Rarely discounted and currently at its lowest tracked price - a genuinely good time to buy.
About
Product Overview
Applied Acoustics Systems has substantially rebuilt their guitar synthesis engine with Strum GS-2, moving beyond the previous Session model's limitations through a redesigned string modeling architecture that captures the physical behavior of acoustic and electric instruments with considerably greater fidelity. The new coupling algorithms at the bridge and refined pick-to-string interaction produce noticeably richer harmonic content, while the revised body response modeling yields tonal characteristics that integrate more naturally into dense mixes without the synthetic brittleness that plagued earlier generations.
The interface reorganization addresses the workflow friction of earlier versions. The Keyboard mode enables lead line playing and custom voicing manipulation, while Loop mode provides direct access to an expansive MIDI library of strumming patterns categorized by technique and genre. The integrated chord recognition system remains a core strength, though the strumming engine refinement makes voicing choices sonically meaningful rather than cosmetic.
Session upgraders will find the new compressor, equalizer, and output limiter represent genuine functional additions rather than afterthought processing. The compressor and EQ offer essential shaping tools, while the limiter serves practical utility during parameter exploration.
This plugin serves producers working across commercial production contexts where authentic guitar textures matter but live tracking remains impractical. It occupies a pragmatic middle ground between sample-based libraries and full guitar synthesizers, particularly for songwriters needing rapid harmonic iteration. The expanded sound bank justifies upgrade consideration for existing users navigating the bridge between Session's foundation and GS-2's considerably expanded sonic palette.