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AMPS SIM DEVELOPERS

The big
list!

This is a list is a result of a community effort on our comapnion Facebook group. A huge thanks to the members who contributed!

So this is a big unfiltered list of all amp sim developers we know of. It’s intended as a source of inspiration and a help to find developers you might not have encountered yet. We have not thoroughly tested all products so tread carefully. Also some of these are old now so might not be compatible with the latest operating systems or DAWs. Try at your own risk but let us know if any issues arise – we will do our best to take note and update. Enjoy responsibly!

If you find some developer that should be on the list please make a comment on the FB group.

Acme Bar Gig

Acme Bar Gig is definitely a worthy contender for being at the top of this list – one of the old school developers with many great older amp sims. Windows 32-bit only.  RIP Ken McLaren.

Links: https://www.facebook.com/groups/127609580628372

https://plugins4free.com/dev/529/  http://www.grebz.com/simulator_freeamp_acmebargig_eng.php

Amp / sim list: Too many too list.


Aegean Music

Link: https://aegeanmusic.com/amp-vision

Short description: Paid multi amp suite

Amp/ sim list: Amp Vision



Analog Obsession

Donationware plugins modeled after analog gear. Some guitar amps, but also a few pedals and a large number of effects.

Link: https://www.patreon.com/analogobsession / https://www.sknoteaudio.com/

Amps/sim list: Amper, Jamp, BlackVibe, BlackShow


Aradaz

Short Description: Aradaz’s old plugins, which I believe then later went on to become Kuassa

Link: https://aradaz.blogspot.com/

Amp/sims: AradazAmp Crunch / White / Green and a Laximiser plugin


Arboreal Audio

Short Description: new developer (2021) with one amp sim

Link: https://arborealaudio.com/

Amp/sims: STR-X


Audified

Developer from the Czech Republic offering both guitar and bass amps and also a multi-fx pedal sim.

Link: https://shop.audified.com/

Amps/sim list: Amplion2 Rock Essentials, Linda Rockstack, Sphene Pro (bass), Peridot Pro (bass), GK Amplification 2 pro (bass)


Audio Assault

Affordable high gain metal amps plus effects from Mexico

Link: https://www.audio-assault.com/

Amps/sim list: ReAmp Studio, RVXX, Hellbeast, Sigma, AHM 5050, Duality Bass Studio,Grind Machine I & II, Klank (bass preamp)


Audiority

Italian developer of audio software plugins. For guitar they have focused on re-creating some of the classic solid-state amps. Also don’t miss their pedal plugins.

Link: https://www.audiority.com/

Amps/sim list: L12X (Free), Solidus VS8100, Solidus Randy 250


Audio Rammer / Aura Plug

Link: http://www.audiorammer.com/site/ / https://plugins4free.com/dev/201/

Short Description:

Amps/sim list: free set of guitar distortions, whammy drive, and amp sim available .

Ampfire (not sure available anymore, although a demo is on the website)

 Freetortion Series:Volume I – Red Skull Distortion, Volume II – Fuzz-Stone Distortion

Volume III – Fuzz-Stone[Ge] Distortion, Volume IV – Whamdrive Distortion, Volume V – California Sun Distortion, Volume VI – EddieVsHeaven


Aurora DSP

Behind Aurora DSP is a team of sound engineers, producers and developers from Poland. Guitar and bass software.

Link: https://auroradsp.com/

Amps/sim list: Mammoth (bass), Rhino


AXP/Softamp

Short description: One-man company freeware. Not updated in a long time but 64-bit version are available.

Link: https://www.soft-amp.com/

Amps/sim list: Softamp PSA preamp, Softamp 30D preamp, Softamp GT, Softamp FM25, Flextron DC14


Black Rooster Audio

German developers of audio plugins. In their range you find one free emulation of an Orange Tiny Terror.

Link: https://blackroosteraudio.com/

Amps/sim list: Cypress TT-15


Blob Audio

Notable for their very characteristic GUIs and diverse guitar amp and fx suites, Blob Audio are a relatively new french company. Their first offering was Fat Blob – a most excellent debut. Look out for Blobnarok next!

Link: https://blobaudio.com/

Amps/sim list: Fat Blob, Blobnarok


Blue Cat Audio

French developer doing things a bit differently. Big range of audio plugins. Their Axiom/Destructor is a take on amp sim modeling you don’t see anywhere else.

Link: https://www.bluecataudio.com/

Amps/sim list: Axiom, Destructor, Blue Cat’s Free Amp, Re-Guitar


Brainworx

Doing high quality amp sim modeling for a long time. Earlier their products were locked to the Universal Audio platform, but now almost all of them are available in a universal format.

Link: https://www.brainworx.audio/

Amps/sim list: B-15N, SVT-3PRO, SVT-VR, SVT-VR Classic, V-4B, bx_bassdude, bx_megadual,

bx_megasingle, bx_rockergain100, bx_rockrack V3, bx_rockrack V3 Player, GAV19T, Herbert,

VH4, E646 VS, E765 RT, Savage 120, BE-100, DS-40, Overdrive Supreme 50, Train II, 800RB


BTE Audio

Free Indonesian plugins

Link: https://plugins4free.com/dev/165/

Amps/sim list: Juicy 77


Cornflower Audio

Cartoon-style sim from Russia. Windows only.

Link: https://cornfloweraudio.github.io/

Amps/sim list: Redcurrant amp


Cytomic

Few plugins inc screamer

Link: https://cytomic.com/

Amps/sim list: No ampsims currently available.

Damy Fx

Link: http://damyfx.altervista.org/ / https://plugins4free.com/plugin/2811/ 

Short Description: set of older windows vst 32bit plugins

Amp/sim List: Dr Gain, Dr Crunch, Dr Bass, Dirty fuzz, Octave Dirty Fuzz, Mr Cab Load


DDMF 

Link: https://ddmf.eu/ / https://ddmf.eu/phi-L-Audio-Tube-Preamp/ 

Short Description: Some great plugins as well as an amp sim

Amp/sims list: phi-L Audio Tube Preamp (by Phillip Bulling)


Deplike

Basic suite with add-on purchases

Link: https://deplike.com/

Amps/sim list: Deplike Guitar fx 


Dibiquadro

Detailed models of preamps. You can tweak values of components in the schematic. VST3 only.

Link: https://dibiquadroaudio.com/

Amps/sim list: MercuryRec, SaturnLo


Distorque

Some modeled effects pedals including a model of a Dallas Rangemaster and an Orange Squeezer compressor. Not updated in a long time but 64-bit versions are available.

Link: https://dibiquadroaudio.com/

Amps/sim list: Face Bender, Plusdistortion, Rangebastard, Vitamin C


EXE Consulting

Freeware amps by Dave Clark who was also involved with the classic ACME Bar Gig amps.

Link: https://www.execonsultingtx.com/

Amps/sim list: TinyF, ClassicFone, ClassicThirty, ClassicMone,ClassicBone, ClassicEone, Classic45one, ClBass


Fewtube

Has a big number of guitar and bass amps, demos available but unclear on how to buy them.

Link: https://fewtubefx.blogspot.com/

Amps/sim list: 


Florida Music Co

Link: https://plugins4free.com/plugin/576/

Short Description: Windows 32 bit Vst

Amp/sims list: Brackenbury Tube Amplifier


Frankenline Productions

Link: https://frankenlineproductions.blogspot.com/ 

Short Description: various free ampsims, pedals, synths – as far as I’m aware just 32bit VSTs 

Amp/sims list: P.T.S.D amp, Magma amp,Ripper, Omnifier, Mr Kill Bass amp, Plu-Tone Bass Amp, Planetary Gain (2 amps in one package) , EngraveD, Buzz HM2 Helvetica Metal, Instant Buzzsaw, Mini Mono synth, Einherjer Synth, Workhorse , Workhorse 2


Fretted Synth

Bunch of old 32 bit vsts, Guitar and Bass amps, distortion, synths and fx, amongst other stuff.

Link: https://plugins4free.com/dev/72/

Amp/sim list: Chimp Guitar Amp, Free Amp 3, GuitSynth, GCBS4 Guitar (Controlled Bass Synth), Helian Bass Amp, Drive 5 Guitar Preamp and lots more.


Fuse Audio Labs

Developer with background at Brainworx and Black Rooster Audio makes audio plugins amongst them an excellent model of a Fender Tweed.  

Link: https://fuseaudiolabs.com/

Amps/sim list: F59


Guitar ML

Link: https://github.com/GuitarML / https://guitarml.com/ 

Short Description: New amp sim developer. Not sure how functional it is yet seemed a little underperforming my end on Reaper / Win10  – developments are seemingly on going so I shall keep an eye out.


Heeb 

Link: https://plugins4free.com/plugin/577/ / http://www.heebcomponents.net/

Short Description: 1 amp sim available, only in win vst 32bit 

Amp/sims list: Crunch Dude amp sim


Heptode

French company that makes real amps too

Link: https://www.heptode.com/

Amps/sim list:Amplosion


Hotone Audio

V Stomp suite from budget pedal company

Link: https://vstomp.hotoneaudio.com/

Amps/sim list: V Stomp Amp


Ignite Amps

Amps, pre- and power-amps with drive pedals, impulse response loaders and EQ plugins. Mostly free. For their recent work check STL Tones.

Link: https://www.igniteamps.com/

Amps/sim list: Emissary, NRR-1, The Anvil, SHB-1, 


IK Multimedia

Amplitube is a classic full amp sim suite. Now in its 5th version. Also note there is a free version called CS.

Link: https://www.ikmultimedia.com/

Amps/sim list: Amplitube 5

JST – Joey Sturgis Tones

A number of artist endorsed amp sims, mainly focused on high gain tones.

Link: https://joeysturgistones.com/

Amps/sim list: Toneforge series: Jeff Loomis, Misha Mansoor Ultimate, Jason Richardson, Ben Bruce, Guilty Pleasure, Menace. 

Bassforge series: Hellraiser, Rex Brown


Kazrog

Kazrog did the classic and very populat Thermionik suite of guitar amps and effects. This is now discontinued and the new product AmpCraft is announced.

Link: https://kazrog.com/

Amps/sim list: Ampcraft coming soon


Kiive Audio

Short description: Plugin company

Link: https://www.kiiveaudio.com/

Amps/sim list: Lunchbox suite


Klevgrand

Short description: Klevgrand is an audio plugin company and creative studio based in Stockholm (Sweden) 

Link: https://klevgrand.se/products/stark

Amps/sim list: Stark guitar amp / fx


Kuassa

This Indonesian company offers a range of ampsims, pedals and plugins at a nice price-point.

Link: https://www.kuassa.com/

Amps/sim list: Amplifikation 360, Clarent, Matchlock, Vermilion, Creme, Caliburn, Cerberus bass, Amplifikation lite (free)


Line 6

The Yamaha owned company basically needs no introduction

Link: https://line6.com/

Amps/sim list: Helix native, Amp farm 4, Pod farm 2.5


LostIn70s

Mostly free amps and some effects

Link: https://www.lostin70s.com/plugins

Amps/sim list: Bass deluxe, Modern Deluxe, Tone Deluxe 2, Bull Deluxe


Magix

Link: https://www.magix.com/ https://www.magix.com/gb/music/vandal/

Short description: Software Suite

Amps/sim list: Vandal suite


Matthieu Brucher

Link: http://www.audio-tk.com/ / https://plugins4free.com/dev/459/ / https://github.com/mbrucher 

Short Description: Preamps for guitar and bass, Overdrive and Distortion, Fx and other production plugins

Amp/sim list: Atk Guitar Preamp , Atk Bass Preamp


Mercuriall Audio

Link: https://mercuriall.com/

Short description: Rock and metal amp sims. Free pedal, preamp and cabinet plugins

Amps/sim list: ReAxis, Spark, Euphoria, SS-11X, Tube Amp U530, Amp ONE


ML Sound Lab

Link: https://ml-sound-lab.com/

Short description: mostly high gain amps and IR bundles from Finland

Amps/sim list: Amped Stevie T, Amped Roots, ML5, ML800, Amped Super Duper, Amped Ark, Amped Burger, ML Plexi, Amped CB4, Amped Roots free and Amped Stevie T free


ModSound
Link: https://modsound.co/tubular
Short Description: Brilliant Multi-Amp Suite with classic and rare boutique amp models, pre and post-fx options.
Amp Sim List: Tubular, also ‘More Distortion’ plugin and ‘Velvet Verb’ reverb plugin.


Music Box Plugins

Link: https://plugins4free.com/dev/665/

Short Description:

Amp/sims list: MDL-1 Amp sim, Gentleman EQ


Musical Entropy

Link: https://www.musicalentropy.com/ / https://plugins4free.com/plugin/2107/ 

Short Description: Guitar Gadgets is a compilation of “false” analog pedal models, doing strange, weird, ugly but fun sounds.

Amp/sims list: Guitar Gadgets , The Great Escape (dynamic tremolo) Spaceship Delay, Inspiration plugin.


Nalex

Link: https://nalexsoft.blogspot.com/

Short description: Donationware 

Amps/sim list:Amplex, Bass Amp, Powerbox, J800 pre, Pectifier, Ninja, Crunchman, Uber, Gerbert, Rectifier pre, TwinTriode pre, OneTriode pre, Valver pre


Native Instruments

Link: https://www.native-instruments.com/

Short description: Big software suite for guitar amps and effects etc

Amps/sim list: Guitar Rig 6 Player / Guitar Rig 6 Pro


Ndzeit Audio

Link: https://plugins4free.com/plugin/578/ / http://www.ndzeit.org/guitar/tubebaby.html 

Short Description: Older win vst 32bit only

Amp/sims list: Dirthead Amp Sim, The Tube Baby


Nembrini Audio

Link: https://www.nembriniaudio.com/

Short description: Pedals,plugins and classic rock amps like Marshall, Vox and Fender

Amps/sim list: 8180, Black ice beta gamma bass, Bst100 v1 &2,  Cali dual, Cali reverb, Mrh159 brown sound,Crunck (free), Mrh810 v1&2, Soundmaster custom, Voice dc30


Neural DSP

Link: https://neuraldsp.com/

Short description: High end sims 

Amps/sim list: Soldano SLO-100, Fortin Cali, Omega Ampworks, Granophyre, Fortin NTS, Fortin Nameless, Archetype Cory Wong, Archetype Abasi, Archetype Nolly, Archetype Plini, Archetype Gojira, Parallax bass, Darkglass Ultra bass preamps


Nick Crow Lab

Link: https://nickcrowlab.blogspot.com/ / https://plugins4free.com/dev/203/

Short Description: Well known several years back for developing a handful of really good amp sims

Amp/sims list: 8505, 7170 , TubeDriver, Wagner Sharp


NSP Vst

Link: http://www.nsp-vst.ru/

Short Description:

Amp/sims list: Over Drive Rack Pro, WahMan , Black Booster, OD820


Overloud

Link: https://www.overloud.com/

Short description: Complete suite, very feature rich with many add ons

Amps/sim list: TH-U


Peavey / Audio Media Research

Link: https://www.audiomediaresearch.com/

Short description: Free suite with paid upgrades

Amps/sim list: Revalver 4


Plektron

Link: https://plugins4free.com/dev/260/ 

Short Description: Older set of windows Vst 32 bit plugins

Amp/sims list: Guitar Amp 2 Fe, Ir Cab, Compression, Vinylizer, WTComp,


Positive Grid

Link: https://www.positivegrid.com/

Short description: All-in-one suite (Bias fx), amp maker (amp2) and pedal maker (pedal)

Amps/sim list: Bias fx2, Bias  amp2, PEDAL


Poulin

Link: https://plugins4free.com/dev/258/ (P4F archive)

 https://www.osirisguitar.com/lepou/ (unofficial host/ mirror)

Short description: 

Amps/sim list: Hybrit head, Hybrit series, Le456, LeCto, LeGion, LeXTAC, SoloC head

Resonant DSP

Short description: 

Link: https://www.resonantdsp.com/

Amps/sim list: Swanky Amp Free / Swanky Amp Pro (Beta 0.61


Plektron

Link: https://plugins4free.com/dev/260/ 

Short Description: Older set of windows Vst 32 bit plugins

Amp/sims list: Guitar Amp 2 Fe, Ir Cab, Compression, Vinylizer, WTComp,


Scuffham Amps

One of the first “next gen” amp suites. Still a favourite by many for vintage tones. Five amps, reverb, delay and modulation

Link: https://www.scuffhamamps.com/

Amps/sim list: S-Gear


Shameless Plugs

Link: http://www.shamelessplugs.net / Shameless Plugs YouTube 

Short Description: New developer with a Free EQ and a Free Purple Distortion. No full amp / cab sims as of yet but watch this space. 

Amp/sims list: Tilde~Q (EQ) , The Dom (Drive / Distortion / Preamp)


Shattered Glass Audio

Short description: 

Link: http://www.shatteredglassaudio.com/

Amps/sim list: Ace (donationware)


Simul Analog

A real classic that probably brings some fond memories from some of you! These were among the first amp sims out there. 32-bit only and the original version of the plugins has no GUI.

Links: Download SimulAnalog Guitar Suite

Amp / Sim list: Simulanalog


Sknote

Italian developer of audio plugins, sims and pedals. The Fender-style amps are considered by many to be great.

Link: www.sknoteaudio.com

Amps/sim list: DualR,  TwinR, R200, Deluxe1


Smart Electronix

Links: http://antti.smartelectronix.com/ / https://www.kvraudio.com/product/saro_by_smart_electronix 

Short Description:

Amp/Sims list: Saro Amp, Taurus (beta 4) Bass pedal, Phase 90, ASynth


Softube

Short description: Classic Marshall-endorsed amps and bass featuring detailed modeling

Link: Softube: Music production software and hardware

Amps/sim list: Amproom, Marshall bluesbreaker 62, Marshall JMP 2203, Marshall silver Jubilee 2555, Marshall Plexi Superlead 1959, Kerry King signature, Eden Wt800, Amp room : Marshall Edition


STL Tones

Short description: Sims plus preset packs for Tonehub, Kemper and Axefx

Link: STL Tones Official Producer Plug-Ins, Kemper Profile & Axe FX Preset

Amps/sim list: Amphub, Tonehub (preset player), Tonality Will Putney, Tonality Andy james, Tonality Howard Benson,


Studio Devil

Short description: 

Link: Studio Devil Virtual Tube Amplification – Home Page

Amps/sim list: Virtual Guitar amp 2, British Valve Custom (free), Amp Modeler pro, Virtual Bass amp, Virtual Bass amp pro, Virtual Tube preamp


Three-Body Technology

Although no amp sim releases yet, TBT are famed for their Virtual Instruments and plugins, notably Heavier 7 String, Kirchoff EQ, and most recently, Cabinetron – an awesome IR loader. Definitely check them out.

Link: https://www.threebodytech.com/

Amp/sim list: Cabinetron


Tonelib

Short description: 

Link: ToneLib – Complete guitar studio in your computer

Amps/sim list: Tonelib GFX, Tonelib Metal, etc.


Toontrack

Short description: 

Link: Toontrack

Amps/sim list: EZmix 2, EzBass, EzDrummer, Superior Drummer etc.


TSE Audio

Short description: Some well regarded free and paid guitar and bass plugins

Link: TSE Audio – Home

Amps/sim list: TSE X50 suite plus some free pedals


Ugritone

Famed for their metal oriented studio drum software and midi packs, Ugritone also have a few other tricks up their sleeves. An IR loader, a reverb plugin, and most recently an amp sim. Check out Ampenstein and the rest of them in all their glory!

Link: https://ugritone.com/products/ampenstein-daim100

Amps/sim list: Ampenstein: DAIM100


United Plugins

New developer with an all-in-one style guitar suite called Electrum, and some other interesting plugins for Gtr & Bass

Link: https://unitedplugins.com/Electrum/

Amps/sim list: Electrum , Quick Ag, Quick Bass, DIFIX


Viator DSP

Link: https://www.patreon.com/ViatorDSP / https://plugins4free.com/dev/742/ 

Short Description: New developer with guitar and production plugins

Amp/Sim List: (Ignorant) Diode Amp, OverDrive, Auto-Gainstager, Reverb, Marauder Bit Crusher, LV50A eq and LV60 eq (analog hardware inspired eq)


Viper ITB

Links: https://plugins4free.com/dev/506/ 

Short Description: 32 bit VST windows only / various colourful guitar, bass, studio plugins

Amp/sims list: VeeGuitar Amp , Vee Bass Amp etc


VOX

Short description: JamVOX III suite

Link: https://www.jamvox-online.com/

Amps/sim list:  JamVoxIII


VTarAmps

Free and low-cost amps made by Vadim Taranov, a Russian developer. Mostly oriented to high gain & rock.

Link: https://vtaramps.blogspot.com/

Amps/sim list: 


Waves

The giant plugin company also makes some amp sims and guitar oriented pedals

Link: Waves Audio | Mixing, Mastering & Music Production Tools

Amps/sim list: GTR3 suite, PRS amp collection



2021-06-16: first version of the list. Hooray!!

2021-06-21: added developer United Plugins