Get Started with TONE3000

Overview

This guide shows you how to play your instrument through a NAM capture. Before you begin, make sure you have:

• A DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) like GarageBand, Reaper, or Logic
• An audio interface to plug your instrument into

Let's go!

Step 1: Install the NAM Plugin

Download and install the open-source Neural Amp Modeler (NAM) plugin:

• Windows Download
• Mac Download

Windows Installation

Run the installer and your DAW will automatically detect NAM. If it doesn't appear, restart your DAW or rescan for plugins.

Mac Installation

Since NAM is open-source, macOS requires manual approval:

1. Find the NeuralAmpModeler Installer.pkg file in Finder
2. Right-click (or Control + click) and select Open
3. When prompted "macOS cannot verify the developer," click Open
4. Complete the installation

Don't worry, NAM is used by thousands of musicians and is completely safe.

After installation, open your DAW and locate Neural Amp Modeler in your plugin list.

Important: The NAM plugin is just the player – it doesn't include any tones. You'll download those from TONE3000.

Step 2: Find Your Tones

Visit tone3000.com and click Browse to explore the library.

Understanding the Components

NAM Captures are digital models of real gear. There are a few types:

• Amp Head: Amplifier only (must be paired with an IR to sound complete)
• Full Rig / Combo: Complete amp + cabinet (ready to use, no IR needed)
• Pedals: Effects like overdrive, distortion, or fuzz (place before your amp)
• Outboard: Studio gear like compressors or EQs (place at the end of your chain)

Impulse Responses (IR's) are digital models of:

• Speaker Cabinets: Pair with Amp Heads for a complete tone
• Reverbs & Delays: Room acoustics and spatial effects (use at the end of your chain)

Beginner Tip: Start with "Full Rig / Combo" captures – they already include the speaker cabinet, so there's nothing else to configure.

Use the search bar and filters to find specific amps, manufacturers, or tone creators. Click the preview player to audition tones in your browser.

Step 3: Download Your Tones

Click the big blue Download button on any tone page to get a .zip file (called a "tone pack"). This tone pack contains multiple models for each piece of gear.

Why multiple models? Neural Amp Modeler captures a "snapshot" of gear at specific knob settings. To cover different settings, users create multiple models. You can also scroll down to download individual models.

After downloading, unzip the file to access the NAM files.

Step 4: Load and Play

1. Open your DAW (Logic, GarageBand, Reaper, or any compatible DAW)
2. Insert the Neural Amp Modeler plugin on a track
3. Click the Folder Icon in the plugin
4. Navigate to and load your downloaded NAM capture
5. Plug your guitar into your audio interface
6. Play =)

Remember: Pair Amp Heads with IR's

If you download a NAM capture of an "Amp Head" you'll need to pair it with an IR:

1. Load an "Amp Head" NAM capture in the NAM plugin (top loader)
2. Download an IR of a speaker cabinet you like
3. In the NAM plugin, navigate to the IR section (bottom loader)
4. Load your chosen cabinet IR

Now you've built a custom amp + cabinet combination!

Step 5: Record Your Music

Recording with NAM works like any other plugin:

1. Select your guitar track
2. Arm it for recording
3. Hit record and play

You're now using professional-grade amp tones captured from iconic amplifiers.

Capture Your Own Gear!

Want to capture your own amps, pedals, or signal chains? TONE3000 makes it free and easy to create your own NAM captures. You can keep them private or share them with the community.