Record the notes. Strummed chords and multi-note stabs should have notes placed slightly off center, starting with the bottom note and ending with what would be the high string. (Remember: There are six strings on a standard guitar.)
Get the attack and release of notes dialed in to your liking since most programmed guitar sounds are punchy. Unless you are aiming for incredibly hard strumming sounds, soften the attack by adjusting its level a hair down on the actual instrument settings.
Adjust the sustain. The cutoff of notes can vary from plug-in to plug-in. The best way to tell if notes transition properly is to listen through and either lessen the cutoff or increase the sustain. (Note: You can always go back and adjust the velocity of individual notes with most programs.)
Adjust the EQ. If you aren't that experienced with it, play around with the levels on a 10-band equalizer (not any higher) until the mix starts to sound the way you want it to.
Add reverb. Whether you want a concert-hall setting or a dry closet, the reverb on the track needs to be above zero.
Play around with installed amp plug-ins. Even if you end up turning down a lot of the settings, sometimes they make a clean channel sound more authentic if you haven't already reached your goal.
Record notes starting with the clean setting you have created.
Add a distortion effect, preferably one that requires the most knobs to move around.
Adjust the unit's settings to your liking. Overdrive and distortion parts need greater sustain (or less cutoff) and added mid range in their mix.
Decrease the output gradually as you increase the drive setting for more lead tones. This prevents a lot of unnatural fuzz.
Make sure the clean and lead channels are around the same level of volume when they transition from one to the other. The lead should be just a tad hotter.
Add effects to bolster the song when needed. Most workstations come with the basic effects such as delay, chorus, and tremolo.
Set track delay or echo effects to a variation of the song's meter. If this option isn't available, let the song play through while you adjust the time and number of repeats.
Play through the songs until the effect is dialed in the way you want it, if you are trying to match up to the grid. Tremolo can have a lot of different settings.
Crank the repetitions to 7.5/10 and put the delay volume at about 5.5/10 for droning noises. When recording the part, tap quickly on the key and change notes when necessary.
Readjust the EQ once you have set the effected guitar sound.