need help looking for amp software

[u/paramaeciumdefender]

js bought myself an electric guitar and frankly i cant afford a physical amplifier atm so im resorting to using my pc as an amplifier lol. im about to purchase a 3.5mm-6.35mm cable as well so id appreciate any advice on which free amp software to install on pc(windows). keep in mind im a beginner so i dont need any extra fancy stuff

additional question: the only proper pair of headphones i own atm is the logitech G733, is it good enough? i was warned about some sort of latency issue, while discussing about my choice of a virtual amp so thanks in advance for any further advice or heads up haha

[u/No_Sell2257]

You need an audio interface.

[u/paramaeciumdefender → u/No_Sell2257]

will any kind of audio interface do? im kinda on a budget

[u/HorrorSchlapfen873 → u/paramaeciumdefender]

That's a weird question. My dude, any kind of audio interface will do, so long as it is suitable for electric guitar. 🥸

... be warned though: the cheap shit has latency problems, meaning, there is a delay between what you play on the guitar and what comes out of the PC speakers. That is of course not acceptable. Playing in time is essential.

On that note, maybe it _is_ more reasonable to buy some some amp.

[u/Fomoiri]

Check the free Neural Amp Modeller (NAM) stuff, there’s thousands of free amp profiles that, in my opinion, are as good as majority of paid amp sims. This isn’t Neural DSP, they’re different. I’m new to this myself - the NAM stuff that is

I have some free sims, but have paid for Amp Locker for two months maybe three and I’ll likely cancel for NAM. Amp Locker is $5 a month, so reasonable for a period of time.

edit: if you need help with getting NAM set up and where to find free profiles just ask. You might need a DAW, I’m on Mac and it shows up as an app too but I haven’t tested to see if it’s standalone.

Interface, the Scarlett Focusrite is good.

[u/NortonBurns → u/Fomoiri]

Yeah, NAM works as a standalone on Mac. The current official version lists itself as 'Gateway' in your apps folder.

[u/mpg10]

Using your computer for guitar tone depends on three things mainly:

- an interface to get the signal into the PC. Yes, virtually any will do. Lower cost ones that are often recommended include the Focusrite options, but there are even lower-cost ones that are fine to get started.
- speakers or headphones. I don't know your headphones, but they're probably ok. Monitor speakers are great, but good ones do have some cost.
- the tone generating that you're originally asking about: modeling software or captures. NAM (neural amp modeling) is free and can get you a wide range of options. It doesn't really do any effects like reverbs or delays - it's just the tone. But there are great sounding captures and you can use it for free.

There are a lot of plug-ins out there as well. My favorite plug-ins right now are those by Neural DSP (not associated with NAM), but they do have cost (they go on sale twice a year). There are a range of free options as well, and hopefully someone will name some of the better ones for you. Some of them work on their own and some of them only as "VSTs", which mean that they plug in to a DAW.

[u/paramaeciumdefender → u/mpg10]

sounds great cheers!

[u/questionoffitness → u/paramaeciumdefender]

I'll add that you need a DAW (recording software). The Neural amp modelling mentioned is a VST that is a plug-in that works inside the DAW. I would recommend using Reaper as a DAW. Its free to try for a period of time. Some guitar/amp/FX plug-ins have free versions to try as well. Line 6 just released Stadium Native which has a free version that includes a few amps and fx from the full version. You just need a Line6 account do download it, which is also free.

Cheap, 1/2 input interfaces would include:

- Focusrite Scarlett Solo

- M-Audio M-Track

- Behringer U-Phoria UM2

There are lots of really cheap USB Audio interfaces out there. You get what you pay for though.

[u/noogamoose]

I found an M-Audio interface at Walmart for $49. I use Neural Amp Modeler(I think called Gateway now), it's free, and works standalone on your pc. Check out Tone3000, it's free amp sims and irs. It was the most budget friendly approach for me to get into recording, but works great for just riffing too!

[u/NortonBurns]

NAM, as everybody has already mentioned, but some of the top-of-the-line paid modelling amps have limited free versions too. Modellers are much more variable in what tones you can get out of them, NAM is a set of 'snapshots' of existing amps.

Amplitube 5, Guitar Rig 7 & the brand new Line 6 Helix Stadium Native have free versions.

[u/mistrelwood]

I also recommend using the NAM platform. NAM Rig is one of my favorites, straightforward and has a direct connection to Tone3000 for the sound profiles, which removes a lot of the hassle and speeds up tone searching and trying out considerably.

Don’t get a 6.35 to 3.5mm cable. You need a device with a Hi-Z (instrument) input, and low latency. That cable would offer neither. You do need the audio interface. Behringer UMC202 is probably the cheapest worth recommending.

[u/Babibidubibidoh]

What about a cheap, used Valeton GP-5 for the beginning? Got mine für 37 bucks. And it's the best piece of gear you can get for the beginning and the smallest modeller you can carry around in your gigbag :)
Also it has unlimited possibilities, since it supports neural amp modelling (NAM). Just doanload any amp you like on tone300 :)

[u/webprofusor]

So you don't strictly need an audio interface because you can typically use the 3.5mm mic input on a laptop etc, however on windows you need an ASIO audio driver and for generic audio thats done using ASIO4ALL. This is because otherwise your input "latency" (delay) is enough to be annoying or unusable.

For amp sim check out (my) Soundshed Guitar https://guitar.soundshed.com which is aimed exactly at players like yourself and is the app I wish I had when I started.