Amp ONE vs AmpForge

Amp ONE is a free iPad application for real-time guitar preamp and cabinet simulation with effects. It turns an iPad into a modeled tube-preamp and cabinet setup, using pretrained artificial neural network models for circuit simulation. Listed preamps include Marshall JCM800, Cornford Harlequin, Engl E530, Krank models, an American hi-gain amp, EVH 5150 III and Fender Blues Junior III. Cabinet power-amplifier behavior is modeled through convolution. Effects include an adjustable noise gate, swell-capable fade timing, four stereo chorus models, delay and reverb. Snapshot and preset functions can save all settings or selected sections. Amp ONE supports AudioBus and Inter-App Audio. The stated requirements are an Apple iPad 2 or later and iOS 7.1 or later; an external audio interface is required to connect a guitar. The App Store listing says it is designed for iPad and is not verified for macOS. Apple’s listing provides no developer privacy details.

AmpForge is a free, open-source guitar amp simulator plugin that also includes vocal effects. Its pedalboard has 19 internal modules that can be reordered while the plugin is running. The NAM module loads Neural Amp Modeler capture files supplied by the user. Vocal tools include autotune pitch correction and a de-esser for sibilance. AmpForge is available as VST3, LV2, and CLAP plugins, plus a standalone app on supported platforms. It can run in compatible hosts such as Reaper, Carla, and Bitwig. Users can save, update, delete, import, and export custom presets, alongside the included factory presets. Hosts can automate every parameter, including pedal positions. An IR loader is included, but users need to provide cabinet impulse responses and NAM captures. AmpForge supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. The Windows installer offers VST3, CLAP, and LV2, but no standalone executable. The macOS build is not signed or notarized; the README describes a Gatekeeper workaround for installation.