AmpForge vs Soundshed Guitar

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.

Soundshed Guitar is a free guitar and bass multi-effects app for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It runs standalone or in a DAW through VST3, AU, or CLAP. Neural Amp Modeler A2 supplies amp tones, with Tone3000 available inside the app. Effects can be arranged in any order, split into parallel paths, connected through graph-based routing, and combined with other plugins. Impulse-response cabinet simulation lets users load and blend their own cabinets. Community presets and tone packs can be browsed, complete setups imported, and preset assets transferred between systems or collaborators. Built-in tools include a tuner, metronome, jam backing tracks, quick riff capture, and a Practice Tool. Version 1.6.0 adds nine effects, fifteen drive pedal models, gapless preset switching, signal-chain undo, and A/B comparison. Minimums include Windows 10/11 x64 with AVX2, macOS 11+, 4GB RAM, and 500MB disk space. Listed audio rates are 44.1–96kHz with latency under 10ms at 48kHz.