Applied Acoustics Systems has announced Strum Electric GS-1 (Mac/Win; $229), an electric guitar software synthesizer plug-in.

Strum Electric simulates the guitar by modeling different pickups, the strings, and the pick, of the amplifier, speaker cabinet, and several guitar effects. It also includes a voicing module that automatically voices chords played on the keyboard as a guitar player would on the fretboard. Strumming keys and MIDI loops allow you to reproduce strumming, palm-muting, picking action, and different guitar techniques.

According to the manufacturer, Strum Electric GS-1 will be available at the end of the first quarter of 2009, as a standalone application and as a plug-in in VST, AU, and RTAS formats. To learn more, visit applied-acoustics.com.