How to Read a NAM Model Description: Gain, Cab and Mic

1. Capture type: amp only, full rig or pedal

This is the single most important line in any listing, because it decides what else you need in your chain.

• Amp only (head / DI / direct out / load box) — the model captures the amp without a speaker cabinet. It will sound harsh and fizzy on its own. You must add a cabinet impulse response (IR) after it.
• Full rig (amp + cab + mic) — the cabinet and microphone are already "baked in". Do not add an IR, or you will be stacking two cabinets.
• Preamp — only the preamp section, usually from a pedal or the preamp out of an amp. Treat it like an amp-only capture.
• Pedal — an overdrive, fuzz or boost. Put it before an amp model, just like a real pedal.

2. Amp and knob settings

A NAM model is a snapshot of one specific setting. Unlike a traditional amp simulator, you cannot turn the gain knob of a captured amp — the plugin's input knob only changes how hard you hit it. That is why authors usually list the settings:

• Channel and gain — e.g. "Lead channel, gain 6". Many packs include several captures of the same amp at different gain levels: clean, crunch, high gain.
• EQ (bass, mid, treble, presence) — helps you guess the character before downloading.
• Boost in front — some high-gain captures include a tube screamer-style boost. That is great for metal tones but means you should not add another drive pedal.

3. Cabinet, speaker and microphone

For full-rig captures, the cab and mic matter as much as the amp. Typical notation looks like "4x12 V30, SM57 on-axis + R121, blended". In short:

• Speaker (V30, Greenback, Creamback, Jensen…) sets the main voice of the tone.
• Mic and position — a dynamic mic close to the centre of the cone ("on-axis") sounds brighter and more aggressive; "off-axis" or ribbon mics are darker and smoother.

If you already have IRs you love, prefer amp-only captures — you can then combine any amp with any cab.

4. Input level and calibration

Some authors note the input level the model was captured at, often in dBu. Recent versions of the NAM plugin can use this information to match how hard your guitar hits the model with how the original amp was hit. If your model sounds much cleaner or much more distorted than the demo, check the plugin's input level and calibration settings before blaming the file.

5. Model size (architecture) and ESR

NAM models come in different network sizes, commonly called Standard, Lite, Feather and Nano. Bigger models are usually a little more accurate; smaller ones use less CPU, which matters on laptops and hardware players.

ESR (error-to-signal ratio) is a training score: how far the model's output is from the real recording. Lower is better. As a rough guide, values around 0.01 and below are usually considered very good, but ESR is not everything — a model with a slightly higher ESR can still sound and feel great. Trust your ears and the demo.

6. Author, licence and notes

Always read the notes: authors often mention the recommended IR, whether a noise gate was used, and any quirks. Check the licence too — most community models are free for personal use, but not all may be used commercially.

Quick checklist before you download

• Amp only or full rig? (decides whether you need an IR)
• Gain level: clean, crunch or high gain?
• Cab and mic — if it's a full rig, do you like them?
• Model size: will your computer or device handle it?
• Is there an audio demo, and does it sound like what you want?

Ready to try some files? Browse the file library or start with our beginner guide.

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