Overall User Ratings

"Buy it...you won't be disappointed!"

Feature:
RiffWorks comes with a barrage of effects, from delays to eq'ing to modulators to reverbs to shapers, 7 in all. Once again all pro quality!

Quality:
I use the GuitarPort from Line6 as the interface. Very sturdy and easy to use. I still use XP and the program itself is very stable.

Value:
I'm not sure anything beats this value for what you get in this package. When I got it home and started messing with it, I thought for sure they undercharged me. Seriously, it's that good!!! Buying one rack effect would cost at least the same or more as the cost of this whole program.

Desirability:
Being able to put down a seedling of an idea to a complete song with guitars, bass, drums, keyboards and vocals all in the privacy of my home in my pajamas is pretty sexy to me!

Sound:
After years of using 4 track cassette recorders and reel to reels, you could always tell it was a demo recording done at home. When I started using RiffWorks, I was truly shocked at how good the sound quality was. It is CD quality!!!

Ease of Use:
I'm not sure what could be easier when inspiration strikes then to go over to your computer, open the program, plug your guitar in, hit the record button and be in heaven. It's that easy. Even my drummer could do it!

Support:
I've only had to use the Line6 support once and they handled the problem relatively quick. I've heard different, but I've had no problems. The people at Sonoma Wire Works are awesome! They reply extremely fast and are very quick to solve problems. Most of the time they are on the forums chatting with us, the users. Very cool!

Overall:
I can't say enough about this. The ease of use, the sound quality, the support are awesome. Sonoma has created an amazing product and I couldn't even think of something else this easy to use without having to look at a 2500 page manual to even get started. You also get some InstantDrummer sessions which are very, very cool. You can buy and add drummers as you like and need. You can also collaborate with other musicians from around the world with RiffLink. More than anything, is the community Sonoma created with its RiffWorld site. I suggest going there and listening to the amazing guitarists and musicians and what they have created using RiffWorks. www.riffworld.com

"Simply put - get it."

Feature:
Unlike many guitar products, GuitarPort and RiffTracker has just about all the features you want, without a bunch that you either don't need or will never use. GuitarPort's best features are it's ease of connectivity, using USB, of course the awesome Line 6 amp models, and the ability to add more models later. RiffTracker's best features are it's "Instant Drummers", which take the concept of the drum machine to the next level. With Instant Drummers it's possible to program in variations, so that your beats don't wind up sounding quite so robotic. Plus, RiffTracker also allows you to RiffLink, which is online recording and collaboration with musicians all over the world. With RiffLink it's possible to collaborate on a song with someone you've never met, lives thousands of miles away, and doesn't even speak your language.

Quality:
Both products are made well, and as long as you read the manual before installing anything, both products will run reliably.

Value:
For the capability that this bundle provides, the price is almost ridiculously low. I almost don't want to write that, for fear that Line 6 and Sonoma Wire Works will read it and realize that they could sell this package for much more.

Desirability:
I'm not sure sex appeal would be the main selling point of the bundle. However, if being able to write and record your own songs is what you consider sexy, then there you go!

Sound:
The sound quality of both GuitarPort and the fidelity of RiffTracker's recording are top notch. GuitarPort uses the same high-end amp models as the Pod XT, and gives you plenty of stompbox and mod effects, as well as some pretty convincing spring reverb. RiffTracker is simply the easiest to use riff-based recording software I've ever tried. Sound quality is great with no noticeable latency and easy setup.

Ease of Use:
Both GuitarPort and RiffTracker's interfaces are designed to look like guitar/recording rack gear, so any guitarist who has used that type of gear will know instinctively how to operate things. It's easy to get great sounds right out of the box with GuitarPort and Rifftracker, in fact I know of many bands who are using RiffTracker to record their demos instead of spending thousands of dollars in a professional recording studio. Yeah, the sound quality is pretty good!

Support:
I have dealt with Line 6 support (the makers of GuitarPort), and their customer service leaves a lot to be desired, though it seems they have been making efforts to improve in this area. Sonoma Wire Works (the makers of RiffTracker) are at the other end of the spectrum. They're musicians just like us, and the few support questions I've had to ask have been answered very quickly by people who know their product, and are downright pleasant to deal with. I can't say enough good things about the support that Sonoma Wire Works provides.

Overall:
The great thing about GuitarPort is that it's possible to purchase new amp/cab/effects models, making the package very modular. I expect to be happy with this bundle for a long time.