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If you have looked at amp modellers recently, you have probably seen three letters everywhere: NAM. Budget multi effects units advertise it, forum threads argue about it, and players share thousands of NAM files of their favourite amps online, mostly for free. It has become one of the fastest growing ideas in guitar tone, and it has done so without a big company behind it.
I am a songwriter, and I build FencyGuitar, a guitar learning app, so I am interested in any technology that puts great sounds within reach of more players. This guide explains what NAM is, how it works, how it compares with other modelling, and how to start using it, whether on a computer or in a pedal. UK prices were checked on 26 October 2026.
The Quick Answer
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | Free, open source software that uses machine learning to copy the sound of real amps and pedals |
| What is a NAM file? | A "capture" of one piece of gear at one set of settings |
| Where do captures come from? | Mostly the TONE3000 community library, where players share them |
| How do I use it on a computer? | A free plugin in your recording software, plus an audio interface |
| Can I use it without a computer? | Yes, on hardware that supports it, such as the Valeton GP-50 |
| Does it cost anything? | The software and most captures are free; hardware costs extra |
NAM is not a magic box. It copies a specific sound very accurately, but each capture is a snapshot, so you cannot turn the virtual amp's knobs the way you can on a traditional modeller.
What NAM Actually Is
Neural Amp Modeler, usually shortened to NAM, is an open source project created by Steven Atkinson. Open source means the code is public, so anyone can use it, study it or build it into their own products. That is a big part of why it spread so quickly.
Traditional amp modelling works by simulating the circuits of an amp, component by component, in software. NAM takes a different approach. Instead of simulating the circuit, it learns how a real amp changes a signal, by listening to it.
The result is a small file, a NAM capture, that recreates the sound and response of one piece of gear at one set of settings. Load that file into compatible software or hardware, play your guitar through it, and you hear something very close to the original amp.
How a Capture Is Made
You do not need to make captures to use NAM, but understanding the process explains its strengths and limits.
A test signal is played through the gear. A special audio file, full of tones and noise designed to exercise the amp across its whole range, is sent into a real amp, pedal or rig.
The output is recorded. The amp's response to that signal is recorded, either from a microphone on the speaker, a load box or a direct output.
A neural network is trained. Software compares the dry test signal with the recorded output and trains a machine learning model to reproduce the difference. This can take minutes or hours depending on the computer.
The model is saved as a capture. The finished file can be loaded and played in real time.
Because the capture learns from one set of knob positions, a capture of an amp with the gain on 7 is just that. If you want gain on 4, you need a separate capture. Many people who share captures upload several settings of the same amp for this reason.
NAM vs Traditional Modelling vs Profiling
Traditional modellers, such as the Boss Katana, the Line 6 POD Go or most budget multi effects units, simulate amps with adjustable controls. You can turn the virtual gain, bass and treble freely, and the model responds. The trade off is that the sound depends on how well the designers modelled the circuit.
Profiling and capture systems, such as the Kemper Profiler, Neural DSP's Quad Cortex and IK Multimedia's TONEX, work in a similar way to NAM: they learn from a real amp. The Neural DSP Nano Cortex was £449 at guitarguitar and the IK Multimedia TONEX ONE+ was £235. These are commercial products with their own formats and libraries.
NAM is the open source version of the capture idea. Its strengths are accuracy, a huge free library and the fact that anyone can build it into hardware. Its weakness is the same as other capture systems: each file is a fixed snapshot rather than a fully adjustable amp.
If you are still deciding whether you want modelling at all, our guide to modelling vs valve amps explains the bigger picture.
Where to Find NAM Captures
The main home for NAM captures is TONE3000, a community site that was previously called ToneHunt. Players upload captures of amps, pedals, preamps and full rigs, and you can search and download them, mostly for free. Many famous amps are represented, often in several versions and settings.
A few tips for finding good captures:
Read the description. Good uploads say what amp was used, what settings, and whether a cabinet or microphone is included in the capture.
Check whether it is an amp only or full rig capture. Amp only captures need a cabinet simulation, usually an impulse response, added afterwards. Full rig captures already include the speaker and microphone.
Try a few of the same amp. Different people capture the same model in different ways, and one may suit your guitar far better than another.
Look at ratings and comments. Popular captures are usually popular for a reason.
Using NAM on a Computer
The simplest way to try NAM costs nothing beyond gear you may already own.
What you need:
A computer
Recording software that runs plugins, such as GarageBand on a Mac, Reaper or any other DAW
An audio interface to plug your guitar into. The Focusrite Scarlett Solo 4th Gen was listed at around £119 to £122 at UK retailers when I checked for our home recording guide
The free Neural Amp Modeler plugin
Headphones or studio monitors
How to set it up:
Install the NAM plugin and open it on a guitar track in your recording software.
Load a capture you have downloaded.
If it is an amp only capture, load an impulse response for the cabinet. Many free impulse responses are available.
Set your interface's input level so your loudest playing does not clip, then adjust the plugin's input level to match the capture.
Play, record and compare captures.
Our guide to recording guitar at home explains interfaces, recording software and latency in more detail. For silent practice, a good pair of closed back headphones helps a lot; our best guitar headphones guide covers the options.
Using NAM Without a Computer
Hardware support is growing fast, which is what turned NAM from a recording tool into a practice and gigging tool.
Valeton GP-50. The GP-50 loads NAM captures through Valeton's SnapTone system and can store up to 80 of them alongside cabinet impulse responses. It was around £99 at UK retailers, which makes it one of the cheapest ways to play NAM captures without a computer. Fency Music, our sister store, also carries the Valeton GP-50. Our Valeton GP-50 vs Boss GT-1 vs Zoom G1X Four comparison looks at it in detail.
Larger Valeton units. The GP-150, which adds a built in expression pedal, and the GP-180 also support SnapTone NAM loading. Fency carries the Valeton GP-150 for players who want more control on a pedalboard.
NUX MG-50Li. A battery powered floor unit that combines NUX's own modelling with NAM file loading. Fency carries the NUX MG-50Li.
HeadRush. HeadRush has added native NAM support to some of its modellers, a sign that bigger brands now take the format seriously.
Dedicated NAM pedals. Some smaller makers build pedals designed purely to run NAM captures. Prices and availability in the UK vary, so check a retailer before you plan around one.
Before you buy hardware, check how many captures it holds, whether it converts files or plays them directly, and whether it supports the newer, more detailed NAM file types.
Getting a Good Sound From NAM
Match your input level. Captures react to how hard they are driven, just like a real amp. Too quiet and a high gain capture sounds weak; too loud and a clean capture breaks up. Adjust the input level until your guitar sounds natural.
Choose the right cabinet. With amp only captures, the impulse response makes as much difference as the capture itself. Try several before deciding a capture is bad.
Use your guitar's volume knob. Good captures clean up when you roll back, just like the real thing.
Add effects around it. Put drive pedals or models before the capture and modulation, delay and reverb after it. Our guide on how to build a pedalboard explains signal order, and our Blues Driver vs Tube Screamer vs Klon comparison helps if you want to push a capture with a real pedal.
Do not chase every capture. With thousands available, it is easy to spend an evening downloading instead of playing. Pick three or four you love and learn them.
Capturing Your Own Gear
If you own an amp you love, capturing it lets you take its sound anywhere, including into a flat where you could never turn the real amp up. A small valve combo, such as the ones in our Blues Junior vs Princeton Reverb comparison, can be captured at its sweet spot and played quietly through headphones afterwards.
You need a way to send the test signal into the amp, a safe way to record its output, such as a load box or a microphone, and a computer to train the model. TONE3000 also offers tools to make capturing easier. Valve amps must always be connected to a speaker or a suitable load when switched on, so read your amp's manual before you start.
What I Don't Like About NAM
Captures are fixed snapshots. You cannot sweep the gain or tone of the original amp the way you can on a traditional modeller.
The library is huge and uneven. Quality varies between uploads, and finding the good ones takes time.
Computer setup can be fiddly. Interfaces, plugins, buffer sizes and impulse responses are a lot to learn for a beginner.
Hardware support varies. Some units convert or limit NAM files, and features differ between brands.
It does not replace good playing. A perfect copy of a famous amp will not make your timing or phrasing better. Our best practice amps roundup includes simpler options if you mainly want to practise.
Who Should Skip NAM
Players who want to turn knobs and explore. A traditional modeller such as a Boss Katana may be more fun. Our Boss Katana vs Positive Grid Spark comparison covers two popular choices.
Complete beginners who want simplicity. Presets on a simple amp get you playing faster.
Players happy with their real amp. If you can play your valve amp at volume and love it, you may not need a copy.
Anyone who hates computers. You can avoid them with hardware, but finding and loading captures still involves some screen time.
FAQ
Is Neural Amp Modeler free?
Yes, Neural Amp Modeler is free. The software is open source, the plugin costs nothing, and most captures on TONE3000 are free to download. You only pay for the computer, audio interface or hardware unit you use to play the captures, and for any premium captures some creators sell.
What is the difference between NAM and an impulse response?
A NAM capture copies an amp, pedal or full rig, including how it distorts and responds to your playing. An impulse response copies the sound of a speaker cabinet and microphone. Amp only NAM captures usually need an impulse response added afterwards so they sound like a complete amp and cabinet.
Can I use NAM without a computer?
Yes, you can use NAM without a computer on hardware that supports it. The Valeton GP-50, at around £99 in the UK, loads NAM captures through Valeton's SnapTone system. Larger units from Valeton, NUX and HeadRush also support NAM files. You may still need a computer or phone to transfer captures.
Is NAM better than a Kemper or Quad Cortex?
NAM is not simply better or worse than a Kemper or Quad Cortex. All three capture real amps accurately. NAM is free, open source and has a huge community library. Commercial systems offer polished hardware, built in effects and support. Many players find the sound differences very small.
Do I need an audio interface to use NAM?
You need an audio interface to use NAM on a computer, because it turns your guitar signal into audio the software can process. A simple one input interface is enough. If you use NAM on a hardware unit such as the Valeton GP-50, you do not need a separate interface.
The Bottom End
NAM has made accurate amp sounds cheaper and more accessible than ever. For the price of a budget multi effects unit, or for nothing at all if you already have an interface, you can play convincing captures of amps that would cost thousands to own. It is not perfect: captures are fixed snapshots, and the library takes time to explore. But for practising quietly, recording at home or gigging with a light rig, it is one of the most exciting changes in guitar tone in years. Start with a few well rated captures, learn them properly, and spend the time you save on playing.
