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NAM (Neural Amp Modeler) big thread

#61
DaBigBadaBoom said:
I think, generally speaking, a NAM capture itself is an audio recording, and as such no amp manufacturer owns it. Otherwise there'd be no music made with amps, ever.

The trademarkable bits are things like names and logos.

So while it was nice of you to ask, I don't think you need to, except to be a nice guy.

I do think it's a cool idea to have NAM snapshots available from companies. I'd definitely be into something like that.

It's a cool way to demo something previously un-demo-able.

Saying that, pedals and amps are so interchangeable.... Maybe it would actually hurt the sales of some brands. Lol.
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I fully agree.

Obvioulsy NAM doesn't capture the "mojo / hype / marketing coolitude" :smug:, so only devices with a strong tonal character make interesting NAM profiles.

While I'm making progress in the process of capturing my gear, I'm wondering if the result will be interesting for others, because I don't like amps and pedals with a super strong character ("baked in tone"), I favor transparent amps and pedals that offer the possibility to add a touch of coloration when I want: a light tubey character, and flexible EQ. That's not where NAM excels.

I might very well end-up not sharing my NAM models, partly because they won't be interesting for the community, and partly because I don't want to hurt the reputation of these companies. Not that I think they are not good making good products, but because they're good in the way I can tweak them, not because they have a very specific "signature tone".

I might share privately with this group one of my models when it's finished, just to get your opinion: the Quilter Bass Block V803. It offers 2 "voicings" and a "scoop" option, all subtle but very usable in a band mix. Not sure these options are "strong" enough to make an interesting NAM model. You will tell me what you think…
 
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#62
gtirard said:
I fully agree.

Obvioulsy NAM doesn't capture the "mojo / hype / marketing coolitude" :smug:, so only devices with a strong tonal character make interesting NAM profiles.

While I'm making progress in the process of capturing my gear, I'm wondering if the result will be interesting for others, because I don't like amps and pedals with a super strong character ("baked in tone"), I favor transparent amps and pedals that offer the possibility to add a touch of coloration when I want: a light tubey character, and flexible EQ. That's not where NAM excels.

I might very well end-up not sharing my NAM models, partly because they won't be interesting for the community, and partly because I don't want to hurt the reputation of these companies. Not that I think they are not good making good products, but because they're good in the way I can tweak them, not because they have a very specific "signature tone".

I might share privately with this group one of my models when it's finished, just to get your opinion: the Quilter Bass Block V803. It offers 2 "voicings" and a "scoop" option, all subtle but very usable in a band mix. Not sure these options are "strong" enough to make an interesting NAM model. You will tell me what you think…
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I'd love to see your gear list in the capture que.
 
#63
NAM would be a great way for manufacturers to allow people to try out their gear virtually, but I think they would want to limit your ability to play the models to like 60 seconds so they aren't just in the business of supplying everyone with free plugins for recording. NAM is open source, so putting that limitation on NAM is basically impossible. But something NAM-like, maybe.
 
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#66
I'm attentively watching from the sidelines, for the time being, as things play out over then next 6-12 months. From where I'm standing, it looks like the current NAM, and prospective NAM developments, are applying some appropriate competitive "heat" to the current slew of profilers & modelers. That's good for end users. For me, it's only a matter of WHEN to jump in...not IF.
 
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#68
jimfist said:
I'm attentively watching from the sidelines, for the time being, as things play out over then next 6-12 months. From where I'm standing, it looks like the current NAM, and prospective NAM developments, are applying some appropriate competitive "heat" to the current slew of profilers & modelers. That's good for end users. For me, it's only a matter of WHEN to jump in...not IF.
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I'm looking forward to some popular bass influencer NAM Capture packages. Maybe some Anagram presets packs, as well.
 
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#69
jimfist said:
For me, it's only a matter of WHEN to jump in...not IF
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Same really. My current setup is sufficient for now. But the time will come when it needs replacing. Right now, the Anagram is top of that list. I just can't resist the ease of use on that thing and I'm curious what other features they'll be adding to it. I don't get along with the Helix stuff and the AxeFX just about requires a degree to operate and dial in properly. If my setup dies tomorrow, the Anagram will be here the next if I can get my hands on it.
But I'm sure many more NAM profilers (and hopefully within more bass-specific multi's) will appear over the next few years or so. So I too am patiently observing developments. I can afford to wait. For now.

MultiScaleMale said:
Right, but the NAM format is already out there and players exist, so NAM itself won't work for being locked down. A format that is locked to a particular player would be needed.
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Nope. You can't lock down the profile itself. It will require a shell if you want to restrict its use in any form.

As for locking it, I know from experience there's nothing that can't be cracked if it has to run on Windows. It's only a matter of time and effort. The real question is, how much of a pita do the manufacturers want to be to their potential customers. Trial by temporary license is the most fair way to go IMO. I'd even pay a few bucks to play with pedals this way for a month or so and I'm sure others would too.
 
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#70
Quilter)bass-block-V803-thumb.jpg

I've just uploaded my NAM model of the Quilter Bass Block V803 to Tone3000, but I prefer to keep it private for now, as I'm not sure it's dooing justice to the real amp.

www.tone3000.com

Quilter Bass Block V803 NAM Profiles by @gtirard

Check out gtirard's neural amp head capture for guitar, bass and recording: All EQ at noon, I captured all combinations of "Warm" and "Qtube" voices with the "Flat" and "Scoop" inputs. No capture of the "Modern" voice, because it's a transparent setting. Note: I've done all captures with the...
www.tone3000.com
  • Maybe it's a great physical amp, but it doesn't make an interesting NAM model because the tonal characteristics are too subtle?
  • I've included the 4 combinations of voicings (flat + warm, flat + qtube, scoop + warm, scoop + qtube), each with 3 levels of gain, but maybe should I only keep one gain setting for each voicing?
Any feedback would be welcome…
 
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#71
gtirard said:
View attachment 7240257

I've just uploaded my NAM model of the Quilter Bass Block V803 to Tone3000, but I prefer to keep it private for now, as I'm not sure it's dooing justice to the real amp.

www.tone3000.com

Quilter Bass Block V803 NAM Profiles by @gtirard

Check out gtirard's neural amp head capture for guitar, bass and recording: All EQ at noon, I captured all combinations of "Warm" and "Qtube" voices with the "Flat" and "Scoop" inputs. No capture of the "Modern" voice, because it's a transparent setting. Note: I've done all captures with the...
www.tone3000.com
  • Maybe it's a great physical amp, but it doesn't make an interesting NAM model because the tonal characteristics are too subtle?
  • I've included the 4 combinations of voicings (flat + warm, flat + qtube, scoop + warm, scoop + qtube), each with 3 levels of gain, but maybe should I only keep one gain setting for each voicing?
Any feedback would be welcome…
Click to expand...
I'll try it soon and feed back.
 
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#72
MultiScaleMale said:
NAM would be a great way for manufacturers to allow people to try out their gear virtually, but I think they would want to limit your ability to play the models to like 60 seconds so they aren't just in the business of supplying everyone with free plugins for recording. NAM is open source, so putting that limitation on NAM is basically impossible. But something NAM-like, maybe.
Click to expand...
I think you just make one "snapshot" available as a demo. If people like it they can buy a pack with all the variations, etc.
 
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#73
DaBigBadaBoom said:
I think you just make one "snapshot" available as a demo. If people like it they can buy a pack with all the variations, etc.
Click to expand...
I was answering the above within the context of a physical pedal builder providing NAM models as a way to give their gear a virtual test drive. But I guess with NAM and captures in general if you sell one pedal, if it is captured then the captures are out there.
 
#75
Yesterday, I downloaded the VST plugin and a few heads and rigs (SVT, B15, Superbass, etc.). These are giving me better results so far than Guitar Rig (4 and 7, basic amp model), Positive Grid, Amplitude and ToneX's free bass amp option. ToneX is the closest, but then, AFAIK, it uses NAM and it might just be that I prefer the models I've downloaded. My trial of the Trace Elliot in ToneX has timed out, so that doesn't leave me with much comparison.

Anyway, I am a happy camper and my bass tone through a DAW (REAPER) is much improved to the extent I don't now feel the urge to replace any pickups.
 
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#76
@ Anagram owners: I made a NAM capture of the Quilter Bass Block v803, and I'd like to get your feedback.

1748781242345.png


This is a private link for you to download it - I haven't made the link public for the moment, because I'm not sure of its quality or interest.

When I try on my DAW, it sounds like the physical amp but it's not "wow" compared to other NAM models, probably because this amp doesn't have a very strong tone signature, its quality lies more on the power section and ease of setting. Still I think it responds nicely to the playing dynamics.

Also, I captured each "voicing" at 3 gain levels, do you think it's useful?

Any feedback appreciated, thanks.
 
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#79
Kemper has released the new generation of its profilers Mark II, and it include "liquid profiling": the ability to capture the infinite combinations of settings instead of static snapshots. I'm curious about how the implemented the feature: do you still capture snapshots and then the device interpolates of key settings for each knobs, and then the platform interpolates the rest?

I think it's really a game changer, and I can't wait for NAM to offer the same feature to all users.

I believe there's already an equivalent in NAM, that Steve Atkinson calls "Parametric Neural Amp Modeler", but as far as I know it's only available for partners who use NAM in order to build custom plugins - at least currently.
 
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#80
I might have to check round trip latency. Reaper, with by ASIO settings says ~10ms latency (that's not quite round trip). With something like Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 then the round trip latency is fine with that. With the NAM VST it feels like there is more and things are slightly draggy.
 

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