Winter NAMM 2009 sees the launch of Focusrite's first Guitar FX VST/AU Plug-in suite; the result of a collaboration between Focusrite and Overloud.

The Focusrite Guitar FX Suite puts quality over quantity, providing eleven VST/AU plug-ins that are sonically equal to, or better than any Guitar FX plug-ins on the market, according to Focusrite. These include five of the world's finest guitar amp models and four distortion pedal effects, all courtesy of bespoke Italian software company, Overloud. A Hot Tuna guitar tuner and Smart Hum Remover are also provided.

The amp models include plug-ins based on the Vox AC30, Marshall JCM900, Fender Twin, MESA Boogie Rectifier and the Fender Bassman. The pedal models include plug-ins based on the Boss DS-1, the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the Electro Harmonix Big Muff and the Dunlop Fuzz Face.

The amp and pedal models utilise Overloud's analogue modelling technology, which faithfully reproduces every detail of an analogue tone. It also ensures perfect reproduction of parameter behaviour, so you always feel like you're controlling the real hardware. With Overloud's analogue modelling technology, each component of the schematic has its own mathematical model. After this rather raw scientific step, the resulting tone is fine tuned by ear. Overloud don't, unlike many modelling companies, use standard widely available DSP techniques to obtain a tone that only vaguely resembles the original one. Instead, custom developed non-standard DSP techniques reproduce every detail of the original tone.

Finally, each Focusrite Guitar FX Suite plug-in provides a host of factory pre-sets, providing a number of great tones for you to audition immediately. You can also save and recall your own custom pre-sets, building a vast library of your own custom tones over time.

The new Focusrite Guitar FX Suite will be available worldwide in January 2009 from a selection of pro audio retailers worldwide. Contact your local distributor for further details.