Amp modeler

A digital device or plugin that reproduces the behaviour of amplifiers and cabinets by computation instead of valves and speakers.

Rather than making a sound, a modeler measures one: the preamp's stages and tone stack, the power section's compression and sag, and the cabinet's frequency response are all represented as signal processing. Many can also load captured snapshots of an individual amplifier. Onboard effects, impulse responses and cabinet simulation are usually included so the output can go to headphones, a PA or a recording interface with no loud speaker involved.

Example: a player who tracks at night can run a modeler with a cabinet impulse response and get a usable mixed guitar sound without waking anyone.

Amp modeler

See also