Is NAM 2 overhyped?

jzucker · August 2, 2026 at 11:31 PM

So much discussion in the various forums about how it's a game change, will make every other modeler obsolete.

I've spent hours trying to get good clean sounds and good dumble sounds using NAM Rig and Tone3000 and nothing compares to the sounds I get out of the kemper. Maybe it's a matter of downloading the proper captures but they all sound boxy and not having great time based effects built in seems really limiting and requires multiple passes of A/D to use for recording if you're using multiple VSTs. The latency was off-putting.

BayouTexan · August 3, 2026 at 12:16 AM

This nam BS thread belongs in the "other gear" section. Yeah, I'm tired of nam this and nam that. I'm nam'd out.

tedtan · August 3, 2026 at 3:16 AM

Making everything else obsolete is hype because it’s the new thing, but it is good, free and being incorporated into tons of hardware, so I don’t see it going anywhere.

RickWillits · August 3, 2026 at 7:53 AM

If you play at a desk with a $2500 computer and $1600 worth of studio monitors , and someway to incorporate all the effects you need its ok.

DamianGreda · August 3, 2026 at 6:04 PM

Well open source and free is a fair price for what you can do with it

jzucker · August 4, 2026 at 1:29 AM

Quote from DamianGreda

Well open source and free is a fair price for what you can do with it

Free but many of the high quality rigs are over $100. The John Mayer archetype, for example is $200 USD

HCarlH · August 4, 2026 at 2:35 AM

I'm not moving from Kemper anytime soon and have used a Profiler since 2013. It still outperforms and sounds better than any other option for me. My concern for Kemper is the younger players coming up will always go for the free option regardless of other features. NAM is a formidable threat for manufacturers with a closed system.

digbob · August 5, 2026 at 5:05 PM

Quote from jzucker

Free but many of the high quality rigs are over $100. The John Mayer archetype, for example is $200 USD

JM archetype has nothing to do with NAM, its Neural DSP own Format

lespauled · August 5, 2026 at 5:39 PM

Quote from RickWillits

If you play at a desk with a $2500 computer and $1600 worth of studio monitors , and someway to incorporate all the effects you need its ok.

I have no intention to jump away from Kemper, but it's in a $400 Headrush now, with all their effects.

RickWillits · August 6, 2026 at 8:01 AM

Yes just saw new tone junkie video where he makes room at the top of the heap for headrush core with nam 2 at $1000 rising from midpack. Also mentioned headrush flex with nam 2 at $500.

V8guitar · August 6, 2026 at 10:56 AM

For me its less about the quality at present, its just not easily accessible.

1) Currently only really works for DAW's and not for live. Any hardware to run the full blown rather than Lite is isn't free or cheap.

2) Its fiddly to use - the problem with open source in general is consistency. I bought a Valeton Gp50 because it played NAM captures. Dead cheap so I was quite excited - not managed to load a single NAM capture so far..

3) Very limited tweakability with the existing player

So does the tech have potential? Probably, but its not there yet, requires too much fiddling and the sound is...meh, hardly game changing. I downloaded The Stormblade...I prefer amplitube TBH.

RickWillits · August 6, 2026 at 8:00 PM

Got confused about models its prime at 1000, core at 700, flex at 500.

guitarmania62 · August 7, 2026 at 6:19 AM

Regarding NAM: I’m using this little beauty KPP backup:

musicmad · August 7, 2026 at 11:03 PM

Quote from V8guitar

For me its less about the quality at present, its just not easily accessible.
1) Currently only really works for DAW's and not for live. Any hardware to run the full blown rather than Lite is isn't free or cheap.
2) Its fiddly to use - the problem with open source in general is consistency. I bought a Valeton Gp50 because it played NAM captures. Dead cheap so I was quite excited - not managed to load a single NAM capture so far..
3) Very limited tweakability with the existing player
So does the tech have potential? Probably, but its not there yet, requires too much fiddling and the sound is...meh, hardly game changing. I downloaded The Stormblade...I prefer amplitube TBH.

This is a little bit outdated. Things are moving quickly. Several affordable options now. The sound is as good as captures can be. Best in class. And people can still make captures of badly dialed in amps. Plenty of those too.

jzucker · August 9, 2026 at 7:34 PM

i know most of you aren't playing clean jazz but I just did this test. Not scientific by any means but enough to tell me it's not for me at this point.

NAM2 vs Kemper (jazz guitar tone) using tonejunkies '64 vibroverb

So many folks have been raving about the NAM2 tech and saying that it's a game changer.

I wanted to see for myself so I downloaded the '64 vibroverb in NAM2 format to compare it to my favorite jazz guitar profile in kemper.

Not really a scientific result because the captures were recorded at different times, possibly different settings but they are the same capture (in theory) with both techs.

Since NAM2 doesn't have a reverb, I addeded Audioscape spring reverb plugin to the NAM2 track.

The NAM2 captures seem to have too much gain so I almost aways turn the gain to zero. It's still slightly distorting. Also, the output is very low and if I turn the output up in NAM2 gateway, it yields digital distortion even though the level indicator does not show clipping.

Let me know your thoughts. Sorry about the extremely sloppy playing. I could blame my meds but you know how that goes! 😜

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V8guitar · August 10, 2026 at 11:00 AM

Quote from musicmad

This is a little bit outdated. Things are moving quickly. Several affordable options now. The sound is as good as captures can be. Best in class. And people can still make captures of badly dialed in amps. Plenty of those too.

Such as? Even in TJ's latest vid the players are all $500 or above...

My point is it's still early days and the tech hasn't settled yet. Of course things are changing quickly..

Kellerblues · August 10, 2026 at 12:26 PM

Out of curiosity I've installed Gateway on my Mac and downloaded the freebie from the Silver Jubilee from MattFig and compared it to the same profile in the Kemper pack.

Soundwise it's hard to tell them apart, honestly. On the feeling side I liked the Kemper better (NAM feels a bit stiffer, but it could well be the difference in latency).

Anything that would make me want to change? Nope, specially thinking at the HW platform.

I honestly wouldn't see a reason to add NAM to Kemper

musicmad · August 10, 2026 at 12:49 PM

Quote from V8guitar

Such as? Even in TJ's latest vid the players are all $500 or above...
My point is it's still early days and the tech hasn't settled yet. Of course things are changing quickly..

Well, then more affordable than Kemper's cheapest option then

V8guitar · August 11, 2026 at 12:43 PM

Quote from musicmad

Well, then more affordable than Kemper's cheapest option then

Hmm not quite apples and apples though.

I get it, the costs will drop, what Im saying is right now its not quite there.

DamianGreda · August 11, 2026 at 11:00 PM

When it comes to new technology, the question isn’t if — it’s when.

G String August 3, 2026 at 8:59 AM

G String August 3, 2026 at 8:59 AM