Dark Days - Ampeg VH-140C - Setup Guide

Free amp captures and cab impulse responses from the amp used on

*Screaming in Horror*. Licensed CC BY 4.0 - free for anything, including

commercial releases. Credit Dark Days and link https://darkdays.net.

What's in the packs

DarkDays-Ampeg-VH-140c.zip

File	Use it when
`DarkDays-Ampeg-VH-140c-DI.nam`	You want to choose your own cab - pair with an IR below
`DarkDays-Ampeg-VH-140c-Rig.nam`	You have no IR loader - mic'd cab already baked in

DarkDays-Mesa2x12-V30-IRs.zip - Mesa 2x12 with Vintage 30s, captured at

several mic positions. Use the root folder for 48 kHz sessions and the 44k1/

folder for 44.1 kHz.

IR	Character
`cap_1in`	Brightest, tightest - start here
`cap_2in`	Slightly softer top
`cone_1in` / `cone_2in`	Warmer, more body
`edge_*`	Darkest, least fizz
`MIX_Tight`	Blended - good for rhythm walls
`MIX_Balanced` / `MIX_Deep`	Blended, fuller low end

The chain

Guitar DI  ->  Neural Amp Modeler (load the -DI model)  ->  IR loader (load one .wav)  ->  out

Get the free NAM plugin at https://neuralampmodeler.com - VST3 and AU,

works in every major DAW.

Reaper

1. Select the guitar track, click FX

2. Add VST3: Neural Amp Modeler

3. Click the model slot in NAM -> browse to DarkDays-Ampeg-VH-140c-DI.nam

4. Add ReaVerb after it (stock, no install needed)

5. In ReaVerb: Add -> File, choose DarkDays-Mesa2x12-V30_cap_1in.wav

6. Set ReaVerb's wet to 100%, dry to 0%

Save as a track template - right-click the track -> *Save tracks as track template*.

Ableton Live

1. Drag Neural Amp Modeler onto the guitar track

2. Load DarkDays-Ampeg-VH-140c-DI.nam into the model slot

3. Add an IR loader after it - Hybrid Reverb (Live 11+) in *Convolution*

mode, or Convolution Reverb Pro if you have the Max for Live pack

4. Load DarkDays-Mesa2x12-V30_cap_1in.wav, set Dry/Wet to 100% wet

No IR loader? Use the -Rig model on its own instead.

Save as a preset - drag the chain to your User Library.

Logic Pro

1. On the guitar track, click an Audio FX slot -> **AU Instruments/Effects ->

Neural Amp Modeler**

2. Load DarkDays-Ampeg-VH-140c-DI.nam

3. Add Space Designer after it

4. In Space Designer, load DarkDays-Mesa2x12-V30_cap_1in.wav as the impulse

5. Set the Dry slider to 0 and Wet to 0 dB

Save as a channel strip setting for reuse.

Cubase / Nuendo

1. Open the Inserts rack on the guitar track

2. Insert Neural Amp Modeler (VST3)

3. Load DarkDays-Ampeg-VH-140c-DI.nam

4. Insert REVerence (stock) in the next slot

5. Load DarkDays-Mesa2x12-V30_cap_1in.wav, set Mix to 100%

Save as a track preset - right-click the track -> *Save Track Preset*.

Pro Tools

Read this first: Neural Amp Modeler does not ship an official AAX

build, so it will not appear in Pro Tools natively. Two options:

Use a VST-to-AAX wrapper (e.g. Blue Cat PatchWork), then follow the steps

as normal inside the wrapper

Or skip NAM and use the IRs alone with any AAX amp sim you already

own - load DarkDays-Mesa2x12-V30_cap_1in.wav into its cab/IR slot and

bypass its own cab section

The IRs are ordinary WAV files and work in any AAX convolution loader.

Getting a good sound

Feed it a real DI. Guitar straight into a Hi-Z input. Line level or a

re-amped signal will not behave correctly.

Don't add distortion in front. The amp is already at full gain. If you

want more attack, use a *clean/tight* boost - a Tube Screamer-style boost

with drive at zero and level up.

Gate it. Palm mutes need a gate to stay tight. Put it before NAM.
Match the sample rate. Use 44k1/ for 44.1 kHz sessions, the root

folder for 48 kHz.

Double-track properly. Two real performances panned hard left and right

beat one take copied and nudged.

Credit

Ampeg VH-140C profile by Dark Days  -  https://darkdays.net (CC BY 4.0)

Captured from Alex Obradovic's Ampeg VH-140C through a Mesa 2x12 with

Vintage 30s. Dark Days - Southern California death metal since 1993.