For composers, producers, and musicians on a budget looking for a high-quality, realistic acoustic guitar plugin, Ample Sound's Ample Guitar M Lite II is a compelling free option that delivers a surprising level of depth and functionality. Let's take a closer look at what makes this free plugin so special.

Sampling a Legendary Acoustic Guitar

At the heart of Ample Guitar M Lite II is the meticulously sampled sound of a Martin D-41 acoustic guitar. The Martin D-41 is an iconic high-end dreadnought acoustic known for its rich, balanced tone and exceptional craftsmanship. Ample Sound has captured the essence of this legendary instrument, allowing users to bring its coveted sound into their productions.

The plugin utilizes 848 MB of 16-bit, 44.1kHz samples, which is quite substantial for a free instrument. While this is scaled back from the 5.83 GB 24-bit sample library used in the full paid version, it still provides more than enough detail and nuance to create convincing acoustic guitar parts.

Realistic Articulations and Playability

One of the standout features of Ample Guitar M Lite II is its inclusion of 5 different articulations: sustain, hammer on & pull off, palm mute, and popping. These articulations are essential for capturing the nuances and techniques of real acoustic guitar playing.

The plugin also boasts an advanced playback engine with features like realistic fingering noise, poly legato, and an alternate tuner. These details contribute to the authentic feel and help the virtual guitar respond in a more lifelike way to your playing.

Customization is another strong suit of Ample Guitar M Lite II. Many parameters can be controlled via MIDI CC, allowing you to shape the sound and response to your liking[1]. You can even set up two different guitar samples panned left and right for a double-tracked effect.

Powerful Strumming and Chord Features

Rhythm guitar parts are a breeze to create thanks to the plugin's built-in Strummer engine. It includes an extensive library of real strum samples, so you can easily incorporate authentic strumming patterns into your tracks.

The Strummer also provides deep customization options, letting you edit and sequence your own chord progressions. Humanization settings help to add realism and avoid the robotic feel of programmed parts.

Intuitive Tablature Playback

For guitarists who prefer to write their parts in tablature, Ample Guitar M Lite II has you covered with its innovative Tab Player feature. You can load in popular guitar tab file formats and the plugin will play back the notation, complete with realistic articulations and techniques.

The Tab Player is seamlessly integrated with the plugin's guitar engine, so it can automatically add convincing details like string noises and fret sounds as it plays through the tab. This is a huge time saver and helps to create very natural sounding guitar performances straight from your tab files.

Comparison to the Full Version

While Ample Guitar M Lite II is an extremely capable plugin, it does have a few limitations compared to the full paid version of Ample Guitar M II. The lite version has a reduced sample rate and bit depth, and a smaller note range of E1-C5 (compared to E1-G#3 in the previous lite version).

However, it still includes the same core engine and features as the full version. The main difference is that the full version provides a larger sample library, higher resolution samples, and a few additional articulations like slides, harmonics, and strums.

Considering that Ample Guitar M Lite II is completely free, the features and sound quality it delivers are quite remarkable. It can absolutely hold its own against many paid acoustic guitar plugins on the market.

Availability and Compatibility

Ample Guitar M Lite II is available as a free download for both Windows and Mac operating systems. It comes in all major plugin formats including VST, AU, and AAX, making it compatible with just about any digital audio workstation. There is even a standalone version included so you can use it without a DAW.

The system requirements are fairly modest, so it should run well on most modern computers. The main thing to be aware of is that it does require a decent amount of storage space to house the 848 MB sample library.

Final Thoughts

For a free plugin, Ample Guitar M Lite II is a remarkably powerful and full-featured virtual acoustic guitar. The fact that it is built on samples of an iconic Martin guitar gives it a rich, authentic sound that belies its cost.

The extensive articulations, strumming features, and tab playback functionality make it suitable for a wide range of acoustic guitar applications. It can handle everything from delicate fingerpicking to full-on strummed rhythm parts with ease.

While there are a few limitations compared to the full paid version, Ample Guitar M Lite II never feels like a stripped-down or compromised plugin. The core sound and features are there, and they are more than capable of delivering professional results.

Whether you are a beginner looking for a high-quality acoustic guitar plugin to learn with, or a professional producer needing a reliable tool for sketching out ideas and creating realistic guitar parts, Ample Guitar M Lite II is an excellent choice. The fact that it is completely free makes it a no-brainer to add to your plugin collection.

Ample Sound has set a high bar for what a free virtual instrument can be with Ample Guitar M Lite II. It is a testament to their commitment to quality and providing value to the music-making community. If you have any need for acoustic guitar in your productions, you owe it to yourself to download this impressive plugin and experience its capabilities firsthand.