Guide
Amp sim terms explained
Looking at guitar amp software for the first time throws a lot of words at you: amp sim, plugin, VST3, DAW, IR. This page explains the ones a first-time buyer needs, in plain words, starting with the question people ask most.
Are amp sim, plugin, and VST the same thing?
People use them almost interchangeably, but each word means something slightly different. An amp simulator (amp sim) is software that makes a guitar amp sound on a computer. That name says what it does.
A plugin is software that runs inside another program, such as a DAW (recording software). VST3 and AU are plugin formats, the standards that let a plugin load in that program. So a 'VST3 amp sim plugin' is amp software in the VST3 plugin format. Many amp sims come as both a plugin and a standalone app.
Software and formats
- Amp simulator (amp sim)
- Software that creates the sound of a guitar amp and speaker on a computer. You use it to practice on headphones or record without a real amp. Many also include effects.
- Plugin
- Software that doesn't run on its own but loads inside a host program such as a DAW. Put it on a guitar track and you can record while you play.
- Standalone app
- A version you open by itself, with no DAW. There's less to set up, so it's the simple choice for practice.
- VST3
- A plugin format widely used on both macOS and Windows. Before you buy a plugin, check that your DAW supports this format.
- AU
- A plugin format that exists only on macOS, not on Windows. Some macOS DAWs load only AU plugins.
- DAW
- Short for digital audio workstation: the program you record and make songs in. It's the host that plugins load into. You don't need one just to practice.
Gear and connections
- Audio interface
- A box that turns your guitar signal into digital audio for the computer, and sends the processed sound back out to your headphones. Most connect over USB.
- Instrument input (Hi-Z, INST)
- An input made for plugging a guitar straight in. A guitar pickup needs this kind of input to sound full rather than thin. When choosing an interface, look for an INST or Hi-Z label.
- Input gain
- The knob that sets how strong the guitar signal is coming into the interface. Set it so your hardest strum stays out of the red (clipping, when the signal is too strong and distorts). It's a different knob from an amp's gain, which sets distortion.
- DI signal
- Your guitar's plain signal, before any amp or effects. If you record the DI, you can change the amp sound later as many times as you like.
Audio settings
- Buffer size
- How much audio the computer collects and processes at once. Smaller means less delay but more work, and too small causes crackles. 128 samples is a sensible place to start.
- Latency
- The time between picking a note and hearing it in your headphones. Buffer size, drivers, and wireless headphones all affect it.
- Sample rate
- How many times per second the sound is measured. 44.1 kHz means 44,100 times a second. For guitar practice and recording, 44.1 or 48 kHz is plenty.
What shapes the tone
- Amp and cabinet
- The amp boosts, distorts, and shapes the sound; the cabinet is the box the speaker sits in. The same amp sounds very different through different cabinets, so amp sims often handle the two separately.
- Effects
- Anything that changes the sound, such as overdrive, delay, or reverb. With real gear these are often foot pedals; in an amp sim they're built in as software.
- IR (impulse response)
- For guitar, an IR is usually a short audio file that captures how a real speaker cabinet and microphone shape the sound. Load one into an amp sim to change its cabinet sound.
- Neural amp model files (.nam)
- Model files made by training software on the sound of a real amp or pedal. Load one into an amp sim that supports the format to play through that model's sound.
- Preset
- A saved set of knob values and effects. Starting from a ready-made preset and adjusting it is an easy way in.
Five things to check before you choose
- 1
It runs on your computer
Check that it supports your system, macOS or Windows, and your version of it.
- 2
It comes in the format you need
For practice, a standalone app is enough. To record in a DAW, make sure it comes in a plugin format your DAW supports: VST3, or AU on macOS.
- 3
An interface with an instrument input
Software alone can't connect your guitar to the computer. You need an audio interface with an INST or Hi-Z input.
- 4
What's included
See which amps, cabinets, effects, and presets come with it, and whether you can load your own IR or model files.
- 5
How it's sold
Check whether it's a one-time purchase or a subscription, and whether effects or amps are sold separately. Most include the amps and effects in one purchase.
Frequently asked questions
- Are amp sim, plugin, and VST the same thing?
- They're often used for the same thing, but they mean different things. An amp sim is software that makes an amp sound, a plugin is software that runs inside a DAW, and VST3 is a plugin format. That's why you'll see all three together, as in 'amp sim VST3 plugin'.
- Do I need a DAW?
- No. If the amp sim has a standalone app, you can practice without a DAW. Add a DAW when you want to record or make songs, and load the amp sim in it as a plugin.
- What's the difference between a plugin and a standalone app?
- Within the same product, the sound is usually the same; what differs is how you run it. A standalone app opens on its own so you can just play. A plugin runs on a DAW track, so you can record and edit too.
- Do I have to pay for each effect?
- Most amp sim software includes its amps and effects in one purchase. Some are sold as subscriptions or sell extra amps and effects separately, so check before you buy. EG Tone is one purchase that includes all of its effects.
EG Tone in these terms
EG Tone is an electric guitar amp and effects plugin for beginners. Here's what it is, in the terms above.
- Formats: a VST3 plugin and a standalone app on macOS and Windows, plus AU on macOS.
- Amp and cabinet: 8 amp voices and a built-in cabinet model. You can also load your own IR files (wav, aif, aiff, flac) and blend them with the built-in cabinet.
- Model files: load your own .nam files to use in place of the built-in amp. No model files are included.
- Effects and presets: 15 effects you can add to your chain, and 17 factory presets.
- Every knob and button has help text, and a guided tour walks you through the real screen, one part at a time.
EG Tone is a one-time purchase, not a subscription, and it includes all of the effects above. There's nothing to buy per effect.
Explore EG ToneNow that the words make sense, use these guides to connect your guitar and dial in a sound. The tuner and metronome on this site are free to use, with no signup.