Anyone upgrade from Guitar Rig 4 LE to GR 5? If so - how do you like it?

I am thinking about taking advantage of this upgrade. The GR 4 LE is part of the Sonar x1 package.
 
Is a dongle required for Guitar Rig Pro 5?
 
For those who use it - how does it compare to other guitar software options? How well does the pro version run in Sonar x1?
 
Thanks!

No dongle.

How does it compare (GR4)?  Depends on your music genre, etc.  I have no use for the myriad of nondescript metal patches, but it's my go-to processor if I can't find what I need in my BOSS DR880's escellent guitar processor (with no latency of course!).

I have IK's Amplitube as well which is also excellent but I do  find myself gravitating to GR4.  I'll upgrade to GR5, although looking at their web site they don't seem to have set out with any clarity what the changes are over GR4. 

Shoot for $79 I will probably update.
Not much added but the sound seems to be updated and more presets 
Some new amps. and effects

I checked out the scuffham amps......they sound great.....old school, just the way I like it! The player who did the demos I'm sure was a large part of it....I liked his versatility....good player

[q] so, if one's own computer can run good guitar software - is the Axe-FX hardware unit really necessary?
[/q]

Well yes.... ; )
 You see the use of quality components (chips, power filtering, etc) to run Analog to Digital and D to A for computers (PC's, Macs, Pods, etc etc) vary about as wide as the galaxy is big. Fractal Audio (Axe-FX Ultra, standard and FX II) uses the very ultimate in quality parts and software,  for creating the very best in Guitar tone. One reason why they are expensive is because they do not take a shortcut for tone, because there really isnt one. It takes ALL of the parts (software programing and the best hardware converters) to create such wonderful and toneful sounds, and if any one piece is missing the tone suffers. That is the reason those of us who are using an Axe-FX wont ever look back. Play one for yourself and listen, and you will then understand what the hype is really all about.   Can you get good tones from software like GR5 or Amplitube or a Line6 pod? Yes... Does it compare to a Standard, Ultra or the new FX II?  Not even close in my opinion... ; ) I agree that it is apples and oranges but the question about the converters making the differences needed to be addressed ...  Been playing for around 41 years now... Heard it all just about.. And no, I dont work for Fractal Audio, but I do use their products and like the hell outta them, as you might have noticed ... ; )

pwal


for amp sims, also check out the scuffham s-gear

Wow, I missed this one!  Thanks.
I just tried the demo and loved it.  I see the guy behind it is Mike Scuffham who had a lot to do with creating the Marshall JMP1 - which I always loved and is sitting behind me in the rack now.
 
Only one problem with the ampsim, it won't work in stand-alone mode; says it can't see any audio ins and outs, which is odd as it sees the MIDI ports on my system and my audio interface, a Saffire Pro 14.  I've emailed Mike and hopefully, as it's still a new product and they're ironing out bugs, a fix will be along soon.
 
John

Yep; A bit premmie on the GR5 but i'll probably get it with KONTAKT 8 Premium.

Amplitube 3.6 is also available and both have a foot controller available.
along with that there's Line 6 with a new range of foot controller/interfaces and a new range of hot variax guitars using some new technology. There's others I haven't even mentioned so there's no shortage of software and/or hardware to manipulate your guitar sound but is any of it really new?

I know that NI's been pretty naughty with the way they've gone about things of late but I take it from reading the various pre-release stuff that for people who are using things like Maschine 1.6  (and soon v1.7 update) that there'll be updated patches/functionality and optimization across the whole software range without anything really new added.

Seems the Premium KONTAK 8 Vesion will include every bit of NI software currently available up to Sept 1. There's a point made of mentioning that it will only include products up to that date. The implication is that there'll be a bevvy of new products for release after that and this is the reason for lower prices and selling out the old software line to maximize cash flow beofer the new stuff comes out. they'll need the cash for all the hype they'll have to generate to convince us that there really is something new.

IKMultimedia has also run out of steam and only has updates to 64 bit across the board to complete and it too will be scratching to come up with a new product rather than the gradual evolution of a product range that's been around for a good while.

I reckon software development for the PC/MAc all round has run out of steam and it's going to take something really new to liven up the market.

iPhones and iPads and to a lesser degree other smartphones have created a new niche for on the go audio programs lite along with remote control this that and the other as well as control surface functionality that's getting better every day.

We need something really hot and  new and whoever delivers it will really clean up.