Best Free Bass Amp Sim Vst
- Best Free Bass Amp Sim Vst Plugin
- Best Free Bass Amp Sim Vst Plugins
- Best Free Bass Amp Sim Vst Download
Bass Amp Room by Softube stands out from most sims. Most programmes aim to please the masses with a ton of presets, effects and other bells and whistles. ‘Bass Amp Room’ from Softube however, do things differently Bass Amp Room only includes the one charming bass amp and a selection of 3 cabinets to choose from. TSE BOD is a free amp simulator VST, Audio Unit, AAX plugin developed by TSE AUDIO. Compatible OS(s): Windows, macOS. DSP Bass processing unit with analog modeling of a bass stompbox. 3rd Bass: Bass Amp Sim with multi effects: screenshot: Auto MIDI: Designed to take an audio signals velocity/loudness and turn it into a continuous controller value of 0-127: screenshot: Chimp: First guitar amp sim, designed for a synth but works well with guitar even if not designed for a guitar: screenshot: Drive 5. There is a free TSE sans amp vst which is pretty cool. The best bass amp simulator I founded is a real bass amp;-). In 2020 I think Plugin Alliance is where.
Guitar Amp 2 Free Edition by Plektron. This is an older guitar amp simulator, but it’s one of the few that is free and that also works as a standalone unit. It comes with one british amp, a couple cabinets, a bass amp, a tuner and some effects pedals, but that’s about it. SHB-1 is based on the real SHB-1 'Extreme Bass Head', built by Ignite Amps for Federico Fulceri, a bass player of the Italian thrashers Subhuman, featuring 6 triode stages and a 1300W Class D power-amp. SHB-1 is meant to be used as a bass amplifier for live playing and jamming, tracking or mixing inside hosts capable of VST or AU plug-ins support.
Recording directly is as popular as ever nowadays. Loading up an amp sim is great for conveniently jamming, practicing, and recording bass without having to assemble a ton of gear.
With this ongoing trend, there is a vast virtual sea of amp simulators on the market to choose from (free and paid!)
Unfortunately, the majority of amp sims today are heavily tailored towards the six-string guitarists, while the bass players only get a fraction of bass amps and
About This Post
From my experience learning bass and my love of amps sims. I have taken the time to construct this roundup post of the best amps simulators that are more tailored towards the bass players in 2019.
Jargon Busting
Plugin: (A programme application that can open within a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) to enhance audio-related functionality.)
Standalone version: (A software that can open independently within the desktop without requiring to open inside a DAW to make use of its features)
#1 – Amplitube 4
- Price: €149 (base version)
- Bass amps: 1
- Standalone version: Yes
- Demo version: Yes
- Plugin: Yes
- Win/Mac
- 64-bit only
Created by IK Multimedia, Amplitube 4 is one of the top dogs when it comes to amp simulators. Amplitube 4 includes the most detail and depth when it comes to tone sculpting and the most realistic sounding selection of bass amplifiers on the market.
In my opinion, this software is one of the best-paid amp simulators, offering players iconic and infinite amounts of tone creation with an impressive level of detail and sonic realism.
The interface also looks visually appealing and very easy to navigate for creating an arsenal of bass presets at will.
The level of customization in Amplitube 4 is insane, everything from…
- Iconic modeled amps (guitar and bass)
- Effects (stompboxes, distortion, reverb, modulation, delay etc)
- Room ambiance simulation
- Microphone selection and placement
- Cabinet customization
- Rack effects
- Power tube customization
- Built-in recording suite
- Impressive visuals and interface
- Tuner
I could go on for days about how detailed this programme is when it comes to tone sculpting. There is so much in this programme that will satisfy most tone freaks including the bass players.
The interface is easy to set up your ideal rig which can run in both standalone for practicing and jamming or a plug-in to record within your selected DAW.
The Base Version
When it comes to usability for bass players presets, the Base version only offers a single solid-state bass amp.
With that said, the level of customization with all aspects of your rig will be enough to keep you going and offer a lot of tone-sculpting options.
However, when you want to expand in tones with the likes of more bass amps, effects and presets here’s where the problem begins.
The negative with this sim is not the features and tones because they are spot on, the problem with Amplitube 4 is its pricing structure! Let me explain…
Pricing Structure
The negative with Amplitube 4 is as detailed, real, and accurate the presets sound. To get the full experience with a satisfactory amount of bass amps, cabinets, effects, and bass presets. You have to be willing to shell out a small fortune.
Either in the form of buying the ‘deluxe version’ which is not cheap at €299. Or buying the base version and paying for the official ‘Ampeg expansion packs’ or paying for individual amps and effects via the ‘IK Custom Shop.’
(The ‘IK Custom Shop’ is an online store to purchase and download extra packs or separate amps to your rig.)
Most Affordable Option
The Deluxe version includes a ton of regular guitar amps but when it comes to the bass players, the deluxe version only includes a grand total of 3 bass amps (they do sound great though.)
The cheaper option would be to buy the ‘Base version’ at €149 and purchase the separate bass amps/packs and or any patches or effects you want from the IK Custom Shop.
The IK Custom Shop good for hand picking the amps, effects or whatever you want in your custom rig.
The problem is however, this can rack up a big bill fast as separate patches do not come cheap when purchased independently which quickly turns this amp sim into an endless money pit.
Why Amplitube 4?
Amplitube 4 is the option for bass players who want to invest a fair bit of money into a solid, usable, and fantastic sounding amp sim with tons of tone customization.
It is true that you pay for what you get in life and this is definitely the case with this software.
This option It is a little pricey but you will be rewarded with the investment of a solid amp sim to use for years to come with a crazy amount of tone customization and great sounding bass tones.
Which Version?
The version you go for depends on how far you want to invest for all of the
Having the full programme would be ideal if you play guitar on the side or an avid recording bassist who wants the full palate of tones at their disposal.
In this case, Amplitube 4 is one of the most popular and overall best amp sim to give you an infinite amount of tones for your bass recording and jamming requirements.
Pros
- Amazing sounding guitar and bass presets
- Endless tone customization
- Tons of features
- Easy to create presets and your ideal rig
- Use as standalone version or plugin
- Ultimate all in one amp sim
Cons
- Expensive investment
- Have to invest money to get additional bass amps
- Only supports 64-bit systems
- Cheaper alternatives
2# – Bias Amp 2
- Price: $299 (Elite version)
- Bass amps: 4
- Demo version: Yes
- Standalone version: Yes
- Plugin: Yes
- 32 & 64-bit systems
- Win/Mac
Bias Amp 2 is somewhat different from most amp simulators. Most sims give you a selection of amps to twiddle and tweak the EQ parameters or even a few
However, Bias Amp 2 essentially allows players to build and design your own ‘custom bass amp’… literally from the ground up.
Players have the option to tweak the smallest details that go into amp design such as transformers, power tubes, preamp tubes, biasing, power supply and shelf frequencies.
And all these small details will affect the overall tone of the amp. For example, the way you tweak the transformers will affect the sound of the upper midrange.
This is a single example of how amazingly detailed this amp sim can be for sculpturing and creating your perfect core bass tone which will please all the tube amp players out there.
Features
The programme includes 4 bass amps
This is before dialing the amps EQ or playing around with the selection of microphones, microphone placement, and cabinet speaker selection.
This programme gives the heavy tweakers and tube amp purists a field day when it comes to shaping your perfect bass tone.
This amp simulator focuses heavily on the level of customization that goes into the core amps design and elements which is good for tube amp purists.
Other features include the ‘Tonecloud’ which is an online community allowing users to upload and download amps presets created by members of the community.
Allowing users to audition and download some of the best presets rated and uploaded to the cloud adding users to share their best tones.
A noise gate is included and a selection of reverbs types to choose from with customizable parameters to dial in an ambient reverb to go with your perfect bass amp.
Sound
When it comes to sound and authenticity of a real tube amp, Bias Amp 2 has redesigned the previous engine used in the original Bias Amp.
Improving the responsiveness and realism when it comes to the dynamics, frequencies, and nuances of the sound of their line of tube amplifiers and cabs.
This new engine software, the tones are authentic and sound great when DI through any recording software adding a level of realism to any dry bass signal.
The Negatives
The only let down about this sim is there are no usual stompbox effects such as distortion, overdrive, flanger, phaser, or special effects etc like in other sims.
Another negative is that you have to pay the full price for the elite level to get the full experience which is not cheap at $299.
Saying that however, with the level of customization from this sim there is a lot of features and some great professional tube amp tones available from Bias Amp 2.
Pros
- Detailed and in-depth amp sim designer for bass and guitar
- Authentic and responsive sound
- High level of tone customization
- Standalone version
- Tonecloud community
- Amp matching feature
#3 – Helix Native
- Price: $399
- Bass amps: 13
- Standalone: No
- Demo Version: Yes
- Win/Mac
- Plugin: Yes
Helix Native by Line 6 is one of the most expensive amp sims on this list but offers a huge array of presets. Including 60 amps, (13 bass amps), 30 cabs and 100+ effects accommodating nicely for bass players.
Helix Native features the most bass amps on this list all modeled form popular and iconic bass amps from ‘Hiwatt,’ ‘Ampeg’ and ‘Mesa Boogie’ for example.
Features
The interface follows a simple design of dragging, dropping presets into the signal chain with each aspect of the rig can be shaped with the designated sliders to change the dynamics of the sound.
This sim caters in the effect department with everything you could want for shaping your ideal tone and experimenting with sounds.
- Distortion
- Dynamics
- EQ
- Modulation
- Delay/Reverb
- Pitch Shift
- Filters etc
- Wah
- Synth
This amp sim may not be the most visually appealing. But with lots of things going on inside a DAW, users can be thankful for the simple function of creating authentic bass tones without a cluttered interface. Excessive menus and other bells and whistles can distract from the usabailityin my opinion.
The Negative
The elephant in the room with this amp sim is the price! It is one of the most expensive options n this list and seems a lot of money for an amp sim just for using for bass.
On the plus side, you will have professional bass and guitar recording producers covered with a large number of amps, effects, and features.
This option would be a suitable option if you are a bass player that plays guitar on the side. Or if you happen to record other guitarists as a producer in a home studio situation.
Pros
- Simple interface
- Versatile selection of bass amps and cabs
- Realistic tones
- Large selection of effects
- High level of tone customization
#4 – Softube Bass Amp Room
- Price $149
- Presets: 1 amp, 3 cabinets
- Standalone Version: No
- Free Demo: Yes
- Plugin: Yes
- Win/Mac
Bass Amp Room by Softube stands out from most sims. Most programmes aim to please the masses with a ton of presets, effects and other bells and whistles. ‘Bass Amp Room’ from Softube however, do things differently…
Bass Amp Room only includes the one charming bass amp and a selection of 3 cabinets to choose from. So why am I recommending this considering the lack of bass amps?
The reason is that Softube
Although the interface looks simple, don’t underestimate the quality of tones from this sim. They are one of the most authentic that I have heard from any bass amp software.
What’s Included
The one available bass head replicates the iconic ‘Hiwatt DR103’ head while the bass cabinet is based off a classic ‘Ampeg’ 8×12 cab.
Bass Amp Room does an incredible job of simulating the tonal and sonic qualities of a bass tone down to the tee. Although added features are scarce, I will admit, the bass amp sims are one of the most authentic tonally.
The tone shaping abilities offer a good level of customization allowing you to modify the core building blocks of a tone. Everything from…
- Amp Head EQ
- Click and drag microphone placement
- Microphone tilt (off axis)
- DI EQ controls
- Pickup input gain
- Tone blending features
Unfortunately, Bass Amp Room doesn’t include any stompbox effects or features such as tuner, additional bass amps or a standalone version but does include a free 20-day demo version to test it out.
A good way to utilize this programme is to use it in your DAW to create an authentic raw sounding bass tone.
Then enable desired plug-ins to build on the tone in the form of effects adding ‘icing on the cake’ sounds and effects that are unavailable in the software.
Pros
- Authentic sounding bass tones
- Versatile tones for most genres (rock, metal, funk, jazz, etc)
- Enough tone shaping customization
- Solid sounding bass tones for recording in a DAW
- Dial a tone in quick without overcomplicating anything
Cons
- A tad on the pricey side for one bass head
- No standalone version
- No stompboxes or effects
- No additional amps or cabs to expand in sounds
#5 – GTR-3
- Price: $49
- Bass amps: 7
- Standalone: Yes
- Plug-in: Yes
- 64-bit only
- PC/Mac
- Free Demo: No
GTR-3 by Waves for the
The GTR-3 replicates bass tones with impressive accuracy adding a level of realism to any bass signal with any DAW and audio interface.
The pedalboard allows 6 designated spaces for stomp boxes with a selection of 26 effects which can be modified to add a surprising level of tone sculpting. It also runs a standalone version for running on the desktop without having to load it up as a plugin in a DAW.
I must admit, GTR-3 is not as heavily loaded with features as the other amp sims, excluding some features such as microphone customization, room ambiance, built in recording etc.
However, for the price, you do get a lot of great sounding amps and effects which in the grand scheme is great value for money.
Best for
This programme may not be for the tone twiddling freaks out there like other amp sims. However, this programme does not make too much of a deal and is designed and marketed to be simple and straight to the point.
GTR-3 is a good option for any bass players who are maybe new to the amp sim world. Possibly looking for an easy to use guitar modeling software who are not looking to spend a fortune first time around.
Pros
- Simple easy to use
- Affordable
- Authentic sounding amps and effects
- Standalone version
#6 – GK Amplification 2 Pro
- Price: $79
- Bass Amps: 3
- Free Demo: Yes
- Standalone: Yes
- Win/Mac
- Plugin: Yes
GK stands for Gaillain and Kruker. For all of you who are unaware, GK is a high-end bass amp and cabinet manufacturer based in the US.
GK Amplification 2 Pro is an affordable and versatile bass amp sim offering 3 popular emulated versions from their line of bass heads for adding to your mixes or jamming on the side. The heads available are the popular CK bass head models.
- GK MB150
- GK 800RB
- GK 2001 RB
This sim also offers a large selection of cabinets to match with your ideal bass head. A good feature is combining 2 speaker cabs for a mash and blend of cabinet sounds allowing a good level of tonal customization.
The main tonal options you can customize with this amp sim are…
- Bass Head EQ
- Boost option
- Voicing filters
- Microphone positioning
- Microphone type selection
- Microphone angle
- Cabinet tone blending
GK Amplification Pro 2 programme includes a metronome and track recorder which is useful for recording moments of inspiration and creative ideas in the standalone version. This programme is available for use as a plug-in within a DAW.
Overall this programme is an affordable, easy to use and great sounding amp sim for dialing in solid bass tones for recording or jamming. There are no effects in the form of stompboxes which can leave users feeling a little empty handed for experimenting with sounds.
I would say this software is more geared towards recording in a DAW for adding addition plug-ins for effects, therefore, adding more tone shaping capabilities.
Pros
- Gallain-Kruker bass tones
- Simple interface
- Recording track
- Metronome
- Affordable
- Good amount of tonal shaping
- Standalone version
#7 – Ignite Amps SB-1
- Price: Free
- Presets: 1 Amp
- Standalone version: No
- Win/Mac
- Cabinet plugin Required: Yes
- Plugin: Yes
The SHB-1 is a virtual simulation of the actual real-life SHB-1 amp head created by Ignite amps for the bassist Frederico Fulceri of metal band ‘Subhuman.’
Every component in the real amp including the circuitry and tube technology was considered to create the most accurate and well represented simulated version of the SHB-1 bass head as functional plugin.
It’s no surprise then the SHB-1 plugin is a modeled aggressive sounding bass tube head, transforming a dry bass signal to a distorted, aggressive and mid focused metal sound without changing the core dynamics of the bass tone.
For me, this is where the plugin sounded at it’s best as it is voiced to sound aggressive and metal. What I liked about this plugin was the simple interface with a good amount of EQ and tone shaping controls for a free plugin.
I must say the amp head is surprisingly versatile, I have used this preset (before going to paid simulators) on many projects and was able to shape a number of bass tones across a range of genres.
I must admit, the SHB-1 plugin sounded at its best for sculpting an aggressive and distorted tube amp tone for my metal tracks.
When it comes to function, this plugin serves as a recording tool inside your DAW than a ‘standalone programme’ for real-time practicing and jamming. This programme also requires a matched cabinet simulator when you load up the plugin inside your DAW.
Overall, the SHB-1 serves as a great free simulator for creating a versatile palate of bass sounds for recording and achieving a range of worthy studio bass tones within your recording software.
Pros
- Free
- Simple interface
- Great sounding bass tube head plugin
- Supports 32 and 64-bit systems
- Great amp sim for recording
Top Tip
When recording bass inside your DAW, activate up to 3 separate tracks, each track with a different amp sim enabled. This will blend a range of sounds to achieve a unique tone allowing the bass frequencies to stand out ever so more in a full instrument mix.
You could also assign each individual amp sim to focus on the frequencies ranges of the tone. For example, one on the high, one on the mids and one focusing on the lows.
It’s always a good idea to utilize a few amps sims instead of relying on one to provide 100% of the tonality and do all the work.
Final Word
Before buying a paid amp sim, I always recommend first downloading the free demo version of the programme. So you can
This post has brought you a selection of the best bass amp simulators for all of your recording and tone tweaking needs, thanks for reading!
Before you go, there are other ways to amplify a bass guitar for practicing without amp simulators…
I recommended you read my post “Plugging a Bass into a Guitar Amp.” This will explain how to get a workable bass tone for practicing without needing to invest in a bedroom bass amp.
Last Updated on December 9, 2020 by /40-best-free-vst.html.
Guitar amp simulation VSTs are, more often than not, loaded on a VST Host, like a DAW or any other program with those capabilities.
There are a few however, that can be used as standalone programs, which can be useful if you want to jam a track without having to fire up your DAW.
In this article, I will list the 7 best free standalone amp simulators, as well as show you an easy way of running any amp sim that doesn’t have the standalone feature in a matter of seconds.
Best Free Standalone Amp Sims VSTs
Let’s get straight into the post!
BIAS Amp II Demo
If you’re the kind of person who likes getting into the nitty gritty of amp design, then this is definitely the plugin for you.
With BIAS Amp II you can control every single aspect of the amp; It does offer the usual parameters on the front like Gain, Volume, EQ, etc., but where this plugin really shines is in allowing you to switch the actual componets of the amp, likes tubes, controling the preamp, poweramp, cabinet, mic positioning, etc., to be able to tailor the sound to your needs.
The demo version will suddenly cut the audio for 5 seconds, and then you can keep playing. However, this only happens every 5 minutes or so, which means that you can use it to record if you time it correctly.
As far as the clean tones go, I’ve never tried any other amp simulation software that makes them sound as real as the Amp II, and when I’m not recording my actual live amp for clean tones, this is the plugin I use.
The overdriven tones are absolutely amazing as well, but getting them to sound how I want is a bit harder to do, at least for me.
Who is BIAS Amp II for?
I would mostly recommend it to people who have experience with real amplifiers, since otherwise you’ll get lost with ease because of all the components that can be swapped and tweaked.
If you have the patience and knowledge to really dig into the settings to adjust the sound in depth, then this is definitely the plugin for you.
If you are new, on the other hand, then check out the next plugin on this list since it will suit your needs a lot better.
Find out more about BIAS Amp II here.
BIAS FX II Demo
This is a Standalone Guitar Amp and Pedal suite that gives you access to a couple different amps, cabinets and pedals.
One feature that makes BIAS FX so good is that you can split the signal and run it through two different amp- and pedal configurations, giving you more sound design options.
Just as it happens with BIAS Amp II, the demo version of this software will cut the audio every couple minutes and then resume.
While it doesn’t offer the same in-depth amp configuration that Amp II does, you can load the amplifiers you created in Amp II on to BIAS FX and use them there, but here you have the option of adding effects, mixing it with another amp by splitting the signal, etc.
Who is BIAS FX II for?
Since it’s quite easy to use, it’s the ideal amp simulation software for beginners who don’t want to have to spend hours tweaking just the sound of the amp.
BIAS FX comes with some pre-configured amps and also some great-sounding presets, which you can use as a jumping off point to tweak the sound from.
Find out more about BIAS FX II here.
Amplitube 4 Custom Shop
Amplitube is by far the best-known amp simulation software, and it’s also the first one to come out, which means that it has had over a decade of improvements.
When you download the free version you will have access to the full version of the software for 15 days, and once the trial perioid is up you will still be able to use it but with a reduced feature count.
Amplitube is one of the more realistic-sounding amp simulators out there, plus the free version comes with a couple more amps and effects than other amp sims out there, like Guitar Rig Player.
This one can do clean tones really well, but where I think it shines is in the overdriven- and high-gain tones.
Who is Amplitube 4 Custom Shop for?
Since it’s easy to use and it also comes with quite a lot of amps, pedals, cabinets, etc. for you to play with, I think that it’s a great all-rounder that everyone should try.
But I would mostly recommend it to people who are thinking of purchasing an Amp Sim but who want to be able to try out the full software before actually spending the money.
Note: Registration needed to download and use.
Find out more about Amplitube 4 Custom Shop here.
Guitar Rig Player
Guitar Rig player is the free version of their famous Guitar Rig Pro, which is an amp simulation software used by many, both for jamming and recording as well.
The free version could use a couple extra features, since it only comes with one amp and a matched cabinet. Plus it only includes one tube screamer, which means that getting high gain tones out of it will be impossible.
However, the clean tones really do sound great, and since you will have access to different effects pedals, such as Reverb, Delay, Filter, etc., you can actually use it to create pretty convincing guitar tones.
Who is Guitar Rig Player for?
Since it’s so easy to use, I think that it’s great for beginners who want to learn how amp sims work, and in this case, having fewer features than Amplitube or BIAS FX is a pro, since it will be easier to learn.
Additionally, if you are primarily interested in recording clean guitar, then by all means, get Guitar Rig Player. Just remember that it’s not really capable of producing high gain tones.
Note: Registration needed to download and use.
Find out more about Guitar Rig Player here.
Amplion
Despite its installation process being a bit annoying -since you need to register and wait for an email with a serial number, then download and install using that serial number-, I do think that Amplion has a lot to offer.
The free version comes with a 5-channel guitar amp and two different cabinets where you can adjust the mic placement to control the tone.
Now, the free version doesn’t come with any effects, which is a shame, but it does come with a built-in media player that lets you load iTunes or MP3 playlists to play along.
As far as the sound quality goes, it’s nowhere near as good as any of the previous software I described, but hey, it’s free!
Who is Amplion for?
Since it barely uses any CPU resources, it may be suitable for anyone with a low-specced PC, and since the clean tones don’t sound half bad, I can also see people enjoying those.
Find out more about Amplion here.
Amped Roots Free
The whole point behind this free amp simulation plugin is to be as simple as possible and to sound perfect right out of the box, and I think they nailed it.
I can absolutely recommend it to anyone who is interested in getting realistic heavy tones out of their guitar, especially if you are just starting out, since every single preset sounds fantastic and since it doesn’t feature too many different controls.
This is by far the best free amp simulator for hevy tones that is currently available, so make sure to check it out!
Additionally, it comes with a Noise Gate, a Drive pedal, a Delay and a Reverd, and all of them are accessible on the “Pedalboard” panel.
Who is Amped Roots Free for?
Anyone who is into metal, djent, or any other high-gaing genre, especially if you’re just starting out since it’s so easy to make it sound great, plus it’s free and it works as a Plugin or Standalone program.
Find out more about Amped Roots Free here.
Guitar Amp 2 Free Edition by Plektron
This is an older guitar amp simulator, but it’s one of the few that is free and that also works as a standalone unit.
It comes with one british amp, a couple cabinets, a bass amp, a tuner and some effects pedals, but that’s about it.
The sound quality isn’t very realistic, but it can certainly be used to come up with different tones in a creative way.
Still, I’d encourage you to try it out since it’s completely free and lightweight.
Who is Guitar Amp 2 for?
Anyone who wants to experiment and get different tones from what regular amp sims can achieve, since it doesn’t sound that realistic.
Find out more about Guitar Amp 2 here.
These are all the Amp Simulators I could find that work as a standalone program, but did you know that you can use a VST Host to run any amp sim, even if they don’t work as a standalone program?
Using a VST Host to load any Amp Simulation Plugin
A DAW, or Digital Audio Workstation, works as a VST Host, in the sense that it lets you load those VSTs and run them.
However, there are other similar programs that are designed to do that, and this means that you could run any amp sim on a very light piece of software without having to download a complete DAW.
So, yes! You can run any amp sim on a lightweight VST Host and not just a DAW.
Here’s how to do it;
Head over to hermanseib.com and download the VSTHost program, then copy all the files into a folder.
Now you can run VSTHost by double-clicking on it.
You will need to configure the Audio Settings in order for it to work; Click on “Devices” and then on “Wave”.
Here you can choose your Input and Output devices. In my case I only needed to set the Output Port to “ASIO: Audient USB Driver” and it already worked perfectly.
After this you can load a new plugin by clicking on “File” and then on “New Plugin”.
Once you open the amp simulator you want, to configure it you will need to click the button that looks like a little knob, and this will open the plugin’s interface to let you adjust its settings.
And that’s it!
Now you can get any Amp Simulator you want and run it on your PC without the need of using a DAW.
And now, here’s one honorable mention!
TH3 Free: Comes with Cakewalk
Cakewalk is one of my favorite DAWs, especially since it’s completely free and doesn’t come with any limitations. The only issue is that it’s for Windows only… Sorry Mac users.
With it you get TH3 Free, which is an Amp Simulation software that is very similar to TH-U by Overloud but instead of costing like $200, you get it free here.
So, not only do you get one amazing DAW for free, but you also get an amp simulation software for free as well.
Premium Alternatives
While this list was mainly aimed at freeware amp sims, there are some benefits to purchasing one; be it to get more features or to remove the annoying silences that occur on BIAS FX and BIAS Amp.
BIAS Amp II and BIAS FX II
You can get the basic versions of both amp simulators for $50 each, which might seem like a lot, but some other programs sell for $300+, so this is actually quite affordable.
Like I mentioned in the beginning, BIAS Amp II lets you customize your virtual amp in ways that no other amp simulator has ever been able to, and it sounds extremely realistic.
BIAS FX is perfect for any beginner because of how easy it is to use, plus it also sounds amazing.
Just remember that you will be able to use the amps you created in BIAS Amp II inside of BIAS FX, which means that it may make a lot of sense to get both.
Find out more about BIAS Amp II and BIAS FX II here.
Archetype Plini by Neural DSP
Archetype features three different amps: Clean, Crunchy, and Lead, and they all sound fantastic!
A compressor and booster/overdrive pedal are included to provide additional flexibility and adaptability to different styles and instruments, as well as a 9-band EQ, and some Reverb and Delay effects.
Lastly, it includes a cab sim.
And that’s really it…
It’s a super simple amp simulation plugin that comes with a very clean and clear interface, making everything super intuitive… and the sound is just absurdly good!
Not only that but you can try it for free, since they offer a free 14-day trial.
Note: Neural DSP created a lot of other amp sims that you should also check out.
Find out more about Archetype Plini here.
PRS Supermodels by Waves
The PRS Supermodels were created by Waves in collaboration with Paul Reed Smith.
Even though you only get three amps, they are actually quite versatile, allowing you to achieve loads of different tones which should fit in perfectly in every mix.
The three amps you get are; The Dallas, Archon, and Blue Sierra/V9.
The Dallas and V9 are for more laid-back styles of playing, while the Archon is designed completely for metal and other heavy styles.
I actually like the V9 a lot for rock/metal guitar solos as well… the tone is just killer!
This plugin bundle is super affordable, setting you back only about $39 (at the time of writing this article).
Best Free Bass Amp Sim Vst Plugin
Find out more about the PRS Supermodels here.
Conclusion
While having standalone amp sims maes a lot of sense, since you don’t want to be opening a huge DAW just to play some guitar, you can actually get any guitar amp sim and use the VST Host program I linked earlier.
I aso listed a couple premium amp sims here because sadly, most free ones don’t come even close to the paid ones.
Best Free Bass Amp Sim Vst Plugins
Still, I’d recommend you try every single amp sim on this list, and then move on from there.
I hope this information was useful.
Best Free Bass Amp Sim Vst Download
Have a wonderful day!