Learning how to use amp sims well is mostly about getting the signal chain right: record a clean DI, drop the amp sim on the track, and dial it in like a real rig. Done properly, an amp sim gives you re-amp-anytime flexibility and quiet, neighbour-friendly recording. Here is the workflow from plugging in to a finished tone.
Record a clean DI first
The foundation of using amp sims is a clean DI — your guitar’s dry, unprocessed signal. Plug your guitar into an instrument (Hi-Z) input on your interface. A Focusrite Scarlett, Universal Audio Volt, Audient iD, or IK Multimedia AXE I/O all have one. Set your levels so the loudest strums peak well below clipping, around -12 dBFS, leaving headroom. If you are unsure about levels, our gain staging guide explains why this matters.
Record that DI dry, with no amp sim printed to the file. The amp sim sits on the track as a plugin you can change at any time. That is the whole advantage: commit nothing, change everything later.
What an amp sim actually does
An amp sim models the stages of a real rig — input gain, tone stack, power amp, and a speaker cabinet. If the concept is new, our explainer on what an amp sim is covers the parts. Most sims chain together as: noise gate, drive/boost pedal, amp head, and cab/IR, often with effects after. Popular choices include Neural DSP’s Archetype plugins, STL Tones ToneHub, Positive Grid BIAS FX 2, IK Multimedia AmpliTube, Native Instruments Guitar Rig, and Overloud TH-U. Free options like Ignite Amps Emissary plus the NadIR cab loader sound excellent and cost nothing.
Build the signal chain in order
Add the amp sim to your DI track as an insert effect, then build the chain front to back:
- Noise gate first, to clamp hum and hiss between notes — especially on high gain.
- Boost/overdrive like a Tube Screamer-style pedal in front of the amp to tighten low end. Learn why in what is a Tube Screamer.
- Amp head — pick a model that suits the genre (clean, crunch, high-gain).
- Cabinet / IR — this shapes the tone more than the amp does. Pair the sim with quality guitar cab IRs for a pro result.
- Post effects — reverb, delay, modulation last.
Dial in the gain and tone
Use less gain than you think. High-gain tones feel huge soloed but turn to mush in a mix; backing off the drive tightens everything. Set the amp’s EQ knobs roughly flat, then adjust to taste, and remember that the cab IR and mic position control most of the brightness and fizz. Our step-by-step on how to dial in amp sim tones goes deeper on knob order. The goal is a tone that works in context, not in isolation.
Watch your latency and CPU
Amp sims process in real time, so monitoring latency matters. Set a small buffer size (64 or 128 samples) while tracking so playing feels responsive, then raise it when mixing to save CPU. If your buffer is too high, the lag between picking and hearing the note throws off your timing. See what is audio latency if your playing feels sluggish.
Reamping: change the tone any time
Because you recorded a dry DI, you can audition different amps, cabs, and settings forever without re-recording. Want to try a different amp next week? Swap the plugin. This is also how you can send the DI back out to a real amp later through a reamp box. The clean DI is the master copy — guard it.
Stereo guitars and doubling
One amp sim on one track gives you a mono rhythm tone. For a wide wall of sound, record two separate performances and pan them hard left and right, each with its own amp sim instance. Our guide on how to double track guitars covers the technique. Avoid faking width by copying one take to both sides — it stays in the centre.
Frequently asked questions
Do amp sims sound as good as real amps?
For recording, modern amp sims are convincing enough that most listeners cannot tell. A real amp in a treated room with good mics can still have an edge, but the gap is small and the convenience of amp sims is enormous. See amp sim vs real amp for the full comparison.
Can I use amp sims live?
Yes, though most live players use hardware modellers like the Line 6 Helix, Neural DSP Quad Cortex, or Kemper Profiler rather than a laptop, for reliability. The underlying technology is the same idea.
Why does my amp sim sound fizzy or harsh?
Almost always too much gain or a bright cab IR. Lower the drive, switch to a darker mic position or different IR, and only then consider a gentle low-pass filter on the very top end.
