 1000ms, in Each Mode every interval between chord notes is 1000ms while in All Mode intervals are altogether 1000ms.

Note C#5 can control Strum Time. Higher the velocity, shorter the time.

5.3 Body Resonance and Mute Depth

There are two ADSRs in strum mode, Body Resonance and Mute Depth. Body Resonance simulates open strum, higher the value longer the ringing time. Mute Depth simulates mute strum, lower the value greater the depth.

5.4 Strummer Humanizations

5.5 Chord Setting and Switch (Important)

There are two chord modes available, select mode and detect mode. Note D5 can switch chord mode, high velocity for detect mode and low velocity for select mode.

* High-velocity switching chords automatically mutes the ringing of the last chord played.

5.5.1 Select Mode

Select Mode provides 24 chord slots. Every chord slot can be customized by setting root note, type and position, altogether 540 variations available. You can also customize by clicking on the fretboard.

Press C1-B2 to switch to chord slot 1-24 respectively. Chord switch with high velocity will mute the ringing of previous chord.

Click Transpose button will transpose 24 chord slots altogether.

Click Load button to browse and load whole chord bank. Click Scan Folder to change folder.

Click Save button to save whole chord bank.

5.5.2 Detect Mode

Detect Mode can detect chord pressed by users within C1-B2 and directly switch to corresponding preset. Root note must be within C1-B1.

Chord Inversion is supported. Different inversions will be mapped to different positions.

Pressing C1-B1 or C2-B2 solely can make a slash chord based on current.

5.6 Chord Play and SEQ Setting (Important)

5.6.1 14 Strum Notes + 28 Ways to Play (Original)

Strummer system provides 14 strum notes, and 28 ways to play when combined with different velocity, giving great variety for chord play, even with only one chord.

28 ways to play have been designed and arranged for convenience concern after countless hours of testing. Without need for remembering them, you can play naturally on keyboard to achieve realistic strum.

Figure below shows 28 ways to play with Em chord (6 Notes).

5.6.3 Save/Load Pattern

Click Load button to browse and load pattern. Click Scan Folder to change folder. Select Category, Time Signature or type to filter patterns.

Click Save button to save pattern.

5.6.5 SEQ Export

Drag export button to export current SEQ to host.

Transfer rhythm and chord to MIDI notes.

5.7 Strum with Articulations (Original)

By combining articulation keyswitches and chord switch keys, you can play Natural Harmonic, Palm Mute, Slide In & Out, Legato Slide, Hammer-On & Pull-Off and Pop while strumming.

5.7.1 Strum Legato - Legato Slide

Press E0 and switch to another chord during a strum note, a slide will be made by notes of previous chord and current chord which are on same string but different frets.

5.7.2 Strum Legato - Hammer On & Pull Off

Press F0 and switch to another chord during a strum note, a HP will be made by notes of previous chord and current chord which are on same string but different frets.

5.7.3 Slide In Strum

Press D#0 before a strum note will make a Slide In strum.

5.7.4 Harmonic Strum

Press C#0 before a strum note will make a Natural Harmonics strum, only available on 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th fret.

5.8 Strummer Keyswitches (Important)

Green: Chord switch (select mode) or detect (detect mode). Yellow: SEQ triggers. Blue: Strum notes. Red: Chord Mode switch and Strum Time control.

5.9 Quantize & Time Signature

Time Signature: 8/6

Time Signature: 4/4 Triplet

6.1 Overview of Riffer Panel

• Note Properties Line
• Expression Line
• String Roll
• FX Noise Line
• Tuner: The Pitch of Each Open String
• Global Properties
• Drag MIDI to Host
• Load
• Save
• New Riff
• Preference
• Previous and Next Riff
• Play Toggle
• Sync Toggle
• Acoustic Feedback
• Dice - Random Riff Generator
• Metronome
• Score Properties
• Measures and Scroll Bar
• Strum Line

6.2 Operation

6.2.1 Operation and Key Commands

6.2.2 Right-Click Menu

You can do Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Select All, Clear All and Copy Measure on the Right-Click Menu, and change note properties if select the note.

6.2.3 Riff Play Toggle

The keyswitch is A#6(high velocity on and low velocity off), The playing position from the selected note.

6.3 Note Properties

6.3.1 Note Properties

Select a note, the title area will be replaced by note properties. Pitch, Velocity, Duration, Articulation, Legato, Vibrato Range, Vibrato Rate, Bend Type, Bend Rate, Note Off Velocity, altogether 10 options for each note.

6.3.2 Bend Editor

Every points you can drag to change the Bend Rate.

6.3.3 Note Off Velocity

Control the volume of Release and Fingered Release.

6.4 Expression

6.4.1 Icon Position

6.4.2 Icons of Articulations & Legato

	Articulation	Guitar	Bass
	Nature Harmonic	All Guitars except AME	All Basses except AMR
	Palm Mute	All	All
	Slap	--	Electric Basses and ABA
	Pop	All	Electric Basses and ABA
	Tap	--	Electric Basses
	Staccato	AGG, AGP and AGF	ABP and ABJ
	Slide In & Slide Out	All	All
	Hammer On & Pull Off	All	All
	Legato Slide	All	All
	Bender	All	All
	Vibrato	All	All
	Slide Guitar	AGP, AGF, AGG, AGM and AGT	--

*The articulations and Legato are different in different instruments.

6.4.3 Articulation & Legato Rules

● Legato is available when notes are next to each other and on the same string, the Legato must be marked on the first note.
The speed of long legato slide (slide more than 2 frets) is determined by the velocity of destination note. Higher the velocity, faster the speed.

● Slide Out: Slide Out from the 50% point of the note;
1/4 Slide Out: Slide Out from the 75% point of the note;
1/8 Slide Out: Slide Out from the 87.5% point of the note.

● Nature Harmonic is available on the nature harmonic positions (5th, 7th, 9th and 12th fret), the pitch is the same as Sustain.

● Slap or Pop dead note is available when switching to Slap or Pop, and the velocity is 1 - 63.

● Pop Slide In is available when switching to Slide, and the velocity is 127. (ABY only)

6.5 FX Line

6.5.1 Articulation & Legato Rules

Select a FX note, there are Velocity and FX type(pitch) 2 options for each FX note.
*The FX type is different on different instruments.

6.5.2 Buzzing

6.6 Score & Global Parameters

6.6.1 Global Parameterss

6.6.2 Score Parameters

6.7 Import & Export

6.7.1 Import MIDI and Tab to Riffer

The MIDI file could be imported to Riffer, the MIDI format must be MIDI 0 or MIDI 1, and make sure that there is only one track in the MIDI file.

*The MIDI block could be dragged into Riffer directly only in Cubase & Nuendo.

Click Riff button on the Tab panel, the current measure could be converted to a riff, and all of articulations and fingered positions will be kept.

Click on the virtual fingerboard to set a capo then import the MIDI, the notes could be in the correct positions.

Set a chord on Strummer then drag the Strummer MIDI to Riffer Strum Line, the Riff could be the same as imported MIDI.

6.7.2 Export Riff to MIDI

Drag the riff to MIDI track, or generate a MIDI file

*The Export Mode and Export Humanization could be changed on the Preferences window, refer to section 6.9.

6.8 Preset & Save Window

6.8.1 Preset Window

Check all of attributes (Category, Time Signature, Key, Quantize, BPM, Type and Author), sort presets according to an attribute, search and rate presets.
*Right click can remove rating.

6.8.2 Save Window

*Separated by commas if more than one chord.

6.9 Preferences

6.10 Dice

Dice is a Random Riff Generator, The keyswitch is B6.

6.10.1 Guitar Dice

6.10.2 Bass Dice

6.11 Measure Setting

Set multi measures for the riff(up to 8) and duplicate all of notes in current measure to another measure.

6.12 Strum Line(Guitar only)

Select a strum note, the title area will be replaced by strum note properties. Direction, Velocity, Strum Time, Articulation, Legato, Chord Root, Chord Type and Position altogether 8 options for each strum note.

All of notes in the chord will be changed if anyone option of chord note is changed.

7.1 Overview of Tab Player Panel

• Track Select
• Tab Export to MIDI and Export Mode
• Load Tab
• Refresh the Tab
• Host Playback Toggle
• Tab Sync
• Convert Current Measure to Strummer
• Go to ...
• Tab Play (Note A6)
• Go to ...
• Tab Loop
• Velocity Proportion
• Velocity Humanization
• Tab Swing
• Strum Time Proportion
• Convert Current Measure to Riffer

7.2 Tab Load

Ample Guitar supports four formats of tab, GP3, GP4, GP5 and GPX. After you edit a tab, you can click Reload button to refresh. Click on edge or "Go to..." buttons to browse tab.

7.3 Tab Play

Click the play button to play a tab. When loop toggle is on, tab will start over again when it reaches end. When loop toggle is off, tab will stop. A6 can toggle on tab play with high velocity and off with low velocity. Use A6 to control tab play when exporting.

7.4 Tab Export

Drag export button to export tab to host as midi file. When Export Mode is Channel Mode, exported midi will contain channel information. This will also toggle on Midi Guitar Mode on Settings Panel. Make sure the input channel of midi track is set to all. This mode is not available for some DAWs such as Pro Tools, Ableton Live, etc. When Export Mode is StrMan Mode, exported midi will contain StrMan information. This mode is available for all DAWs.

7.5 Host Playback

When toggled on, tab can respond to host playback. Make sure the time signatures of host and tab are same.

7.6 Velocity Proportion and Humanization

Velocity Proportion controls the percentage of original velocity with which to play tab. Humanization applies random change to velocity.

7.7 Tab Swing

Randomly flexes the timing of tab to avoid mechanical performance.

7.8 Strum Time Proportion

Controls the percentage of original strum time with which to play tab. When set as "Fixed by Strummer"��strum time will be fixed by the strum time knob on strummer panel.

8.1 Overview of FX

4 Send FXs: Reverb, Delay, Phaser, Chorus. 4 Direct FXs: Compression, Overdrive, 5-Band-EQ, Wah.

8.2 Compression

8.3 Overdrive

8.4 5-Band-EQ

8.5 Wah

8.6 Chorus

8.7 Phaser

8.8 Delay

8.9 Reverb

9 Edit Panel

You can adjust both pitch and gain of every sample according to your own need. Editor can correspond to sample currently being played. You can save your tune setting for later use or load setting from file.