The plot thickens around Winter NAMM 2009 as Focusrite's first plugin suite is shadowed by the release of their second (and more colorfully named) plugin suite: Focusrite Guitar FX Suite. For this suite, however, Focusrite gets a big assist from Overloud, which may explain Overloud's own speciously-worded release of TH1 Triode.

Guitar FX Suite values sound quality over quantity with eleven guitar plugins (a significant number in and of itself) that Focusrite unashamedly says are "equal to, or better than, any Guitar FX plugins on the market." Even equal to or better than Triode, which Overloud claimed to be the best? Nevertheless, Guitar FX Suite includes five amp models and four distortion pedal effects provided by Overloud as well as a "Hot Tuna" guitar tuner plugin and a "Smart Hum Remover" plug.

The amp models are based on the VOX AC30, Marshall JCM900, Fender Twin, MESA Boogie Rectifier and Fender Bassman, five amps so legendary that even my grandma has heard of them, and she's not even a guitarist (she's a bassist). The distortion pedals include models of the Boss DS-1, Ibanez Tube Screamer, Electro-Harmonix Big Muff and Dunlop Fuzz Face -- a flavor-heavy distortion salad.

Each plugin that has a membership card to the Guitar FX Suite also has a load of presets to start you off. You can save and load custom presets and build and manage a library of your favorites. Of course, nobody ever says "I want to manage a library when I grow up" these days, and that's why the American library system is in shambles. Where have all the librarians gone?