Real Amp (Mezzabarba Trinity) Vs NAM (Neural Amp Modeler)

Hi folks, I tried to compare my amazing Mezzabarvba Trinity Head with the Neural Amp Modeler plugin (free).
I'm not a professional but I tried to make this comparison as fair as possible with the equipment at my disposal.
Same DI track, same IR, same effects and I tried to match the volume of both tracks as much as possible.
Please let me know what do you think about it.
Here the results:
AMP A: Neural Amp Modeler
AMP B: Mezzabarba Trinity
Profile (lead only) +IR: drive.google.c...
NAM Plugin v0.7.0: github.com/sda...
Trainer v0.5.0:
github.com/sda...

[@amplifiedemotions]

I gotta say I thought amp A was the real amp. I am very impressed sounds super cool!

[@GianlucaScarano]

Thank you ☺️🙏

[@AkiraSpectrum]

NAM is simply incredible. I can't go back to neural dsp after playing NAM. Great work on your profile!

[@GianlucaScarano]

Thank you so much much, very appreciated! Yes NAM is amazing, I'm waiting to have also a dedicated hardware for using it live 😜🤟

[@AkiraSpectrum]

@@GianlucaScarano Yeah I'm excited to see where NAM will go, especially on the hardware side.

[@GianlucaScarano]

@@AkiraSpectrum yes, some rumors talking about a big name that would like to implement NAM in its hardware (Line6?). Let's hope do, that would be crazy 😎

[@giancarlopaolini7529]

Be it as it may these are excellent tones regardless if they're original or profiled...very usable. Thanks for sharing.

[@oskarwroniewicz]

Can't belive NAM is open source, it completely blows my mind

[@GianlucaScarano]

Yes it's unreal!! Thank you to Steve Ack and all good people involved in this project 🎉👏🥂

[@InTheSh8]

It seems it is quite easy to do. Proteus from Guitar ML is also an AI based profiler and free. Pretty sure we will be flooded with this in the next years.

[@hbrmetal]

God bless you

[@SteepRZ]

NAM es un gran invento y con grandes potenciales. No obstante, he terminado por convercerme que perdemos bastante cuerpo con sus capturas. Por un momento me vi tentado a dejar los plugins de DSP Neural, pero progresivamente fui convenciéndome de que los modelados de NAM reducen mucho el grosor de los amps reales.

[@GianlucaScarano]

If the file will be trained correctly, I personally not found any differences between real amp and the capture but a reamp box (or similar thing) is surely needed. Also the epochs number is really important for best results. This was my first attempt and I not done the best job possible.

[@rrbo17]

Great Job. Thank You 🤩

[@GianlucaScarano]

Thank you so much Ricardo! 😊🙏

[@marceloharguindey159]

Great tone dude

[@GianlucaScarano]

Tank you so much ☺️🙏

[@felipemotagtr]

Awesomee 🔥

[@GianlucaScarano]

Thank you 🙏

[@PASHKULI]

Absolutely 1:1 match (at least for a KZbin audio)

[@GianlucaScarano]

If you hear with headphones you will notice more top end and a little less "boxiness" in the real amp but it's my fault, not depending by NAM, this was my first capture and I made a few mistakes training the model... In any case, despite my mistakes, they are really close and I think that in a mix would be impossible to hear differences 😉 Thank you man 🙏

[@CinoBiz]

grazie !!!! pronto e suona da paura !!!!!!

[@GianlucaScarano]

Grazie mille 😊🙏🔝

[@littlebritain64]

In the beginning I would have sweared that the first was a true ampli!!

[@GianlucaScarano]

Yes many people have thought the same thing 😉 Thank you for your feedback ☺️🙏

[@ProfessorPuffyPants]

is it really necessary to use a loadbox for an amp sim? obviously it isnt necessary to use it but does it make a difference in how the sim reacts to playing, is it a $350 difference?

[@GianlucaScarano]

A loadbox, IMHO, make sense only used with the real amp... Indeed using a reamp box is the best and cheap solution for training correctly your own amp. If you use NAM only, nothing else is required 😊

[@mialarssen2627]

They sound almost very similar. I made the difference only by using visual, So I would say B is the real amp.

[@GianlucaScarano]

Yes you're right 😉👌But surely the differences are my fault, I not trained perfectly these files, it was my first capture, if you hear my other video (Cicognani Imperium H150 Head) you will find less differences between the two samples ☺️👌Thank you for your feedback 🤟

[@mialarssen2627]

@@GianlucaScarano great video :)

[@francismcfadden3305]

From looking at other videos it was actually easy to guess A was NAM. It consistently seems to compress the signal alittle more and also loses an everrr so slight bit of highs. It's so damn close though it doesn't matter and if I didn't know it before hand it was a comparison between the two I couldn't have told what was happening.

[@GianlucaScarano]

Yes you're right but in this case probably the differences are my fault, this was my first capture and unfortunately I not trained this model as its best. If you hear the comparison in my other video (Cicognani Imperium H150) you will notice less differences 😉

[@francismcfadden3305]

@Gianluca Scarano I mean regardless it does sound good asf and real so I'm pretty excited to try this myself haha

[@GianlucaScarano]

@@francismcfadden3305 let me know your thoughts after you try it 😉 Thank you 🤟

[@davedobson9801]

These are really close and I liked both. But I own the M Zero Overdrive and I could tell that B was the real amp. There's something about it that for me makes it sound unique even compared to the tone captures.

[@GianlucaScarano]

Thank you so much for your feedback 😊 Yes they are really close but I love so much my Trinity and I always prefer to play the real deal when possible but...now I can practice without running out my tubes 🤣🎊 By the way NAM is really great 🔝

[@giovannipolimeni1914]

Ciao sai cosa.. Non ho capito una mazza su come si fanno i profili con questo plugin 😀😀🤣

[@GianlucaScarano]

😂😂😂 Tranquillo all'inizio anche io ho dovuto studiare un po' ma non è complicato, ci sono alcuni video dove ti fanno vedere tutto passo a passo 😉

[@ShawnGuess]

Can we get that NAM profile? Pretty please?

[@InTheSh8]

I would also like to have it.

[@GianlucaScarano]

As I written in other comments I would not like to share this particular amp captures because its'a (relatively) new product and I don't find this very fair (ethically speaking) against the manufacturer but...after many second thoughts I decided to share only one profile of this beautifull amp, you will find it with all the details about it in the NAM Facebook group, or inside the same folder where you can get the free profile of my Cicognani Imperium H150 (see my other NAM video's description on this channel). Please give me a feedback whether you will try (one or both) 😉

[@GianlucaScarano]

@@stephenr2434all users are ethical right? There are people sending back amp to reseller after they profiled it... There are people making money selling stuff that other people shared for free... If everyone started acting up ethically we will surely live in a better world

[@peptoattack]

NAM is just great. I hear a micro tiny difference. At least in the high gain tones, I felt the real amp had a little extra body and a little bit of high-end "crisp", but it was so minimal, that it would be impossible to detect in a mix. Hell, even soloed, the difference is so insignificant that nobody would care or notice if there's no comparison.

[@GianlucaScarano]

Yes you're right, I hear more top end and a little less "boxiness" in low-mid frequencies but the differences are surely not audible in a mix... About clean tones I hear more gain and more dynamic response in the real amp but only in last two examples where I played with the volume pot all way up. Thank you so much for your feedback, very appreciated ☺️🙏

[@GianlucaScarano]

@mcitpmcitp8370 How do you know I have a fender? 😂😂😂 Maybe have you seen the fender cab in my videos but it's a bass cab 😉 In any case I really own a Fender Amp, it's a Fender Hot rode Deluxe, it's a beautifull sounding tube amp for sparkly clean tones but I play it infrequently since I have the Mezzabarba Head which still has fantastic clean sounds 🤩 Yes maybe I could profile the Hot Rod when possible 😉

[@joses6059]

Hi Rodrigo! Amazing what you’ve done here. Can you please share the clean profile? Thanks man. Great job!

[@lorenmorgan1931]

The main differences are that the NAM capture has a little more drift to the sound, because Tubes are not the most stable things in the world. I hope one day they make an update that will compensate for this learn the fluctuations, as that is what makes that top end harmonic thing we are missing. But honestly, they are good enough to use in a mix, play live, or rock out practicing, because unless you have the real amp infront of you, you will never know, or hear that 5% (at best) difference between the two. No to mention this is FREE! Tonehunt is FREE. Nuno did an interview about his Rat pedal settings he uses a few weeks ago, and someone already took that expensive vintage Rat with the 308 chip and profiled his settings. What a world we live in! Thank you Steven Atkinson for this wonderful gift. :)

[@helpik1]

❤Perfect, what kind of guitar you use?

[@GianlucaScarano]

Thank you buddy 😊🙏I used the custom guitar that you can see as my profile image. You can see a few images here : instagram.com/tv/CWd4XPvgtbY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[@helpik1]

Nice guitarmedia.tenor.com/ZX5m3WWf_AMAAAAM/scott-dude.gif

[@vejichan]

where is the profile? link

[@GianlucaScarano]

See in description 😉

[@666bruv]

And I'm glad I was a bass player. Gave up even using new strings, no one knew the difference, saved myself $30-$50 a gig, or song, whatever

[@GianlucaScarano]

😂👌

[@russellkane9439]

Fantastico... hai fatto tu il modeling?? E una cosa semplice anche x vecchietti??

[@GianlucaScarano]

Ciao, grazie mille, si ho fatto tutto io, non è complicato se sei abituato ad usare una DAW, poi ci sono parecchi tutorial online fatti molto bene (in inglese). E anch'io non è che sia più proprio un giovincello 😂

[@russellkane9439]

@@GianlucaScarano grazie Gianluca ci voglio provare

[@NO-TALK-GuitarPlugin]

Yellow is NAM for sure. But It’s still VERY good and better than a kemper or a QC!!!

[@NO-TALK-GuitarPlugin]

Hahahahaha just saw the results!!!!😅😅😅 great job dude

[@GianlucaScarano]

​@@NO-TALK-GuitarPluginthe differences between the two are probably my fault, maybe I sent the DI track at slightly higher volume into the head, so the real amp have more compressed bass/mid, more high frequencies ad more gain. I'm not a professional but I tried to make this comparison as fair as possible with the gear I own. In any case NAM is really great! Now I can practice with my usual tones without running out the head's tubes 😍🔝

[@Nig6tWalker]

you got really bad ears

[@kllswtch-reampingmixingmas1910]

Version B is a real amplifier, you can hear the harmonics. I am absolutely sure of it. I can even bet on something.)👍

[@GianlucaScarano]

Yes, the amp B is the real thing! But I think that this difference is my fault because I made a few mistake training this model (it was my very first capture). Have you tried to recognize the real amp in my second video (Cicognani Imperium)? I think that in my second video are both really really close... Please let me know you thoughs about it, I'm curious 😊 Thank you for your feedback, I appreciated

[@insanephoto]

could u share your helix presets used for each demo? great tone… congrats!!!

[@GianlucaScarano]

Hi Rodrigo, thank you so much ☺️🙏 I shared the Helix preset for my second video about NAM (Cicognani Imperium H150), you will find it inside the same folder where you can download the profile and the IR. Unfortunately for this video I didn't saved the Helix preset, it was a really quick test made on the fly... Thank you 🤟

[@shredenvain7]

I think one day we will live in a world where only one or two actual amps will be produced of any given model and they will only be made to capture and model their tones for sell to the consumer. Especially if amplifiers keep going up in price while modelers, vsts and profiler keep becoming more affordable.

[@GianlucaScarano]

Yes probably in next years, with the new IA's era, everything will change, not only in the music world. I think and hope that many new amps will come but I think that many new tones will be created digitally, in my opinion both world will coexist even if digital will takes over the grand majority of the market.

[@seanmackay6739]

I think its more likely many amps are designed digitally and only made physically if they’re popular. There are enough new record players being produced that new amps will never completely stop selling, someone will want to use cash to do it old school

[@nunyabidness5150]

What cracks me up is all the golden ear people in comments actually think they can hear a difference, only because the amp was clearly louder on some of the takes..lol. cmon haters, bring it on.

[@GianlucaScarano]

Hi Brandt, I tried to match the volume as accurately I could, but this was my first capture and I surely not trained this model as its best, only 250 epoch...Furthermore I surely sent the DI track with a slightly higher level to the amp so the amp track as a little bit more gain and more high end... NAM is great, I'm absolutely sure that if the model is trained properly nobody could hear any differences 😉

[@AnimeAsLeaders998]

where can I download the capture file? can you send me a link?

[@GianlucaScarano]

I'm sorry but I don't think it's ethical to share profiles of an amplifier still in production that cost the manufacturer years of work. I will probably be sharing profiles of another beautiful amp that is no longer in production shortly. 

[@AnimeAsLeaders998]

@@GianlucaScarano No worries. understood your reasoning. I won't be able to buy the amp because it is not affordable to me. the only way I can try a small taste of this amp is by using the profile (which is not a complete representation of the amp, right? because it is only 1 setting out of many). I look forward to trying your other profiles. regards and thank you.

[@GianlucaScarano]

​@@AnimeAsLeaders998I uploaded a new video where you can download profile +IR, if you will try it let me know your thoughts about it 😉

[@James-o1w5h]

Not really its just a capture of single ,its not a copy of the amp and his possibilities. What about tonex and kemper or qc were there tons of ppl that make money on amps that they dont even own. You make a nice gift to our small community by sharing your profile 😃. Are you on the fb group?

[@GianlucaScarano]

@@James-o1w5h Yes I perfectly understand your point of view... About Kemper, QC, etc.. I not agree at all with who sells amp profiles without paying at least a small fee to the company who created the amp. Creating a new amp requires years of work and investments so I think would be good for everyone to regulate this market. To me it's the same concept as physical equipment patents. It's a complicated subject, I know 😜 What's the Facebook group? Thank you so much for your feedback, really appreciate it 🙏

[@TonyThomas10000]

Pretty easy to tell even by looking at the waveform. The real amp has more dynamic range and the NAM profile is more compressed.

[@GianlucaScarano]

Yes, especially in clean / break up tones the waveforms are differents...

[@zerorossing207]

I don't quite get the "I hear a tiny difference crowd." I'm no golden ear, and I've not used a real amp in many years, but the captures seem pretty far off. The NAM capture seems to be lacking high end and detail. It's sort of dead sounding, at least in this demo.

[@GianlucaScarano]

Probably (certainly indeed) the differences are my fault, this was my first capture and I not used the best quality rate and probably I sent a slightly higher signal to the amp. In any case I'm pretty sure that in a mix would be really difficult to hear differences... If it pleases you, check out my other video where I (better) profiled my Cicognani Imperium head, I think here the differences are really tiny...

[@shredenvain7]

What are you listening to the audio on?

[@James-o1w5h]

I actulally prefer sample A 😃

[@GianlucaScarano]

They are both really close, I prefer B not because is the real amp but because to me sound a little bit open and less "boxy" in high gain tones... About clean tones hearing accurately last 2 example I found that the real amp as a little bit fullness and it seems to have a little bit more gain and dynamic response... But in a mix I couldn't surely tell which one is the real one 😜

[@InTheSh8]

@@GianlucaScarano I am usually not good at spotting real against modeler. But to my surprise I heard it over laptop speakers and immediately thought, B. The high-end is more defined, which actually could mislead, but this time it stands!

[@Nig6tWalker]

what IR did you use?

[@GianlucaScarano]

I used a free Mesa V30 IR, it's the same I uploaded with the Cicognani Imperium profile 😉

[@Nig6tWalker]

@@GianlucaScarano ahh ok,thank you

[@cesarfaavero]

Really great sounding! How can I install on my pc?

[@GianlucaScarano]

Hi César, thank you ☺️🙏 I updated the video description, you will find the NAM download link 😉

[@thesarratum]

I thought the real amp was A! and I am sure now the Real Deal is A!

[@GianlucaScarano]

You're in good company 😂👌Thank you

[@mikegoodwin1498]

yup yellow has more top end

[@jed_shred_guitars]

The model sounds better to me 😂

[@GianlucaScarano]

My fault, this was my first capture but if you like more the model it's completely fine 😜🙏

[@daviddurden8391]

B is flat, a is amp, fuller organic sound!!

[@GianlucaScarano]

Hi David, thank you for your feedback! The real amp was B 😉 But surely the differences are my fault, this was my first capture and I not trained perfectly the files. If you will heard my other video (Cicognani Imperium H150) you will notice less differences. Thank you so much

[@Alexhangman]

B is richer.