Beginners
If this is the first time you've heard of NAM, start here. Everything you need to install the plugin and be playing through your favorite amp's tone in 10 minutes.
What Neural Amp Modeler is
Neural Amp Modeler (NAM) is a free, open-source project that uses a neural network to "capture" the sound of a real tube amp or pedal. Unlike conventional digital simulations built on fixed algorithms, NAM trains on real recordings of a specific device — so it can reproduce its character very accurately, including its nonlinear response to playing dynamics.
The result of training is a file with a .nam extension. You load it into the free NAM plugin
(VST3 / AU / CLAP / LV2, a standalone app is also available) and get that specific amp's tone in your signal chain.
NAM vs. Kemper vs. Helix vs. Fractal vs. ToneX
Beginners usually get tripped up by the fact that "profile," "capture," and "model" mean different, mutually incompatible file formats across ecosystems. A file from one format can't be loaded directly into another manufacturer's hardware.
| Format | Made by | Works in | Open / free |
|---|---|---|---|
| .nam | Neural Amp Modeler (community) | NAM plugin, some NAM-compatible hardware | Yes |
| Kemper Profile | Kemper | Kemper Profiler only | No |
| Helix Preset / HX | Line 6 | Line 6 Helix / HX devices only | No |
| Fractal Preset | Fractal Audio | Axe-Fx / FM3 / FM9 only | No |
| ToneX Capture | IK Multimedia | ToneX plugin/hardware | No |
Good news: the underlying principle is similar across all these formats (capturing a real device's response and training a model), so once you understand how NAM works, the rest will make a lot more sense.
How to install the NAM plugin
Download the plugin
The official NAM installer (VST3/AU/CLAP, plus a standalone app) is distributed for free. Download it only from the project's official GitHub repository — avoid third-party "builds."
Install it and find it in your DAW
After installing, restart your recording software (DAW) or plugin-capable guitar processor and rescan plugins if NAM doesn't show up automatically.
Add the plugin to a guitar track
Insert NAM as an effect on a track with a dry guitar signal (not already processed by another amp simulator).
Load a .nam file
In the plugin's interface, click the model-loading button and point it to your downloaded .nam file. The sound should change immediately.
Add a cabinet (IR) if needed
If the model is "no cab" (see below), add a separate IR loader with a cabinet impulse after NAM — otherwise the sound will be harsh and unnatural.
NAM with cab vs. without cab
Many models capture the entire signal path: amp + cabinet + microphone. That kind of file is ready to use right away — just drop it into the plugin. Other models capture only the amp "head," without a cabinet (often labeled no cab). For these, you need to add a separate cabinet impulse response (IR) after NAM — otherwise the signal will retain frequencies that a real speaker normally filters out, and the tone will sound harsh and "fizzy."
Mini glossary
- NAM (Neural Amp Modeler)
- An open-source project and file format (.nam) for neural network–based amp and pedal modeling.
- IR (Impulse Response)
- A cabinet's impulse response — a separate file that simulates the sound of a specific speaker and microphone.
- Cab sim
- Processing that emulates a guitar cabinet's sound — either built into the NAM file or added via a separate IR.
- Reamping
- Recording a dry guitar signal and later running it through a real amp or plugin, separately from the original performance.
- Gain staging
- Setting signal levels at each stage of the chain to avoid clipping and noise.
- Negative feedback
- A circuit parameter in real amps that affects compression and response — one of the subtler factors when capturing a model.
Ready to try it?
Grab your first file from the library and load it into the plugin right now.