The Guitar Rig environment is a modular system, providing capabilities for multiple amplifiers, effects pedals and rack mounted hardware.

Primarily designed for electric guitar and bass, the software uses amplifier modeling to allow real-time digital signal processing in both standalone and DAW environments via plug-in (VST/DXi/RTAS/AU).

[1][2] The software simulates a number of devices such as preamplifiers, cabinets and microphones under pseudonyms (such as renaming the Shure SM57 as the "Dynamic 57").

At this time, it was a hardware/software hybrid system, with the Rig Kontrol hardware preamp and foot controller feeding into the software.

The software featured a drag-and-drop interface and a selection of 3 tube amplifier emulations (some with multiple preamp variations).