Mastering DIY Tone Capture with NAM and Tone3000

Mastering DIY Tone Capture with NAM and Tone3000

Craving boutique amp tones without the backache? Welcome to the world of Neural Amp Modeler (NAM)—an open-source powerhouse for capturing your actual guitar gear as digital tone models. In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know: what NAM is, how to capture your rig, how to use NAM profiles, and why the newly rebranded Tone3000 (formerly ToneHunt) is the go-to hub for sharing, browsing, and downloading premium tone profiles.

What is NAM?

Neural Amp Modeler (NAM) is a free, open-source platform that uses neural networks to profile guitar amps, pedals, or pedalboards. You record a sweep signal through your setup, and NAM trains a digital model that reacts just like the real thing—with stunning natural feel and nuance.

  • It works offline via GitHub scripts or in-browser with tools like Tone3000.

  • Supports "standard", "lite", "feather", or "nano" network sizes depending on your GPU or latency needs 

How to Capture Your Gear: Step-by-Step

Even without watching the video, here’s a clear walkthrough:

  1. Download the NAM sweep signal (e.g., v1_1_1.wav) from Tone3000’s capture instructions page.

  2. Connect your amp/pedalboard and set your tone.

  3. Route the sweep through your chain in your DAW, record the output as a 24-bit/48 kHz mono WAV.

  4. Train your model using:

    • In-browser on Tone3000 (fast, cloud-powered, free, no local setup) 

    • Or via the Colab notebook or local scripts—ensuring you install NAM from GitHub’s main branch and select the “nano” architecture for latest performance modes.

  5. Download the neural model, load it in the NAM player or plugin within your DAW. Voilà—your rig is fully profiled and tweakable, without hauling gear every time.

Pro Tips from the Community

  • Input impedance matters—match gear settings to around 1 MΩ for consistency. We highly recommend the UST Replay Box.

  • Don’t max out input levels during capture—low/no clipping yields smoother, transparent tone.

  • Consider using a loadbox for silent amp captures or when miking isn’t practical. We recommend something like the Two Notes Captor.

  • Clean digital gear setups (like amp sims) are often removed from Tone3000 to keep focus on real-gear captures.

Why Tone3000 (formerly ToneHunt)?

Tone3000 is a thriving online canvas for NAM enthusiasts:

  • Browse up-to-date, free user profiles—amps, pedals, rigs, even bass tones 

  • Upload your own profiles and get community feedback and ratings.

  • Train cloud-side: thousands have embraced its ease, speed, and RTX GPU support .

  • Active community on forums and Reddit—jump into r/NAM_NeuralAmpModeler for tips, help, and demos

NAM in Action: Hear & Feel

Getting Started with the Video Walkthrough

Still not sure? Our video covers every phase in real time—from setup, sweep recording, cloud training, to A/B comparison—so you can mimic the process exactly. And even without visuals, the steps above give you a rock-solid DIY foundation.

Ready to Capture?

  1. Try a free model from Tone3000—load it into your NAM plugin and audition how boutique amps translate to your tracks.

  2. Capture your setup at home—rent the analog stage, train your NAM model, and start mixing instantly.

  3. Share it on Tone3000—contribute to the community and help builders and worship band players everywhere.

👉 Final Tone Check

NAM transforms your physical gear into versatile digital assets. With Tone3000’s user-friendly training, limitless profiles, and community strength, you’ve got a full-service tone toolset—even before firing up the video.

🎧 Get started now: browse profiles and begin your capture journey at Tone3000.com.

Need help setting up your DAW chain, choosing a DYI rig as your starter capture, or translating video steps into audio? Just ask in our Discord—I’ve got your six!

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